Fiorella takes back everything she said about how well Project Runway has manipulated its plot this season. Michael C, the hero, was killed off in the next to the last chapter, leaving Gretchen, the villain, to rule the roost. Yes, just in real life, the good guy got screwed. Fio immediately switched off the TV and will not watch the finale next Thursday evening.
As an author herself, she promises you she will never do that in one of her romances. True life is true life, but we all deserve fiction.
Showing posts with label Project Runway. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Project Runway. Show all posts
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Monday, October 18, 2010
Writers' Alert
If you want to see how to plot a story and engender reader sympathy for your main character, watch and learn from Project Runway.
Yes, a fashion show.
This season's major conflict has been between the humble Michael Costello and the arrogant Gretchen Jones, and they're not going to end up in each other's arms. She talked smack about him early on, rallying the troops around her, and even after Michael C won two challenges in a row, she continued to badmouth him. But one by one, her compadres who were dumb enough to follow her design advice were eliminated.
Then the villain resurged even as our hero sank to the bottom in the last three challenges. The viewer saw Gretchen embracing her mother, Gretchen weeping as she talked about the financial bind she was in, Gretchen wondering if Michael was an idiot savant or just an idiot. What would happen next? Would Michael C be eliminated and Gretchen stomp on his corpse?
Like a theater audience cheering on Indiana Jones during a chase scene, viewers sent encouraging notes to Michael on Project Runway websites, apparently unaware that the whole show had been filmed and edited for plot months ago.
But while there may be no justice in the world, it prevails in every decently-crafted story. The hero and villain have to stay around till the last hurrah. So Michael rose to the last challenge, and both he and Gretchen will be in the final chapter. Forget the other two guys in there with them. One of them may cop the top prize, but they're minor characters in the drama.
Yes, a fashion show.
This season's major conflict has been between the humble Michael Costello and the arrogant Gretchen Jones, and they're not going to end up in each other's arms. She talked smack about him early on, rallying the troops around her, and even after Michael C won two challenges in a row, she continued to badmouth him. But one by one, her compadres who were dumb enough to follow her design advice were eliminated.
Then the villain resurged even as our hero sank to the bottom in the last three challenges. The viewer saw Gretchen embracing her mother, Gretchen weeping as she talked about the financial bind she was in, Gretchen wondering if Michael was an idiot savant or just an idiot. What would happen next? Would Michael C be eliminated and Gretchen stomp on his corpse?
Like a theater audience cheering on Indiana Jones during a chase scene, viewers sent encouraging notes to Michael on Project Runway websites, apparently unaware that the whole show had been filmed and edited for plot months ago.
But while there may be no justice in the world, it prevails in every decently-crafted story. The hero and villain have to stay around till the last hurrah. So Michael rose to the last challenge, and both he and Gretchen will be in the final chapter. Forget the other two guys in there with them. One of them may cop the top prize, but they're minor characters in the drama.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Broomstick in the Corner
They kept the witch. They had to. A good plot never defeats the villain until the last reel. Thus Gretchen Jones made the final four on Project Runway, even though her outfit was ghastly. April Johnston, a weak sister from the very first, was finally eliminated for AGAIN designing a sexy Halloween costume.
The other three finalists are Michael C, Mondo, and Andy. Michael C, in effect, won the challenge. Yes, the same Michael C about whom Gretchen earlier in the show had commented, "I don't know if he's an idiot savant or just an idiot."
Maybe he's just a nice guy loaded with talent.
The other three finalists are Michael C, Mondo, and Andy. Michael C, in effect, won the challenge. Yes, the same Michael C about whom Gretchen earlier in the show had commented, "I don't know if he's an idiot savant or just an idiot."
Maybe he's just a nice guy loaded with talent.
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Why DoThey Hate Michael C?
Q: What did Michael do to make the other designers hate him so?
A: Nothing.
It's classic bullying behavior, alive and well in every classroom in the country, and here's how it works. A strong, confident personality expresses opinions and attracts weaker personalities who shelter under the former's flapping wings. Like baby birds, they seek Mama's attention and approval by squawking loudly, echoing whatever she says in even bolder terms.
