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So, Tim visits all of the designers in their homes. Andy gets a safe and cautious evaluation. He tells Other Michael that he needs to stop designing and start to edit one of the 700 pieces that he designed. We also meet his PARTNER, Richard. But, it makes sense when you find out that OM's family hasn't been very supportive of him being gay or being a designer. He was hiding for a long time.
Mondo's inspiration is Day of the Dead imagery and it's pretty remarkable. There's a ton of stuff and a lot of fun ideas. Tim poses the possibility that maybe he's trying to hard, but Mondo assures him that he isn't. Tim visits his family, where his mom says that she tried really hard to make Mondo into a macho guy. Instead, he became very good at the piano.
Gretchen's having to move at the same time that Tim visits. Her relationship fell apart while she was away, and she's broke. Poor fucking Gretchen. Seriously. She says that she's embarrassed that Tim is visiting at this time, but she's proud of her collection. Tim tells her that, had he not had a serious relationship fall apart, he would never have moved to New York. Bless his heart. She interviews that she'd really missed him and is glad to share this with him. Her stuff is a little too hippie for me, but it's direct. He has brunch with her and her mother and they discuss Gretchen's control-freak ways, but she takes it all in stride.
They get back to New York and start preparing for Fashion Week. They are required to make an extra look to go with their collection. Other Michael has a problem. On the runway, they like Mondo's stuff. They feel like Andy didn't show them his best stuff. No one likes that Other Michael only had one color in the stuff he showed. And, Gretchen is told that she's too crunchy. Mondo and Gretchen make it through, so it is down to Other Michael and Andy. Andy makes it. And, Other Michael freaks out in a way that I have never seen on this show, ever ever. A. Mazing.
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Want more? The full recap starts right below!Previously: The designers had to create a look inspired by New York. Mondo, Andy, Other Michael and Gretchen made it through to Fashion Week, while April was sadly sent home. But, it's not over yet. They're all going home to create their collections and only tree will get to show at Lincoln Center.
Heidi greets the designers. She tells them that they will get nine grand and six weeks at home to create their collections. Gretchen grasps her heart with relief? Probably a little anxiety too. Tim comes out onstage to tell them that he will be visiting them at home as they're working. Gretchen interviews that she was actually feeling exhaustion. It's tough knowing that she has to bust her ass at home.
As they're packing up at the Atlas Building, Mondo remembers that he felt like the odd man out at the beginning of the show. Now, though, he knows that he has a greater purpose and will make it with or without this opportunity. I believe him that he's gone through a change. He totally seems like a different person. Gretchen interviews that she knows that she has what it takes to show at Fashion Week. As they're leaving, Andy says that he has some beaches to go to (Hawaii). Other Michael interviews that he doesn't want to say that he's going to have the last laugh, then he laughs. It's not the last yet, OM. There's still more things to laugh at. Andy interviews that he knows that he can make a collection that is him, yet still surprising. The mannequins are like, "Is this week 2? No? The finale? Oh, he's still just saying the same thing over and over again. Got it. Could someone stick some pins in us? We need to feel again." Andy, while talented, seems awfully full of rhetoric. I guess that's what you do when you're young and want to be taken seriously. Luckily, that last part was never a big concern of mine. Luckily or unfortunately. Thanks for the self-doubt, Andrew.
A month later, Tim visits Andy in Waianae, Hawaii. Andy shows Tim around their vast farm. He shows Tim their catfish breeding place. Tim is terrified of catfish, which Andy compares in appearance to Chinese men. Andy tells us that his parents are from Laos and he had a different upbringing (lots of chores) that the other kids didn't have and for which he is grateful. He says that, hands-down, his mother is his greatest supporter. We see Andy's mother, who Tim greets exuberantly. We also see Andy's lovely friend Jill. There's a spread of food that Tim says smells terrific. Andy says that his mother sometimes leaves him breathless with the extent to which she will sacrifice for him. That's a really wonderful sentiment and kudos to him for realizing that at his young age.
