Project Runway TV Show - Surprise Me - Project Runway Recaps, Project Runway Reviews, Project Runway Episodes | TWoP

Recapped by Jeff Long · Aired 2013-02-07

It's incredibly convenient that this challenge is happening right now because Heidi is getting ready for the launch of her new fragrance, Surprise. She says that Surprise is a very feminine and sensual scent, with notes of red pepper, mandarin and jasmine (that's one of the things I didn't recognize from that tray). She is going to do a big ad campaign for the launch and she's going to need something to wear, which is where the designers come in. Matt interviews that a celebrity wearing your garment can make your whole career. Yeah, maybe Michelle Obama at the Inauguration. Heidi Klum at a perfume launch event? I'm not so sure. Seriously, I'm not even sure, but it just doesn't seem likely that it would be a career-making event. Amanda says that the opportunity (however big it might be) is being handed to them.

Heidi says that there is one more thing... she's a little picky. This is the annoying part, but I have to say that Heidi's delivery right there was pretty funny. Tim laughs too. She says that each team will create four looks for her TV and print ad and two looks for her PR event. Tim asks if Heidi has any special "directives" for the challenge. I wish there were a little book of words that Tim Gunn likes to use. I mean, sure "directives" isn't the most unusual word I've ever heard, but it really belongs to La Gunn for the most part.

Anyway, Heidi does have some directives and they're in the pink box. That felt weird to write. So inside the box is the actual perfume packaging. It's pink with lines of black and gold through it. She calls that feminine but hard. Like Jessica Lange. She likes to look sexy but not slutty. Tim seems to find that a point that needs to be emphasized. She thinks that they should stay with the color palette of the perfume. Also, the ad dress should look good in the back as well as the front, because they have the storyboards for the ad and there are shots of her from behind. Lastly, she provides them with a book of pictures of Heidi by Rankin. That's so generous of her. He'll be shooting the ad as well. Benjamin interviews that he is pinching himself because he is being asked to design something that is exactly within his comfort zone. You know, Benjamin seems really sweet. Tim says that each team will have a half hour to sketch and consult. Then, each team will have $1200 to use at Mood and one day to finish the challenge. Heidi says to have fun and to surprise her, then Tim escorts her out of the room.

Dream Team starts and it looks like Michelle is taking a little bit of control this time. She tells everyone to sketch and then they will decide which look is appropriate for each event. Team Keeping It Real sits down and Daniel says that a couple of looks will need to be made by a pair of designers. Layana and Kate volunteer to work together as well as Joe and Amanda. Amanda is another one who I'm really beginning to like. There's something really authentic and cool about her. Layana says that their team is doing really well and is really good at listening to one another, so she thinks that they're going to win again.

Back at Dream Team, Benjamin says that he would prefer to make a look for the ad campaign. Fine. Michelle interviews that she and Matt are going to make the looks for the press event, while the rest will be making the ad campaign looks. Cindy describes her look, which includes a very plunging neckline. She interviews that this is sexier than anything she has made before, but it's what Heidi asked for. Benjamin describes his look, which includes a mix of chiffon and leather. Matt says that Benjamin has an incredible taste level and his sketch was beautiful. The sketch really is something. Matt can't wait to see the dress and neither can I. Before they head to Mood, Benjamin spritzes a little Surprise in the air for good luck. Nobody sneezes! That's such a good sign.

Michelle says that it might be to their benefit that they have fewer team members than Team Keeping It Real, because that means they don't have to work as teams. Not a bad point. Except, they are already teams. That's been the problem over there -- none of the stronger team members are helping anyone edit. I feel like I wish we had heard from Samantha more at this point. She seems like someone who could recognize when something is going wrong with a look. Amanda says that, on her team, Patricia and she and Joe are making the press looks. Everyone else is making the ad campaign looks. Kate has sketched a floor-length look with a black corset. She proposes to Layana that they match a blush pink fabric with the corset. Layana wants gold and black because she thinks that the pink is too cutesy. Joe and Amanda are having a little bit of a conflict as well. They have both made sketches and Amanda tells Joe that she thinks his silhouette might be a little too loose, as she is used to seeing Heidi in form-fitting and sexy garments. Joe is more interested in interesting textiles, and then draping to find the shape. There's totally a middle ground to be found here and the fact that they are talking so openly and non-defensively about their differences is a really good sign that they will find it.

