Access Atlanta > Entertainment > Radio Talk > Archives > 2008 > October > 15
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Project Runway: This one’s for the girls
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The high: The finale is always its own high!
The low: Not seeing all six runway shows (the missing three being Joe, Suede and Jerell)
I’m going to hit the ground complaining. Tonight was the least exciting win I’ve ever seen.
Congratulations to “Project Runway’s” Season 5 winner, Leanne. While she staged a lovely collection (more on this in a moment), I found the ending strangely anti-climactic and totally lacking in a sense of triumph. There was no whoop of excitement, no real celebration among friends. Just Leanne gamboling off the stage into a new Saturn. It felt kind of empty.
It was more emotional to watch Korto and Kenley seek consolation in the arms of their loved ones.
I disagreed with the judges’ comments, too. Some thoughts:
Kenley: Kenley’s ’80s redux was a nightmare. Except for a couple of her trademark pretty dresses, I thought the color explosion was too loud; the collection lacked unity; and the hand-painted flowers overwhelmed the personality of the dresses. Plus, those little feather headpieces were annoying. On an interpersonal level, she seems to have atoned for her sins — but stubbornly won’t admit to the importance of learning fashion history. Know your craft, Kenley.
Korto: A beautiful, understated collection — I was surprised to hear the judges call it overworked. I thought her details were small and refined, such as the neckpieces. The palette was well-edited. I would have given Korto the win based on her innovative shapes, effective but not overwhelming ethnic touches, and strong point of view. However, the model in the white dress could not walk; and the green mini-mini dress seemed way too … mini!
Right: Leanne Marshall (left) with a model. (AP)
Leanne: I was wishy-washy on Leanne’s collection. While I didn’t dislike it, it didn’t excite me either: Elegant, tightly tailored pieces gave way to other pieces that looked exactly like the first ones. We were hit over the head by Leanne’s love of pleating. She used pretty colors, but not enough of them; overall I found the collection one-dimensional, though it represented the strongest point of view of the three designers.
Check out the final collections of all six designers here: at “Project Runway’s” Web site. It DOES contain the three shows you didn’t see on TV Wednesday night: Joe, Jerell and Suede.
The next “Runway” drama you see may well be in court, where Lifetime and Bravo will both vie for the rights to Season 6. But till then, your thoughts? Let’s weigh in on tonight’s events and the winner.
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10/15: CNN goes for comedy with D.L. Hughley
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Comedian and actor D.L. Hughley is going to do a Saturday night comedy show skewering the news of the week on CNN. This sounds like an echo of what he did on the failed NBC scripted show “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip.”
It also sounds like CNN is trying to jump on the bandwagon (however belatedly) built up by “Daily Show With Jon Stewart” and “Saturday Night Live.” The show starts October 25 at 10 p.m. right before the election. Like Stewart and his companion show on Comedy Central “The Colbert Report,” Hughley will also do interviews with newsmakers but Hughley said the show will be more in the “Leno/Letterman” mode.
Hughley, who had his own sitcom a few years back and was part of the “Kings of Comedy” tour, in his standup comedy addresses current events and politics on regular basis so this is not a stretch for him.
“D.L. is a very thoughtful, well-informed guy with unpredictable views, and I’ve always admired his comedy,” said CNN/U.S. president Jon Klein to Variety., which broke the story. “The basic premise of the show is, what if a guy like him was let loose in the CNN building for a weekend after the lights went off?”
Hughley said he was drawn to CNN by its deep resources (as well as his deep respect for Wolf Blitzer, who caught his eye during the first Gulf War.)
He admits to leaning left, having come from the tough streets of Compton, but is cynical of all politicians.
Hughley said he knows half the country will be ecstatic November 5, half devastated. He’d love to get George W. Bush as a guest, especially if Barack Obama wins. “I’d love to say to him, ‘You’ve been a horrible president. Your legacy is you were so bad, people said, ‘We’ll going to try the black guy next!’ “
Though Hughley won’t get a band or sidekick, he will have a live audience. “Maybe one of the people in the audience will have an iPod we can use,” Hughley cracked.
CNN Headline News, for a few months, has had a comedy show, which recycles old clips and gets comics and others to say witty things called “Not Just Another Cable News Show.”
Fox News tried a satire show (“The 1/2 Hour News Hour”) last year but it didn’t last.
Hughley will be taping the show out of New York, not Atlanta. He is scheduled to do live comedy at Uptown Comedy Corner November 17 and 18. (It’s a favor to the owner Gary Abdo, since Hughley could easily sell out the much larger Tabernacle.) “He’s a consummate professional,” Abdo said. “He’s very easy to work with. He’s as sharpwitted as he comes across on TV.”
