Blog posts by category: Television
Category: Television
Posted by Kara Morrison on Thu, Sep 18, 2008 at 2:28 AMJoe Faris finally heads home on "Project Runway"
Fans of Metro Detroiter Joe Faris were a little sad tonight to see their favorite "Project Runway" contestant go home. But that he did after trying to dress a recent college grad for the work world.
Tonight's big winner was Jerell Scott, who managed the biggest transformation of the night. I personally thought Korto's outfit was more flattering on her "model," but Jerell definitely created a look his client and the judges (including guest judge Cynthia Rowley) loved.
The night was a bit rough for Leanne Marshall and for Suede (Stephen Whitney Baum), whose 80s jacket with flared sleeves could have been his ticket home. Instead, judges faulted Joe for making a cliche pinstripe suit that lacked any wow factor. Menswear is in, but his look wasn't enough of a new take. Still, Faris had a great run on the show, making it to the top six designers and even to Bryant Park, where last week he presented a collection to the best in the industry. Not a bad ending at all! Good luck, Joe!
Category: Television
Posted by Kara Morrison on Mon, Sep 15, 2008 at 5:10 PMJoe Faris among the six "Project Runway" designers at Fashion Week
Whatever happens on the show, "Project Runway's" remaining six designers were all big winners this week when they ended up in the tents at Bryant Park, showing at New York Fashion Week.
Because the finale won't air until next month, all six remaining designers were able to show their collections on Friday. Otherwise, viewers would known who the top three designers are. Overall, I did think the collections were a little less stellar than previous seasons. Season Four winner Christian Siriano also showed a new collection at Fashion Week that reminded us why he won last year.
For a sneak peak at the collections, visit Blogging Project Runway. After browsing, my prediction for a winner would have to be Korto. Faris showed some more sophisticated work than he did on the show, and I loved the ball gown with the leather corset, but otherwise I didn't completely relate to the woman he was dressing. The cropped leather corsets were a little too Stella for me. But overall, it was fun to see their efforts.
Category: Television
Posted by Kara Morrison on Thu, Sep 11, 2008 at 2:22 AMJoe Faris makes the top six on "Project Runway"
Metro Detroiter Joe Faris had a good night on "Project Runway." In this episode, the remaining eight designers were paired with the eight eliminated designers and asked to make an avant garde look based on their zodiac signs. Faris was paired with Daniel, and I thought the two of them created the night's best look. However, a panel of former "Project Runway" winners and contestants thought Jerell Scott's creation was better. He was the night's big winner with a silhouette that was really interesting, and a fabric choice that was puzzling.
The night couldn't have been worse for Blayne Walsh and Terri Stevens. Blayne, paired with Stella, created another diapered look that the judges agreed was a terrible joke. Terri chose cheap fabric and ultimately was sent home for a bad attitude. She and her partner Keith Bryce both acted like babies. The judges were quick to point out you can't work in fashion if you can't get along with people who work with/for you.
The luckiest designer of the night was Kenley Collins, who created a outfit best described as a parody of the wicked stepsisters in Cinderella. The plaid dress with balloon sleeves, a leather corset and a floral skirt was among the worst things we've seen yet on this season of "Project Runway." And I must say, there have been an awful lot of misses on this Fifth Season.
Category: Television
Posted by Kara Morrison on Thu, Sep 4, 2008 at 3:41 AMStella says goodbye on "Project Runway"
To be brief, Stella Zotis finally got called on her taste level and construction and had to go home tonight, while Leanne won another "Project Runway" challenge. Who knew the shy designer would rise to be such a stand-out! In Tim Gunn's blog, he credited Metro Detroiter Joe Faris for having some good ideas that simply didn't come together. Only eight designers are left!
Category: Television
Posted by Kara Morrison on Thu, Aug 28, 2008 at 3:10 AMKeith packs for Utah; Leanne wins on "Project Runway"
First of all, tonight's challenge was a Motown one: design a look using Saturn car parts, seat belts, etc. At the beginning, Metro Detroiter Joe Faris looked right in his element, but ultimately his look was neither the best nor the worst of the night. Besides, he had immunity for last week's win in the drag queen challenge.
