"Project Runway All Stars" Episode 101: We Are Super Friends!

Now this is going to be fun. The last few seasons of Lifetime's Project Runway have been hit or miss, thanks to flavorless designers, stultifying challenges, and inexplicable judging decisions.

But All Stars brings together some of the more ... colorful ... personalities in the history of the show, and gives them another chance to get their moment in the winner's circle.

Some of the familiar faces include Season One designer Austin Scarlett (still a cross between Hedwig and Frances Farmer), Season Five's crazy cat hurler Kenley Collins, Season Seven's eternally jubilant Anthony Williams, Season Four's sensitive hunk-a-dunk Rami Kashou, and island-unto-himself Mondo.

That's the good news. The bad news is that Heidi and Tim are not participating. But neither are Michael and Nina, so we have to take the bitter with the sweet.

Sandy Duncan, Ashton Kutcher, Julia Duffy, Kirstie Alley

So instead we get Project Runway:The Scab Edition, with four replacements who were obviously much less expensive. Host Angela Lindvall proves what I've long suspected: Heidi is irreplaceable. It's not that Angela is a bad host (although there are definitely awkward moments), but she doesn't have that glint in the eye that Heidi does, that says "I may look sweet, but f**k with me and I'll cut you."

I'm not familiar with Georgina Chapman, but I am familiar with Isaac Mizrahi, of course, and I was surprised to see him, considering he starred in that awful Project Runway ripoff that Bravo threw up after they lost the franchise.

Joanna Coles is the Tim of this show, and channeled Bravo's Tabatha in her sternness and "I'll crap in my pants if she even looks at me" vibe.

The debut show features a classic challenge for the designers. They have to design a piece to complement the signature piece they brought to the show, and they get $100 to spend ... at the 99 Cents store.

They grab the usual assortment of bath mats, washcloths, and shower curtains, but I was disappointed no one thought to nab my personal favorite dollar store item, generic soda, if only because I'd be thrilled to see a model walk down the runway wearing cans of Dr. Thunder and Mountain Lightning.

So how did the designers do? Below and on the following pages we'll get reacquainted with each designer and see their finished piece.

Anthony Williams

Materials: Crepe paper, safety pins