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"Project Runway" recaplet (5.11): Rock & Roll Runway
We’re coming down to the pointy end of the competition on Project Runway. Last week we said farewell to the token straight guy, Joe. That leaves just five contestants. Heidi comes strutting down the runway at the beginning of the show for the model selection. She’s twirling her velvet chip pouch and looking uncharacteristically frumpy in her gold brocade skirt.
It has been awhile since the contestants got to select models, so out of the remaining 8 girls lined up in their black teddies for inspection, 3 must go home. Heidi pulls Kenley’s name from the pouch first, and Kenley shocks everyone by changing models. Her original model looked completely devastated. You expect that sort of ill behavior from Kenley, but surprise, mousy Leanne gets to pick next and she poaches Suede’s model Tria! As Suede would say (and in fact does), “Suede is not happy.” Back at Parsons, Tim Gunn comes in and tells the designers they’ll be designing for each other this week. And can I just say this seems horribly unfair? I mean if you get Leanne or Kenley or even full-figured Korto then you still get to do women’s wear and really don’t have to go out of your comfort zone. But what about the poor soul who gets stuck with Suede? Not only does that mean you have to do menswear (something none of the designers seem comfortable with), but you have to do menswear for someone who isn’t exactly a clothes horse. Korto gets stuck with Suede, and she is not happy about it.
After Tim tells them who will be designing for who, he throws out another twist – they have to base their designs on a musical genre. Here’s the breakdown….
Suede is designing a Rock &
Roll outfit for Jerell The designers then huddle with each other to hash out design concepts. Right away problems surface with Kenley’s design for Liane. Kenley has a very broad notion of what “Hip Hop” is and is not receptive to Leanne’s suggestions. Says Kenley: “I want to do something that looks good on her. I’m not going to make her look like a fool.” Uh it’s not as if the girl needs any help in that department. Next thing, we cut away to an interview shot where Leanne is doing an embarrassing freestyle rap.
Yo
Kenley’s gonna make an outfit for me-uh Note to self: NEVER attempt to rap on camera. Unless you’re, say, Eminem that sort of thing never works out well. Mood The designers head off to Mood for fabrics and again it seems like the big point of conflict is Kenley. She chooses a festive floral print for part of her “hip hop” outfit. Tim Gunn expresses concern that it’s not hip hop enough (try at all!). Kenley sticks to her guns as she always does, completely ignoring his concerns. The rest of the designers just roll their eyes at Kenley. It’s like they are all silently rooting for her to fail. Smirks Jerell during an interview cutaway, “I just don’t think that there’s anything hip hop in Kenley’s bag of 50’s style dresses.”
Back in the Workroom Kenley looks to be heading towards disaster with her design, but across the workroom Leanne has magically transformed Korto into a country and western star. Initially, Korto was very skeptical of a country and western outfit, but the minute Leanne slips the cowboy boots on her feet, Korto is two stepping around the workroom and humming Shania Twain.
Later, Tim comes in to do his regular inspections. (I always hate that he waits to do this until late in the day when the designers don’t really have time to make drastic changes to their designs.) He looks around the room and doesn’t really have a problem with anyone’s work until he gets to Kenley. He looks at her high-waisted, tight Capri pants and tiny jacket and innocently mentions that he thought the hip hop look was “oversized and loose.” Kenley blows her top. “No! That’s like 80’s hip hop!” Right, so according to Kenley hip hop artists are now wearing high waisted, high water Capri pants. She’s designed a pair of “gangsta clamdiggers.” Kenley basically waves Tim away and, something unusual for Tim, he gets a little peeved with her: Tim: You know I’m just trying to understand your vision here. If you could eliminate the sarcasm and facetiousness maybe it would help.
Apparently that’s a tall order for Kenley. She giggles nervously and says nothing. The rest of the contestants all roll their eyes again – they know that you never disrespect Tim. Even if you disagree with him you never disrespect him. (Later on during the show they run one of those text message polls asking whether viewers thought Kenley was disrespectful. A full 88% said yes.) More and more it’s looking like Kenley will be going home this week. The Fittings Everything seems to be going smoothly at final fittings and hair and makeup except for Kenley’s fitting for Leanne. Looks like those gangsta clamdiggers Kenley was so proud of are giving little Leanne a rather obvious case of cameltoe. Kenley: Okay, so there’s a little bunching in the crotch. But not anything the judges would notice. Yeah right.