Finding prey is the key because there is nothing that unites a group like a common enemy, usually some innocuous soul whose only sin has been not to flock to the worship of the strong personality. Exciting, inciting rumors about the target add to the drama and further unite the group in a frenzy of self-justification.
Gretchen Jones established herself as the Project Runway workroom arbiter by winning the first two challenges. Then Ivy Higa opened her beak wide and became head baby bird. For her scapegoat, Gretchen zeroed in on Michael Costello, shy and self-effacing, and the other designers followed suit. To make matters worse, Michael promptly won two challenges in a row. Not even his worshipping at the feet of Gretchen's over-inflated self-esteem by choosing her first for the group challenge made her back off. In fact, it gave her an opportunity to-uh-throw him under the bus.
Logic has nothing to do with the bullying. None of the designers seem to have noticed that swallowing Gretchen's tasty worms of advice has gotten them, one by one, knocked out of the nest. Ivy, of course, blames Michael rather than Gretchen (or herself) for her ouster.
Surely, you think, the remaining workroom residents would wise up by now. But no, it's so much easier to let someone else do your thinking for you. And besides, how humbling to admit you were wrong, that you let yourself be duped by Gretchen. Mondo and AJ were big enough to do just that after they were forced to work with Michael and got to know him, but April is still spouting vintage Gretchen. Andy also seems to be goose-stepping.
Ivy is Goebbels, Gretchen is Hitler, and Michael C is a hapless Jew.
A: Nothing.
It's classic bullying behavior, alive and well in every classroom in the country, and here's how it works. A strong, confident personality expresses opinions and attracts weaker personalities who shelter under the former's flapping wings. Like baby birds, they seek Mama's attention and approval by squawking loudly, echoing whatever she says in even bolder terms.
Finding prey is the key because there is nothing that unites a group like a common enemy, usually some innocuous soul whose only sin has been not to flock to the worship of the strong personality. Exciting, inciting rumors about the target add to the drama and further unite the group in a frenzy of self-justification.
Gretchen Jones established herself as the Project Runway workroom arbiter by winning the first two challenges. Then Ivy Higa opened her beak wide and became head baby bird. For her scapegoat, Gretchen zeroed in on Michael Costello, shy and self-effacing, and the other designers followed suit. To make matters worse, Michael promptly won two challenges in a row. Not even his worshipping at the feet of Gretchen's over-inflated self-esteem by choosing her first for the group challenge made her back off. In fact, it gave her an opportunity to-uh-throw him under the bus.
Logic has nothing to do with the bullying. None of the designers seem to have noticed that swallowing Gretchen's tasty worms of advice has gotten them, one by one, knocked out of the nest. Ivy, of course, blames Michael rather than Gretchen (or herself) for her ouster.
Surely, you think, the remaining workroom residents would wise up by now. But no, it's so much easier to let someone else do your thinking for you. And besides, how humbling to admit you were wrong, that you let yourself be duped by Gretchen. Mondo and AJ were big enough to do just that after they were forced to work with Michael and got to know him, but April is still spouting vintage Gretchen. Andy also seems to be goose-stepping.
Ivy is Goebbels, Gretchen is Hitler, and Michael C is a hapless Jew.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Project Runway Stunner
Eeny, meeny, miney, moe/Which designer will have to go?
Ivy was obviously stunned at being tossed out of the golden circle Thursday night, but no one else was. Her blue-on-blue creation didn't even hang together. It looked like she'd draped crepe paper across a dress, then doused the whole thing with water. Yum, wet crepe paper, everyone's favorite.
Michael C was obviously stunned that he was in the bottom three, although he was saved, as Michael Kors said, by his impeccable fit and sewing skills--which must have been a further blow to Ivy, who had long said Michael C didn't know how to sew. Actually, Fio, who's no fashion expert, liked his over-the-top ball gown. It reminded her of "Modess because . . ." ads of her younger years, which she always thought were beautiful, although she never quite figured out what they meant.
