Project Runway: Comments on Part One of Season Finale

Wasn't happy that Rami won. And I think this was emphasized by the fact that I don't know that Rami should really be a part of this competition. Rami is clearly already established and a name and has celebrity clientele, which is really, to me, not what the show is for, I think of the show as launching an unknown. Chloe (Season 2 winner) had a store in Houston, but I think that's quite a bit different than having an LA studio with your name out front where you design (and have had your clothes on the red carpet).

Now, if I here one more word about Chris being a costume designer, I'm going to strangle someone. This also reminds me of something I dislike seeing on a competition like Project Runway. Best way I can describe this is to use America's Next Top Model as an example. On there, in the first few seasons when I watched, they have had a couple of plus size models in the running, but when it comes down to it, they always hold it against them that they are plus size models. Either you are willing to take a chance, which they did by choosing them for the final group, or they aren't, but once they are on there, I don't want to continue to hear about it in such a negative way. It never gives them a chance.

Also, I'm not sure why everyone is so freaked by the use of human hair. Hair extensions are not something uncommon anymore, and the judges in their blogs seemed to think they wouldn't have been as turned off it had been synthetic hair. If you know hair, really know hair, you can tell the difference between synthetic hair and human hair, and the synthetic does not lay as nicely. I wasn't creeped out by it, and think the use of it was overblown (and used as an excuse to justify not choosing Chris).

I've seen it said on the Bravo boards and its worth repaeting. I think they did this last show and the showdown between Chris and Rami, so they'd have a reason to pick Rami over Chris. Roberto Cavalli picked Chris, which means Chris should have been in. Remember in Season 1 when Nancy O'Dell chose Wendy's dress and she was therefore in? Well, same thing based on what they've done this season (guest judge, whether wearing the design themselves or not, gets final say), should have happened. If Chris was going to be who they put through to the final 3, then they could have done that in the last episode. Rami still would have gotten to do his collection and show, just not on the show, but they wanted him there bad enough to do all this. If you read the blogs on Bravo (Michael Kors, Nina Garcia, Tim Gunn), its like they knew this ep was a little contrived and made excuses for not picking Chris, more so than overwhelming reasons for choosing Rami. Not happy about this.

I liked both collections but found Chris' more innovative. Also, thought it ironic that the judges raved over Rami's draped dress when that was him showing the same thing over again. That dress was gorgeous, but I expected it to be. That heavy jacket didn't work and that black dress didn't work with those side circles.

Still love Rami and wish him the best, but thought Chris should have been in the final 3 based on those 3 piece collections.

Eli Stone: Good, But It's No Ally McBeal

Maybe I'm the only one who isn't in love with the show. I really like Jonny as Eli, but with each episode, I become less attached to the show. First, I watched Ally McBeal from the first episode, so I don't like how similar it is, and the biggest problem with the similarity is that there's no comparison for which one is better.

The other thing that bugs the heck out of me is that there is a very, very unrealistic timetable and portrayal of court and court cases (autism groups were not happy with that pilot episode). It's turned me off how they show a employment discrimination case settling in 2 days. Give me a break! Now, I get that this show isn't completely set in what we think of as reality, but since everything but his visions are supposed to be believable, I have a hard time with this. They could make more time pass instead to make it fit within the constructs of a one hour drama, but instead they make it seem like a serious court matter settles in the same time it takes to get rid of a traffic violation.

This show may be best for those who did not watch Ally McBeal and are too lazy or cheap to buy or rent the DVDs. Ally McBeal was a phenomenal show. I don't see this rising to that level, and in part that is due to this show not being a brainchild of David Kelley, the writing isn't that quality.

At this point, the biggest problem with Eli Stone is that when regular programming resumes in April, this would in no way get me to bump something else from my schedule. But, I will probably continue to watch, though not necessarily on a regular basis, partly because viewing options are limited right now for someone who watches as little reality programming as possible, but also because I definitely enjoy Jonny Lee Miller. I love Dr. Kim and Eli's relationship. I love Eli's relationship with his assistant (Loretta Devine). And I like Eli and his brother. Also, I'm always happy to see Jack Bristow (Victor Garber from Alias) and Dr. Abbott (Tom Amandes from Everwood) gainfully employed.

Quarterlife - Anyone Watch the Premiere?

The show about the quarterlife crisis. Did anyone watch it either online or on TV?

I really enjoyed it but I too am going through a quarterlife crisis. I can, however see others getting annoyed with the main girl. And the way she screwed her friends was wrong, but clearly necessary to set up the relationships and dynamics that will make up the show. I found her less annoying as the hour went by, though her meek pronouncement at the staff meeting bugged the heck out of me.

