Lifetime generously provided Team BPR with a screener of the season 8 premiere. Thank you Lifetime!
The best thing about the premiere was the 90-minute format. There are 17 designers and I appreciated the extra time getting to know them. There's lots of potential for drama and the personalities are already evident. You might think that 90 minutes is long, and it may feel long toward the end of the season, but right now it is perfect.
Because there is no "Models of the Runway" I was expecting more model drama, but so far, this is not evident. The premiere episode doesn't really feature the models at all.
I don't want to give too much away, so I'll just say to tune in on the 29th at 9:00.
My favorites right now are Peach (she is the only one in my demographic, I HAVE to root for her!) and Andy South.
Heidi Klum generously answered all sorts of questions during a conference call this morning. Here are some highlights:
Project Runway Season 8 is still in production. Today is an elimination day!
The season 8 finale (at Lincoln Center) will be on September 9th. I tried to get her to spill on the number of finalists but she didn't say. She hinted that there would be decoys.
Let's pause here and think about how quickly the finalists will have to create their collections. Scary.
There will be an "alternative materials" challenge and Betsey Johnson will be the judge. Trivia: How many times has she served as a judge and what were the challenges?
This was already hinted at, but Heidi confirmed again that in the premiere episode, one designer will be eliminated before he or she even has the chance to unpack.
This sounds like a great idea: Philip Treacy will be the guest judge in a challenge to design a garment inspired by one of his hat designs.
There will be a challenge to design something for Heidi.
Not exactly news, but Models of the Runway has not been renewed. Heidi says it was a network decision.
Thank you Lifetime, for sending an advance copy of the season seven premiere.
We are back in New York, back at The Atlas and back at Parsons. Everything feels like the show that we love. We have the rooftop champagne toast, Heidi is pregnant, Tim is in a suit and all is right with the world.
The designers are all very talented but of course we don't have enough time to get to know them in the first episode. The challenge is to show us "who you are as a designer" of course, with a variety of results. We have everything from "couture evening wear" to "marketable" to "no hanger appeal" to the quirky aesthetic of Ping Wu. These designers are very talented as promised.
Laura K: Of course the ending is not revealed in the screener episode but there is enough to reassure fans that this is the Project Runway that we know and love.
Seriously, I would never guess that there is a new production team, the feel is exactly the same. The music is there, the clock on the wall, the workroom and the sewing room are the same - although the dressmaker forms look brand new. In fact, everything at FIDM site looks brand new.
We have the designer arrivals, checking into the apartments, and then everyone looks "oh so surprised" to discover the "note from Heidi" telling them to join her for champagne on the roof.
The challenge is wonderful and an easy way to see each designer's ability and "point of view." Michael Kors, Nina Garcia and Heidi Klum are all there in their judges chairs along with the "guest judge." The runway looks exactly the same and the models are all gorgeous.
I can't wait for EVERYONE to see this next week!
Scarlett: One of the first things I noticed was that the music sounds the same; even the designers showing up to their apartments felt familiar because of that detail. There are some warm, heart-felt moments and Tim even got a chance to comfort a designer that was having doubts. I think that they did an excellent job of introducing these designers prior to the premiere because I could identify them before they put up their names on the screen. And I honestly wished that I could have seen the judging but I will have to wait for that with the rest of you. The screener was such a tease and at the end I wanted more, More, MORE!
At last we have confirmation of the Season Six premiere. According to this press release, Project Runway will air in the "Summer of 2009" on the newly-formed Weinstein Network.
TWN will launch programming in June 2009 with a marathon of Weinstein hit movies including Clerks II and Who's Your Caddy?
Aiming for an upscale viewership, TWN hopes to build momentum toward the Project Runway premiere "later in the summer."
According to a Weinstein press representative, "All legal matters have been resolved and we are moving forward with our plans to air Project Runway on the new network. Also, season 7 will be filmed in New York City this June."
(Casting information has been posted on Craig's List as well as on the network's new website.)
Asked to comment about Season Six, Tim Gunn responded, "I firmly believe that this cast is the most talented group ever. Season 6 will prove to be the best one ever."
Co-executive producer and host of the show, Heidi Klum claims that, "Harvey is a loyal friend and one of the most beloved men in Hollywood. I count on him to make the impossible possible."
Weinstein continues, "I am tired of piddling around with these other networks, I figure I can just start my own."
Bob Weinstein will head up the new venture. "My brother has always wanted to be a network honcho and we feel like the time is right," says Harvey of his more silent sibling. Also joining the team, Dr. Louis Aronne whom Harvey refers to as his "mentor and life-coach," as well as American Idol host and celebrity wrangler, Ryan Seacrest.
When quizzed about the choice of Seacrest for Vice-President of Reality Programming, Weinstein quipped, "Everything he touches turns to gold. Hell yes, I wanted Seacrest."
TWN will have a "strong reality show presence" with plans to begin filming a new competitive-reality series about dog grooming called "Project Puppy," and another as-yet-unnamed project about celebrity bloggers.
In related news, the Project Runway Season Five DVD is now available. Click here to order.