As they are dining outside, Tim addresses the irony of Nora, Andy's mom, raising Andy in such a nature-intensive environment and him becoming a fashion designer. She merely says that she supported Andy in whatever he wanted to do. Andy interviews emotionally that immigrant families dream of better lives for their children and he's anxious about the possibility of not achieving that for his mom's sake. As we watch him open a coconut with a giant knife and pour water for everyone (which is not just a little impressive), he says that coming back to the farm is good for him because it reminds him of all of the sacrifices that have taken place for his benefit.
He's worried about the critique with Tim today, because he is only in the beginning stages of his collection. That said, he only has two weeks remaining. Tim enters his work studio and marvels at its size. He shows Tim his inspiration wall, which includes pictures of sculptures in Laos and his grandfather standing on an elephant (he was an elephant herder). He has always wanted to create a collection inspired by Laos and is even using hand-woven textiles from Laos. In fact, those fabrics are the reason his collection isn't further along -- he has been waiting for them to arrive.
Meanwhile, he has been obsessing over headpieces and accessories and Tim tells him to forget about them and get to work on the clothes! Looking at Andy's sketches, Tim says that each individual piece is swoon-worthy, but, all together, it could be a "hot mess." Tim just said that. Andy is realizing that he has to create 10 looks in two weeks. As horrible as that sounds, aren't you glad to know that there are talented procrastinators out there? Fine, textiles and mail and all that. Still, I'd like to think that there's someone else out there that can waste time even in the face of the most important moment of their lives.
In Palm Springs, Tim is being directed by a friendly-sounding GPS past windmills to Other Michael's place. I'd like to say now that erstwhile TWoP goddess Pamie and I were there in April under wound-cleaning circumstances and it was freaking amazing. And, it looked nothing like Other Michael. We see OM chatting about shoes with Richard, his PARTNER. Why do I find that so surprising? Well, there's the kid for one thing, but I didn't fall off the turnip truck yesterday. It's crazy, because they look perfect for each other. Cubs.
Michael is excited to have Tim Gunn visit him. He introduces him to Richard. They go into Other Michael's workroom and Tim mentions that an incredible amount of work has been completed. Note that he doesn't say that the work is incredible. Other Michael says that he took inspiration from the sky. Tim wants to know what inspired his silhouette. He answers "feathers." Gosh, this all sounds kind of 2004. Yes? Feathers? Whatever, I don't mean to be knee-jerk. He says that he's intrigued by the movement of feathers. He shows a dress that has a skirt of... feathers. If I see a dress with a picture of the sky on it, I don't know. He shows Tim some other stuff that looks like has a fairly high degree of difficulty involved. Other Michael interviews that, though he has to make 12 looks for the runway, he wants to make 150. And that, I think, is where his strength lies. He's sort of a process of elimination guy. Design so many things that one of them has to be right. Tim looks at all of the clothing in the room (he has, to date, created 18 looks) and says that this is like "design diarrhea." Other Michael laughs like the good sport he is. Tim tells him that it's time to stop designing and start editing. OK, this doesn't look good. When Tim is at these consultations, it's not a good sign when he's less spectator and more daddy. OM interviews that Tim is probably right about the poop problem, but committing is hard for him.
Now, Tim is meeting his "Tim's coming to my house" gatherers and I've hardly been as excited for anything all season. It's always such a hodgepodge of family and friends and this is gonna be good. Here are Frank and Art, OM's friends. Altogether, they resemble an overgrown boy band. "Bear UR Heart" was their single. Somebody stop me. Here's Giovanni, Other Michael's unimpressed child. He really doesn't want to shake Tim's hand. Tim asks who is going to New York for Fashion Week and Richard raises his hand, though suddenly it looks like they're eating in the home of the seven dwarves because those three dudes are crammed together at that bar and poor Richard tears his ACL negotiating his arm into the air. Giovanni is staying with Other Michael's mother while they are in NYC. Then, Richard says that he doesn't think that Other Michael's parents should be at Fashion Week. Ahem. OK, Rodinay from The A-List, don't go spreading Reichen's dirty laundry all about. Anyway, Richard says that his parents have only been supportive since he's been on the show. For the four years prior, they were telling him that he needed to give up his dream and wasn't talented. Other Michael counters that they have always wanted the best for him, but inside of their rules and regulations. For instance, they wouldn't help him unless he was married to a woman.
