sleepyjean

I think we have to consider the source of our opinions, particularly in light of the deliberately manipulative and craptastic editing that is no secret on this show. I thought for years we were seeing the real Tim. Then Under the Gunn happened. Frankly, I doubt we've seen the "real" anyone, from Heidi on down. When I watch this show now, I'm hyper aware of the fact that the producers are molding these people into characters and storyline to amplify drama where it exists, and create some where this is none. If I found myself on this kind of show, particularly in a high pressure competitive environment, I would be so horribly self-conscious and uncomfortable. I shudder to think how I'd come across to the masses. Swatch is the only one keeping it real on a consistent basis.

My retinas may never recover. My eyes are closed, but I'm still seeing it.

There's a marathon on today, and I just can't. I can't believe I used to watch this show on a regular basis. When these hoarding shows first started I think it was all about "understanding" the illness and how and why these people get into this situation. I think I had some compassion to begin with, but now it's all gone. I don't care if these people are ill, they are uniformly hateful and self-pitying. I knew it was time to stop watching this when I found myself routing for the local authority to bulldoze the houses.

One more season? Yes. More than that? No. Otherwise these women will go down the same route as the real housewives and start buying into the idea of their own "celebrity." One of the things that makes these women so interesting is their so into themselves and their pageant world, they already think they're important. Right now, that's amusing. If the public actually starts paying attention to them, the overinflated egos will lead to a lot of overacting and blantant self promotion and they would all be completely unbearable.

How exactly do you qualify to be part of fashion week? What's the selection process. I used to think it was something exclusive, but if Hernan has shown several times, can it be all that selective?

I don't understand why Char had to choose the same fabric as Sandhya. Or why any of these teams thought they had to come up with matching dresses. Or did I miss that part of the challenge? I thought they only had to look like the same woman would wear both dresses. A woman who would wear an eyeball-searing yellow dress to her wedding is a woman who is looking for attention. And who is looking for a second "wow" moment when she makes her entrance at the reception. Char should've chosen a different but equally impactful color. What amazes me is that they found 3 or 4 different textiles in that exact same shade of yellow. Mood must be huuuuuge. I can't say I'm sorry to see Char go. She was very likeable but her designs started at "pretty good" and only went downhill from there. And once I found out she and Korina were buddies, The likeability went out the window. I enjoy the fact that Swatch doesn't move a muscle when they walk in and out of the place. Everyone has to step over and around him.

True. Anthony, more than anyone, seems entirely focused on turning asia into a marketable"product" and being the one in control of that product. I get that that happens in showbiz, and that talent needs to be "packaged" a certain way, but usually that's with adults who willingly sign up for it. Anthony is only interested in what he wants and what he thinks is right for Asia's career (and by extension, his own career.) The fact that she's in elementary school doesn't seem to register at all with him. That should scare her parents. Maybe it does. Maybe that's why the more he pushes, the more they pull away. I draw the line there. I don't think he would hurt her - or anyone else - deliberately. Not even Billy. Well, that's bound to be the least surprising news I'll hear all day. I'll be very surprised if there's another season of this. Poor Asia, this was a bad decision on her mother's part. I bet she was so sure this show would catapult Asia to fame as America's little sweetheart, but it didn't work. Instead, it just revealed a dysfunctional family with messed up priorities, and a child who is talented and spunky, but lacks a certain charm, innocence and humility that makes you want to root for her.