Tonight's real lesson on Bravo's "Project Runway" was this: never insult the judges. To do so is much worse than boring them. Keith Bryce from Salt Lake City seemed to crack under pressure, still faltering from being nearly eliminated last week. Rather than trusting his own vision, he decided to design something the judges would like -- even if it wasn't his point of view. That tactic always seems to backfire. In addition to being boring, the construction was terrible. But the final straw for Keith was when he decided to mouth off to judge Michael Kors, who told Keith his last creation looked "like a sad chicken." Keith said, "There's criticism, and there's insult." Ooooh, no he didn't!!! I have to think if he'd kept his cool, Stella might have been packing up her grommet hammer and going back to Queens instead.
Tonight's winner was Leanne Marshall -- the shy designer from Portland who's gaining momentum on this fifth season with a futuristic aesthetic and perfect construction to her designs. If I were to guess now, I wouldn't be too surprised if she and Korto ended up at Fashion Week.
Category: Television
Posted by Kara Morrison on Wed, Aug 20, 2008 at 10:06 PMDetroit's Joe Faris wins a "Project Runway" challenge
Way to go, Joe! Detroit's hometown guy finally won a challenge on this week's "Project Runway." I didn't really have him pegged as someone who would win a drag queen costume challenge, but that's exactly what happened. With a little help from his queen, Joe's pink sequined sailor costume turned into a huge hit that had everyone smiling.
On the other hand, it was Daniel's turn to pack it up and go home. The designer who brags about his excellent taste level made a tiered cocktail dress and dismissed any criticism by the judges -- including the fabulous RuPaul. It makes sense that after narrowly missing being sent home last week, it was his turn to go. After a win last week, Keith nearly lost tonight with a short gown that left the judges cold. Jerrell was also criticized for his gown, although I thought he listened fairly well to his drag queen, who insisted "she" didn't like over-the-top costumes. If anyone deserved to be in the bottom three this week, it was Blayne, whose costume almost fell apart on the runway.
Congrats to both Terry and Korto, who were in the top three tonight with great costumes. And from the preview for next week's show, it looks like Stella could have an advantage working with some industrial materials.
Category: Television
Posted by Kara Morrison on Thu, Aug 14, 2008 at 4:03 AMKeith wins; Kelli goes home on "Project Runway"
More surprises tonight on Bravo's "Project Runway." First of all, two designers who typically do not hit the top of my list for great work teamed up tonight and produced one terrific look. Jerell and Stella combined their funky styles to make a dress that stood out to all, including guest judge Brooke Shields.
However, top honors went to Keith, whose dress Shields will wear on "Lipstick Jungle." The look was a risk, with a flowing print top and a chiffon skirt in scale-like layers. Overall, it was new and sophisticated. Kenley also got credit for helping Keith edit his vision. An even bigger help was the fact that she managed to be an easy-going design partner while still stating her opinions.
Sadly, the night wasn't good for Kelli Martin from Columbus, who was sent back to her Ohio boutique. Kelli's pencil skirt with a leopard-print cami and short jacket wasn't terrible, but Michael Kors dismissed it as "slutty, slutty, slutty." In the end, I was surprised her partner Daniel -- who couldn't manage a simple skirt for the challenge -- got to stay. Then again, it's typically the team leader who takes the knife in these challenges.
Blaine was nearly eliminated after creating a pair of long, skinny shorts for an evening look. They might have worked if he had used a dressy fabric, but his entire look didn't seem appropriate or elegant. Although he stays, Shields did call him "bratty" on national TV. That's gotta hurt. Holla!
Category: Television
Posted by Kara Morrison on Thu, Aug 7, 2008 at 2:57 AMKorto wins; Jennifer is auf on "Project Runway"
Olympics fever hit "Project Runway" tonight, with the remaining designers having to create an outfit worthy of the opening ceremonies. U.S. Olympian Apolo Ohno showed the designers an Olympics training center and served as a guest judge.
