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I don’t know, but maybe Daniel is slowly morphing into Blanche Devereaux. I just think it’s worth pointing out here in the middle beginning. Also, Michelle is aware of the fact that she has been a part of every losing team and she is the only existing designer that is true of. It was true last week too. Anyway, don’t like her.
On the runway, Heidi returns with the button bag. Whoever she chooses, Michelle will be joining that team. It’s hysterical, because Heidi chooses Patricia’s name and Michelle has not stopped talking about how she hates her. They go to some senior center to find out about the challenge. They are supposed to design a fashionable look for a mature lady. I’m so excited about this! Except, I’ll feel bad if anyone looks bad. Oh gosh, we’re in that part where I’ll feel kind of bad or surprised for anyone who goes home.
Amanda starts to freak out almost immediately in the workroom. She’s really confused and doesn’t know what to do. Samantha gets really tired of all of Daniel’s questions and it’s kind of funny to watch, because she’s such a sweet girl. The Michelle/Layana/Patricia triumvirate is not having an easy time. Tim comes in and hates Stanley’s, Kate’s, Tu’s, Patricia’s and Amanda’s looks. That said, he maybe leads Amanda in the right direction.
Patricia refuses really to take any of Tim’s advice. All the while, Michelle is interviewing about how much she hates Patricia’s work. When they get ready for the runway, it looks like for sure Amanda is going home. She hates her dress and is embarrassed. Joan and Melissa Rivers are the guest judges! And Rachel Roy is there instead of Zac Posen this week. She’s just as pretty. My impression on the runway is that Samantha’s and Stanley’s looks are the best. Amanda’s dress is indeed pretty bad. The top teams are Stanley/Richard and Samantha/Daniel. Tu, Amanda and Benjamin all get a lot of grief for their looks, while Kate escapes unscathed. Stanley wins the challenge! Benjamin and Amanda are the bottom two. Benjamin is out. Weird. I did not expect that. He didn’t either. He feels like the wrong decision was made, but he chooses to be graceful about it.
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Want more? The full recap starts right below!Previously: The designers created looks for Miranda Lambert, country superstar. Matt, our special dancer, lost his way. His self-confidence seemed to crumble and he was eliminated. Richard finally won his first challenge and was thrilled.
It's morning at the Atlas Building and Daniel says how quiet is was that morning without Matt there. Stanley, sans heart, says that it was kind of nice. Oh, he'll miss him, but it was kind of nice. The quiet. Daniel interviews very dramatically that he never wants to be in the bottom three again. Benjamin feels that his confidence has come back to him. Michelle feels like she has been very unlucky in this competition, though she doesn't give any consideration to the idea that her designs just haven't been good enough. She tells Amanda and Layana that they don't know what the production is going to do with her regarding teams, but she's putting it out there AGAIN that she doesn't want to work with Patricia. Yeah, we fucking get it. You can't shut up about it. She says that no one seems to see all of the huge problems with Patricia's designs.
Heidi greets the designers at Parsons and she's got that button bag again. She says that whatever name she draws will be the team that Michelle joins. And, in the hand goes and out comes the name of Patricia. I almost want to see if all of the buttons read Patricia, because it wouldn't be right any other way. Being the two-faced jag that she is, she is like, "Great!" to Patricia's face. Patricia interviews that she loves Michelle's design style and is excited to work with her. OK, you see? Maybe she's not the easiest person to work with but she's respectful and acts from a place of goodwill, I feel. She certainly hasn't been interviewed talking shit about people all of the time like Michelle. THIS is why reunion shows are important, producers! It's the one actual learning moment that can happen. I mean, at this point, do we expect to ever even hear from Season Whatever winner Leeann again? No. It's not the winning that will have a lasting impact, really. But, in this world where everyone is so eager to be the one that everyone else is watching, shouldn't there be at least SOME ramifications for the way you present yourself? I feel like Gretchen was the only person who ever got super slammed for being a bitch and she was really just annoying. This Michelle girl is a shit stirrer. She creates bad feelings. You can just tell. Anyway, she interviews that the judges seem something magical in Patricia and maybe some of that will rub off onto her. Not likely.
