Episode Report Card Jeff Long: A | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT HELLO, Read a Magazine! Fashion's Changing
By Jeff Long | Season 8 | Episode 14 | Aired on 10.28.2010
OK, this is crazy, Other Michael says that he has gotten to know Gretchen on a close level and believes that she means well. Andy says that you can forget how your comments might be perceived. OK, that sounds like more Gretchen-slamming, right? Well, here's Mondo, reminding everyone that they are all going to be subject to criticism for their entire careers and it's not fair to pick on Gretchen for expressing her opinion.
Just in time, Heidi presents the Gretchen reel. There's Gretchen winning the first two challenges. Then, we see the Heidi New Balance challenge. Not her high point. Also, that last challenge. Wow, that did really stink. But, then we see her experiencing her billboard in Times Square. Some people, maybe everyone -- I don't know -- applauds when the clip is done.
Tim reminds Mondo that he and Other Michael had an evolution in their relationship. We see them working together and Mondo being an absoLUTE asshole to poor Other Michael. He was throwing shit and talking smack about Other Michael's construction skills to his face. Whatever, you guys saw it. Mondo tells Tim and Heidi that he was worried about handing his work off to Other Michael, but that he decided to approach it as a professional, which Heidi commends him for having said out loud at the time as well (i.e. we see Mondo apologizing to OM during that challenge). Mondo adds that he loves OM and respects what a hard worker he is. That's still faint praise, but, Jesus we'll just take what we can get.
Tim says that Other Michael had the last laugh, which he realizes is not exactly true but says that he is glad to have made it where he is. He also says that the finalists know how happy he is for each of them. A.J. adds that sometimes people just make a bad first impression and you learn from that. Oh, it was OM's fault that you guys were such pricks to him? I see. You're right, he should really work on that. Tim says that, despite the drama, all of the designers were there for each other, which he found moving and unusual.
It's Mondo time now, What? We see what an oddball he seemed like at the beginning of the season. There's Cute Michael saying he seemed like a weird guy. He sounded only like Bernadette Peters there. If she were stoned. Yes. I found it. Here's an interview with Mondo where he was crying that sometimes his talent was a curse. Gosh, even with tears, that's hard to really take seriously. There's a lovely moment with Tim telling Mondo to go big and be him. Here are the judges loving his stuff. There's the moment with Heidi asking Mondo about his Emcee from Cabaret outfit. The personal textile moment is still the most moving.