I just spoke with Jon Klein. He said Hughley caught his eye when he saw him do Glenn Beck’s CNN Headline News show a year ago. “He defied easy labeling. Yet he is very well informed and his opinions based on deep knowledge of the news and the world. I think he’s funny no matter your political leanings or race.”
After Klein saw him again in CNN’s recent special “Black in America,” he courted Hughley and found out several networks were chasing him. He wishes CNN had gotten the deal done a bit earlier but thinks the world’s problems will keep Hughley busy for quite some time.
- Were Project 9-6-1’s Giant Brian and Shaffee suspended last week or was it a pre-planned vacation, as their boss Clay Hunnicutt said? Curiously, Giant Brian and Shaffee have not returned my messages. I even tried to reach out to Shaffee for comments about getting his Thrashers in-game announcing job and he didn’t respond. The substance of why they were (perhaps) suspended are not clear either though people inside the building said it may have to do with an advertising client. What made this curious is the fact morning shows do not normally take pre-planned vacations during the spring and fall because those are considered crucial measurement times for advertisers. And with a new measurement system in place (people meters), management would want its team in place. So you can draw your own conclusions.
-And how about the Regular Guys? Gary Lewis, their boss, said they were off today because Larry Wachs is sick. Eric Von Haessler picked some choice best of bits to fill the gap. Sadly, the “Asian Invasion” stripper visit had to be nixed. Larry must really be sick for that to happen.
-If you’re bored at work, this blogger compiled his 21 favorite Japanese TV ads featuring American celebrities.. Before YouTube, these were quick paydays for big celebs who didn’t want to be seen stooping to such idiocy in the United States. Now we can see them, too! Think “Lost In Translation” and you’ve got it. Among the celebs include Nicolas Cage, John Travolta and Natalie Portman.
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10/15: “Real Housewives of Atlanta” episode two recap
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Nothing superdramatic happened in episode two although the producers tried to amp up a potential showdown between Sheree (right) and NeNe after NeNe’s name was (inadvertently?) left off the guest list of Sheree’s party.
The focal point of the night was Kim’s daughter Brielle’s 11th birthday bash. And no, this was not a slumber party at a friends’ house with a cake from Publix. No way. Kim spent $18,000, including $5,000 on a party planner. In all honestly, Brielle doesn’t seem overtly spoiled though Kim seems to try hard, giving her a $1,610 Louis Vuitton handbag. She also arranges a slumber party for Brielle and her friends at the InterContinental Hotel in Buckhead. The kids hold a fashion show at Blue Genes Kids and have dessert and cake at Chocolate Pink Café in Midtown..
Favorite Kim moment is when she complains that her daughter doesn’t look happy enough during the party. It’s kind of sweet she wants Brielle to be happy but telling her to be happy isn’t going to make her happy! “I tend to give to my kids because my parents made me work so hard,” Kim said. “I may go overboard as far as being so laid back with them but I want my kids to be my friends.” Is this good parenting advice?
Kim also joins her friend Cori down at the bar at the InterContinental at one point, leaving the kids unsupervised in the hotel room. It’s unclear how long the break is but I’m sure bloggers will have a field day over that.
Anyway, back to the main plotline: Kim doesn’t want to invite Sheree because she is loyal to NeNe. “I can’t have the drama,” Kim frets (and she frets a lot!). “I can’t have it!” But Sheree works it out with NeNe by phone beforehand although NeNe isn’t 100% pleased. “She said I apologize,” NeNe told the show cameras. “She didn’t say I’m sorry.” Umm… NeNe. That’s the same thing!
During the cake portion, Sheree shows up first and Kim frets since NeNe isn’t there. But alas, NeNe makes a fashionably late appearance. We wonder: will NeNe take down Sheree? Nope. NeNe hugs Sheree and compliments her on her hair. No drama after all. And we viewers are saddened.
The other two housewives get some airtime in bits and pieces but nothing jawdropping occurs.
We learn that Lisa’s real estate business rocks, that her NFL hubby Ed Hartwell helps her out, that she was able to sell a 20,000 square foot mansion to music producer Jazzy Pha and that Ed is a far better hubby than her first one, R&B star Keith Sweat (who remains nameless on the show.) “He wasn’t really supportive,” she said of Sweat. But Ed is cool. “I am totally with a man I needed to be with from the beginning. You can appreciate a good man who comes around when you were with one who wasn’t so great.”
For DeShawn, it’s a perpetual search for an estate manager and a personal assistant. She also introduces us to the fact she has her own makeup artist and stylist. Lucky her! Her best quote: “I’m very particular,” she said. “I want what I want. I don’t like excuses. I don’t have a lot of patience for incompetence.”
So what did you think? Fun? Or gagworthy?
Don’t have enough yet of Real Housewives? Take our poll and vote on who is the most catty?
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