“Project Runway”: What a Copout

I was finally excited about this season of “Project Runway” as the single greatest development in the show’s history is about to occur.

But leave it to the show to rain on my parade with the biggest copout I’ve ever seen…

Last week, the designers were down to four—Korto, Leanne, Jerell and my nemesis, Kenley. Their challenge was to design an evening gown inspired by a photograph they took in the NY Botanical Gardens.

As is usually the case, the final challenge before Bryant Park was a little underwhelming. Leanne’s dress was gorgeous in the front but totally screwed up in the back. Jerell’s looked good from the waist up, but the rest was a mess. And Korto’s was uncharacteristically sloppy.

But Kenley’s was a full-on disaster. The dress was well-made, but it looked like a mermaid costume thanks to the scaly fabric and the feathers on the bottom. When Nina called her out for the dress not being elegant, Kenley responded, “I wasn’t going for elegant, Nina.”

An evening gown that isn’t elegant? What?! She completely missed the point of the challenge!

If this was “Top Chef,” Kenley would have been gone. She didn’t do what she was supposed to. Simple as that.

But this is “Project Runway”—and the most disappointing season of “Project Runway” at that. So, of course, they had to find a way to keep their villain around.

In the end, the judges decided to let all four designers design a collection for Fashion Week. They will then come back to New York for one last runway show to determine which three designers will compete for the win.

Kenley’s dress was the one they trashed the most on the runway, but during the discussion you could hear the judges backtracking and searching for justification to keep her around. I’m just glad they didn’t eliminate Korto—who I still consider the favorite to win—just to continue their drama.

At the end of the episode, Korto, Jerell and Leanne had a group hug with Tim as Kenley sat by herself. Tim encouraged her to “let bygones be bygones,” but she never joined the hug, still smarting after the other three showed their dislike for her on the runway.

That may have been her biggest mistake yet…

Why? Because Tim Gunn is going to be the guest judge for the finale. As I said earlier, it’s the greatest development in “Runway” history.

And we owe it all to Jennifer Lopez for dropping out at the last minute. Apparently a foot injury keeps you from being able to sit in a chair and judge fashion, but it does not keep you from running in a marathon. Go figure…

Although it puts Tim in a slightly awkward position since he has been the designers’ mentor all season, I am totally psyched about the possibilities. I’m hoping that Tim will be able to talk some sense into the other judges.

And maybe, just maybe, he’ll stop being such a nice guy and tell Kenley where to get off.

At this point, it’s really the only thing that could salvage the season…

The two-part season finale begins Wednesday, October 8th at 9 p.m. on Bravo…

Photo Credit: Barbara Nitke/Bravo