Project Runway Rundown: 8 down 9 to go

Ivy's crazy energy drives Michael D. crazy

It's kinda hard for me to write this rundown as I am too excited to learn all the new gizmos on my new IPHONE!!!! For years now I've only gotten the 'free' phones that come with the plan. But this year for my birthday, Brian promised to get me an iphone when my contract renewed which happened yesterday. I AM SO ESTATIC! On top of being a sci-fi nerd I am also a gizmo geek. Perhaps the two go hand in hand. Any of you have any good app suggestions for me? I just got the new Star Walk app. Brian and I both love everything astronomy and took classes together in college. Star Walk is the one where you hold the phone up to the sky and it shows you the constellations and stars that you are pointing to. We did it in the house last night. It was pretty amazing.

Okay, enough about my silly phone. Onto the show!

Last night was pretty tame. But I guess everything seems tame compared to the team challenge episode. BUT this week the contestants DID pair up in groups of two. I think the show does this just to spice things up. Each designer came up with the look they wanted to make and their partner sewed their idea, the same way a sample maker would sew a designer's sketches.

Surprisingly, not much drama. Mondo and Michael C. started off badly. Mondo was surely being a d**k as he put it. I'm surprised Michael C. doesn't just tell everyone to go to hell sometimes. I was all ready to write a nasty post about Mondo and how his behavior makes him look bad but thankfully he redeemed himself the next day and apologized to Michael C. I'm just confused as to where the revelation came from. One minute he was all "I'm not really excited about this because your construction is awful." The next he was all "I was such a jerk in the beginning."
So the designs. I thought Andy's swimsuit and cover up should have won HANDS DOWN!! It was AMAZING! And Casanova, I have to admit, has really grown on me. In the beginning....annoying....no doubt. But it's funny how as you get to know someone they are very different from first impressions. He turned out to be nice, funny, someone you wouldn't mind knowing in real life, and aside from that green woman's sweater he wore once, I liked his taste. I know it might have looked a little matronly (even Brian blurted out how old his look was walking down the runway) but I DON'T think it should have been at the bottom. It looked well made and I liked it. So sue me. I was disappointed when they announced Ivy would be the one to stay.

Michael Kors had a different role in this episode. Seeing him out of his seat, standing up and walking around was weird. It was like seeing a teacher outside of school. Like seeing a dog walk on his hind legs. But I have to say, I liked seeing him in more of a mentor role than a judgy one. I want to like him as a person. Is that odd? He seems like the kind of person who could care less who likes him.

I was interested to discover that Michael D. was self taught. I was also interested to know that Ivy attended Parsons. I was proud that Michael D. didn't make excuses for himself about his lack of sewing terminology. He was very realistic about his speed and result. Instead of getting angry at Ivy he apologized for not being able to do what she wanted. I guess as a self taught sewer myself I empathize with Michael D. and wonder what things I don't know as well. I sometimes think wouldn't it be neat if I could go back in time and apply for design school. Where would I be now?

I think Mondo's outfit should have gone home. Michael Kors was spot on when he described it as 'K-Mart.' Really, it looked like something you'd find at K-MART!!!!

Ivy's outfit WAS very boring. Maybe it was Michael D.'s fault maybe it wasn't. Kristen Bell said it well, "Ivy, as trained as you are, you have to be the type of person who can look at Michael's strengths and say okay how can we best win together."
Other than that single comment, I found myself rolling my eyes every time Kristen Bell opened her mouth. I don't know, nothing she said was categorically annoying but something about her rubbed me the wrong way. I guess I'm always a little annoyed when actresses guest judge. Have they ever designed a dress in their life? Anyone can wear designer clothing.

All in all, a middle of the road episode. To see what Casanova had to say after leaving check out this link. In it, Tim Gunn says some good things about the construction of his pieces. I'm always interested in what he has to say about the judges decisions. Who do you think will be the final three? 

For this latest episode visit Lifetime's Project Runway page here.