Woot! So last night was the big Project Runway Season 5 Finale episode where the 3 remaining contestants battled it out on the runway to determine who would become this season’s big winner:

Kenley, Korto and LeAnne went head-to-head-to-head in a battle royale for ultimate fashion supremacy. After the jump, find out who was in, who was out and who was named the Project Runway Season 5 Winner … (more…)

And so … we finally know who the final three contestants are that competed at Bryant Park at New York Fashion Week last month for the title of Project Runway Season 5 winner. Last night’s pre-Finale ep was a nailbiter for me … I was seriously nervous the entire time … but in the end, one of the final four had get cut:

Jerell, Kenley, Korto and LeAnne were challenged to design a wedding dress that showcases their design esthetic. They were given 6 weeks and $8000 to design an entire collection and would be judged one more time on the wedding dress alone … or so they thought. At the last minute, as Project Runway is wont to do, another challenge was thrown into the mix. After the jump find out who was in, who was out and who didn’t quite make it to the fashion altar, as it were, in the episode titled Always A Bridesmaid … (more…)

Last night’s ep of Project Runway pitted the final four designers in a challenge that had the potential to allow them to show off their natural talents. With the competition coming down to the wire, the challenge tried to inspire a new level of creativity in the designers … whether or not they were successful is left in the eye of the viewer:

The designers were taken on a field trip to the New York Botanical Garden in order to find inspiration in the natural beauty they found there. After the jump, find out who was in, who was out and who was able to design a winning evening gown inspired by the organic beauty in the ep titled Nature Calls … (more…)

NBC/Universal just sent out an alert that the New York court hearing their lawsuit against The Weinstein Company has granted a preliminary injunction that disallows the Weinsteins from taking the very popular competitive reality TV program Project Runway to Lifetime Networks. Say what?? Here is the full text of the NBC statement and some explanation of what this actually means:

From NBC: “NBC Universal is pleased that the court granted our motion for a preliminary injunction against The Weinstein Company. The overwhelming evidence demonstrated that The Weinstein Company violated NBC Universal’s right of first refusal to future cycles of Project Runway. After hearing all of the evidence, the court issued an order prohibiting The Weinstein Company from taking the show or any spin-off to Lifetime.”

What it means: The Weinstein Co. and Lifetime will not be able to promote, market or exhibit “Project Runaway” until further notice after a judge granted NBC Universal’s request for an injunction against the studio. NBC Universal sued the Weinstein Co. after it reached a deal to move the hit show to Lifetime from NBC’s Bravo cable channel after the current cycle of the fashion competition ends. In its lawsuit, NBC Universal claimed that it had a right of first refusal should another network try to acquire “Runway” and its spinoffs when Bravo’s deal expired. As part of the Friday order, NBC Universal was told to put up a $20 million bond. The Weinstein Co. had asked New York State Supreme Court Judge Richard B. Lowe to set a $200 million bond, which it said was the value of its deal with Lifetime. Lifetime had also agreed to pick up several “Runway” spin-offs as part of its deal with the Weinstein Co. Weinstein is barred from promoting, marketing and exhibiting those shows as well. Lifetime had originally planned to begin airing its version of “Runway” in November, but it recently decided to push that back to January. The show is a big part of the network’s attempt to give itself a more contemporary image. “Runway” and its spinoffs were a key part of Lifetime’s upfront presentation during the spring. In a statement, Lifetime said it was disappointed by the court’s decision. “It’s unfortunate that the people hurt most by this ongoing dispute are the loyal fans of “Project Runway.” In the meantime, Lifetime will pursue all measures to uphold its valid and binding agreement reached with the Weinstein Company for season six of “Project Runway.” A spokeswoman for the Weinstein Co. did not immediately have a comment … The judge also denied the Weinstein Co.’s motion to dismiss the suit. The order calls for both parties to appear Oct. 15 for a conference to schedule a hearing that would expedite the disposition of the case. “While it appears that resting ‘Project Runway’ for a period of time will not cause harm to the show, the court must ensure that is not off the air for an excessive period of time,” the judge said in his order. “Therefore, because this court finds that plaintiffs have also established a balancing of the equities in its favor, the court will enjoined Lifetime from promotion, marketing and exhibition of future cycles of ‘Project Runway.’ However, this matter will be put on a schedule such that the issues will be resolved through expedited proceedings.”

