Videos - Meet the Season 5 Models!

Project Runway Season 3 model extraordinaire Amanda Fields didn't feel that we got an opportunity to get to know the Season 5 models. (Click here for her report.) Since one of the models will leave the Runway on Wednesday and it seems that we will see even more of these ladies in that challenge (spoiler alert if you click on this link), it is appropriate that we take a little time to get to know them. Click on each picture to watch a brief introduction video.

Do any of you happen to have their MySpace information so that we can add their links to the sidebar? Contact Team BPR with the address!

How Did He Do That?

Photo courtesy of ProjectRunway.com.

Daniel Feld's plastic cup design is receiving a lot of attention and will probably go down as one of the most memorable designs created for this challenge, even though it didn't win. (Remember Michael Knight's coffee filter dress?)

But how did his model, Elena, get in and out of the dress? Was there a zipper? Did it somehow just fold around her and stay up? There was definitely a muslin lining.

Hmmm Let's investigate!

Here he is working on the dress -



Click here to continue.

Rami Kashou Attacked

The rumors flying around the internet are true, Project Runway Season Four Finalist, Rami Kashou was injured last night. It was an unprovoked attack and the perpetrator is in jail. Rami went to the hospital for treatment and is now home and recovering. He was struck with a beer bottle in the face, injuring the side of his forehead and his nose. The police were there within minutes to arrest the attacker and to collect witness reports. Paramedics also responded instantly and took Rami to the hospital.

ETA: I just got off the phone with Rami. He says that this will not slow him down in any way and he is grateful for the support of his fans.

Recapalooza!

The 'looza returns! Old favorites and newbies alike kick the season off with wit and wisdom:

The Minx busts out the Wedgie-Cam...
Are you one of David's Dust Bunnies yet?
Lorraine is one of our favorites...
All Or Nothing is a talented newcomer to the 'looza...
The Grits To Glitz girls are talking again...
The Fug Girls take on Season 5 at New York Mag...
Chris March takes over for Jay McCarroll at Elle...
MTV hasn't given up completely on PR...
Miz Shoes starts the season in fine form...
Cliffieland calls Joe an affirmative action hire...
Second City Style collects the memorable quotes...
One Girl's Opinion is back for more...
Elisa Camahort: Project Runway is a harsh mistress...
And Toyouke reclaims her usual space...
ETA: AJ is one of the originals and one of the best...

Thanks to all of our fabulous recapping crew. Have a Project Runway recap to share? Send the link to the BPR team to get in on the fun!

Korto - Via Her MySpace Blog

Korto Momolu of Project Runway Season 5 talks about her Episode 1 garment:
the tablecloth dresses

all I have to say is yes...i used a tablecloth...but it was the baddest dress to come from paper. try sewing tissue paper on a industrial machine and see what happens. for a plan b dress it rocked!...too bad whoever took them didn't put those asparagus back in the right place...loved my dress though! as for my jeweled veggies it was gonna b tears had I forgotten them. thanks to everyone that watched..cheered...supported...and prayed for me! go arkansas....liberia represent! and canada will never be dry again!

ciao
korto

Project Courtroom

The fur started hitting the fan yesterday in New York State Supreme Court as testimony began in NBC's lawsuit against The Weinstein Company over the Project Runway franchise. Interesting details have emerged as big dogs Jeff Zucker and Harvey Weinstein took to the stand:

Thursday's daylong hearing before Judge Richard Lowe in Manhattan featured testimony from Zucker, Weinstein and others on two motions, including a preliminary injunction request from NBC that would prevent Weinstein from moving the show to Lifetime before the case is fully tried. The second motion, from Weinstein, asks for a dismissal.

NBC appears to be hanging their case on a power meeting held in January 2007 at the Four Seasons in Los Angeles:

Zucker testified that during the meeting, he and (NBC's Marc)Graboff secured from Weinstein a verbal promise of a right of first refusal to match any offer that Weinstein received to move the program to a competing network.

In exchange, Zucker testified, NBC approved the accelerated scheduling of seasons four and five of the show and agreed to move the series off Bravo -- possibly to NBC or USA Network for season six and beyond.

The prospect of Project Runway moving over to the main network would have been exciting. Harvey had his own classy take on that meeting however:

Harvey Weinstein vigorously disputed Zucker's testimony however, declaring at one point, that, "I'd rather cut off my arm than give them a right of first refusal." He summed up the Jan. 15 meeting as a "divorce proceeding."

...Weinstein testified that he wanted to cut ties with Bravo after season three, because the network "ruined the relationship," by copying the Runway format with shows like Top Chef and Shear Genius, and refusing to pay increased license fees, forcing Weinstein to produce Runway at a $230,000 per episode deficit.

This one sounds worthy of Court TV! Read the whole thing.

BPR Podcast with Jerry Tam

Laura K. interviews the talented Jerry Tam, the founder of FORM and the Project Runway Season 5 designer eliminated during Episode 1, 'Let's Start From the Beginning.'

Click here for the podcast.