And Fio was absolutely stunned that Gretchen made it to the top three. That rag-bag kimono thing must have looked better in person than on TV.
Of course, it was necessary to the drama that Gretchen make a resurgence--the villain must remain threatening till the last moment. And it was necessary that Ivy leave--as a sub-villain, she was taking too much attention away from Gretchen. And it was necessary that Michael stay because the drama is between him and Gretchen.
Ivy was obviously stunned at being tossed out of the golden circle Thursday night, but no one else was. Her blue-on-blue creation didn't even hang together. It looked like she'd draped crepe paper across a dress, then doused the whole thing with water. Yum, wet crepe paper, everyone's favorite.
Michael C was obviously stunned that he was in the bottom three, although he was saved, as Michael Kors said, by his impeccable fit and sewing skills--which must have been a further blow to Ivy, who had long said Michael C didn't know how to sew. Actually, Fio, who's no fashion expert, liked his over-the-top ball gown. It reminded her of "Modess because . . ." ads of her younger years, which she always thought were beautiful, although she never quite figured out what they meant.
And Fio was absolutely stunned that Gretchen made it to the top three. That rag-bag kimono thing must have looked better in person than on TV.
Of course, it was necessary to the drama that Gretchen make a resurgence--the villain must remain threatening till the last moment. And it was necessary that Ivy leave--as a sub-villain, she was taking too much attention away from Gretchen. And it was necessary that Michael stay because the drama is between him and Gretchen.
Monday, September 6, 2010
Thursday Night at Eight
Fio thinks the best drama on TV this season is Project Runway. PR has it all--glamor, intrigue, mystery, dirty doings, even a wicked witch. A reality show, you say? Not really. Skillful editing is what forms the plot. That's how we know Gretchen, in effect, set up a sweat shop in episode six, with her team members manufacturing her designs for a team loss. That's how we know she and her compadres spend their time sitting around and sneering at sweet Michael C., who's won just as many challenges as Gretchen. That's how we know that someone spread the rumor that Michael had been stabbing Ivy in the back, although he denied it and the cameras didn't catch it.
The teaser for the next show is that someone is accused of cheating. Who? How? When? Why? Fio can hardly wait for Thursday at eight.
The teaser for the next show is that someone is accused of cheating. Who? How? When? Why? Fio can hardly wait for Thursday at eight.
Friday, August 20, 2010
Runway Recap
Oh, how Fio loves a happy ending. Prima donna Gretchen (who's no Irina, but would be better off if she kept her mouth shut), didn't even make the top three, Kristin got eliminated for a real loser dress reminiscent of Ping, and sweet Michael won, which made up for his gorgeous red creation not reaching the finals last time.
It's Project Runway in top dramatic form--Tim Gunn nailing designs with cut-to-the-quick similes, the contestants constantly snarking at each, and a weird challenge--designing dresses that would coordinate with the wildest collection of hats you've ever seen.
But our Cinderella, Michael, who had to can his first dress and make a new one in what little time remained, won. He can't follow through on the fairytale, though, and marry the Prince. He's the only straight guy in the crowd.
It's Project Runway in top dramatic form--Tim Gunn nailing designs with cut-to-the-quick similes, the contestants constantly snarking at each, and a weird challenge--designing dresses that would coordinate with the wildest collection of hats you've ever seen.
But our Cinderella, Michael, who had to can his first dress and make a new one in what little time remained, won. He can't follow through on the fairytale, though, and marry the Prince. He's the only straight guy in the crowd.
Monday, April 26, 2010
The Last Name's Henderson and He Won Project Runway
What a showman. A family man with a normal-looking house, normal-looking wife and two normal-looking children, he dressed like a rebellious college student during the whole run of the show and ended up at Bryant Park with a Japanese hairstyle and weird, tight white pants, leaping around like a marionette to far-out music.
But what else could Seth Aaron, a straight man invading a gay man's field, do to garner attention?
But what else could Seth Aaron, a straight man invading a gay man's field, do to garner attention?
