Coming from an addiction standpoint, to paraphrase new Project Runway contestant Jonny, the sixth-season premiere didn’t leave me feeling as though I was going to get hooked.
I mean, I’m sure I will; I’ll keep watching. It’s bound to get better. But didn’t this new Runway seem a tad tired? (And before I go further, let me quickly add: For an alternate take, read the TV Watch by my colleague, the sage Missy Schwartz.)
The relocation to Los Angeles didn’t add much — as was pointed out, this is a series that takes place primarily indoors anyway. And the first challenge, to create a dress suitable for a red-carpet event, for which everyone was dragged out to the Emmy Awards set for “color,” only made me fear that too many future challenges are going to be glitzy glam-fests with cameos by stars.
Certainly the one they pulled in this night was a dimmed one: Lindsay Lohan, all frown ‘n’ glower, was a guest judge. Is there a former child star whose charm hasn’t merely faded but has rotted into haughty hostility more thoroughly than Lohan’s? Even her praise for certain dresses arrived with a sneer.
Of the contestants, I found myself rooting most for Rodney Epperson, who seems like someone who’s going to at the least bring some intelligent maturity to his work and his justifications for it. I’d also like Malvin to stay around simply to see how he shapes that black-meat-loaf-shaped head of hair of his every week. And I’m glad Jonny has overcome his crystal meth habit, but I do hope Tim Gunn doesn’t have to do any more hand-holding psychobabbling to keep Jonny on an even emotional keel.
Oh, well, they’ll all make it work, right?
Were you a bit underwhelmed by Runway‘s premiere, or did you like it more than I did?
It was a good primeire episode. I thought Lindsay looked good. I didn’t realize how beautiful her eyes were. All addicts are drama queens. If you’ve ever seen Intervention. High Drama is their specialty.
Yes, because Intervention absolutely mirrors real life in all possible ways.
Lindsay Lohan looked like she’d been rode hard and put away wet. I miss the NY vibe already.
I’ve never heard that expression. That’s great! But I still love Lindsay, crazy shenanigans and all
Well said. She looks like she’s in her late 30′s. What a hack.
I’m one of the least fashion-forward people around, but I sat and watched for three and a half hours. I was going to pay bills and do some other paperwork during the show, but I didn’t. I just watched. Me sitting here judging red carpet outfits is a totally ridiculous concept, but there I was. I loved the whole night. (Well, the models part, not so much, but I’m sure I’ll watch that part every week, too.)
miss the show being in nyc, but other than that i thought it was a good premier, im just glad the show is back.
I wasn’t blown away by it, but I am sure there is plenty of drama in store for us. It’s weird to see the show out here in L.A., where I live. I think having Lindsay Lohan on as a guest judge was disgusting. Her face looks like ten miles of bad road. I was watching in HD and you could see how bad her skin really is. For someone as young as she is to look that hard? What a shame! Sure, her eyes are pretty, but what good is that when she has such a rotten attitude. Like she has earned the right to act snotty! Give me a break! My only other comment was about Johnny. I am wondering how recently he kicked his meth addiction. This show is packed with pressure and if he has just recently gotten sober, I don’t know if he will be able to handle it. I thought the judges were quite generous in their comments about his outfit. The model looked like a hooker. It was way too low in the back and that siren red screamed trashy. I am thinking that Tim may have let them know about Johnny’s little meltdown. I think they got rid of the right person, although that kid who threw together the see-through dress could easily have gone. But that girl was totally nuts to come up with that stupid ugly tunic with a hood of all things! I will continue to watch. It’s been way too long and I am eager for more high fashion and drama.
Honestly, I had to fast forward through the drama queen segment. Come on, what a loser. Lilo looked a bit hard. Hope it gets better than this first week!
I thought the premiere was okay. A rather uninteresting challenge, and rather uninteresting work, especially coming hard on the heels of the 2 hour All Stars special. But I’ll keep watching. It’s always exciting to watch a winner emerge.
you have to remember
this was filmed about a year and a half ago
this is before Lindsay lohan was insane and depressing
so
if it had air on time
she would have been a cool fun guest judge
and she wasn’t depressing last night?
sorry, too much drama queen not enough talent. As far as the winner of the all star competion all I can say is are you kidding me? Doubt I will be watching regularly this season.
I totally agree. Daniel’s collection was awful! I liked Sweet Pea’s the best.
um sorry izzy but lohans has been a joke for more than a year now….
I’ll second that. I wouldn’t say joke though. Just sad example of poor parenting and wasted talent.
I think the new show is much better. Last year everyone was so old, but now they are embracing younger and cooler people! When I get older I want to sign up!!!!! Last year is was more like my parents – Boring!
Speaking of All Stars – I was disappointed in who showed up. Glad Korto, Michael and Chris were there. However, where were Laura or Austin or Andrae? Would have been happier with them. Santino might draw ratings, but he is done to death. You can (just barely) accept that behavior in a perpetual winner, but he isn’t.
Thought the premiere was fine. I never like the first few episodes, too many people and not enough interesting design to keep track of it all.
Agreed, I wanted Austin or Jay from season 1 last night.
Don’t know about Laura or Austin, but the answer to ‘Where’s Andrae?’ is always: Red Lobster.
I got a better feeling than I did last year. And I’m impressed the kicked the crazy girl and kept the dull guy based on talent. I was sure they were going to keep her for personality when they pulled all that “maybe I just don’t get it” crap. Lindsay does not deserve to act like she is better than those people. You could never tell what she was going to say because she always looked repulsed. I was happy that there was at least one standout design (the one that won.) I could tell that last year was going to be blah from the get-go, but this one has potential.
Yeah, Season 5 was just terrible all around. Bravo knew PR and just had to squeeze one more season out of the show before it left. Desperation on a person is bad but on a channel, well you get Season 5 in all its lackluster glory.
This would be the first time that I watch PR…but I have to agree, after the first 10 minutes, my eyes started to feel heavy! Maybe its because I should have watched this show from the begining…but I figured, I shouldn’t have to because it’s a new show, right?
The show was fine but other than the space cadet who was AUF’d where are the big personalities? Maybe the Eastern European woman Gordanna? The neurosurgeon and the older dreadlocked dude are intelligent and sophisticated but quiet.
Also, LIFETIME is so graphically and commercially downmarket compared with BRAVO, it’s irritating. Like you said, they need to take a look at this show’s demographics and acknowledge the gay male component.