More News

Reality Worlds collide! Kara Saun is costuming the dancers on America's Best Dance Crew!

For your weekend plans, Chris March will be in San Francisco and Emmett McCarthy will be in The Hamptons. Please let us know if you can get to either of these events. We'd love a field report.

MTV suggests "Which stars would wear it best."

Click here for an interview with Jerry Tam.

Film.com sizes up the contestants.

The Washingtonian offers a recap of episode one.

Amanda's Take - Episode One

Season Three model and BPR Fave, Amanda Fields is back with her take on the season five models - thank you Amanda!

Hello BPR readers! I absolutely love you all and have missed writing in each week!

Here we go!

Instead of making comments on a repeat challenge, I will go straight to the fashion show and give it to you straight!

First of all.. no name on the screen for the models. Just the designer's name and the materials used. So I will have to resort to giving you the designer's name when referring to the girls!

My number one favorite model this season is...

Kenley Collins's model.. HOT HOT HOT!! Beautiful face, toned body and walked out there beating all the other girls hands down. So graceful and powerful!

There are others that do well, but I am giving this model all my props.. I want you to win, whatever your name is!

Click here to continue.

The Recap of The Manolo - Episode 1

Photo courtesy of ProjectRunway.com

Our blogfather, The Manolo has posted his recap of "Let's Start From The Beginning."

Manolo is worried about Tim....

And poor Tim Gunn, he looks so tired and oppressed, as if the demands of being the kindest, smartest, and most sensible person on television have finally taken their toll. Please, dear Tim, take the few weeks off and go to Bermuda, and let your mighty brain rest and recover. You are the national treasure and these desperate times require you to be in top form.

"Let's Start From The Beginning" Episode One Video Recap

Did you miss the first episode? Here is a quick recap. (Also handy for our recappers to pick up screencaps!)

Afternoon Quickies

Click here for Tim's Take.

Andy Cohen's "After the Sew" program from last night with Austin Scarlett and Jerry Tam is now available for everyone to view. Click here. Don't miss the question that comes in at 13:00 mark!

Washington Post fashion editor Robin Givhan is hosting a live chat about last night's Project Runway premiere at 2:00 p.m. Click here to participate.

We're out of breath today!

Contests!

Our friends at TRESemmé are all about the fun this season and they want to get YOU involved. They have launched their latest contest in which you submit a photo of your chicest coif in order to win fabulous prizes. Click here for prize details and the rules and click here to enter (and to see your competition). We think our readers are the biggest Runway fans and we would like nothing better than to see one of YOU win the Christian Siriano custom-made garment.

TRESemmé is also sponsoring the Online Challenge. See the video below for the brief:

Click here to enter and click here for the rules.

Have fun and make it work!

Congratulations, Kelli

Imagine standing in front of Gristedes hearing from Austin Scarlett the brief for this challenge after an early morning wakeup call from Tim Gunn. Surreal? You bet! You kept your wits and remembered the key word - Innovation. You shunned fabric - no tablecloth or shower curtain for you! You remembered the phrase "Don't bore Nina" and you created a closure in the back fashioned from spiral notebook binding and a belt festooned with thumbtacks. The finishing details? Impeccable - no sloppy hem for your garment! You listened to Tim when he admired the skirt but expressed concern for the bodice. You remembered that Michael Kors likes a thoughtful approach so you used a material, vacuum cleaner bags, that was already pleated. And yet, by dying and bleaching the bags to make a pattern and burning the coffee filters to create lace, you managed to give us a taste of your point of view. Clearly you took all that you had learned from the first four seasons of Project Runway and synthesized the concepts into your first frock, one that Heidi had to think looked expensive. Well done, Kelli!

This post is only for positive comments for Kelli Martin or her garment. If you have anything negative to say about her, her work or another designer, please click here.

BPR Love for Jerry Tam

Usually we barely get a chance to know the first contestant off during the Project Runway Season but we were honored to have you, a successful designer of your own label, Form, in the cast. Your garments were seen on the Bravo show 'Make Me a Supermodel' and you've also already had the opportunity to show at Fashion Week. Instead of feeling sadness, we're happy that you are now a member of such an exclusive fraternity - that you were a part of our favorite show. We know that recently you won 'Best of Design' from the Supima Cotton Fashion Show and you now have a larger audience watching the next move in your career.

This post is only for positive words for Jerry Tam. If you have anything negative to say, please click here.

Fresh News

Austin Scarlett, Tim Gunn Bravo Photo: Barbara Nitke
Film.com predicts what Project Runway would look like in Los Angeles!

The Boston Globe offers some witty observations...

Entertainment Weekly (always a great supporter of Project Runway) has posted a recap of episode one.

Our friends at Buddy TV have posted a recap and a fresh poll.

Dino-Ray smartly sums up this season's designers.

The NY Daily News profiles the New York-based designers.

More of Emily Brandle here.

Our friends at Newsday offer the Tim Gunn highlights of the week.

More news to come - busy day!

Project Runway Emmy Nominations!