Heidi says that this special challenge will teach them that fashion is timeless. They go to meet Tim at this senior center where people are taking some sort of jazz class. The designers join them and it's really a missed opportunity to embarrass the hell out of these people. Daniel really GOES for it and I have to say that I've never respected him more. Tu doesn't know where he is. I have also never loved him more. It's over way too soon. Tim welcomes the designers. He explains that good fashion is timeless and ageless. The old lady dancers are their models.
I have to take a Tim Gunn moment here. He was on The Biggest Loser this week (MAKEOVER WEEK!!!) and had this really difficult time with this 13-year old boy named Biingo. It was kind of brilliant, which got me and a friend talking. Which led to us creating a sitcom for them, set in a Turkish prison, called something really random like Penny and Dot or Sometimes The Drain. I can't stop thinking about it, thus this little tumor in the midst of a so far healthy recap.
The clients have been randomly assigned to teams and Tim says that the looks don't have to be cohesive. Amanda says that she has never designed for this age bracket. She's nervous about advancing her aesthetic. Everyone gets together with their clients. Benjamin gets this lady named Holly, who he says is a born comedian. Patricia tells her lady that she has been on the top a lot, so she should feel confident. Stanley's lady wants harem pants, but he's not really feeling that. He wants to make a strapless pantsuit with fitted pants. Sounds smashing. Richard's lady says that, as long as it's flattering, she doesn't care what he makes. Samantha's lady loves leopard. She also tells her that she has recently lost 35 pounds. Kate's lady tells her that she should be a slut while she's young. Seriously, she says that. And, she says that she is glad that she was a slut. Kate giggles and keeps it to herself that she is engaged to her high school sweetheart. She can just be a slut with him. Whatever. She's a fashion designer though. When is she ever going to meet a straight man? I know, I'm generalizing.
The designers head off to Mood now. Kate is not really sure what she's going to do, which makes her really nervous. Tu changes his design completely from the time he consulted with his client to the time he's buying fabric. Samantha notes that leopard can go very wrong, but she thinks this will work out. Benjamin is going to make a party dress. Something structured, because that is what Holly wants.
At the workroom, Kate and Tu get to work. Benjamin recommends that Amanda use a print that she purchased, but it's not working. She designed a structured dress and bought flowy fabric. She feels herself spinning into a dark place, on the Sometimes The Drain. Samantha starts getting annoyed because Daniel asks her a ton of questions. "Dude, I get it, I'm young, but I don't have all the answers," she interviews. That's the only time you'll hear that sentence. How many times does one say, I have less experience than you, but I don't know everything. Paradox Lost.
Amanda almost starts crying, but Benjamin tells her to focus on the work. Michelle doesn't think that Patricia would listen to her criticism, if she were to give it. I mean, I get that Patricia can be a little forceful when taken to task, but is that how you would defend yourself if asked by the judges why you didn't give more input as a team player? She seemed like she wouldn't take my advice. Bleh. Yeah, hope that works out for you.
Tim shows up to consult. He starts with Richard and Stanley. Richard says that his client, Iris, wants to be comfortable, so he's trying to make something modern and comfortable. Tim says the wide trim that Richard plans to run down the garment helps it. I can't tell if that means that he likes the design or not. It sounds a little like he's lukewarm about the whole thing. In fact, he kind of pauses as he's trying to find words for what the trim will do to the look and Richard offers, "cheapens it?" I guess the ole' hear-one-thing-in-the-workroom-and-another-on-the-runway has happened so many times that you can get a little schizophrenic trying to hear about your looks. Stanley describes his look, but he hasn't cut anything at all. Stanley, who is seriously getting more ornery by the minute, though I have to say he looks so adorable in his buttoned up yellow polo, interviews that, thanks Tim, but he's got this. He knows how to manage his time. You throwing shade at Tim Gunn? I would seriously suggest against that. Shit comes out of the woodwork to punish you when you are shitty to Tim. Who knows what kind of leprosy was visited upon the man who broke Tim Gunn's heart?
Tim thinks that Kate's skirt and top are different seasons. His face is scaring Kate. She doesn't feel like she can get rid of the print. It's the flash in her look. Tim thinks that the muslin mock-up of Tu's design is really ambitious. Tu thanks him, which is effing BRILLIANT. Tim clarifies that he's not sure that Tu has the time to execute this, but Tu says that he is going to "try" to make it work. Oh, Tu. Michelle says that Tu has a very striking aesthetic, but he can't sew for shit. Whatever. Tu assures Tim that he can finish it.
