New Reality Show Tries To "Make It Work"

With all the "Go Green!" hype, it's not surprising that Bravo would jump on the recycling bandwagon to cobble together it's new reality-competition show, The Fashion Show, from scraps left on the Project Runway cutting room floor to fill its Tim Gunn-sized programming hole.

The production values are a bit bargain basement, but from the opening montage to the design space, the show is a ripped from the runway PR retread---the only thing missing is the Bluefly wall. Heidi Klum and company must have won that in the hotly contested lawsuit which finally ended with a settlement last month. (Project Runway's sixth season will begin on Lifetime on August 20).

But really, it's not like The Fashion Show is the worst show ever made. That dubious honor would have to go to pretty much any reality show on FOX.

Whereas Tim Gunn is like your favorite uncle that your mother naively keeps trying to marry off, host Isaac Mizrahi (clap for him, everyone!) is the brutally snarky Michael Kors element. Plus, the potential of some inappropriate groping of boobs is a draw.

Co-host Kelly Rowland's only fashion credentials seem to be that she has "sat front-row to many fashion shows all around the world." And is evidently pretty comfortable playing backup from her Destiny's Child days. Always a bridesmaid, never Beyonce. And her scripted critiques like "Are you guys communicating as a team?" are only slightly less painful than her former bandmate's performance in the inexplicable box-office topper Obsessed.

As for the contestants, it seems they were chosen because they fill certain Project Runway stereotypes, not because they are great designers. You can almost imagine them playing rock-paper-scissors at the audition to decide who would be "the villian everyone loves to hate" or "the arrogant upstart."

Johnny is a Jay McCarroll hybrid, same affinity for hoodies, but with new! and improved! messy topknot. Reco (aka Token Black Guy), who used to design gear for strippers fills lingerie designer Ricky's shoes, minus the water works (so far). Fashion's Kristi --didn't Elisa and Sweet P have the flaky eco-inspired designs and weird, random things stuck in their hair shtick covered? And Christian Siriano lookalike James-Paul fills the "young, avant-garde" bill having used to work for Vivienne Westwood. He at least seems to have the ability to design clothes that actually aren't half bad.

But with all the straight up Holly Hobbie homemade crapola going down the runway, and Kristin's comment that she "wasn't the best sewer," simply turning out a garment with straight hemlines might be enough to make it through several rounds.

Call me crazy, but uh, isn't a designer who doesn't know how to sew kind of
like saying, "I'm a chef but I don't know how to cook?" If so, I'm the Queen of Gourmet Microwavable meals!

But the prize for the MOST RIDICULOUS CONTESTANT goes to Merlin. In fact, he might be the most out-there contestant to land on a fashion-design-competition show
EVER. The first day, he wore a hat with a feather that extended eight feet behind him with a marching-band uniform and knee-high white high-heeled boots. Together,
he and Reco could make a helluva pimp coat. The clothes he designs are as horrendous as his own style, which is more entertaining than looking at decent work.
He's the boy version of Lady Gaga. In pants. Thank God.

Still, three months is a long time to wait for more Project Runway and Fashion is somewhat entertaining. What other crimes against fashion lurk in the depths of Merlin's acid trippy closet? And I assume that by at least the third episode, someone will trot out some new "fierce" catch phrase in a lame bid for pop culture relevance. Can you believe "girlicious" failed to catch on?

And if nothing else, The Fashion Show provides a possible venue for castoffs from America's Next Top Model and Make Me a Supermodel. Who are are we to deny
them the chance to pay their electric bills?

By Paige Muller

Paige Muller, Gossip & Hollywood Hijinx
		About the author:
		Paige Muller is a gossip gal with an appreciation – some would say obsession – for Hollywood hijinx, celebrity style and the latest fashion trends.  From who hooked up, who's knocked up and "WTF are they wearing?", Paige offers all the dish, with a side of snark. When not pondering Jennifer Aniston's perplexing post-breakup PR strategy, Paige is a published writer and communications professional who has worked with brands like Dove, L'Oreal, More magazine, Gap and WE: Woman's Entertainment.
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