"My friend Kelly Rowland wants you to open for her" HAHAHAHAHAHAHA.... Oh that was funny. The whole family blathering on about Kelly, and Asia going on about how Kelly is a stepping stone to Beyonce. Why didn't anyone say "Hey, Anthony, how about you introduce Asia to your bestie?" Did it not occur to them to ask? After all, if Asia was going on right before Kelly, they'd have to be in close proximity for some period of time, right? I would be shocked to discover that Anthony had more than a passing acquaintance with KR. I bet Kelly couldn't pick Asia out of a lineup if you gave her a million dollars to do it. But I would love to see them meet and see the look on Kelly's face as Asia explained that Beyonce is her idol. Meanwhile, it is very clear that Anthony has hitched his wagon to this train because he thinks Asia as his ticket to the big time. All this hurt feelings and defensiveness reeked of desperation as the control (and dollars) were slipping out of his fingers. It seems strange to me that a solo artist needs a creative director. Or even a personal/exclusive choreographer. Why don't we ever see Asia auditioning for any gigs? Or taking any classes? Doesn't every working dancer continue to take class? Isn't it a little early in Asia's career to limit her performances to only those where she is the star? Isn't there something to be learned from being a working dancer in a variety of situations with different choreographers, different types of dancers, and different types of roles? If nothing else, it would do her good to learn how to share the spotlight.

Ditto. I can't remember the last cycle I watched. It only took five minutes of Tyra's over enunciation, her ridiculous lingo, and the self-indulgent campiness to remind me why I ditched this show long ago. I changed the channel in the middle of Tyra's effusive commentary about vitiligo girl. ("You're so symmetrical!") Ugh. Goodbye.

Well I think by this point it's pretty clear that this show has drained the talent pool nearly to the dregs. I don't know where all the creative, fresh, new talent is - I know it's out there somewhere - but one place it isn't is the Project Runway casting call. These days, talent is an anomaly on this show, not the norm.

Bingo. The sad thing is, I think Kristie would look at Britney and say that's what she wants for Asia, and never consider the negative side of that. Britney herself went nuts, lost her way, dabbled with drugs, went through a major depression, and married and had kids with a loser who she'll be paying off for the rest of her life. She still doesn't have it together. Britney had a mother who was primarily focused on Britney's career at the expense of her other child, and allowed her oldest to be inappropriately sexualized when she was underage. (Sound familiar?) Britney's parents argued throughout her childhood and eventually divorced. (Does anybody think Asia's parents will still be together a few years from now?) Britney's younger sister, less talented, less pretty, and overshadowed, was encouraged to grab hold of Britney's coat tails to get whatever bit of fame she could and eventually got the attention she was craving by having a baby when she was way too young. Ditto Beyonce's younger sister. (Welcome to your future, Bella.) Kristie's family is falling apart. She's going to lose her husband, and have big problems with both of her daughters. Asia is willful and I can easily see her going the Miley Cyrus route in her late teens. Bella will be majorly insecure and/or resent the hell out of both parents and sister. It seems inevitable because Kristie already knows she's not doing right by her family, and has decided it doesn't matter, so long as Asia is rich and famous at the end of it. I hope (but don't believe) 20 years from now, this will have been worth it.