Daniel says that he's making a classic black suit. Tim challenges him to make it something original. Tim seems happy with Samantha's leopard creation. Then, he moves on to the three girls and calls them "Team Threesome" and, man, this gets a big laugh. Tim seems embarrassed and says that they should keep going. He tells Michelle that, earlier, he saw her dress form with only the top and thought it was really bad, but it's transformed with the skirt on it. Layana says that she has picked a lovely wine color to compliment her client Joan's complexion. Patricia says that she's making a shawl, but Tim says it's a poncho. "It's a poncho-straganza. Why are you looking at me like I'm crazy?" You can see how this sitcom is going to be amazing, yes? Patricia says that her work never ends where it started, so she's not terribly worried about it looking bad right now. Michelle complains in an interview that she had no idea Patricia was making this potato sack until Tim was looking at it. OK, isn't it part of their job to look at the other one's work? She can't blame anyone but herself for the lack of teamwork. She's just as much of the problem as Patty is. She says that 90% of Trish's work is crap and she doesn't understand why the judges don't see that. Man, she's so weird and mean about her. It's just not true either. She hasn't sent something bad down the runway yet, really. Michelle insists that Patricia has only made it this far because her team has carried her. Layana says that she doesn't want to lose because of Patricia.
Y'all, this show about preachers' daughters. I don't know. On the one hand, it seems pretty intuitive as far as reality TV series go. On the other hand, can I just die now?
Ben tells Tim that Holly is straight up and down. He tells Ben to keep the momentum that he gained in the last challenge. Amanda says that her look is vintage housecoat and Tim agrees. Or rather, he doesn't disagree.
They all get back to work. Michelle is worried about their team being in the bottom, because the others on her team have gotten good critiques. She thinks that she would be the one to get kicked off. Amanda is still kvetching and Benjamin is worried about what she has to bring to the table as a teammate.
The ladies come in for a fitting and they are all super sweet and nurturing. I think I can see a little apprehension in the face of Amanda's client, but she doesn't say anything. Holly pops Stanley on the ass as she's walking past him and says that she had to do that. New York old ladies are the best. Patricia learns that her teammates were right, her top looks like a bib. She doesn't like anything about this look. Tu has not even finished constructing his look. He can't really fit his lady. Kate decides that she needs to really make sure her look works, so that their team won't be in the bottom.
The day, they rush back and all get to work. Tim enters and gives them the usual two hours of hair and make-up. Layana has a problem at the sewing machine but she keeps her wits about her. Amanda is oddly calm too, though she is completely aware that her outfit is a nightmare. She just flat out calls it ugly and says that none of the shapes make any sense. She admits that she has just made one mistake after another. Amanda is an interesting case. It's almost as if her designs happen independently of her. She doesn't have the greatest grasp of what she can do and what she likes. I'm almost wondering if she is in this profession merely because it's different than what her rock star brother does but she can still be famous. I don't know. She doesn't seem that mercenary, but there is something odd and cold about the way she relates to her own creativity.
Patricia tells Layana that she has changed her look in the last moment. Michelle says that she is just screwed. The ladies come back for the show. Benjamin says that he just has to do some hand sewing for the completion of his look. Stanley says that he and Richard are both very high fashion and he is happy with how their looks have turned out. He thinks that the other teams are really sloppy.
All of the ladies look really cute in hair and make-up. It must be really fun to be pampered like that as a special occasion. I try to never put on my own make-up if I can help it. Just like I thought, Holly gets fresh with Scott Patric, hot make-up daddy. She just calls him "big boy" but there's clearly a lot of sexual tension in the room.
Tim gives everyone a fifteen minute call. Richard tells Samantha's client that she's looking very Lady Gaga. As a compliment. She says that she loves it. Tu's client is not happy. She feels like it's making her look heavy. Kate comes in to help and Tu is very thankful. Layana likes Patricia's new creation much better than her original idea, but she doesn't think that it is very innovative. Benjamin is suddenly having a lot of problems. The sleeves are tight and the bodice, which fit perfectly the night before, is now pulling. Don't these ladies know not to eat the night before a show? I would have made her take a shot of whiskey as a diuretic or something, but that's just because I'm a problem solver. Benjamin only has a few minutes before they are to leave, so he is feeling really stressed. Stanley is pushed to the last second as well, which suddenly makes Tim's earlier questioning not so crazy, huh? Amanda is sewing her lady into her dress at the last minute and says that she is mortified. Wow. She is in big trouble.
