 by Brian Juergens
Video Blogs
TV Shows:
Find Articles On:
Who's onlineThere are currently 13 members and 810 guests online.
|
"Project Runway" recaplet (5.06): "Hiding the candy"
This week's Project Runway was the much-anticipated "Gayest Episode Ever". But what the drag-queen-heavy promos didn't tell us is that last night's episode had a special sponsor: Irony. Because while the challenge of designing for a gaggle of men in pantyhose may have offered the highest GPM rate (Gay Per Minute) in the show's history, in the end it was one of the worst showings Team Gay has had this season. Somewhere up in heaven, an angel in a crooked wig is crying sequins. We meet up with the designsketeers in the morning of their next challenge, and quickly learn that Stella looks like 40 yards of bad leathuh before she's had her coffee, and Mighty Joe Straight apparently sleeps in a vat of olive oil (what was up with the greaser look?). The kids are trotted back to Parsons, where they learn that their next challenge will be designing dresses for a flock of feisty drag queens.
Heidi and Brunhilda Sorry, did I say "feisty"? I meant ENORMOUS. Seriously, my first thought when they paraded them out was, "they're gonna need a bigger runway". They're not like the usual models, which stack like kindling. With the help of Season 4 fave Chris March (who is done up like a Wagnerian Discounfalle), Heidi introduces the drag queens, who each have a moment to pitch their shtick, like this is some twisted version of The Dating Game. ("I'm Mona Lott and if you were a dentist I'd let you fill my cavity any day!") The 'sketeers pair up with their queens and they're off to the workroom to caucus. Let me point out that of the designers Terri looks most excited ("I love drag queens!") and both Korto and Kenley are either petrified or in desperate need of Activia.
Keith gives Sherry Vine some sparkle Upstairs the designers learn that the dresses they design will be auctioned off to benefit Broadway Cares Equity Fights AIDS, which is really cool, and Tim says literally about 4,583 times that the keywords for this challenge are "theatrical" and "over-the-top". As if to prove his point, we get a good look at the queens, who look like they all were involved in some kind of catastrophe in the buttons-and-trims district. For example, Hedda Lettuce looks like a leprechaun stewardess, and Miss Understood is in the process of being swallowed by a frog, by the looks of it. In other words: we're not looking for subtlety here. The most shocking development this round is when Blayne tries to give everyone drag names by picking random adjectives and sticking "licious" at the end of them. "Shocking" in the sense of, "I can't believe they're still beating this deadlicious horselicious." Thankfully, the other designers (led by Alpha Girl, Interrupted Leanne, who really redeemed herself here) call him out on it, which hopefully will mean the end of the whole stupidlicious mess. Meaning, I think we've officially "jumped the sharkalicious".
Oh, and I love when Mighty Joe Straight says that he's coming at the challenge as though he were "designing Halloween costumes for his daughters". Um, remind me to trick-or-treat at their house this year, because I gotta see that. Find out what horrors await on the runway, as well as who the challenge dragged down, after the jump! A few other things worth noting happen in the whirlwind of sequins, all of which share a common theme. First, Terri notes that she "loves a titty hangin' out." Noted, thanks! Then, we learn that Varla Jean Merman has actually left Joe her breasts so that he can get the proper fit on his outfit. Let me repeat that: She left her breasts. Since when is it fair play to have your model leave a part of her anatomy in the workroom? I'm calling unfair advantage.