The biggest problem I truly see with the show is that I wonder if this was the cast used for the original pitch in 2005 to the networks during Pilot season. I would guess not. I think this was cast with intentions of the internet, and that might affect its mainstream appeal. When Bree Turner is the most recognizable name (I think), that's says it all.

If anyone remembers a show in the late 90s on ABC called Wasteland, this reminds me of that, but with better writing. But Wasteland had a more known and visually appealing cast (which included Brad Rowe, Rebecca Gayheart, and Sasha Alexander). If they took the writing of this and some of that cast, this would have gotten better ratings. Also, the lighting on the show screams low budget. I don't mind it, but others might.


UPDATE: NBC has already jumped ship and bailed on this show due to the low ratings. Don't think that was appropriate or necessary. When you don't advertise a show, it's already aired online, and had some sort of premiere on MTV, I wouldn't expect a blockbuster ratings night. But, not even airing a second episode doesn't allow for the correction of your poor advertising efforts to allow for word of mouth and other buzz to spread to get a ratings bump. Plus, I question the accuracy of the ratings, I wouldn't say your typical Nielsen family covers everyone who would watch this show. NBC is (currently) planning to air the remaining episodes on Bravo.

Project Runway - Who Will Win This Season?

Will it be Chris, Rami, Christian or Jillian? I don't think we can predict who will win. They tend to actually pick off of what is shown during Fashion Week since the 3 they put forward tend to be ones they think are talented enough to do something special in design.

I have purposely avoided watching their shows, so I am saying this without knowing how the lines were. The reason I say it's hard to predict, is that if you remember, in Season 2, Daniel V was the young innovative designer (like Christian and was also a judge favorite - I think he won more often than Christian), who we all expected an amazing show from, and it fell flat. It was his to lose, and he lost it. I'm not saying Christian (or anyone else) won't deliver, but after Daniel V's showing, I'm not totally certain that we can go off of what we have seen from the show because something seems to happen in those 2 months. We can also be surprised in a good way at the Fashion Week shows. As much as I loved Jay McCarroll during Season 1, I didn't know his line was going to be that fantastic, it was just a great surprise.

I will say, that for the first time, I won't be mad that any of the 4 win. My least favorite of the final group is Jillian, but I certainly don't hate her, just find her mildly annoying and whiny at times. But, I wouldn't be devastated if she won, unlike in years past, when there was someone who I just hated and didn't want to win. I'm definitely looking forward to seeing four great lines that makes the final decision of who wins Project Runway very difficult.

Bryce Larkin Come Back!

I need some eye candy. I love Chuck. Couldn't be happier that it got a full season pickup, excited it is finally returning and that we get two brand new episodes tonight, but a little eye candy really wouldn't hurt.

Zachary Levi is great as Chuck. Fabulous in fact. And he has a little something that makes him quite appealing despite not having the look of the traditional leading man.

Morgan steals just about every scene he is in, truly a breakout character of the season, not just on this show.

But, I admit it. I would like a little something that pleases the eye.

And Bryce Larkin (Matthew Bomer) is the perfect eye candy. Plus, he fits easily into the show, brings conflict to several aspects of the storyline. And his piercing blue eyes are gorgeous.

Now, this is still a visual medium last time I checked, so I don't think it would hurt to have a little something for the women (and some of the men) to drool over. I am pretty sure they don't show Sarah (Yvonne Strzechowski), in her barely there black lingerie just so we can just see where she can hide her weapons. Plus, the men also have the chance to gawk at Sarah Lancaster pretty often as well. So, give us women a little something. And Captain Awesome, while I'm sure he's some women's type, is not doing it for me. But Matthew Bomer certainly does.

So, please, bring back Bryce Larkin.

Cashmere Mafia - What's Up With the Clothes?

Have you watched Cashmere Mafia? I like it. I have watched the first few episodes that have already aired, and I am definitely entertained, but one thing is standing out that keeps bothering me.

The Clothes.

Let's start with one character whose clothes aren't as big a deal because of her line of work. I had another problem here. I thought Bonnie Somerville was great as always, but they may have to watch her character getting too "hip", I mean she's a business exec, albeit for in the fashion industry (or is it the cosmetics industry? - they haven't been clear about this), but that doesn't mean she would abandon all business acumen, so some of the clothes and speech are truly out of place. I mean, she sorta rocks the ghetto fab look, while dining with the ladies who lunch and wear pearls. She's probably the only one who can really get away with it since she does something in an industry involving photo shoots and cosmetics. But, that doesn't mean we need to see her with a serious 80s hairdo. I didn't know it was legal to still use that amount of AquaNet.