I am more and more convinced that the producer's 12 year old daughter is running the show. Exhibits A& B: the camera flashes when Heidi described the challenge and the clap of thunder when Heidi entered the room. Although I must admit, the thunderclap was amusing. I told myself this was not going to bother me anymore, but seriously - why the EFF would you make a red carpet dress a ONE day challenge? If any challenge should be a two-day challenge, certainly it should be the one where Heidi has to wear the winning design in public, in front of tons of photographers. It's been years since this show has had the kind of designers who rise to the occasion when the pressure is on. This group needed the extra day. The thing that is so maddening about this show is the producers STILL don't get it that we are watching this show because we want to see awesome, creative, beautiful designs. Not because we enjoy watching the designers crash and burn. Or am I wrong about that? Does this show get better ratings when the fashion sucks? I liked Sean's gown, although at times the fringe looked a bit coarse and (insert snooty tone) inexpensive in the close ups. And when the model spins in that dress she looks like a giant blue Christmas tree I'm disappointed in Char. She started the season with such promise, but her last couple of runways were nothing to write home about. Why would any of the designers even bother making a dress that isn't Heidi's particular brand of sexy? I don't know a lot about Heidi, but I do know that rule #1 is cleavage. And rule #2 is, if no cleavage, then most of her upper chest and shoulders need to be bare. A low back isn't enough to balance out an extremely conservative front. I'm talking to you Kini and Sandhya. Both of them could've benefited tremendously from a brighter color and a low neckline. I thought Fade's was just "pretty good" this week. I liked the fabric, but I've seen that style many times, so it fell squarely into the "safe" category. The only think I really didn't like was the way he used the pattern to create a dark band at the hem. It draws the eye in a weird way. Whoever said Amanda's gown looked like macaroni art was spot on. Despite that, I did like the idea of Amanda's dress. The reality was a little too lumpy bumpy. But if Amanda sketched it and handed it over to Laura Bennet to actually make it, it would've been a knockout. I thought Alexander's dress looked weirdly heavy and stiff in the front. It seemed like the wrong choice of fabric. When Project Runway first started, it seemed like the cast was all super talented designers who just hadn't had the right break yet. Now it seems like mediocre designers who never got a break because they're...well... mediocre. Too bad for Angela. Maybe she would've won this with her paper flowers/wedding gown idea. For some reason, that typo is cracking me up. Emily's dress was very Heidi, it just wasn't right for this occasion. And Emily's single lapel is what Angela's single lapel should have been.

I don't understand why the designers are so snotty about fabric. Aren't most of them starving artists anyway? It's not like everything they make at home in their basements is made of $40/yd fabric.

I think this family is in for a rude awakening. Everyone - including Asia - is accustomed to Asia being the best . And it's true that she is above average in talent and charisma when it comes to dance. But acting and singing not so much. It's interesting to me that they've put years and years into her dancing to get her to a point where she's polished enough to perform in public. But when it comes to singing and acting, they figure a couple of months of private coaching will suffice. Her singing is mediocre to good-ish at best. She can work at it and get better, but she isn't a natural talent in that area. It's definitely not anywhere near the same level as her dancing, and It's weird that they're planning to throw singing into her gigs, when she's not even remotely performance-ready. I can't figure out if they don't know how weak her singing is, or if they just assume (arrogantly) that because she's great in one area of the arts, she will of course be great at the others. Or maybe they assume (even more arrogantly) that she doesn't need to be great at it, she just needs to be sorta good and her charisma and "personality" will make up for the rest. Hollywood is full of wannabe triple threats. Including Beyonce, whose acting leaves much to be desired.

Co-sign! All of these people with diva attitudes but no accomplishments to back them up. Ugh. Legit stars who are actually talented at something are bad enough, but at least their sense of entitlement is based on some sort of talent and achievement. But if all of these self-absorbed, entitled, reality show losers are now the bulk of David's clientele, I feel sorry for him. I'm sure he's making the bucks, but it's got to be soul-destroying to spend that much time catering to those vapid, clueless, wildly insecure, empty shells of human beings.

Performers who are just starting out always have to pay their dues in sucky venues. This family's problem is they think Asia's stardom from Dance Moms gave her a free pass to leapfrog over all the dues paying. They think she's already a star, and they're just trying to make her a bigger one.

I'm curious to know what "reliable" source told Leha that Lynne had hired a PI. That information wouldn't come from Lynne or Guilio. And no PI worth his salt has loose lips about who has hired him and for what purpose. This does seem like the kind of irrational bullcrap Leha's husband would come up with. He's the kind of guy who goes from 0 to 80 in ten seconds, so I can easily imagine him taking gossip/speculation and blowing it up into some huge threat against his family. Yet hiring a PI isn't a threatening act that would be sufficient grounds for a restraining order. This is fishy all the way around.

