Access Atlanta > Entertainment > Radio Talk > Archives > 2008 > October > 01 > Entry
Project Runway: One of these things does not like the others
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The high: The designers revolt against the dastardly Kenley!
The low: All the tears on the runway. It was heartbreaking to watch them crack under the stress.
Last week I couldn’t take aim at Kenley, whose b**iness I suspected was at least partially an act for the cameras. Or at least partially engendered through the Magic of Editing.
But no, I think she’s really just an unpleasant young woman, and regardless of what happens in the finale, Bravo will probably give her a TV show called “Kenley’s Runway Takeover” or something like that.
Right: Pretty but rough around the edges. (Photo courtesy BravoTV.com.)
Anyway, you could pretty much tell that no one was going home tonight. Ever since Season 3 — when the producers realized that four designers vying for the title is better than three — and since Season 4 — when they decided that it’s not cruel to pull the “We can’t decide on a loser” stunt — we’ve known that Finale Part I calls for a quartet. Hey, the more, the merrier.
Jerell’s dress was lovely, as was Korto’s. I didn’t care for Kenley’s at all (mock turtlenck and a leather belt on an evening dress?) but thought the judges would love Leanne’s dress far more than they did. Yes, that little blue blip in the back looked like an afterthought, but a forgivable one. At any rate, the judges seemed harsher in their overall criticism tonight, like Jerell’s problem with finishing on time. Have they mentioned that before? I don’t recall … ?
By the way, guest judge Georgina Chapman of the Marchesa line answers to “Mrs. Harvey Weinstein.” Yes, she’s married to the producer.
The winner: Jerell. I can’t get over Jerell. I figured him for a goner in the first episodes; then he flew under the radar for a while; finally he starts producing beautiful, wearable designs. Can Jerell win?
Permalink | Comments (15) | Post your comment | Categories: Project Runway
Comments
By Wendy D
October 1, 2008 11:26 PM | Link to this
I seriously loved Kenley’s outfit on Project Runway tonight. I think it does look botanical, just not in the frilly, soft flower way, and I would totally wear it (if I were shaped like a pencil). Jarel’s dress had great colors but I hated the boobs and the whole thing was a bag. And the other two gowns were cliche prom gowns. Ick! Kenley’s outfit, OK, kind of says reptile… mermaid… cactus… but it saying something and it’s flattering! Kenley’s personality irritates the hell out of me and her “hip hop” outfit was a joke, but this week she was the winner, IMO.
By Blue Moon
October 2, 2008 12:46 AM | Link to this
Why is Kenley still on the show. She must know someone. She is not even close to the talent of the other three. She should have been gone tonight and good ridence! Stay at K-Mart Kenley. That is your speed.
By Ex-Northerner
October 2, 2008 12:55 AM | Link to this
You are certainly allowed your opinion, Wendy, but I couldn’t disagree with you more. Kenley has frayed my last nerve and her one-note retro style was, at first, refreshing, but the girl can’t do anything else, and when she tries, it’s a costume, not a gown. Tonight’s refugee from “Splash Meets Wicked” was a joke, not fashion. If anyone wore that dress, they’d be laughed out of the room. It reminded me of what one of the Olympic mascots would wear. The judges were also unbelievably kind to her when she refuses to listen to any criticism at all. The girl is another “can dish it but can’t take it” contestant. I liked all of the other dresses and think that Jerell, Korto and all deserve to be where they are. Kenley reaped tonight what she’s sowed.
By Ex-Northerner
October 2, 2008 1:02 AM | Link to this
I agree, Blue M. The producers have a say in who stays so she must be considered “good TV.” They must think that the show is highly watched in US trailer parks.
By Wankine
October 2, 2008 5:23 AM | Link to this
Well, nobody really looked good tonight. The judges seemed to think nobody (or everybody?) deserved to be sent home, but I think nobody deserved to win. The designers all seemed to fall apart under the pressure, and the judges didn’t even mention the “tell a story based on your botanical photo” component of the challenge. But then the dresses were so bad that perhaps the challenge concept had become superfluous.
Kenley’s was the only one that looked well put together, but it was a joke of a design. Jerrell could have had a home run if he had tightened up the execution, but it looked like a sloppy bag with good color and some nice touches around the daring neckline. Leanne should have just left off the blue drape on the back, but she seemed hell-bent on using that fabric for a color match with her photo. What in the world was Korto, my personal favorite, doing with that lace and trite shape?
Anyway, the producers are flogging a format that promises to be different with the change of networks next season. I expect a different panel of judges, what with Nina Garcia being fired from Elle Magazine and a jaded Michael Kors seeming burned out on the whole thing. Heidi at least still seems interested in what is going on and actually gets excited about some of the better designs.