Kenley won't give Daniel the shirt off her front Meanwhile, Daniel asks former BFF Kenley (I'm imagining they might have fallen out after she, you know, laughed at him during elimination last week) if he can use her brassiere for a minute, and she refuses. Oh, and later, when they're being chased through the halls by a flesh-eating zombie, Kenley trips Daniel and runs. Just sayin'. But we haven't even gotten to the best part yet. In a truly bizarre Project Runway moment, we learn that Suede, while working on an outfit for a celebrated NYC drag queen, has been visited by the spirit of his dead grandfather, who sprinkled lettuce seeds all over the sleeves and grew tiny heads of bibb. Seriously, I wish I was making this up, because it scares me a little. Sorry, why did your dead relative choose this particular challenge to visit you? Was your grandfather Quentin Crisp? I mean, the ghost of my great grandnana often stops by to offer me manscaping tips, but we're hairy people. After that Ghost of Drag Queens Past moment, the models come in out of drag, which is pretty cool, if only because I've seen half of these guys perform and it's kind of a thrill to think I'll now be able to attack them if I see them at the laundromat in broad daylight. Hedda Lettuce isn't digging what Suede's paranormal experience came up with, but otherwise things are moving along.
Holdin' out for a hero? Off to the show, where we learn that the guest judge is none other than super drag queen RuPaul herself. I love me some Ru ... but seriously, what's up with the outfit, and that wig?! If she was going for the "Bonnie Tyler freshly banged in an alley" look, she nailed it. The Best: Terri Terri Terri. Hot. Fierce. Fascinating. I loved every inch of her heavy metal samurai monstrosity, which managed to look avant-garde, theatrical and classy all at once.
Terri's dress Kenley's was also pretty hot, if a bit standard in that old Hollywood way.
Kenley's dress Mighty Joe Straight's is hot too, I have to say, although his original concept was hideous (thankfully, Varla steered him away from Vegas in Space and toward Ann Margaret on a cruise ship). The others are honestly pretty standard, as far as drag costumes go.
Joe's winning number Ultimately (and really rather surprisingly, I think) the judges award Joe the win, meaning that he has immunity for next week. Michael Kors and RuPaul were particularly impressed with how he designed the large belt buckle to "hide the candy" in the otherwise skintight crotchular area. I think "hiding the candy" will be what Joe's neighbors will be doing when his daughters show up at their houses wearing this outfit next Halloween. But seriously, not Terri? Really? Damn. Note that the top three were the straight guy and two women, with the straight guy taking the win. In a drag queen challenge. Irony Sensors tingling... The Worst: Blayne. Ugh. It looked like an art school class project gone wrong. And it broke halfway down the runway ... and yet he wasn't even in the bottom three? Likewise, Stella's outfit was pretty dull, for the challenge. And Daniel and Jerell seemed to miss the 4,683 times that Tim said "dramatic" and "over-the-top", because they both delivered pretty run-of-the-mill gowns that any woman could probably pull off.
Blayne's dress In the end, Keith, Jerell, and Daniel are in the bottom three. IRONY SENSORS AFIRE. The Eliminated: Daniel is sent packing. Topping off the irony sundae, here was the first week where Daniel actually delivered something relatively tasteful after taking up his taste level for 6 weeks. But he did it in a drag queen challenge. Good thing he hasn't been talking up his excellent sense of timing, because he apparently has none. Maybe he'll talk that up next week.
Daniel's losing dress Oh, and Keith in the bottom two? Puh-leeeze. It wasn't that bad. They're just trying to shake him up a little because they're worried he's sticking too close to his tattered guns. It was never gonna happen. But how hot was it when RuPaul, who didn't like hearing Keith make excuses, asked him if a dingo ate his baby?
Keith's dress Actually, RuPaul added more to this judging than most guest judges do (paging Sandra Bernhard's pantsuit!) by contributing such delighful phrases as "these girls don't wanna be sellin' no hormones up in Harlem to make their rent money" and of course "hiding the candy". The Keith-O-Meter Not too much Keith this week. And again, I don't think he was going anywhere, so I didn't even break a sweat when he was in the bottom two.
Planet RunGay Status Check Oh, Team Gay. Oh, my my my my. A drag queen challenge and we have all gays in the bottom three?! I'm mortified. And even worse, you let Mighty Joe Straight shlump away with the win. Benevolent Planet RunGay Overlord Christian Siriano was actually so disgusted by your failure that he had to fly off to the TRESemme Nebulon for a spa day, leaving guest judge RuPaul to exact punishment. Sorry, Daniel. You betta work in some other galaxy.