Friday, November 6, 2009
Tim Gunn, I Hardly Knew Ye
There once was a Project named Runway
That I watched faithfully until one day
They tossed out Shirin,
Kept Christopher in,
So Thursday's no longer a Gunn day.
That I watched faithfully until one day
They tossed out Shirin,
Kept Christopher in,
So Thursday's no longer a Gunn day.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Bring Back Shirin!
How in the world can they toss Shirin off? She's done some very nice work, even in horrible circumstances--the two-yard wedding dress, for instance. And now she's gone because of one mess-up.
And stupid Christopher stays, mainly because he's developed weeping to a fine art. Or maybe Pretty Boy has formed some--uh--connections.
Fio's not watching Project Runway anymore.
And stupid Christopher stays, mainly because he's developed weeping to a fine art. Or maybe Pretty Boy has formed some--uh--connections.
Fio's not watching Project Runway anymore.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Revisited Runway
Project Runway is the TV highlight of Fiorella's week, which doesn't say as much about Fio's interest in haute couture as it does about the rest of the programming available.
It seems to Fio that the quality of programming has decreased in inverse proportion to the increase in the number of channels. Instead of having three or four channels to choose from, Fio now has about a hundred, most of which she automatically bypasses. Re-runs are a major turn-off--Fio will watch really interesting things twice, but not thrice. Tasteless shows like "Girls Gone Wild" or "Girls Next Door" are also bypassed, as are shows in which people put themselves or others in danger She doesn't watch religious shows either, although she may stay tuned for the gospel singing. Somewhere along the line, she stopped watching sit-coms too--the plots seemed so forced.
Anyway, Fio is picky. But why pick Project Runway? Especially since Fio generally doesn't like "reality" shows either, especially competitive ones?
It's not because she likes Heidi--Tim Gunn is more fun. And, Lord knows, it's not because she's a fashion afficianado. It's probably because of the creativity involved. And creativity never grows stale.
It seems to Fio that the quality of programming has decreased in inverse proportion to the increase in the number of channels. Instead of having three or four channels to choose from, Fio now has about a hundred, most of which she automatically bypasses. Re-runs are a major turn-off--Fio will watch really interesting things twice, but not thrice. Tasteless shows like "Girls Gone Wild" or "Girls Next Door" are also bypassed, as are shows in which people put themselves or others in danger She doesn't watch religious shows either, although she may stay tuned for the gospel singing. Somewhere along the line, she stopped watching sit-coms too--the plots seemed so forced.
Anyway, Fio is picky. But why pick Project Runway? Especially since Fio generally doesn't like "reality" shows either, especially competitive ones?
It's not because she likes Heidi--Tim Gunn is more fun. And, Lord knows, it's not because she's a fashion afficianado. It's probably because of the creativity involved. And creativity never grows stale.
Friday, October 17, 2008
Auf Wiedersehen, Kenley!
Kenley got cut.
That was the whole purpose of watching the last episode of Project Runway, to see Kenley, blaming and complaining all the way, get cut. Loved Leanne and Korto, but Kenley was the star. A dark star, to be sure, but the star.
In order to continue its high ratings, Project Runway has to come up with a different plot each season, and this time it was a nasal-voiced egotist whom we kept wanting, week after week, to get "offed."
Well, Kenley finally got her come-uppance. Leanne won the big prizes, Korto will get loads of job offers, and the TV fashion world is safe from Miss "I don't pay attention to what other designers are doing" for now.
What plot will the show come up with next?
That was the whole purpose of watching the last episode of Project Runway, to see Kenley, blaming and complaining all the way, get cut. Loved Leanne and Korto, but Kenley was the star. A dark star, to be sure, but the star.
In order to continue its high ratings, Project Runway has to come up with a different plot each season, and this time it was a nasal-voiced egotist whom we kept wanting, week after week, to get "offed."
Well, Kenley finally got her come-uppance. Leanne won the big prizes, Korto will get loads of job offers, and the TV fashion world is safe from Miss "I don't pay attention to what other designers are doing" for now.