At Mood, Patricia looks for stuff to make her own leather mesh -- little squares of leather laying on top of a skin-toned fabric. She says that it would read really well at a press event because no one has ever seen this sort of fabrication before. Not ever? In the history of fabrication? Not even once. That's a big claim. But, whatever, it does seem pretty unique. Daniel says that he got a Bond Girl feel from the storyboards that Heidi showed them. He's thinking low back and high leg and very special. Matt, meanwhile, is not having as easy a time making decisions. Tim asks him if he's lost on this challenge and he confirms that he is. He says that he's not a dress maker and Tim's just not having it. "It's Heidi," is his response. I mean, for real. Matt interviews that since Heidi is a gorgeous model and can wear anything, the expectation is that he should be able to nail this challenge. Joe is being wishy-washy about what he wants and it's really worrying Amanda. Layana and Kate spend more money than they have budgeted, but they manage to get the other team members to give it to them! Kate credits Layana's charms and I had no idea that she had this effect on the others.

Back at the workroom, Joe and Amanda still have not finalized their idea yet. Amanda is freaking out. Cindy is trying to decide between two different pink fabrics and Benjamin nixes one of them because it looks like Madonna's "Material Girl" dress. Cindy says that she trusts him, so she's going to go with his choice. Matt is doing a tube dress because he can't get the shape out of his mind. But he thinks it's going to bite him in the ass. Kate is afraid that Layana might be getting too comfortable, since she has immunity for this challenge.

Joe and Amanda are STILL in the decision-making phase. Richard tells Joe that his sketch is one step away from making Heidi a server. That's not helpful, but it's teamwork, I guess. They are very conscious of their differences though and I still say that's a good thing. Richard makes an esoteric comment that they should make something that ends up on the Best Dressed list as opposed to the What Not To Wear list. Well, obviously. Now, I really like Richard, but I put that comment in the category of "Creating Problems So That You Can Solve Them" in the Things People Do That Make Me Crazy File. My go-to example of that category is the following convo:

ASSHOLE
Hey, so, I'm going to have to ask you to not hit me in the face.

ME
Hit you in the face? That's crazy! I would never do that.

ASSHOLE
I'm glad I said something and cleared that up.

Anyway, Joe says that he actually likes making stuff that would be picked out for a What Not To Wear list. Ugh, I get what he's saying but this is not the moment for that. Amanda, who is truly such a good sport, says that she respects Joe's desire to be really avant-garde but she's just going to do her best to reel him in for this challenge.

Patricia is cutting out a lot of little squares of fabric. Like, a lot of them. She says that the danger of creating your own fabric is that you might not be able to finish it exactly like you wanted. She wonders if maybe she bit off more than she can chew. Benjamin, meanwhile, hasn't really even begun. Samantha mentions this and he says that she doesn't need to worry about him. He laughs and says that he has got in under control. Famous last words. Stanley is in love with the fabric that he bought for the challenge. He has this gold shiny fabric that really is something. He says that it's going to pop on the runway. Joe finally comes up with a textile concept that Amanda loves. This is perfect! The shape will be hers and the textile will be his.

Tim comes in for his consultation and begins with Dream Team. He asks Benjamin how comfortable he is. He says that he likes his design but he is not as far along with the construction as he would like. Eek. Cracks are beginning to show. He interviews that his confidence was shaken by his performance in the last challenge. He plans on doing this pink goddess thing with gold metallic straps wrapping around the bodice. Tim thinks that it should look like it's one long piece of fabric. Matt is worried about the metallic fabric, but thinks that it could have a moment on the runway if executed correctly. There's not much on the mannequin at this point and Cindy points out that it makes it difficult for Tim to offer any help. Benjamin notices that Tim is looking at him like he's thinking that he has a lot of work to do. He agrees with Tim. Matt says that he heard "bondage" when Heidi was describing the challenge, so that is what his inspiration is. He's doing a strapless dress with a faux collar, which seems like a big no. Also, he says that he is feeling that his dress is too matronly. Tim says that he senses despair in Matt. He says that he just feels that his look is boring. He wants it to look sexy without looking "ho." I have that same debate with myself every morning in the mirror, though ho wins nine days out of eight. Tim tells him to go with the S&M angle, though through a fashion lens instead of a "sexual deviant" lens. Well, someone's revealing themselves to not be very GGG. My sympathies to all of the PR-loving sadists and masochists out there.