Then, Michael says that on February 28, 2007, Richard outed him to his parents. On purpose? It wasn't like some jointly agreed upon outing? And, you're still together? I don't know. And, apparently, we're never going to know because he doesn't elaborate. So fine, I guess I'll have to judge and pick apart your situation with little evidence to back up my assumptions. FINE. Sounds like Other Michael is passive in the EXTREME and it actually makes a lot of thing clear about the way he has behaved on this show. Any way the wind blows and all that. He has succeeded mostly by being the least offensive at any moment. I'd say that's no way to live, but it actually seems to be working pretty damn well in this case. Perhaps I'll consider shutting my mouth more often. And, perhaps I'll grow a George Michael faux-stubble.
Other Michael says that his parents gave up on him for a while. Richard tells Tim that this is a big deal for Michael, which, seriously, I know we have to fill seven hours for this show now, but that's just something that everyone in that room and everyone watching so completely knows. Michael says that winning, and thus proving to his family that he can do it, would be great, but he's proud of how far he has come.
OK, here we are in Denver, where Mondo lives. There are ten days until Fashion Week. Tim knocks on his door, which has an amazingly colorful (did you think it would be anything else?) mailbox mounted beside it. Inside, there is color galore. The living room is the same room my kitchen was for four years. It's a supremely happy-making warm pink. Tim and Mondo hug. Mondo interviews something about how one day you're in and for the couple of years you're probably out, so he doesn't want to mess this up. I'm seriously not entirely sure what he means. Is he talking about even if he wins?
OK, inspiration talk. He says that he wanted to stay true to his neighborhood, which is a predominately Mexican part of Denver. So, he started researching vintage circuses in Mexico City. He wanted something a little gritty. There's an amazing photo of a tall, exaggerated clown talking to two smiling (they must have had guns to their backs because the clown in question is terrifying) children. That led him to start looking at imagery from the Day of the Dead. Tim asks him it's one or the other and Mondo says that it is a marriage of the two ideas. Tim seems to like a lot of his collection, but sees one pink top that he finds jejune. Yes, childlike. He doesn't want Mondo to come off like he's trying too hard, but Mondo really doesn't feel like he's doing that.
Mondo can TASTE Fashion Week, it's so close. Not surprisingly, it tastes a lot like water. Actually surprising? It smells like asparagus pee and ketosis. Not a healthy place, this Fashion Week. Later, Tim has dinner with Mondo's family, including his boyfriend Ben who is completely adorbs. Tanisha, Mondo's sister, gets choked up when she talks about how excited she is for her brother. Tim asks Gerri, Mondo's mom, what is was like having such an untraditional child. She says, to laughter from the others, that she tried everything to get him to be... Mondo helps her finish -- more like a macho guy. This reminds me of my mother telling me that I couldn't take tap classes because they would stunt my growth with all of the pounding into the ground. She actually pointed to how short Fred Astaire was. I'm 6'2". She is so wise. Tom says that he would have liked for Mondo to play sports, but to each his own. Sometimes, you can tell when people have to go a long way to get to that point, but he actually seems like he means it. Bless her, but I bet Gerri was the problem.
Tim says that Mondo is a kindred spirit and he was always chosen last for sports in childhood. Mondo remembers that his parents wouldn't let him take piano unless he played baseball. Tim calls this extortion. Mondo remembers that he was a terrible shortstop but very good at piano. We see him tickle the keys for Tim as he says that, though his Mexican culture didn't exactly encourage him, he is glad to be who he is.
On to Portland, to see Gretchen. I have to say, I'm feeling a little conciliatory or something towards Gretchen. Fine, she's a little unbearable when she's on top, but she's a fighter. If she hadn't done so well in the beginning of the season, I'm not sure we'd have been so outraged at her insolence on the runway when she was being criticized. I don't know, I guess I just find her a little intriguing, warts and all. Inside Gretchen's house, she's with her mom and they're packing. Gretchen thanks her for helping and she says that she can't believe that "we" or Gretchen has to be creative and move at the same time. That SUCKS. Gretchen interviews that she came home to a failed relationship, an empty bank account and an empty house. Oh God, that's so awful. Come on now. All of you people out there who hate Gretchen (I'm talking to you, Angel), I know we all started at the same place with her but you are made of ICE if this doesn't win her at least a couple of points. [Fine... she is slightly more tolerable now. -- Angel] Gretchen's mother picks the perfect time to quote Danielle Steele and says, "It was the best of times and the worst of times." Gretchen says that she is broke and busted and has put everything she has into this collection. That is worthy of Tyler Perry, that last sentence of hers.