The bigger issue - what in the world is Patricia Field doing as the costume designer on this show? It's one thing when that's for Carrie, who was a freelance writer, on Sex and the City (and it was barely okay then, but it fit much better). But this isn't SATC. And someone probably needs to make sure Darren Star knows that and doesn't try to recreate that SATC magic on every new show he does. These women are friends from business school, they are wealthy by their own doing, upper echelon, Upper East Side divas, they may have their own style, but they won't be totally just flaunting something so remarkably different than the rest, let's keep things a bit realistic. Let's take Lucy Liu, do her outfits (and her matching hair) really seem like something a magazine editor is going to wear? She doesn't own the magazine, she runs it. The very tight hot pink suit with black silk or lace camisole and the hair in the high ponytail, is a perfect example of what I am talkng about. It was just too much. The biggest problem with the clothes is that a statement isn't made by one accessory and one main article of clothing, but with the hair, nails, jewelry, shoes, blouse, skirt, belt, etc. Tone things down a bit.

I am really enjoying this show thus far, but let us all remember there is only one Sex and the City and that show has unfortunately aired its last episode. This show is about four women friends, but in Corporate America, beating men at their own game and doing it their own way. But they are clearly aware they still have to play the game, so no one should be showing up to work in a hot pink suit and a ponytail reminiscent of Sandy at Frenchy's slumber party in the movie Grease.

Grey's is Starting to Suck...And Dr.Hahn is Making That Decline Quicker

Dr. Hahn sucks.

And Grey's is starting to as well.

Tonight's episode was average. Nothing stellar. And it's cause Grey's just isn't as great as it used to be. Which is sad, since this is only the fourth season, it's pretty soon to see such a decline in quality to this degree. Besides some seriously weak storylines, it's almost like they did everything on the first take and didn't take the time to make sure every scene was stellar, the best they could get. That seems to be happening quite often on Grey's. Sub par storylines and acting not quite up to snuff.

And then there's the oh so bitchy, highly unlikeable Dr. Hahn. What's her damage? She's a bitch generally, she's a bitch to her patients, to her colleagues; clearly she enjoys her sour disposition, but that doesn't mean I like it. Are we supposed to enjoy the way she is derailing a fellow woman's medical career? Because that's what she's been doing to Cristina. We were lead to believe earlier on that Hahn cared about being taken as serious as her male counterparts, so her sticking it to Yang every chance she gets doesn't really make much sense. It was okay for her to be upset with Cristina (not that it made any sense, Cristina's the one who got left at the altar) in the beginning, now it's just petty and childish to continue to shut her out of surgeries. The only time she shows any value is when she is in the operating room with her mouth shut. She's just not remotely likable. The best part of the episode was when Bailey told that cold bitch a little about herself. She couldn't even have compassion for her colleague's situation. I'm not saying there aren't doctors out there like Dr. Hahn, but no one really needs to see this character portrayed on TV.

The show wants the audience to forget how great Burke was on here, but you've only magnified just how big a void he's left with the addition of the very cold Hahn. In some ways Hahn is reminiscent of Kerry Weaver on ER. I don't watch ER anymore, but others will remember like I do that in the beginning, Kerry left a lot to be desired in terms of personality and likability, but she was a phenomenal doctor and despite her difficulty getting along with her colleagues, she had a real talent in connecting with her patients. We aren't getting that from Hahn. I think it was probably a mistake to to bring her on a series regular. Not only has she not added much of anything to the show, pretty sure she's sucking what little life it did have, out of it.

Very quickly on the rest of the show. Very happy George got a wake up call from his mom, even if it was too little too late, hopefully he will start to get his act together, starting with ditching Izzie. And they need to scrap Izzie's character and start fresh with what was likable about her in that second season because she has no sense of direction anymore. She's messing with Cristina's career because she's not sure what she wants out of her own? Yeah, that makes sense. Also, glad the dead horse better known as the Meredith and Derek romance has gotten it's final nail in the coffin. I like Rose. But she strikes me as a woman with too much self respect to accept a date from a man for the same day that he broke off a long term relationship. She didn't seem that desperate, and it doesn't make a good start to whatever could happen with her and Derek.

Bottom line - the show needs to get better pronto. It's popularity is on the sharp decline. One interesting thing I've noticed on the boards I frequent to discuss TV shows is that a Grey's Anatomy episode would have around 100 comments by the time the show ended with at least 800 or so views, if not over one thousand. This is all before the episode ended. Guess what tonight's was? 12 comments and just over 100 views. And that wasn't just for tonight's show, that been for the last handful of new episodes that aired. The show needs to do something quick to regain some of their former glory.