You may recall that NBC filed a lawsuit against The Weinsten Company almost as soon as it was announced that they were taking Project Runway to Lifetime. NBC contends that they were not properly given their right of first refusal (ie. NBC alleges that they weren’t allowed to decide whether to pay a higher cost to keep the show or let it go to another network, the Weinsteins just sold the show to Lifetime outright) and asked the court to halt the show’s move to the new network so that the matter could be fully resolved. Round one, it appears, goes to NBC. I am pretty sure there is more legal maneuvering to be had before this matter is finally settled but it looks like NBC is serious about keeping Project Runway on their networks. The new 6th season of PR is currently being filmed in LA … but it remains to be seen if the series will actually be allowed to make its debut on Lifetime next year.

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Fortunately, David and I arrived from Reykjavik, Iceland in time to watch last night’s ep of Project Runway on TV. We were a bit tired an hungry but there was no way we were gonna miss seeing last night’s ep. Overall, there was a whole lotta mess on the runway last night … I could barely stop Twittering all ep long:

The designers were challenged to design a look for one of the other designers using a genre of music as their inspiration. LL Cool J was on hand for celeb guest judging duties. After the jump, find out who was in, who was out and who was able to follow their muse and create the hottest design for the episode titled Rock N’ Runway … (more…)

The sixth season of Project Runway, which will be moving from Bravo to Lifetime TV, has a tentative debut date of January 20, 2009 and has already secured the first celebrity guest judge — Lindsay Lohan. I gotta say, I kinda love it … and I’m encouraged that the move to Lifetime may not be so terrible after all:

Jennifer Lopez might have been forced to skip “Project Runway’s” season five finale due to a foot injury, but the hit reality design show will return in 2009 on Lifetime with Lindsay Lohan sitting in the guest judge’s chair for the season premiere. Access Hollywood has learned that the actress will help the judges decide whose fashion is fiercest for the show’s first episode on its new network. The 22-year-old actress, who has been in New York recently shooting episodes of “Ugly Betty,” filmed the premiere episode on Thursday. A source told Access the tentative premiere date for “Runway” on Lifetime is January 20, while the season five finale airs October 15 on Bravo.

IEEEE! While I still may have concerns over the new incarnation of the show that I love so dearly, I am really excited by this news. I knew that the contestants for season 6 had already been cast and I heard that filming was already underway but this is the first concrete news that we’ve gotten thus far. It’s interesting that the the premiere ep of season 6 for Lifetime was filmed one day before the season 5 finale ep for Bravo was filmed. Even tho there has been much talk about the new version of Project Runway moving to LA, I’m comforted by the fact that the season 6 premiere ep was filmed here in NYC. It’s still too early to make any judgments … but I’m pleased with this development and am really looking forward to seeing Linds as guest judge next season.

UPDATE: Pink reader Drew gives me the head’s up that Project Runway has begin filming in LA this week, the show has taken over the third floor of one of the buildings at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, he writes:

The rumors about Project Runway filming in LA aren’t rumors anymore. They’re
filming as we speak over at FIDM in downtown LA. They’ve taken over the 3 story in one of FIDM’s buildings. It’s exciting, but students are already passing around a petition stating how irritated they are. PR took over the newest addition to the school and have prevented the students from using the good equipment and supplies. They’re now stuck with hand-me down mannequins and machines and they are PISSED! Good public relations for FIDM, bad news for the students who are paying $25k a year to go there.

Interesting. It should be noted that The Hills also films at FIDM in LA … I wonder how they actually go about with all the teaching with all that filming going on. Also interesting, former Project Runway contestant Nick Verreos is now an instructor at FIDM … small world.

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