Project Runway's Funniest Episode Ever!
Project Runway by Barbara Nitke/Bravo Photo
Tim Gunn said it: "Designers, we have to let our divas go." Well, not their inner divas. That would be tragic.
Honestly, I laughed more during this week's episode of Bravo's scintillating
Project Runway than I have for some time in front of the TV. It helps, of course, that most sitcoms are currently on ice, thanks to the writers' strike. But put a group of flamboyant and ambitious designers in a room with garish WWE wrestling "divas" in search of their next tacky outfit, and you're got a recipe for hilarity. If you're one of those people who consider themselves reality snobs (and more often than not, I wouldn't blame you), you don't know what you're missing by missing
Project Runway. SO much more enjoyable than the supposedly fabulous "entertainments" the networks keep churning out, like
Cashmere Mafia and tonight's similarly unappetizing
Sex and the City knockoff
Lipstick Jungle.
When reliably catty judge Michael Kors looked out at the runway full of Spandex, leather, leopard-print and gaudy colors, he admitted he was out of his element: "I feel like the Pope in a sex club." He wasn't alone. This is one week when almost no one took pride in their work. Except for zaftig drag queen Chris March, the night's winner, who declared of his leopard creation: "I wish I could wear it," and then chuckled over winning the season's tackiest challenge. And, of course, there's the always fierce and self-impressed Christian, whose leather and lace concoction (with chaps!) was a close runner-up.
Most of the rest had near breakdowns, especially Swee'Pea, whose costume was likened to Big Bird and Chewbacca; and Rami, who confessed of his Pepto Bismol-pink number: "It looks like I've been smoking crack or something."
He may not have won, but there's no question the star of this episode (and season) is the snarky and bubbly Christian, the most likable antagonist the show may ever have created. When the group, hard at work, began concocting their own wrestling-diva names, his broke everyone up: "Ferosha Coutura," whose gimmick would be spraying the other girls in the eyes with hairspray.
But the ultimate Christian moment arrived when Ricky (this week's loser, and it's about time) asked to borrow an extra snap, and Christian reluctantly relented, later confessing to the camera: "At the end of the day, you help people- and their work is still not great."
Snap, indeed!
For another take on Runway's latest, read Cheers & Jeers.