Submitted by on Thu, 2008-08-21 09:57. |
 Recent Comments
Recent blog posts
|
Welcome to AfterElton.com!
- Login
- Join Now!
News, Reviews & Commentary on Gay and Bisexual Men in Entertainment and the Media
Joe completely lucked out this time.....
He was sort of stumbling around with his "Elvis pukes Pepto-Bismol" look, but Varla Jean set him in the right direction. Did anyone else notice that Varla Jean Merman as a guy was eminently, oh, what's the word.....do-able?
I don't know about the Keith-meister. When the judges start harping about how a designer "can't get beyond a certain look" that means it's Come to Jesus time. Either show more originality or pack up the pinking shears, because their gunsights are trained on you. Along those same lines, I don't predict a happy ending for Suede at all.
Joshua Norton
San Francisco
My thought exactly, Joshua...
Did anyone else notice that Varla Jean Merman as a guy was eminently, oh, what's the word.....do-able?
I think AE needs to get Jeffery Roberson (aka Varla Jean) and Cheyene Jackson in a Hottest Thighs competition.
Better yet...
Blayne!
Get rid of him! Even though it wasn't the worst, he still should've gone, 'cause he's icky. Keith was totally the worst. At least Daniel's worked - Keith's was scary.
Terri should have won, and it's a travesty that she didn't. Even though Joe's was very good, Terri's was just insanely awesome, and fit Acid Betty (who was brilliant herself.) perfectly.
So glad to see Chris March again. Fitting, as this was my favorite competition ever after his and Christian's amazing Avante Garde showing. Hope to see more of him.
Suede's grandfather bit was crazy - which is why I love him.
Keith has little talent and should Go
Hi Brian-
I believe your objectivity is damaged because you find Keith attractive. His designs are pretty awful. They consistently look unflattering and they are based on a single technique. This season's team gay just doesn't have the chops to win. Korto and Terri are clearly the best designers. While Kenley is good.
worst drag namer ever
Blayne's an idiot; adding licious to the end of something doesn't give you a drag name. Everyone knows it's the name of your first pet and the street you grew up on (or is that your stripper name?)
Chris March and Varla Jean should have their own shows to fill the void when Runway jumps to Lifetime.
Dottie Transylvania
You got the drag name formula right. Which makes me: Dottie Transylvania!
I mean, honestly, could I possibly have been granted a better drag name?
Yoiks!
We had three pets at once when I was a kid.
That makes me either: Smokey Broadacre, Angel Broadacre or Cha-Cha Broadacre.
No wonder I never do drag.
Doesn't work for me either...
...I'd have to be Peppy 17th.
(Although I'd pay to see Cha-Cha Broadacre.)
Don't think I'd be too successful with...
Mr. Lucky Oglethorpe.
I think I'll go with Amber Alert instead!
Hah!
Finally caught up
It was great to see some drama and sassy drag queens. Terri should have won. I was slightly annoyed that Joe did, I wondered is it was the straight guy who choose pink for the outfit, but I suppose its not easy to make such a skin thight outfit for a drag queen that looks good, in the end it wasnt that bad.
Yes, it is ironic that "the gays" did so bad and "the straights" did well. I think it might had somethign to do with the foreingness of the concept that allowed them to embrace, experiment and take direction from the ladies. Although, Girl Interrupted should have been at the bottom group.
I dont know what it is but I like Suede, think hes interesting in a cookie sort of way; but Wookielicious really needs to go, now.
And now Keith, ahhh Keeeeith. As soon as I got the first look at his outfit I knew he might be in trouble. Now, I get signature looks, but he really was pushing it, he is stuck in the same look. Even Stella puts a lot of herself in her designs and gives something different each time. He better take this as a wake up call, otherwise his cute behind is not going to last long.