The Runway Show Korto totally rocks Leanne’s country outfit. To my mind this was arguably the hardest design brief (Korto in country?), but somehow it works. Kenley comes out in Jerell’s pop outfit. She totally looks like an out of shape, brunette Britney Spears. (Which is to say she looks exactly like a brunette Britney Spears) Then comes Leanne in Kenley’s “hip hop” outfit. Oh this is a total disaster. It looks like something Laura Petrie would wear on The Dick Van Dyke Show, only Leanne is half-heartedly throwing in some gangsta moves while simultaneously shielding her cameltoe from the judges. Cut to guest judge LL Cool J’s face. He’s totally smirking. Then comes Suede in Korto’s punk outfit. Remember I said that having Suede as a model would be a disadvantage? Well I take that back. The guy totally gets into the “punk” persona and really sells Korto’s amazing design. The artfully bleached jeans are a particular high point. Suede actually looks far better than he usually does on the show. Lastly, Jerell comes out in Suede’s rock & roll outfit. It‘s not ugly, but it’s a little too put together and polished to truly be rock & roll.
The Judging The winner is no surprise. Korto takes it for her very impressive punk outfit. But I think she owes a big thanks to Suede for selling it so well on the runway. The bottom two are Kenley and Suede. Kenley’s outfit is truly ridiculous and she talks back and whines to the judges. Meanwhile, Suede’s outfit was a little boring but clearly well made and at least flattering on Jerell. So who goes home? Suede!
Whaaa? Kenley really deserved to get the axe this week. But clearly she makes for great TV, and overall she’s probably been more consistent than Suede, so maybe the decision makes sense. So that leaves Kenley, Korto, Jerell and Leanne. Which three will get through next week and go on to Bryant Park? I think Korto and Jerell probably are a lock, which leaves Leanne and Kenley fighting for that third slot. As annoying as I think Kenley is, she’s very talented when she’s in her element (namely vintage 50’s fashion) so I’m sort of hoping she survives and Leanne goes home next week. What do AfterElton.com readers think?
Submitted by on Thu, 2008-09-25 13:04. |
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Matt is not upset that Suede was booted
Matt didn't like Suede's work from day one. Matt thought Suede's drag queen outfit, while not the worst, was hideous. Matt will not shed a tear about Suede getting the boot. Matt's grandfather came to him in a dream and said Suede was not gonna win.
Matt now says bye.
Suede!
Suede leaves, and Kenley's monstrosity get a pass?
Bizarro World!
Ugh! The Kenly! The Drama!
Okay, so I know I said I don't like Suede and I can't believe that I'm saying this, but I would have liked for Suede to have stayed in the compitition for atleast the next episode. While I wasn't always (close to never) blown away by he designs, his attitude (and apparent
Ghost Whispererpsyhic abilities) made the show at least entertaining.I was wrong when I said that Keith was the sleeper villian of the show, in fact it's Kenly, the b*tch really needs to reign in her ego, like NOW! Once you talk back to the judges AND disrepect Tim Gunn, your days are numbered. Me thinks that Kenly will be going home next week and Leanne, whille at the bottom two, will be going to Bryant Park with Korto and Jerrell.
As for this weeks episode, aside from the Drama, I'm still feeling lukewarm with this season.
"God is coming and SHE is pissed"
Kenley gets obnoxiousness longevity
This seemed clearly a producer intervention, "suggesting" the judges keep Kenley instead of Suede. I was so looking forward to watching how Tim said goodbye to Kenley after she was such an insufferable brat to him.
But, yeah, it is good television to watch her interact with the three (talented) remainers next week. There's no question it should be Leanne who continues instead of that little throwback hyena. Granted, I'm not discounting the fact that editing could be making her look more demonic and ill-behooved than she really is, but Kenley is a one-trick pony, and that trick don't wanna pay her no mo'. And neither does the pony.
The sad part is, this season has kinda devolved into confrontation instead of competition. The talent doesn't seem to be as important to the producers as the nya-ah-ahhh factor of the brats.
The blog would never trick your pony.
Oh no you didn't!
We'll never know whether Tim has reacted that way to anyone else, and the editors have just chosen not to show it, but the mere fact that Kenley does not have the brains to show Tim some respect, even if she disagrees with him, is enough for me to want her gone. Add to that her behavior with the judges, plus the fact that this week's outfit was poorly designed/poorly executed, and she really needs to go. Repeatedly designing well within your comfort zone is ok to get you to the top 5, but shouldn't propel you into the final.
Leanne, while something of a drip, has shown certainly shown more range than Kenley. While I wouldn't want to have to socialize with Leanne, she does have some talent, and as between her and Kenley, I think Leanne is more deserving of being in the final 3.
I'm also not so sure that Jerrell is such a lock, and we could actually see a 3 woman final.
Korto, meanwhile made my night with her comment on Kenley's "attempt" at hip hop. The look on her face alone was worth the win.
I'm confused
I don't remember the instructions for the challenge at any time saying that the outfit was for a performance; they just said it was to be inspired by a genre. But then the judges harped on Suede and Leanne for producing music-inspired ready-to-wears. Eh?