Cindy presents her look and Tim tells her that there is not enough skin showing. Also, he thinks that, instead of different fabric for the sleeves, it should all be the same fabric. Michelle says that Cindy is her own worst enemy. She has no idea why she chose the color or the fabric that she chose. The one bright spot that we see on their team is Michelle. Tim says that he's crazy about her idea.

Team Keeping It Real starts with Joe and Amanda. Tim says that he gets what they are doing and he approves. Before Patricia even begins, he tells her to explain her idea in 100 words or less. Heh. Everyone laughs because she apparently never shuts up. Tim finds her leather mesh incredibly ambitious. The rest of the team wonders if she has enough time to finish. She says she does because the whole look isn't going to be covered in the mesh. Daniel thinks it might look unfinished in that case, but she is confident about what she has in mind. Tim seems really impressed. Richard explains that he's using a little bit of ruffle on the rump for his look and Layana jokes that it may be too Dancing with the Stars. He replies with, "Watch it!" Then, he laughs. Tricky bastards. They showed him saying that as a reply to Cindy complaining to Benjamin about being micromanaged so we'd think some big fights happened. Kate says that Daniel is a very strong player, but she is worried because he is not using silk for Heidi's dress and she believes that Heidi should wear only silk. Well, OK. That's a way of thinking.

Things are coming together for Layana and Kate. Kate says that Layana is mostly just going with the flow at this point. I think we have a winner for person who teamwork has saved. Layana probably would not be doing nearly as well if she had to work on her own. Patricia is having a difficult time finishing her complicated textile. She shames herself for trying so hard to be different as they leave the workroom for the evening.

The day, they are back to work. Matt says that he is making the worst constructed dress of his career. Samantha is worried about his look putting them in the bottom. Tim comes in and Matt tells him that he's stressed. They have two hours before the show begins. Their models come in and Matt says that his fit is off. Amanda says that they need to take two inches off of the torso of their look in five minutes. Well, that seems virtually impossible. Michelle says that she thinks that Patricia is some sort of magician. Her look is complete and seems kind of stunning. Patricia says that she knows how to finish something in time. Matt thinks that Richard's dress looks like she took a shit of ruffles. That's really the elegant way to put it. Actually, it's also dead accurate. Cindy says that Benjamin is crashing and burning. Does it seem to you that there is a little lingering animosity between the two of them? I don't think either of them would say it outright, but they are so evocative when speaking of the other's failings. She thinks that he needed to buckle down and make a decision. In hair and make-up, Scott Patric, hot make-up daddy, is wearing glasses. He looks so smart. Daniel is dressing his girl and telling us that he is self-taught. He says that he has worked hard all of his life. Then, he gets choked up as he tells us that he has been up and he has been down. He takes this opportunity very seriously and he wants to win very badly. Gah, these guys are killing me. Everyone is very emotional this week.

Everyone has to rush to help Benjamin because nothing is ready. That said, he still doesn't want to let Cindy own any of the things that need to happen. It's a mess. Everyone is wrapping the girl in the straps from his sketch. Matt thinks they cut off the circulation to her breasts. Gangrene breasts. They're all the rage this season. This model is super small and they've squeezed her so tight that she's got back fat peeking out of the dress. So sad.

On the runway, Heidi greets the designers. She introduces Zac, Nina and guest judge Kristin Davis. Hey, it's still exciting for me to see her. Sue me. Two members of the winning team will be winners and one member from the losing team will be out.

By Jeff Long

Michelle's dress is first. It's a really short black dress that has a sort of unfitted silhouette. At the shoulders, there are leather and studs. Michelle really likes how it turned out, especially the hem length, but I think there's something a little off about the neckline. Like, it's too constrictive around the neckline or something like that.

