Michael Kors Passes Judgment on the New Runway

Project Runway's venerable judge and fashion expert, Michael Kors, weighs in on Season 5, Heidi Klum's hidden talents, his TV addiction — and his TV Guide addiction. (Project Runway airs Wednesdays at 9 pm/ET on Bravo.)

TV Guide: What can Project Runway viewers expect from Season 5?
Michael Kors: One thingthat's very cool is that the contestants'points of view are so varied — everythingfrom demure to outrageous, fromrockabilly to Audrey Hepburn. It's anintriguing group.

TV Guide: Unlike previous seasons, you were still filming up until the premiere date. Do you see this quick turnaround affecting the show?
Kors: Not at all. Fashion is the craziest-paced business on the planet — this season is actually in "real" fashion time.

TV Guide: The series moves from Bravo to Lifetime this fall. Any concerns?
Kors: Honestly, I don't think about where we were, and I don't think about where we're going next. I look at each challenge for that challenge. It's all about the talent. That's the focus of the show.

TV Guide: Do you watch Lifetime?
Kors: Oh, absolutely — I'm a TV junkie. You guys and Vogue are my two publications. Give me the fashion publications and TV Guide and I'm ready to go.

TV Guide: What other TV-reality competitions do you watch?
Kors: What don't I watch? I'm definitely a Dancing with the Stars fan. If I was nine years old, I'd be sitting there sketching all the crazy outfits. I love Shear Genius. And American Idol.

TV Guide: David Cook or Archuleta?
Kors: Definitely a Cook fan.

TV Guide: What do you think of Simon Cowell?
Kors: He doesn't sugarcoat it. He tells the truth, and anyone in the public arena, whether a singer or a designer, is going to have to contend with critics. I don't think that he's mean or vitriolic for the sake of it. Generally, I agree with him.

TV Guide: The funniest moment of the Season 4 reunion show was you cracking up at the WWE divas. What's another Runway blooper that never made it on air?
Kors: [Laughs] Heidi and I both enjoy making faces, particularly at each other. If we had been in junior high school together, we would have been in detention most of the time.

TV Guide: Tell us something viewers wouldn't guess about Heidi.
Kors: She'd be fabulous on Name That Tune, because she remembers the words to every song. Random songs. And she's willing to laugh at herself — a lot of beautiful women don't have that ability.

TV Guide: What did you think of the dress Christian Siriano designed for Whoopi Goldberg at the Tonys?
Kors: Well, who knew Whoopi had fabulous legs? As a designer, you can give celebrities the same old, same old, or you can bring out something people never noticed before. Show those legs, girl!

TV Guide: What TV celeb would you most like to wear your clothes?
Kors: I wouldn't mind dressing Anderson Cooper. In today's world, there aren't a lot of men who you can say are genuinely elegant without being old-fashioned, and he manages to pull that off.

TV Guide: As election season heats up, any fashion advice for Obama or McCain?
Kors: The interesting thing, regardless of your political proclivities, is you've got two very attractive candidates with two very attractive wives. The most important thing is to remember [being] telegenic is Number 1, so be careful of prints that blur and ties that distract. The fashion should be a frame for the candidates, rather than the focus.

TV Guide: Would you consider introducing a new catchphrase this season to take the heat off "Make it work" and "Fierce"?
Kors: You know what? The best catchphrases are like the best fashion. They happen organically. So I don't think about it — but you never know what will happen.

Be sure to check back for a video interview with the third cast-off later this week!

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