Project Runway

[gimygirl 0]

should have been jeff and laura (didn't she do that dress in black last week?).

*giggles* and the week before and the week before and the week before!

And I accidently found out who won fan favorite.

don't you dare post any spoliers!!!

[Marilyn. 340]

"Runway" Sews Up Another Scandal

Tuesday October 3 5:47 PM ET

By Gina Serpe

It's all right there in the tagline: Heidi Klum cuts, the designers sew.

Except, of course, when it seems the designers don't actually sew and instead outsource the production of their garments to hired hands, as is the allegation among contestants heading into Project Runway's third-season finale.

The accusations of cheating are the second demi-scandal to hit the catwalk this season, and were leveled at final four contestant Jeffrey Sebelia by fellow designer Laura Bennett.

Last month, the four remaining wannabes--Sebelia, Bennett, Michael Knight and Uli Herzner--showed their collections at New York Fashion Week, at which point Bennett, a red-headed mother of five, accused the rock 'n' roll designer of cheating by obtaining outside help to stitch together his frocks.

According to New York Magazine, the accusations came about after the two designers' mothers became friendly during the months in which the final four were no longer being filmed and instead were working on their collections.

During those months, Parsons School of Design fashion chair, Project Runway designer mentor, and all-around scene-stealer Tim Gunn visited each designer to check up on the progress. It apparently got back to Bennett, via the mother grapevine, that Gunn told Sebelia he "had a lot of work to do."

Three weeks later, the foursome reconvened at Bryant Park, at which point Sebelia's collection was, in Bennett's eyes, suspiciously well made, especially considering his signature deconstructed style and the condensed amount of time he had to turn the collection around, leading her to accuse the 36-year-old of calling in extra hands, a violation of the show's rules that could lead to disqualification if proved true.

"We took the accusation very seriously, and we did a very intense and thorough investigation," Gunn told New York Magazine, declining to reveal the verdict of the so-called scandal and thus potentially spoil the season-ender.

"His collection was very ambitious," he added. "I wasn't born yesterday."

For his part, Sebelia has lashed out at the allegations--and those who reported on them--in a posting to his MySpace page, after a commenter brought up the rumors.

"Thanks for your concern," Sebeilia wrote. "But all I have to say is be careful of what you read and also of what is presented in the press.

"Those people take any information they get (usually unfounded rumors) and just print them in order to bolster their own readership with no regard to the person they might be slandering.

"They are just doing their job as bottom feeding, sludge dredging, no-life having journalists."

We'll take that as a denial.

Should Sebelia, who has run the successful clothing line Cosa Nostra out of Los Angeles for several years, be found guilty of cheating, it would be the second such instance of designer subterfuge this season.

Just a week after the season premiere became the most watched show in Bravo's history, eagle-eyed fans took to Internet message boards, opining on how the designs contestant Keith Michael submitted in order to earn his spot on the show bore a striking resemblance to fashions from established designers' recent collections. And they had the screen grabs to prove it.

The early frontrunner defended the submission as a "a research assignment" and claimed he never presented the designs as his own work. Regardless, it was soon moot as he was kicked off several episodes later for breaking the show's rules by being in possession of design books, a definite no-no.

He got the boot after being ratted out by fellow competitor Kayne Gillespie.

"The kind of sad part is that I never used those books to give myself any unfair advantage," Michael said at the time. "I am disappointed. I would have made it to the end, I'm pretty sure."

http://tv.yahoo.com/news/eo/20061003/115992282000.html

[derekkj 0]

Wow, I am really behind the curve on this! Thanks for catching me up.

Never much liked Jeffrey or his designs.

Am curious to see what happens tonight on the Reunion Show. Wonder if anyone will be drunk like last year? :lol

[nayalamb 0]

the reunion show was definitely worth watching! it took me ages to recognize bradley and i still don't know who the lady with the long straight brown hair was (that sat at far left). kinda bummed that they left out jeffrey's famous "God was drunk" line when referring to landing himself with angela's mum for the challenge. hooray for the $10k viewers choice winner (i won't spoil it just in case y'all haven't seen it on your coast yet!).