It was fitting for Daniel to go, he really cant get out of himself long enough to accomplish the task.
BTW, I think it was really sweet how Keith reacted to Daniels Auf. Apparently they became quite close, if I did not know about Daniel and Wes, I might have thought there was something there.
Ru Paul rocks!
Great recap. And this weeks Planet RunGay graphic was excellent.
Apparently, Kenley's laugh
Apparently, Kenley's laugh last week was taken out of context (according to Daniel). I still think she's a tool though.
Varla Jean and Acid Betty were well hot.
I've seen a few interviews with Daniel and Wesley, and he comes off far more likeble in them then on the show. I think he was just totally out of his depth. It's not the kind of environment that suits all designers. Like asking a regular sprinter to suddenly complete an obstacle course.
And I thought Hedda's comments about Suede being too lazy to do sleeves were a bit excessive. presumably fitted, full-lenght gloves would be more hassle then sleeves?
Stella's personal style seems to be branching out anyway. I spotted her in some bright pink.
Joe's outfit was cute but
Joe's outfit was cute but middling in terms of creativity. I thought that the queen wearing it did more to sell the outfit to the judges than the outfit itself. The tailoring was lovely but in terms of creativity, Terri blew him out of the water. I find the judges off the mark quite often but last night they weren't even in the same universe as me. Terri's rocked that comp. Plus, I hate Joe.
Team gay is rank this year. Suede is so self-involved it's baffling to me that his ideas actually translate into garments. Blaine is a child and his ideas are equally immature and unevolved. Daniel put more energy into his own appearance than he did his garments. And Keith, god I love him, is a mess. Last week was the first presentable garment he's made. Otherwise, I've found him utterly unimpressive. There's a fine line between innovative and ridiculous. He needs to learn how to walk that line a little better. I don't even want to get started on Jerrell, as his model looked like a Gremlin who barfed some purple all over herself. Yuck.
None of these gays have the talent of the Christians and Daniels and even that bitchy little priss that won season 1. Very disappointing.
Total Tranny Fierceness Royalty!
OMG. I so loved Terri's “cross between between KISS, heavy-metal band, and Mahogany”!!!
And to top that Acid Betty was her model! Total Tranny Fierceness Royalty!
Acid Betty is so hot - on-drag and off! Gawd!
And did ya'll notice her highness' make up up-close? Fierce! Fierce! Fierce!
I was so rooting for Terri, Joe better thank Varla Jean a lot cos if it wasn't for her he'd be sending a not-hot-tranny-Elvis down the runway. To be fair, Varla Jean's ass and legs were freakin-tastic in that number; although they already are, Joe's did show the judges and us which part of her body to look at.
Acid Betty! Acid Betty! Acid Betty! I can't get enough of her! I'm tranny fierceness in love!
xoxo
PS Why was Keith crying so hard, exceptionally hard, on Daniel's lap after Daniel got Auf'd? Hmm.
It was Good Queen Fun
It was a good episode, a much needed highly entertaining episode from this season. There were so many jokes that made me laugh hard.
Terri should have won, like so many others have said. Her design was fashionable, dramatic and it fit Acid Betty perfectly. I guess why we think that Joe wasn't as deserving to win is because it was Jean that helped him with the de-Elvis-Presley the design. Otherwise he'd have just been fitting Elvis in a pink drag suit.
I thought Jerrell's design was disappointing - from the choice of colours to design - BORING. Stella and Leanne's were boring too - there's nothing fashionable about their pieces. Leanne's looked like a school project in which she just stuck things together. Kenley's design was predictable - drag queens and feathers, what's new! Speaking of boring, I think a dingo ate RuPaul's clothes and she had to go to the store mentioned by Michael and picked up something that spelled BORING and wig so cheap like she was being chased after by the same dingo!.