This just in: Project Runway has been nominated for five Emmy's including:

Outstanding Cinematography For Reality Programming

Outstanding Host For A Reality Or Reality - Competition Program - (Heidi Klum!)

Outstanding Picture Editing For Reality Programming

Outstanding Reality-competition Program

Outstanding Directing For Nonfiction Programming - Tony Sacco, Director

It looks like the "En Guarde" episode from Season 4 was submitted to the Academy for the nominations. Top Chef also received a nod in the outstanding reality-competition program category.

Congratulations go out to Bravo, The Magical Elves, The Weinstein Company and Full Picture. Can Project Runway finally topple The Amazing Race?

Poll - Episode 1 - Your Turn to be the Judge

Photos: (top, l-r) Kenley, Terri, Suede, Emily, Leanne, Jennifer, Jerell and Keith
(bottom, l-r) Wesley, Joe, Korto, Daniel, Blayne, Jerry, Kelli and Stella
Photos courtesy of Bravo. Click to see a larger view.

You've seen the designs on the runway and now it's your turn to be the judges. This week you are Heidi Klum, Nina Garcia, Michael Kors and Austin Scarlett.

Click here to tell us who you thought should have won the challenge.

Click here to tell us who you thought should have been auf'd.

Jerry Tam Wins!

Jerry Tam's design team at Form was among the winners Tuesday night at the Supima Cotton design contest!

Guess who else was there.


Season Four Designers Jack Mackenroth, Victorya Hong and Kevin Christiana. Here is a brief recap from Jack:

Last night Kevin and Victorya and I attended the Supima cotton fashion show at Gotham hall. Supima vendors supplied fabric and Kevin and a panel picked 25 designers in an open call. The designers had to make gowns from the fabric they were given. They had 2 weeks to finish the dresses(a lifetime by PR standards). Some were great and some were not but we had lots of fun. Jerry from the upcoming season was there and won an award for his designs in jersey. Lisa (Christians model from our season) also modeled at the show.

Reactions to the Season 5 Premiere

A new season , a new time and a new cast. We barely have gotten to know these designers and one is already gone! Post your reactions to Episode 1 here.

Episode 1 Party!

Project Runway returns tonight for its (most likely) final run on Bravo. Join us in the BPR party room as we raise a toast and welcome Episode 1 of Season 5, "Let's Start at the Beginning". It's something of a Sound of Music theme tonight, so don your finest liederhosen and fill your stein with your beverage of choice.

For the benefit of our new readers, this post is for your live episode chat in our comments. Join PR fans from across the country and share your best sassy snark and Runway smack. It's a Wednesday night tradition on BPR, and everyone is welcome. Come on in, the party has started!

BPR Live Play-By-Play: Season 5 Premiere!

Tbone has sauntered his way back into the booth, ready to pound away at the keyboard to provide live play-by-play coverage of tonight's big Season 5 premiere, "Let's Start at the Beginning".

This post is for all readers without Bravo, travelers holed up in hotel rooms, west coasters who can't wait to watch what happens and of course the ever-growing throng of Tbone groupies who hang on his every word. Comments under this thread are for Tbone's use only - please read along to find out what's happening. All others looking to chat live on tonight's premiere report to the party room above!

From The Mailbox

I hope that everyone is watching the Season Four Marathon today! The DVD for Season Four will be available in November. Starting next week, BPR will begin a new feature called "Tough Trivia Tuesday." The first topic will be "Season Four - Food and Drink."

Meanwhile, the mailbox is stuffed to overflowing with local news items from the new designer's hometown papers! I kind of love that.


But first let's look at Heidi Klum on Conan O'Brien last night. Click here for the video.

This is a Nikolaki design!

Before clicking on this ew.com link to Heidi's "17 Favorite Things About Project Runway," try to guess her favorite winner.

Chris March will be blogging for Elle.com.

Here is an interview with Jerell Scott from the Houston Chronicle.

This is cute: Christian Siriano rates your style in the NY Daily News.

Black Book goes out on a limb with Season Five predictions.

The Portland Mercury has posted an interview with Leanne Marshall.

Check out Spoiled Pretty for an interview with Project Runway make-up artist Nathan Johnson.

Poll Results - Season 5 Final 4

We asked you to vote to determine who you thought would be the Finale 4 of Project Runway Season 5. You weighed in to tell us and the results are in. You voted for Daniel Feld, Leanne Marshall, Suede and Wesley Nault. Click here to see all of the votes. We'll 'watch what happens' to see if you were right!

A Note From Suede

Photo from Suede's MySpace

Season 5 designer Suede sends along this in anticipation for tonight's premiere:

What an INCREDIBLE experience I have had.. I would love for you send my love to all the fans of Project Runway and tell them all I will see them on the runway.

All my love and thanks again for your support.

xoxoxo
-SUEDE

Also, thanks to reader Trevor for tracking down the MySpace pages for Jerell Scott and Terri Stevens. We've updated our cast post with the new info.

Good luck to all the designers. We're getting closer and closer to show time!