Matt's dress is . It's a black strapless dress that is kind of baggy at the bust. Also, extending from the belt is a strip that travels up the bust and connects to a collar. It's hideous. Matt hates it too. Well, at least he has the good sense to hate the thing.

Here's Cindy look. Yikes. It's pink with this insanely low keyhole cut-out. So, it's got this crazy cut-out but is essentially baggy everywhere. It's like an old lady dress that somehow just got torn in the front. Cindy is very happy with it, but that's OK. I'm not sure that this is her gig.

Samantha's dress is . It's a floor-length black gown with cut-outs that have sheer fabric in them. The concept kind of reminds me of Daniel's ping-pong vest. She says that the bare elements were supposed to be much more striking than they are right now. It does look like she had some construction problems.

Benjamin's look is . It's horrible. The bust is completely unsupported and everyone is worried about the model's boobs coming out. Amanda whispers to her team, "That's a really solid idea, but... oh, that's too bad." Wow, and she's trying to be nice about it too.

Tu's look is last and it's really interesting. It's a floor-length halter dress in black. There is a slit in the front and diamond-shaped cut-outs on the side. There's almost something a little Grecian about it. Tu is very happy with him and his teammates congratulate him. As the dresses are walking again, Richard thinks they have competition because Samantha's dress is "everything."

Afterward, Heidi tells Team Keeping It Real that they won once more! The judges are going to talk to Dream Team first. The winners go backstage and hug each other. Heidi tells Benjamin, Cindy and Matt that they had the lowest scores. Matt says that he was trying to go for a '90s referential thing mixed with a fetishistic vibe because he heard bondage when Heidi was talking about the perfume bottle. That's not a bad explanation. Zac gets his reference points but thinks that the strap and collar make the look trashy. Heidi says that she couldn't wear something so sexual on the runway. Kristin thinks that it's odd that he dresses so creatively himself but didn't translate that to the runway. She also says that she would die if someone asked her to wear that. No offense. He says that he was intimidated, but Nina thinks that is ridiculous since dressing someone as gorgeous as Heidi should be a cinch. It would have been funny if he'd been like, "Except for those hips. Jesus, I'm not a magician." As a joke. I mean, make 'em laugh. When all else fails.

The designers leave the stage while the judges confer. They really loved how much of a statement Patricia's dress made. Zac thought that the corset work on the back of the Kate and Layana dress was too much, but Heidi likes that it was multi-dimensional that way. They loved the silhouette of Daniel's dress as well. Zac is very impressed with the leather work on the bodice of his dress. As for the losers, Nina thought that Matt went overboard with the sex. Heidi thought the fit was weird. They hated the iridescence of Cindy's fabric and Zac thinks that it was a perversion to use it. They were baffled by the lack of structure in Benjamin's look. Zac thinks that he was just trying to keep himself in the game with his excuses.

The designers return to the stage. Heidi tells Kate that she is the winner of the challenge! She starts crying again. She and Layana leave the runway. Kate interviews that she's so excited. They both go backstage and get hugged. Daniel is also the winner! She is going to wear it to the press event. He tearfully interviews that he came from nothing and he is something. "Look what I've done?" Shit, that's powerful stuff. Amanda hugs him backstage and tells him that he deserves it so much. Patricia is in. Matt is in.

So, it's down to Cindy and Benjamin. Cindy is... out. Benjamin leaves the runway. Heidi wishes Cindy the best and kisses her. She interviews tearfully that she is so grateful for this experience. Everyone is hugging her backstage. She thanks the show in her interview for the agonizing and amazing experience. Tim comes backstage and says he's not ready to say goodbye. She tells him that he changed her life and it's because of him that she's a fashion designer. OH MY GOD. I don't expect to cry this much during one damn episode of Project Runway. He hugs her and tells her that she is now. She is a fashion designer. Michelle interviews that she is sad to see Cindy go and thinks that she is amazingly talented. Cindy interviews that she has great plans. You know, she is a great example of how important it is to always stay curious and to follow that curiosity.

Jeff Long is a writer/performer in Brooklyn. He can be reached at jeff.long75@gmail.com and followed on Twitter at @jblong.

By Jeff Long

Jeff Long is a writer/performer in Brooklyn. He can be reached at jeff.long75@gmail.com and followed on Twitter at @jblong.