On Bravo: The Gay Olympics
Project Runway by Barbara Nitke/Bravo Photo
And by Gay Olympics, I'm obviously talking about
Project Runway, which aired quite possibly its gayest episode ever in this week's drag-queen challenge, an attempt to urge the designers to go theatrical and over-the-top without risk of penalty. I was only disappointed that they didn't let guest judge RuPaul do an homage to Tim Gunn's "Make it work" by reprising her signature theme of "You better work Work it, girl!"
For the most part, the designers did work it. Although the annoying Blayne, who should have been bounced a week earlier for his hideous shorts outfit for Brooke Shields, worked my last nerve (and those of everyone around him) with his endless wannabe-cutesy efforts to coin that "-licious" catchphrase. It made Leanne want to "barf-licious," and caused another of the designers to bark, "Shut the hell up." My sentiments exactly. Sadly, his gay pterodactyl drag outfit, despite its droopy wings, landed in the middle of the pack, so he'll be around at least another week to send me reaching for the mute each time he's on screen.
The opening parade of drag models was an eye-popping hoot, introduced by former
Runway standout Chris March wearing his own Wagnerian opera-diva creation including disco-ball breastplates. He shared the stage with icons of the drag biz like Hedda Lettuce and Varla Jean Merman and such provocatively named glamazons as Farrah Moans, Miss Understood and Annida Greenkard. To paraphrase the Broadway
La Cage Aux Folles: They are what they are, and what they are is a fabulously entertaining challenge, and one thankfully having nothing to do with NBC's current lineup. (Although a weekly drag extravaganza might be an improvement on some of the fall series being shoved down our throats during the Olympics promos.)
My fave moment: Tim Gunn counseling Suede (who hasn't been nearly as obnoxious lately) to stand up to Hedda Lettuce, who had dissed him during an early fitting, and make her wear, and work, those kooky gloves. "You can tell her that you've been to a different rodeo, and don't you-know-what with me, sister," Tim growled, sotto voce. It was hilarious.
What a riot that the winner was the person most outside of his comfort zone: Joe, the season's token straight guy, who used his daughters as inspiration for the glittery sailor suit he put together for the obviously delighted Merman. (I personally thought that Terri's kabuki costume was the night's biggest "wow.")
The judging, however, continues to be as arbitrary as if they were computing gymnastics scores at the Olympics. Keith- or should we say,
shredded Keith- obviously tanked the worst with his too-familiar design of random fabric swatches. Nothing fabulous or drag about that at all. But Daniel, who clearly didn't know how to play this game, was sent packing for having stubbornly ignored the goals of both the Olympics challenge (when he designed a cocktail dress instead of sportswear) and now the drag night (when he went for pastel beauty over tacky gaudiness). Hasn't Daniel ever watched this show? Some weeks it doesn't pay to have good taste.