I'm also upset that Suede got sent home because, well, if the designers were the clients, then Suede is the only one who produced something that his client would actually wear. Yes, Heidi astutely noted that it was just Jerell up there, but I don't see that as a bad thing.
Kenley's drama SO does not need to extend to Bryant Park. I hope it doesn't.
I Loved Suede's design
And I can't stand his TV personality and have hated everything he's designed until now. But I think the rock outfit he did for Jerrel kicked ass. It was interesting and stylish without being cliche, over the top, glam, or a costume (all of which would have gotten him criticized by the judges) and made Jerrell look fantastic. Yes, as Kors said, the outfit was tamer than Jerrell's own personal style, but IMHO, that's a GOOD thing. With a toned down look, Jerrell looked absolutely fantastic.
Overall, Kenley, as annoying as she is, probably deserved to stick around another week over Suede based on her performance all season. But based on this challenge alone, she should DEFINITELY gone home before Suede. That faux-hop outfit she threw together was the worst thing I've seen on this show.
Must I be the one....
to mention how they kept giving us crotch shots of Jerrell in those tight pants. I know you all noticed, and there truly was a VPL!
Also Korto wasn't Debbie Downer this episode, well not most of the episode. It was refreshing to see her smiling and laughing. It kinda made me miss old Korto.
And yes! Kenley defintely should have went home this week. She is a better designer than Suede, but after sassing Tim Gunn, who should have that instance told her she needed to cleanup her work area and go home, and all her whining and not taking anyones advice, I'm sick of her.
I noticed but had never heard about VPL. I feel so old....
Guillermo's Media Guillotine: Entertainment, journalism, politics, and popular culture.
http://springintoaction.typepad.com
VPL
I didn't notice any VPL on Jerell, but I did notice the log he was carrying around in his crotch (so did the cameraman or editor who kept showing it).
Unless of course that VPL has been redefined from "Visible Panty Line" to "Visible Penis Line."
VPL
See "Annie Hall." Hollywood
Apparently they have
Wonder when that happened?
It's Hell getting old.
While Kenley product was a mess and a half, the judges
I think that she's a brat, but like Keith, she would have been gone if she did not have the talent to marginally offset her offensiveness/defensiveness as it makes the judges look like idiots. To a certain degree she is a less overtly combative version of Rami last season as he also keep putting out the same thing. While I am not a fan of brats, Leann's tunnel vision design style might actually help her stand out in the niche that all the better designers try to carve for themselves. The problem is that these contestants will bore the viewers with sameness.
Some different takes:
1) I thought that Heidi was working her look at the beginning of the show.
2) Dennis: Who said the world was fair? ;-)
3) Kenley looked out of shape??? In what universe? Her body was rocking!!! So now I know who's casting for the chicks of 90210.... <---- Snark alert.
I don't like her either, but I thought that she looked amazing and worked her outfit with such graciousness that I was shocked. Kenley's design was a Frugal Fanny nightmare, but LeAnn seems to be a closeted reincarnation of Wendy Pepper as her walk/look on the runway was the equivalent of throwing a challenge. But life is not fair and no one could have saved the disaster that Kenley put out. One name for future inspiration: Mary as in Mary J. Blige.
4) I agreed with the judges about Jerrell's outfit being great. Guest host LL Cool J? H-O-T, knew what he liked (naked Kenley's back), and I demand that he should always be shirtless.
WTF? The show, which in my assessment continues to suck, is actually doing some good things by switching things up by not using the models. Great little fake-drama moment at the beginning of the show with the first model ever showing any emotion about being told to go home. After all this, the show yet again does not use the models? Lame. Waste this part of the show and use models only when warranted.
This show needs so much retooling that not even Jeff Stryker in his prime might be able to salvage it's creative juice. There must be enough faithful viewers out there like us and then some as this season on average has been doing 20% better in the ratings than last season. This must be like when your favorite band gets discovered and it starts to suck.
Guillermo's Media Guillotine: Entertainment, journalism, politics, and popular culture.
http://springintoaction.typepad.com
Leanne
Uhm .... she also won two challenges.
She was a major letdown last week (she had been my favourite to win this thing until then) and this week kinda bla. I don't particularly like her but she definitely has talent. Her biggest problem seems to be that she's over-constructing and pre-thinking too much. That doesn't work when you're out of your comfort zone and when intuition is what you need.
If she got over that and let some fun/emotion in, she might do very well in the future. She has an own solid design-base to start with unlike Kenley, who just redesigns other's work.
So I hope for Korto, Jerell & Leanne in the final 3.
What I didn't get was, that they seemed to expect the designers to show the right attitude as models for their outfit... why exactly? they are designers, no actors.