What plot will the show come up with next?
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Wednesday Evening
How interesting it was to see
The competition cut to three--
Leanne, Korto, and Ken-lee.
What a gimmick, what a call--
A female final, all in all.
So next week we will see which
One will survive the final stitch--
The sweetie, thinker, or the bitch.
The competition cut to three--
Leanne, Korto, and Ken-lee.
What a gimmick, what a call--
A female final, all in all.
So next week we will see which
One will survive the final stitch--
The sweetie, thinker, or the bitch.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Runway Revisit
The lure of Project Runway is that of an old-fashioned serial: Pearl Pureheart has been tied to the railroad tracks--will Tom Trueblood get there in time to save her or not? Will my particular darling survive the cut this week?
It's the same lure American Idol uses, but Project Runway adds two other dimensions--the actual construction of the fashions and the interaction among the contestants. Heroes and villains develop before our eyes. To hell with their fashion designs--we all love Korto and Leanne, who've depicted themselves as decent human beings, dislike Kenley, who's acted like a real skank, and feel ambivalent toward Jerell, who seems somewhat ambivalent himself--amorphous, really.
Of course, our viewpoints of the contestants have been formed entirely by the clips the director chooses to show us. Hmmm- I wonder if Kenley is actually a mole, an actress hired to make this season more interesting. Maybe she was inserted into Project Runway for much the same reason Sarah Palin was planted into the Republican presidential ticket.
It's the same lure American Idol uses, but Project Runway adds two other dimensions--the actual construction of the fashions and the interaction among the contestants. Heroes and villains develop before our eyes. To hell with their fashion designs--we all love Korto and Leanne, who've depicted themselves as decent human beings, dislike Kenley, who's acted like a real skank, and feel ambivalent toward Jerell, who seems somewhat ambivalent himself--amorphous, really.
Of course, our viewpoints of the contestants have been formed entirely by the clips the director chooses to show us. Hmmm- I wonder if Kenley is actually a mole, an actress hired to make this season more interesting. Maybe she was inserted into Project Runway for much the same reason Sarah Palin was planted into the Republican presidential ticket.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Leanne and Korto and Jerell and Kenley
I, who have not worn size two since I was two, can hardly wait for the next installment of Project Runway tonight.
Why am I watching this crap? It has nothing to do with my life--I live in shorts and tees. The last time I wore a dress was to a memorial service.
And yet I watch so faithfully every Wednesday night that I can even recite the designers' names. It's down to Leanne and Korto and Jerell and Kenley now, and I think Kenley has to go. She's a one-trick pony, as everyone has been saying, and she's been rude to Tim.
And yet, I know I'm being manipulated by the director's choice of candid clips. We didn't like Keith much, remember, but we liked Terri less for the way she treated him on their "joint" project. What if we had never seen those clips? Would we have been indignant at Terri being booted off?
Would I be as eager to see Kenley booted off if I had seen everything that happened, not just those damaging clips?
Three hours later:
It's all moot anyway. I just watched the show and no one was booted off. All four will design collections, though only three will show. I'm still rooting for Leanne and Korto and Jerell. Anybody but Kenley.
Why am I watching this crap? It has nothing to do with my life--I live in shorts and tees. The last time I wore a dress was to a memorial service.
And yet I watch so faithfully every Wednesday night that I can even recite the designers' names. It's down to Leanne and Korto and Jerell and Kenley now, and I think Kenley has to go. She's a one-trick pony, as everyone has been saying, and she's been rude to Tim.
And yet, I know I'm being manipulated by the director's choice of candid clips. We didn't like Keith much, remember, but we liked Terri less for the way she treated him on their "joint" project. What if we had never seen those clips? Would we have been indignant at Terri being booted off?
Would I be as eager to see Kenley booted off if I had seen everything that happened, not just those damaging clips?
Three hours later:
It's all moot anyway. I just watched the show and no one was booted off. All four will design collections, though only three will show. I'm still rooting for Leanne and Korto and Jerell. Anybody but Kenley.
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