Project Runway: I'm Sorry, You're Out

Project Runway, you are officially demoted.

I rooted for you, I tried sticking up for you when you were dismissed as just another reality show. And I didn't give up on you throughout this lackluster season until last night.

Your former brilliance seems to have imploded into a black hole, stunning viewers with your absence of light, rather than the emergence of it.

What the hell, PR? I loved you. You presented challenges to the contestants, which we fans could engage with and evaluate; you judged fairly, promoted innovation and creativity, and allowed, most importantly, new talent to emerge unencumbered, bolstered by support and mentorship from the best in the industry. You were relevant, aware, and edited cleanly, without the more prevalent reality show penchant for melodrama.

And now? Now, even Tim and Heidi seem sick of this show. The challenges are rehashed, ridiculous, and seem to now focus not on challenging designers, but on challenging advertisers to come up with a new way to work product placement into every damn challenge.

Look, slumps happen. But PR is a caricature of itself now, without the meta-irony that allowed me to continue loving The OC until the end of television as we know, or the apocalypse, whichever comes first. The challenges and editing have been atrocious; whereas previous seasons slipped into sensationalism once or twice, this season, even the contestants seem to have been hand selected for their ability to create catchphrase and attention. Their ability to create fashion isn't remotely relevent, all of a sudden, because they aren't being asked much, and they are delivering even less. The aren't creating, they are getting by, and just barely. Last night, none of the dresses were impressive, and none of them were finished. On any other show, that would be odd, troublesome. On PR, it is inexcusable. (Thus, they are demoted.)

Previous seasons focused on rising to the challenge, pushing the norm, and executing the seemingly impossible. It was fun to watch because you found yourself wondering, How did they do that? And, how would I do that? The structure of the challenges was thoughtful, almost as fun as seeing how it would be interpreted. Now, we have straight-forward challenges that are met by Kenley complaining that they aren't suited to her or her abilities, and how it isn't fair. I eventually disliked one or two people each season--I have watched every episode of every season, with rapture and devotion typically reserved for religious fervor--but at least they were interesting, and usually very talented. Now, I can barely stay interested enough to hate the epitomy of all things needy and annoying, Kenley, who is nothing more than a self-important hipster cliche. Boooring. Show me a giant balding Quasimodo who writes hilarious original showtunes and delivers a pitch perfect, affectionate Tim Gunn impersonation while designing fresh, perfectly detailed designs, or an angsty recovering addict with neck tattoos and mohawked son who yells at moms and creates highly original, beautiful yellow plaid couture. They were assholes, but they had the talent to make it layered, intriguing asshole-ness, rather than annoying, go-away, Bettie Page wannabes.

Project Runway, in Intelligent Bang, its not one week you're in, and the next you're out. You pretty much have to take suckiness to new and shocking lows, which, congratulations, you did. I still love Heidi and Tim, though.