'Project Runway': Ladieees and gentlemen!

 
I suppose it's partly due to "American Idol"'s non-elimination elimination, but the results of tonight's "Project Runway" felt like deja vu in more ways that one.

Even more than ever the competition was tougher tonight as we were promised that the designers who survived tonight's challenge would move forward to Fashion Week. The challenge? Designing a high-end look inspired by the circus. Not just any circus but Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey, tickets for which are on sale now, coincidentally. 

Look, I am not a snob about circuses or fashion. It is still my primary regret in life that I have yet to see the Moscow Cat Circus and thanks to tax day I can't afford a takeout sandwich, let alone the designer dress I'd have to abstain from said sandwich to look good in. But designing a circus-inspired dress for the final regular episode seemed sort of low-rent and cheesy. I especially felt bad for the circus performers, who all had to do their act just for the five remaining designers.

Thanks to the "We'll show you something, you design something based on what you saw" element of the challenge, I don't have much to say about the episode other than the runway designs, several of which were similar despite the promise of "Five big wow moments." Jay, Mila and Seth Aaron all turned in a variation on an over-the-top ringmaster jacket, except Jay's was red and Michael Jacksoney, Seth Aaron's resembling something from a Tim Burton movie. I love Anthony, but I didn't see the inspiration he got from the acrobats in his dress, which was made from a polyester blend that truly horrified Heidi Klum and Michael Kors. Even though his hubris has been getting a little more annoying with each episode, I think only Emilio's striped and polka-dotted dress, which somehow resembled a circus tent yet was beautiful and elegant, was both high-fashion and circus inspired.

So it came time to decide who is going to Fashion Week.  Emilio was obviously the first choice, then Seth Aaron.  Again, I love Anthony but I don't think he was strong enough to make it to the final finale, so I wasn't surprised, and neither did he seem to be, when he was eliminated. It came down to Mila and Jay, and I personally thought Mila has shown a stronger point of view this whole season, so I was happy when she was put through to Fashion Week.

But wait!

Jay was ALSO in. 

But wait!

Faster than you could say "Chris March," we learned that Jay and Mila won't actually both be showing at Fashion Week: They each need to show a mini-line to compete head-to-head for a spot at Bryant Park.

Yeah, we've been here before. Personally, I would rather just see a straightforward three-person finale than this superfluous additional challenge, when, again, to me, I think Mila has more a place in the finale than Jay. 

Oh, well. This all means we're closer to my favorite part of the season, when Tim Gunn meets everyone's families.

-- Claire Zulkey

The final five head to the circus for the inspiration for their next challenge. Photo Credit: Barbara Nitke/Lifetime Television.

Comments

[amy]

Hmm, I get what you mean about Mila having a strong point of view but that also translates into being one-note, and I think after you've been in the bottom 3 for the last three successive weeks and only have one early win to your name, you should be gone, especially when compared to someone with two wins and a more varied design aesthetic like Jay.

[erica stephens]

Having recently gone to the Circus (I hated every minute of it)all the colors of the rainbow were used,bright satins,gold trim and lots of leather,why black and white was chosen is a mystery.Seth got really luckey this season,for his Carnaby street meets Clockwork Orange was rediculous.Mila should have been eliminated,most of her work has been awful.Once Jay took the critizism of his Michael Jackson jacket to heart and changed it,it was an outfit that would sell easily to the masses.Should Emilio pay attention to past winners,he will make a line of seperates and win hands down.No one,although interesting will buy Seth ,s designs,there much to costumy

[Mira]

Am I the only one who is not a fan of Emilio? I didn't like his winning dress last night nor did I like the dress he made with the E<3SA. These garments must look a heck of a lot better in person than they do on television, or maybe it's just me.

While his was the strongest last night, he just leaves me uninspired.

Personally, I think that they're setting this up to be a Jay McCarroll 2.0 thing - with Seth Aaron taking it. Like Jay, Seth always seems to be the bridesmaid and never the bride.

Just my two cents. =)

[Peter White]

I'm sorry, WHAT? You think Mila has shown a stronger point of view all season? That's what she said - are you Mila's muse or echo.

She's pathetic, truly out of touch and lacks any creativity whatsover. Answer this question, over the past few weeks if you were forced to wear either Jay or Mila's collection - which would you choose.

Last night was MJ but you could definetely see a young pop / r&b star wear it - who would EVER wear the monstrosity Mila concocted???

Jay's problem is his designs are always - a little off - he either goes too far or doesn't quite execute to the design.

Mila's biggest problem is she lacks creativity - hmmm - theme is Chinese food? Black and White. Theme is Circus? Black and White. Theme is creat your own fabric? ... let's mix it up - White with Black.

As I told the little woman, unfortunately the producers must see her as a polarizing contestant and keep trying to force her down our throats. We'll see what happens next but I'm fearful that Emilio's ever growning ego will pump out something that's off and Seth Aaron will forget to use any color and too many zippers ... again.

The scripted twists and turns in this show is getting far worse, soon we'll see that same disclaimer as we see on SYTYCD - the one in which the producers admit the show is manimpulated to make for good tv.

Bleh - Mila go home, sew white and black Boston Proper clothes and fade into obscurity.

Good riddance Anthony ... seriously he became a caricature of himself.