Project Runway is Back on Track in NYC

Even though it seems like the last season only just ended (oh wait, it did…), and that Heidi Klum was only just pregnant (oh wait, she was...), the new season of Project Runway kicked-off last night on Lifetime.  Heidi and Tim Gunn are back in New York and this means the return of regular appearances by sitting judges Michael Kors (who seems a bit more bitter – which is a good thing) and Nina Garcia (who is surprisingly more mellowed-out – which oddly works). 

Project Runway - Season 7 cast

Have there always been 16 contestants at the start?  Also, product placement took an especially blatant leap forward with Tim’s annoyed yet dignified double-speak about the wonderful HP TouchSmart notebook computers that were to be used or ignored at the designers’ whim (product placement is vital on PR – someone’s gotta pay those salaries, and with Heidi pregnant yet again, it’s about time she and Seal bought a new LED flat-screen TV for the bedroom…).  Speaking of sponsors, one of my favorite parts of PR is that with each new season comes a new L’Oréal television campaign starring the one and only Linda Evangelista.  Sorry Janice Dickinson.  You might have been the first “supermodel” – but Linda was, is, and shall always be the best!  But I digress…

Jesse’s look (back)

I wish the producers would stick to booking guest judges about whose opinions I actually gave a damn.  I mean, Nicole Ritchie; and for the season premiere, to boot?  Nope.  Sorry…   She just didn’t butter my parsnips.  And to make matters worse, she looked awful!  Her eyes were so sunken-in I just wanted to reach through my television, shake her and yell “Eat a sandwich, already!”

Emilio's look (side)

As for the contestants, there are some really talented designers (based on last night’s looks Mila, Jesse, Jonathan, Emilio, Anna, and Ping would’ve been my top six, but what do I know?) whose designs can actually be worn by real people in the real world.  There’s also a terrific diversity of experiences, ages, etc.  What I find lacking is any early indication of a real whacko or two (although Anthony reminds me of Sylvester behind a sewing machine).  I do love me my crazies, and that’s part of what makes Project Runway so delicious (for me, anyhow).  Who wants a room full of nice, friendly fashion designers?  Boring!  Maybe folks will melt-down as the competition heats-up.  One can always hope…