Susanna implied that even though there's no actual "pageant" to win Mrs. Rhode Island/Mrs. Massachusetts, the selection process is quite rigorous because there are a lot of questions. I looked up the pageant website and the requirements are as follows: • Entrant must be married and living with her husband. • Entrant must be at least 21 years of age • Entrant must be of good moral character • Entrant must be a citizen of the United States (The term entrant is defined as a naturally-born female meeting the criteria outlined in the rules and regulations.) Other than the applicant's contact information, they only ask for your occupation and which state you represent. There's also an open-ended "tell us about yourself" question, including any other states "You may feel qualified to represent." Maybe that's not the rigorous part. Surely the rigor comes later, because they don't even ask for a headshot. Or proof of age or marital status. Speaking of which: At least Susanna is recognizable. Lynne looks nothing like herself. That's no so much airbrushing as complete facial replacement. I am sorely tempted to inflate my resume and apply for every single state. Or maybe skip that and apply to be a state pageant director. There's a button to apply for that too. How hard could it be? I think Vanassa is jealous she didn't think to apply for - er I mean compete - for the title.

I like the way Amanda is handling her wins and losses. She's not being overly dramatic or angsty or teary or annoyingly defensive or going on and on with the excuses. Their opinion is their opinion and she's taking in stride and being gracious about it without kowtowing one bit. She treats them like regular people who are no better then she is. I like that about her. I was surprised that Nina liked Amanda's dress. Isn't Nina the one who is always complaining that outfits don't look expensive? Amanda's looked like something home made from clothes from the rag bag.

I liked Kini's dress and Fade's garment the best. I didn't completely hate Sandhya's, which is a huge step up for me. I think allowing her to assign the suits was just the latest installment in the "Sandhya rises above" storyline. I was both amused and saddened by Hernan. Amused because he genuinely thinks he's such a scary talent that Sandhya felt it necessary to single him out over everyone else for the worst possible sabotage. Saddened because it's no fun to watch a man that age dive head first into the vortex of self-pity and spend the entire show circling the drain. I thought for sure self-preservation would kick in at some point and he'd get it together, but nope.

Oh this woman made me so frikkin mad. I have to keep reminding myself that I don't actually give a crap about her. But the way she was acting all victimy about her family not understanding made me want to smack her upside the head.How dare she do this to her children? She's either stupid, selfish, or some combination of the above to think it's perfectly ok to marry someone her children have never met and then move him into the home as a father figure. I'm sure that will all work out perfectly. You want to be an imbecile and get caught up in the "romance" of reconnecting with a guy from high school, do it on your own time AFTER your kids are out of the house. And as for the other family members, they should've taken the daughter and walked right out of there. Surprising them like that while they were being filmed was complete bullsh*t. I hope they read her up and down after they left the store.

It makes perfect sense to me. Just like mammals in the wild every subculture has a hierarchy and every member of a group has a rank.(Especially in this group of jackals.) The ones at the top are always jockeying to be number one. The ones at the bottom are always looking for ways to move up. Slim has been at the bottom, and pretended like it didn't matter to her and explained it away because she's above fighting. But when a new member joins a group, it disturbs the hierarchy and everyone has to reassert their status. Delilah presented an opportunity for slim to move up in the ranks. Of course Slim took it.

Maybe the stickers indicate who made it to finals or training camp before. Or maybe those are girls who are "of interest" because they were recruited or have connections (recommended by kitty, related to someone in the DCC organization, etc.)

I don't watch this show regularly anymore, because a little piece of my humanity dies with each episode. But the arrival of Delilah was the funniest thing I've seen in a long time. Those idiots had no idea what to do with her. She is impervious to their usual tactics (physical and verbal intimidation) and walked into the house like she wasn't nervous at all and didn't care what any of them thought. It blew their minds.

I heart Swatch. But what is Tim doing with Swatch? Yep. It was also the avant garde challenge. Here is the rate the runway for that challenge. And here is Tom and Lorenzo's recap. The winning and losing garments: I don't think Sandhya's dress was bad on THIS level, not enough to revoke immunity and send her packing.