When Tim arrives, he sees a blackboard at her front door that reads "Welcome Tim" which he finds very sweet. Gretchen says that she's a little embarrassed to have Tim visit her under her current circumstances and I think that sort of summarizes why I've begun to warm to her. The impression that she gave before was that she was above it all, but someone doesn't talk about being embarrassed or broken if they don't have a little humility. Fine, Gretchen lacks a little self-awareness when it comes to how she is perceived, but she's not a snob. She's a hard-working Type-A bitch and she really wants this. Anyway, Gretchen adds that she is really proud of what she has created and is excited to show it to Tim.
Standing in her kitchen, Gretchen tells Tim that everything crumbled around her while she was in NYC. Tim relays a story about an intense relationship that ended abruptly for him that was the impetus for him to move to NYC. God, y'all, Tim Gunn is just good people. Gretchen agrees. She says that you are not going to win big unless you risk big. I'm to take it that this man left her because she went to New York? If that's the case, seriously, fuck him. You're better without him. And, let's not get me started. Gretchen says that she has really missed Tim and is glad to share this moment with him.
She tells Tim that she is working with Native American and international influences. She is trying to make a sophisticated version of those influences. She also says that she's taking risks by using leather and knits in spring. Tim picks up a small knit short and asks her if she knows what he's going to say. "Diaper?" Bingo. She laughs but says he's only feeling that way because it's made with natural fibers. Tim tells her that it's a bit costume-y. He has kind words as well though. He thinks it's going to surprise people, which is what she wants.
They have lunch outside with Gretchen's mother, where he asks her where Gretchen's creativity came from. She says that she's not sure, but she remembers that when Gretchen was a little girl she would refuse to go to nursery school if her tights weren't just so. Tim reaches over and tells Gretchen that she is a control freak. She smiles and says that part of this experience was recognizing that. She interviews that this experience humbled her in ways that your friends won't usually tell you. We see another shot of Gretchen's packed up house as we're leaving. That really is sad for her. I hope that she's OK.
We're back in New York for Fashion Week. Hey, they're staying at the Hilton on Sixth Avenue. Nice place. Mondo gets to their giant suite first. Then, it's Other Michael. He's calling out to whomever might be there but no one answers. Then, Mondo jumps out from beside his bed. They laugh and hug. OM says he was more scared by Mondo's pants. Here's Andy and he has hair down the middle of his back. Fast hair grower. Other Michael says that it's like Last of the Mohicans meets Naomi Campbell. That sounds like a mighty warrior. Finally, Gretchen comes in. She hugs everyone and snuggles on a couch with them.
Tim enters and he has that damn velvet button bag. But! It contains a choice of resort vacation for all of them! Yay sponsors!! The day, they get to work in a lovely workroom. Mondo says of Other Michael's work that he knows that the judges love Michael's "effortless dress" but how can it be effortless with 20,000 ruffles on it? I'm not sure if that is an indictment of Michael's work or the judges' misinterpretation of it. Tim comes in and tells the designers that the will be presenting three looks for their last showing in front of the judges. Two of the looks will be from their collections, while the third will be something they make in the day and should enhance their collection. The designers don't even flinch.
Gretchen is going for a casual dress. Mondo can't think of what else he wants to show, but he had to know something like this would be coming up. Tim tells him to riff on what the core of his collection is. Andy decides to make pleats. Mondo works for the entire day but decides to chuck what he has made because he doesn't like it.
The day, they are all working when Tim arrives for a consultation. Tim feels that Other Michael's new dress is having a hard time working with the other looks in his collection. He says that he's worried about Michael. He feels that Gretchen's new dress fits perfectly with her other looks. Mondo pulled through and made something more sophisticated than what he was working on the day before. Gretchen feels that maybe it's a little subdued for him.