By HeyRod
October 2, 2008 8:58 AM | Link to this
@Rod. No trouble at all.
What we care about is this waste of a dress up doll show taking up space on the Radio TV Blog when there are new shows out on the real networks. Not to mention that TV was lumped in with “RADIO TALK” due to the infinite wisdom of the AJC editorial staff.
The comment counts for this show’s blog are pitiful. This numbers are inflated by the WHO CARES and STOP WRITING ABOUT THIS GARBAGE comments.
So you’ve read the blog for the week. Now you can go watch LOGO or whatever else you do when you’re not designing dresses or trying them on yourself.
By PR Fan
October 2, 2008 9:27 AM | Link to this
Now back to “PR” talk! If you back to previous seasons, the semi-finalists often under-perform under the pressure. That’s why I think the judges tried to be relatively kind in their criticism. Nobody impressed me last night, but I was surprised to see Koto and not Leeanne as the “other” low scorer. That back blue thing was more than an afterthought; it was a glaring error. Both Leeanne and Koto did a decent job of editing the damage down thanks to Tim’s suggestions, but still. Kenley’s silhouettes are routinely sleek; the devil for her is often in the details, and that detail was a joke. And I wouldn’t give her a spare shoelace if she needed one, so mean has she been to others. She keeps saying how she’s always been on the outside all her life. Girl, take a clue, then, and grow up. Listen. So glad Koto rightly called her out in the break room, cuz she hadn’t “dogged her out” on the runway. But Jerell, who’s nice if a little immature, should have focused on why the other two should join her and why Kenley shouldn’t. Unprofessional and catty. But yup, Kenley is indeed good TV, and it’s good TV to bring her back for another round of drama. Boy, oy, that voice has approached a Palinesque level of annoyance.
By pj
October 2, 2008 9:54 AM | Link to this
Good TV last night. I find Kenley to be increasingly irritating. At first I thought she was refreshing, but it’s been too much and now she’s just plain annoying. I was pleased with Jerrell’s dress. I agree that the bottom needed a better finish, but I thought it was (surprisingly) beautiful and fashion forward. The rest of the dresses were only ok IMO, but Kenley’s seemed like a costume. It may have been an attractive enough dress without the “scales” at the bottom, but NEVER would qualify as evening (again, IMHO!) I was disappointed that Korto’s and Leanne’s dresses did not turn out better. Hate to say it, but you could see the top 4 designing for Bryant Park coming from a mile away! Unfortunately, it seems to be the PR trend that Kenley will get to go, based on her past performances, rather than keeping in mind the fact that her last 2 designs were awful!
By lisa
October 2, 2008 10:52 AM | Link to this
Faith, I agree, the tears on the runway were tough to watch. In particular-Korto.
Her “designer dream” was probably the one vision in her mind that held her together, amidst all of her horrific life experiences. Watching the tears stream down her face, as her life’s dream was crumbling away and THEN not being able to find the words to defend herself, was beyond heartbreaking.
And for the PR record, revenge is so disappointingly predictable.
By Rappaport
October 2, 2008 11:14 AM | Link to this
My favorites for current season are Jerrell and Korto, but sorry, none of any seasons’ designers have lived up to the accomplishments of Laura and Uley, whose sublime garments were impeccably made and beautifully designed.
By nikki
October 2, 2008 12:43 PM | Link to this
My only issue…Korto has NEVER been in the bottom pool. NEVER! Although I love Jarrell and Leann, the both have created some wacked fashions that have laneded them in the bottom on different episodes. But as for Korto, NEVER!
Kingley - a joke, just a joke and she should have been gone a long time ago. That hip hop “mess” should have sent her home.
My first pick would be Korto and I always felt she would be at Bryant Park. The rest can fight for the other spots.
By J Sullivan
October 2, 2008 1:23 PM | Link to this
To Lisa: Revenge??? It was justice.
By Rob
October 2, 2008 2:16 PM | Link to this
Kenley certainly makes good TV and she may be a good designer, but if she ever hopes to make it in the fickle world of fashion she’ll never make it with her refusal to listen and accept criticism. Your customers will not be afraid to take you to task for your failure to meet their expectations and in my opinion, her refusal to bend to their wishes will doom her in the real world. There also seems to be a double-standard in that Suede was kicked off as much for his attitude and unwillingness to take criticism as his designs and yet Kenley is allowed to do the same and is not sent packing.
By Left in the south
October 2, 2008 5:28 PM | Link to this
Yeah she was crying crocodile tears. She’s the b**ch that laughed at 2 others when they were getting critiqued.
By f
October 3, 2008 10:03 AM | Link to this
Kenley should’ve been gone when she did that ridiculous outfit last week! Suede should’ve stayed. I think the show kept Kenley just for the controversy effect. I liked everyone’s gowns except Kenley’s.