[Sweetgirl 0]

Is anybody else watching this show??

The show is driving me crazy.... Vincent has been in the bottom 2 so many times and he always manages to escape elimination..... All the clothes he makes are really strange...

They seem to only take into account the dress they design for that particular show and not what they have done so far....

Last night Vincent's dress looked horrible... just a white sheath, that the model could barely walk in, with garbage strewn all over it... at least the other girl's dress looked like she had put some thought into it... and in the past she had made very beautiful women friendly clothes

Heidi Klum is sooo beautiful and charming

I love her.

Best wishes

[Widge 0]

Sooo pleased to hear Malan had shown at Bryant Park (I dont read the right things to have known this earlier ) there was just something about his work almost like Lauras that was classy and I never felt he should have left so early. Hope it was a success.

[Garfield fan 0]

the reunion show was definitely worth watching! it took me ages to recognize bradley and i still don't know who the lady with the long straight brown hair was (that sat at far left).

That lady is Stacy Estrella (not sure if that's how she spells her last name), she got booted out in the first episode, so probably not a lot of people remember her.

Enjoyed watching last night reunion show too ! I cannot believe that that obnoxious Keith thought that he was being set-up, that the books just suddenly re-appeared in his bedroom and therefore he thought that it was unfair for him to get sent home. ####### ?? Why would anyone do that to him ? It's bad enough to cheat, to deny it and try blaming someone else is worse... yuck ! Glad that he's gone !!

Sooo happy for Michael for getting the $10,000 !!

[derekkj 0]

Enjoyed the reunion show, but was Keith on crack?! First it was, "I didn't know we weren't allowed to bring pattern books." Then after EVERY other designer said yes it was in the contract, Keith comes out with, "Oh, those books were mine, the producers did take them away in the beginning, but then they magically reappeared." What a nutcase! He almost makes Vincent look sane.

Loved the preview of the upcoming show where Tim shrieks like a girl when Jeffrey's son hands him turtle poop.

[Fandango 1,440]

I missed it! But I'm sure I'll catch it again with the 3 zillion other times they show it

[no name 1]

Enjoyed the reunion show, but was Keith on crack?! First it was, "I didn't know we weren't allowed to bring pattern books." Then after EVERY other designer said yes it was in the contract, Keith comes out with, "Oh, those books were mine, the producers did take them away in the beginning, but then they magically reappeared." What a nutcase! He almost makes Vincent look sane.

Yeah, hello, paranoid? What an a**.

Heidi was freaky when she aped Malan's laugh! Her teeth are huge & her mouth too. She was obnoxious last night...

I think Jeffrey cheated! Can't wait it watch it.

And would it kill Uli to wear lipstick on TV or use a pretty barette in her hair?

[Widge 0]

Is it tonight ? Is it tonight ?

[no name 1]

woohoooooooooooooo!

I had to check but:

Project Runway

Finale Part 1 airs TONIGHT at 10/9c!

[CarolineM 0]

soo excited!!!

[Eveline 9]

I love my DVR. I can't wait to see Uli's (I'm sticking with the German chick) and Michael's designes. I don't really care for the other two but the desicion is gonna be hard.

As far as Heidi goes. I don't really know. I really liked her until I watched the show. Every now and then she seem weird and they always put her in those tiny dresses that just don't look that great on her. Maybe they should consider changing the lights in the judging room or so.

Edited October 11, 2006 by Eveline

[Yodrak 7]

No comment. I've been diss'ed for my participation in this thread.

Yodrak

woohoooooooooooooo!

I had to check but:

Project Runway

Finale Part 1 airs TONIGHT at 10/9c!

Edited October 11, 2006 by Yodrak