The day, they get ready for the runway. These kids are used to all of this by now. They're all feeling a little emotional now. We get it. It's like they're pinching the designers before the interviews now. On the runway, Heidi introduces Michael and Nina. The show begins with Andi, who shows a little short pants suit in silver that is gorgeous. Then, there's a bikini with a sheer shirt. Meh. His new look is a chartreuse dress with pleats all over it and it's pretty spectacular. Other Michael shows his new dress first. It's a drape-y one-shouldered thing. The look is the feather skirt and top. , he shows a pair of slacks and a fringe top. All in the same color palette of brownish brown. Gretchen shows her stuff. It's all Aztec prints and slouch-y bohemian. Her new look is a little dress that I think is very cute. Mondo's stuff is last and is all cool. He shows this one long dress with polka dots that I think is pretty rad.
Afterwards, they talk to Mondo first. He says that the looks show his love of prints. Michael likes that he made separates. Heidi is not fond of his new blouse, but loves the long polka dot dress. Nina loves Mondo's theatricality but doesn't like the long dress. Michael thinks it's too much too. On to Andy -- Heidi and Nina both thought that the bikini was his new look. They love the new dress. They don't feel that he showed a range but he explains that he didn't want to give them everything today. They, of course, think he's ridiculous for even considering such a thing. Sounds like he's confident though.
Michael likes Other Michael's new dress. Heidi likes the fringe top. Nina, in a really sweet way actually, says that she is amazed that he made everything in the same color. He replies that he wanted it to all look like a collection and Michael, again sounding really nice -- I think they think they are talking to a small child or deranged person, says that color isn't the only thing that should make clothes part of the same collection.
Gretchen says that she tried to show key elements from her collection. She says that she wanted to peak their interest, but Nina is not peaked. She thinks that the looks are all too "crunchy granola." Man! She's pissed. Heidi likes it more. She thinks it should be styled to not look so hippie. Michael says that the problem is that it doesn't look expensive.
The judges confer. The designers are seriously cray-cray backstage. Heidi says that she feels a little bad about how hard they judged today, but Nina and Michael just lick the blood off their paws. They felt like Gretchen's look was too "realistic." Nina is worried about Mondo coming off like a joke. They still can't figure out why Other Michael made everything in the same color. Nina thinks that he needs more practice. Nina is apoplectic about Andy's bikini. She hates it and doesn't feel that she has seen any day wear from him yet.
Back on the stage, Heidi congratulates all of the designers for getting this far. Mondo is in. Gretchen is in and she gets choked up. She hugs Mondo backstage. Heidi tells Andy that he did himself a disservice by not showing more range today. She says that Other Michael was lacking in vision. Andy is... IN! Other Michael starts crying immediately and Andy gives him a hug before leaving the stage. This is awkward. Andy starts crying and gets hugs when he goes backstage. He interviews that he feels bad for Other Michael and knows that it must be tough to fall short at the last moment. Heidi tells him that he should be proud of himself, but I don't think he's hearing it. This is uncomfy. Wow, feel that shit, boy. I'm kind of impressed.
He starts like super crying when he goes backstage and mumbles and punches the wall and kind of cries into it and...wow. Gretchen gives him a hug and tells him that it's OK. He cries that he doesn't know what he will tell his mother and father. Jesus, Michael, you've done A LOT. Fuck them. They suck. Really? It's Fashion Week or marriage to a woman. He's like sobbing and it's totally the craziest. Tim comes in and tries to cheer him up. Gretchen interviews that she's worried for him because of the way he's reacting -- she doesn't think that he's going to get support. He pulls out of it enough to wish luck to the other designers. Tim tells him that he's incredibly talented. Mondo says that Michael is just beginning. The designers give him sincere lovely hugs goodbye. He interviews that he found himself. "Effortless chic. That's me." Gosh, I was embarrassed for him before, but I think this is really touching. What an exit!
Jeff Long is a writer/performer living in Brooklyn. He can be reached at jeff.long75@gmail.com