Congrats to Korto, who pulled off a win with a look that was athletic, fresh and fashionable. Other designers were all over the map with this challenge. Leading the confused pack were Jennifer and Jerell. Alas, Jennifer's striped A-line skirt and girly girl cardigan had judges thinking about tea and crumpets more than gold medals.
Meanwhile, Detroit's own Joe Faris continues to stay in the running. Judges considered his sporty look for the win tonight! Tim Gunn's blog hasn't been completely kind to him the last couple of weeks, however. It's clear Tim wants to see him stretch a little more. Hang in there, Joe!
Category: Television
Posted by Kara Morrison on Thu, Jul 24, 2008 at 2:26 AMSuede wins, Wes is out on "Project Runway"
Joe Faris, Metro Detroit's hometown designer on "Project Runway," easily made it through another challenge by designing a tasteful bronze cocktail dress. However, Wesley Nault didn't have such as easy time. The 23-year-old got stuck with the same shiny, bronze fabric Joe had to work with. But rather than doing something simple and classic, he created a super-short dress with all sorts of unflattering pleats and puckers.On the other hand, Suede (a.k.a. Stephen Whitney Baum), showed us why he's on the show. He pieced together strips of red and cream fabric and tulle and made a fun, young cocktail dress that's definitely a new look. I don't know how BlueFly.com will manufacture it, but that was Suede's big prize.
Overall, tonight the designers did much better creatively. Their big hurdle was that their models had to do the shopping, finding eco-friendly fabrics from Mood for "green" cocktail dresses. My biggest complaint is that we didn't learn anything about new "green" fabrics -- such as soy or bamboo. The only thing we learned is that guest judge Natalie Portman has her own line of eco-friendly shoes, but I can't recall the name.
For the second week, Kenley Collins proved she's a designer to watch this season. Her cream-colored satin cocktail dress had an interesting belt and collar -- even though it was a little too much like Daniel Vosovic's orchid-inspired blouse from Season Two. I thought Terri Stevens' navy blue cocktail dress with a modern "ruffled" collar was overlooked and should have been at least been in the top three. And Jerell Scott's mess of a dress should have had him up for elimination. Instead, Korto ended up in the hot seat for an inside-out dress that Michael Kors said gave her model "fins." In fact, Kors' comment was the quote of the night, reminding us why he makes such a fun judge. "Trust me, I love a curvy girl," he told Korto. "but curvy girls don't want fins off their butt."
Category: Television
Posted by Kara Morrison on Thu, Jul 17, 2008 at 2:13 AMJerry's the first to go on "Project Runway"
Local designer, Joe Faris, made a good showing on his "Project Runway" debut Wednesday night. The first show of Season Five challenged designers to use grocery items for their first garment. Faris made a creative Italian cuisine-inspired halter top and skirt using an oven mitt and pasta.
It wasn't such a good showing for Jerry, the 32-year-old designer from Butte, Montana, who created a nurse-as-ax-murderer ensemble that frankly freaked out the judges. Note to design stars: never use rubber gloves and rubber boots to accessorize an outfit -- especially one meant for "a night on the town." Ugh.
I hate to say it, but this season's overall talent seemed a tad lackluster after the first challenge. Tim Gunn outright called them slackers because so many of them used tablecloths for their garments. Of course, Faris wasn't among that crowd. But it was a little strange on this Fifth Season (the final one on Bravo in New York) not to not see more jaw-dropping designs. Only Korto from Liberia used actual grocery produce, and that's only because Gunn begged her to go over-the-top with her otherwise pretty yellow gown made from (you guessed it) a tablecloth. We hope this group gets over the initial butterflies of being on camera and starts to wow us.
Kudos to challenge winner Kelli from Columbus, Ohio, who has immunity for next week's challenge. She did show guts, making "fabric" from garbage bags she bleached and dyed and using a spiral notebook to create hook-and-eye details.