Sorry Lily, I meant to say Kenley not Leanne
I like your final 3, although it's almost by default for me as some many "designers" have been terrible. With regard to the "attitude," I think that the idea was the get them to try their hardest to work the runway as has been the case with the many other non-model assignments. There is nothing that says that they have to be good and one could argue that the challenge would encourage some to actually make the garment look worse ;-)
Leanne is a mixed bag so one could argue that the fugly clothes that she had to wear and shy girl in her made her come across to me as "get me out of these rags." Of course we've seen that she's a smart cookie under that make-up less face and almost polar difference between how she looks and what she designs, so maybe she pushed walked to punish. Even Korto worked the runway :-)
Guillermo's Media Guillotine: Entertainment, journalism, politics, and popular culture.
http://springintoaction.typepad.com
What was up with this episode
1. ALWAYS listen to Tim--you don't have to do exactly what he says but if he says he has concerns listen because they will pretty much always slam you for something he warned about.
2. While I am fine with Korto and Jerrell being in the top two I think they also had the easier assignments--Rock & Roll is vague, Country can turn to costume really easily, Punk and Hip-Hop have much more specific styles (Kenley really blew it) and pop--while also vague--can be much more like regular fashion.
3. Suede annoys me but his design was much better than Kenley's. Kenley was so far off the mark and her design was ugly. At least Jerrell looked good.
4. Why did they do the model elimination thing if they weren't going to use the models?
Bad for team gay
But, while I am no fan of Kenley. It was the right choice to let Suede go.
Kenleys outfit was bad in execution, but the concept was not that far off. I get what she was trying to make, female hip hop artist go for her general concept. But ill bet you that if she had made a tight low waisted pant the critique would have been better. At least with her design there was a change. Sassing Tim is not a good enough reason to be sent home, but she does need an attitude change and she not go ahead to win.
The problem with Suedes work was that Jerrell looked like any given day. And boring for Rock n Roll. And he went with a cliché...black. If the inspiration was Aerosmith, there was a lot to go with, they have worn every color in the palette and/or every print imaginable. That vest was great looking though.
The next episode should be interesting, the judges reduce everyone to tears. This is really the home strech.
What I find interesting is that people are saying that so an so should not go to Bryant Park. They have all been already. And this is one thing that I did not like about this season. Goinf to BP was a reward for the finalist and rightly so. This time half of the cast offs go to go. Rubbish.
BTW, in what world is Kenley out shape? She looks great.
Oh, and wasnt this the sexyest guest judge so far? Oh, LL, those lips...
Project Underwhelming
Sorry, but I've been so bored by this season. I don't know what it is, but for some reason they can't seem to put together a couple good seasons in a row. I suppose it is hard to find twelve more Christians, but I mean come on! The only good thing that Kenely has brought to the table is entertainment. Yes, Jerrell does his job in throwing the shade, but the rest of the cast was a snooze-fest.
As for the finale, I would be very happy (but unfortunately very surprised) if Leanne shows up with 12 looks that play so well with shape like her design from the car challange. It would be a breath of fierceness that this season is still lacking.
I don't know... I'm beginning to wonder if Lifetime will do the show some good in changing the format up a bit. Although, I am still afraid of the high amounts of estrogen that will inevitably flood the workroom...
Models Schmodels
Why did they cull the models at the beginning and then not use them? Leanne taking Suede's model mattered not, since he won't be there next week anyway.
Kenley is just a wretched
Arrgh!
Had to edit this from an earlier comment that got posted to the wrong place, sorry.
Anyway, as much as I've hated Suede all season, this was definitely Kenley's time to go. Her design missed the mark entirely (looked far more Carnaby Street than The 'Hood) and was very poorly constructed. I didn't notice camel toe, but the fly was all bunchy and the rest of it looked thrown together.
The main problem though, was that she was unable to separate her personal taste and aesthetic from what the challenge required. She has been busted before for choosing inappropriate floral prints, but insisted on doing it again. And tight-fitting high-waisted jeans are SO not hip hop.
Having seen the runway shows for the final six (three finalists, three decoys), it will be a crime if the finalists aren't Leanne, Korto and Jerrell. Leanne's was clearly the best of the lot, too, so my money's on her to win the whole enchilada.
Weeeeelll ...
First, I have to agree with the rest of the free world on one thing: Kenley is a complete pill (and not very talented when all is said and done).
But ...
I have to defend the girl on the "hip-hop" front. She eschewed the whole messy (and now virtually woman-free) gangsta rap ethic, but she did do a pretty good job (badly made pants aside) of making a look I could see Mary J. Blige or Eve wearing any day of the week. (If it was made to fit correctly, that is.)
Oh, and whatchutalkinbout? Kenley's body is SLAMMIIN'.
But she is a complete jerk of a person. ... Which begs the question: Why hasn't she been thrown on a team for The Amazing Race yet? Now THAT would be some good TV.