I don't hate Blayne - I think we need a little craziness (terodectyl from Gay JP) on the show. Korto is all serious and doesn't bother with what else is going on. Suede looked like he was gonna cryyyyyyyyy! His design did look like a rolling watermelon. It's like the duelling of a giant fireball vs. a rolling watermelon.
Glad that Daniel was gone finally! His poor taste and messy hair were starting to bother me a lot! However, I don't question, even a bit, his taste in Wesley. I'm jealous, with two capital green eyes. Such a cute couple. And better hair, after being Auf'd. Daniel always missed the briefs with his fit-for-every-occassion cocktail dresses. Keith should be Auf'd too if he continued to tear up toilet papers.
I'm rooting for Terri - she's the hag and she's fierce! She has got the uniqueness and loudness in her work.
Terri should have won by a landslide.... Keith start packing :-(
The show is still a shadow of it's former self and I think that it's just the familiarity and that it just did not find designers who could perform under the show's very specific window.
While I don't know any of the behind the scenes casting elements, this show really requires more than someone who might be "good" as "good" is a non-issue if a designer can only work at a slow pace or might require some time to reflect and executive.
I am tempted to suggest that they might have better luck going to fashion schools and casting based on fake little challenges to make sure that there is not so much dead weight.
Back to the festivities...
1)Ru Paul is looking shabby. She worked the flawless angle to the max in her former life. Saaad, but so true about him being a better judge than some other clowns this season. Not as sad as me being dissed/run-over by Jackie Beat a few years back when she was playing the Helen Lawson role in the off-off Valley of the Dolls spoof. I ran into that mess at a bar and it was not pretty.
2) Chris March's outfit rocked.
3) Terri was out of this world. That get-up was so perfect for the performer and perfect period. I can see more than one self-assured chick being able to wear this out and not as "drag."
4) Head of Lettuce. Wig needs help. I loved seeing the increasingly joy-free Tim telling blue stripper pube line Suede to stand up to the green thing. I don't remember the actual words, but the zest and grandfatherly advice was great.
5) Stella was shown holding a hammer again? Did anything that she work on require that or could it be just be part of her routine? As long as it's not just snuck in by the producers to make-up for this being the first week that we don't get an obligatory reel of one of the Olsen twins on the cover of Elle before the show pans into Atlas.
6) My beloved Keith? A hack. A seemingly loving one though which is more important AND the picture of the dress here looks 10 times better than it looked on the runway.
7) Bitchy remark on board - God bless Jerrell's model as she has more self-assurance than I ever will aspire to. She really does think that she has a gorgeous mug on her.... Helen Thomas today looks prettier than this gal.
8) The shark is back. Thanks Brian
9) Remaining granola crunchy girl has some life in her after all as her design was acceptable and she gave good face during the confessional.
10) Daniel - While the man who never met a challenge that he liked may not have been the worst last night, it's kind of like the Beverley D'Angelo lookalike who was dismissed last week. It seems that some don't leave exactly when they should but few last much longer than that even if they were saved. Dan to me was a no-brainer for dismissal last week, and if history continues to hold up, Keith/Blayne should start packing their bags next week.
IMHO, what was the voting audience thinking about wanting to see Tim over Michael in drag? I'd agree only if everything was in someone else's hands and Tim just served as a vessel. Michael would be fun, but if you've seen his mom, you already know what he's look like as a lady. The apple did not just not fall far from the tree, it was cloned :-)
Guillermo's Media Guillotine: Entertainment, journalism, politics, and popular culture.
http://springintoaction.typepad.com
Beverly D'Angelo lookalike
So funny you would say that last week's auf'ed designer Kelli is a Beverly D'Angelo in that not only are they both from right here in Columbus, but roughly from the same neighborhood.
Heck, for all I know they could be related!
Enuff with the Keithiness
Nah, while Daniel did deserve to go, Keith's look was tragic in the extreme.
And, again ... not hot. Icky.
Now, Varla ... there's some hot! Woof.
And, yes, Terri is the BEST! It's about time she wins!