"Project Runway" recaplet (5.09): The Zodiac claims two more victims

"I am Captain Gunn. Welcome to Moonbase Gay."

Last night's Project Runway had an astrology theme, as the designers were asked to create a look based on a sign of the Zodiac and to premiere the look at the Rose Space Center at the Museum of Natural History. Were the results heavenly, or something better left to a galaxy far, far away?

We start off with Terri chirping "the witch is dead" in regards to our dearly departed Leathuhface, which isn't exactly sparkling sportsmanship. Kenley, meanwhile, is going on about how she feels like she's one of the best designers left, which is tantamount to tacking a bullseye (with a giant yellow flower for accent, of course!) on her back.

The Yellow Rose of Confidence
 

Back at Parsons, Heidi tells the eight remaining designsketeers that there will be special guests involved in this challenge ... and brings out the eight eliminated designers ... and let me tell you, they do not look happy to be there. They're told that each designer will work with an eliminated designer on an avant-garde look based on the astrological sign of one designer in the pair.

To quote the ever-chipper Korto, "Oh God Jesus help me."

Yes, the designers have not exactly gone above and beyond in the avant-garde challenges, so this could be interesting, particularly with the disinterested/bitter/deadweight assistants that they're paired up with: Korto and Kelli choose Aquarius, Kenley and Wesley (remember him?) also do Aquarius, Joe and Daniel do Aries, Leanne and Emily (Girls, Interrupted powers, ACTIVATE!) pick Scorpio, Blayne and Stella (HOT) pick Libra, Terri and Keith choose Leo, Jerell and Jennifer do Saggitarius, and Suede and Jerry pick Libra.

There is so much effing love in that room.
 

They're given books that describe the various signs and we see that right off the bat there are some groups that are leaning toward the literal and others who are thinking outside the box, outside the room the box was in, out the window, down the street and into the fitting room of a Dress Barn Runway. But we'll get to that in a minute.

First, there's bitchiness to enjoy!

Keith borrows Kenley's bullseye (sans yellow flower) when he tells Terri that he's "kinda fragile" from being recently eliminated, which of course doesn't sit well with Terri, who notes that "maybe he can count the pins that fall on the floor." 

Hey, remember me? Didn't think so.
 

Meanwhile, Leanne is hating on the silhouette of Kenley's monstrosity of a dress with Emily and complains that Kenley is too loud and overconfident, and Kenley throws it right back at them, noting, "I'm just having fun and some girls don't like that."

Um, I don't mean to make waves, Kenley, but I think you're wrong on that one:

In fact, some would argue that's all they really want.

Elsewhere in the room, Mighty Joe Straight's fabric looks like uncooked bacon, Korto's pattern looks like a toilet seat, and overall there's a whole lotta ugly going on.

Joe's model was later eliminated via trichinosis.
 

Tim breezes in to give his feedback, and of course Kenley is less than receptive to the criticism that her Mickey Mouse outfit looks costumey, shooting back, "What play is this?" Meanwhile, Wesley clearly knows it's a disaster but is obviously too terrified of Kenley to say anything.

Speaking of terrified, Keith is not doing well under the iron rule of Terri, who snaps "don't call me darlin'" at him and accuses him of being worthless and not voicing his opinion. Keith replies, "What a f*cking nightmare." Seriously, though ... from our interview with him after his aufing Keith really seemed beaten down by the show, and to have to come back after elimination and work for someone who doesn't appreciate your input?  I'd be like, "how about I just stand here and you all take turns beating me with a stick?"

Actually, what Keith says is, "I'm not going to stand here like a fool because she's an angry, bitter person." Same diff. 

The next day the designsketeers are told that they'll have 4 fewer hours than they'd expected to finish their looks and that they'd be premiering them to a group of special guests at the Museum of Natural History. 

Also, there will be a double elimination and from this point on, no immunity in any of the challenges. And have a nice day!

The 'sketeers are marched to the Rose Space Center (which is really totally awesome, if you ever have the chance to go) and learn that their guests are NY fave designers from the previous seasons: Christian, Jay, Daniel V., Allison, Kara, and more. The designers have to walk their models around and show them off face-to-face, and it all has a kind of "costume day at the Chicken Ranch" kind of feel to it that makes me a little uncomfortable ... especially when Kenley and Heidi get into a squabble about the placement of her model's boobs and Heidi calls Blayne's outfit "a little bit granny panties". 

Blayne's granny panties
 

And is it just me, or is Heidi's answer to everything "let's pop some bottles"? My kind of woman. 

The next day the designers have a little time to whip their outfits into runway shape based on the feedback from the Elders, and Terri for one loses the fur collar on her Dress-Me-Up Simba dress, which honestly was waaaay too literal for its own good. Keith, meanwhile, has thrown in the towel and goes to take a nap in the break room, and Tim has to go find him and wake him up for the show. Chris March, consider the torch passed!

The Best: Mighty Joe Straight's dress is actually pretty hot once he gets all that uncooked bacon under control.

Joe's dress
 

Korto's is nice enough, but it's not exactly screaming avant-garde ... and is it just me, or do those arm loops feel a bit Leanne to you?

Korto's dress
 

Leanne's, meanwhile, is crazy hot. It's the only truly avant-garde piece on the runway, and it's fascinating.

Leanne's dress
 

But in the end, Jerell wins ... and love him though I do, his was not the best dress.

Jerell's winning dress
 

I seriously don't get it, other than that the producers didn't want to give Leanne her third consecutive (and much-deserved) win. I'm actually really looking forward to seeing her collection tomorrow.

The Worst: Believe it or not, I didn't hate Blayne's outfit this week...

Blayne's dress
 

...which of course means he's in the bottom four, along with Suede (whose also wasn't that bad, really)...

Suede's outfit
 

...Terri (whose was that bad, really)...

Terri's dress
 

...and Kenley, whose "off with her head!" monstrosity defies description.

Kenley's dress
 

Kenley of course gets into a fight with the judges defending her work, which completely missed the point and looks preposterous, not fashion-forward. I have her pegged to go home, but the producers have other plans ...

The Eliminated: In the end, Blayne is auf'd ... and so is Terri. Yes, the designer I had pegged to make it to the Final 3 crashed and burned with an outfit that looked like a Bed-In-a-Bag set from the Bombay Company Collection ... or as Michael Kors put it, "Voodoo priestess in hell." Ouch! Kors also calls Suede out (though not to his face) for referring to himself in the third person, which is looong overdue.

In his exit interview Blayne notes that he's "about to rule the world." That's actually true ... but unfortunately it's The Fantastic World of Lisa Frank:

The Return of the Keith-O-Meter!

Yes, I'm dusting off The Keith-O-Meter this week in honor of his comeback, where he managed to passive-aggressive one of the frontrunners right out of the competition. Atta boy!

Planet RunGay Status Check

Things aren't looking too good, folks. Another gay down, and two to go ... one of whom is living on borrowed oxygen, IMHO. Is Jerell our only hope for the finals? 

 Be sure to tune in tomorrow at 9AM EDT for my liveblog of the final fashion show (which, with six designers still in the running, is gonna be looooooonnnnnnnng) and let us know what you thought of this week's ep in the comments!