< p>Regarding a commercial: Jennifer Love Hewitt has been on television for what seems like fifteen consecutive years. Have any of these shows been actually successful?
On the runway, Heidi greets the designers and asks them how their clients were. Benjamin replies, "Cheeky." That's fun. She introduces the other judges. Rachel Roy is sitting in for Zac Posen and she is just as pretty as him. There's Nina. And the guest judges are Joan Rivers and her assistant Melissa Rivers. It's crazy that they have the same last name. Guys, I love me some Joan Rivers.
The show begins with Michelle's look. The model does some dancing on the runway and it's cute. The dress is this cute red and green print and Michelle is right when she says that it gives her model a perfect hourglass shape. It is incredibly flattering. Also, she's killing it on the runway. So cute.
up, we have Layana's look. It's this very modern dress with a swishy skirt that really shows off the gams of her model. The wine color palette that she chose is gorgeous. The styling is great as well. Layana really did this lady a service. She looks fantastic.
Ouch. Here comes Patricia's look. Frankly, the lady looks like she just came off of the Oregon Trail. She's wearing a lovely dark blue skirt in a very elegant fabric, with this tarp-like hide-looking vest/coat/thing on top. It's completely shapeless and thoroughly unflattering. Patricia thinks it looks great, but she is wrong.
Stanley's pantsuit is . First of all, he's lucky because his model has a ridiculous figure. It's fitted beautifully and there's a little belt at the waistline that is a nice touch. She looks gorgeous. The way things work though, I almost feel like whoever got her would have had an advantage. The judges try to act like they are supposed to be able to design for all shapes, but in circumstances like this I feel like they still reward the designer with the most model-like appearance.
Here we have Richard's dress. I actually really like this, though he may have needed to do something just a little different to not seem to young on the model. I'm not sure, maybe a fabric with just a little more structure. As it is, it's a turquoise dress in what appears to be jersey. It's tunic-like, but there is built-in belting that cinches the waist on one side. It's asymmetrical and modern. I think it's pretty cool and his model looks really appropriate in it. Richard says that he feels like a pageant mom.
Tu's dress is and Kate tells him that it looks so good. It's a dark green wrap dress, with a brown belt. Tu likes the design, but thinks that the sewing is so bad that it makes the dress look rather confused. That is sadly kind of exactly right. He is not confident with his safety.
Kate's girl comes out and she's wearing a floral print skirt with a white background and a dark blue top that is fitted. I see what Tim meant about the different colors cutting the model in half. That said, the pieces are very thoughtfully made and the model seems very happy in them. I'm not sure how much you would want to have your top fitted when you are starting to maybe have a few problems with your posture, but I feel like an asshole saying that. I'm just thinking about what I usually see women of a certain age wear. I like to look and think, WWBWW (What Would Barbara Walters Wear)? This looks a bit tight for Babs and you know she'd play ball.
Here's Samantha's lady. She's wearing a dress that is very fitted, with a chartreuse Cinderella bodice and a leopard skirt. I mean, I like it because it's incredibly bold and I'm certain that this lady could get away with it. She looks fantastic.
Daniel's look is and it's a black pantsuit. He made a half sleeve on the jacket and a really interesting asymmetrical collar. There is a blue camisole underneath that I think is very attractive. Daniel loves it.
Oh God, Amanda's dress. She says that she likes the red and green print and, yes, it's nice. She even likes the front of the dress, which she is absolutely wrong about. This dress is a disaster. Honestly, I don't even know what to say. It's like she had to guess at the model's measurements or something. Everything is wrong. She imagined her very wide with a collar bone the size of a quail's. The back is stitched together in ways that suggest maybe she thought the model would have one or two extra limbs. This is so ugly.
Benjamin's look is and it's very cute. Holly is wearing a knee-length blue dress with a wide collar. She waves to Benjamin on the runway, which makes all of the designers giggle. Yes, the sleeves are tight, but I rather like the fit everywhere else. Benjamin is just happy that she seems happy.
After the show, Heidi tells Layana/Patricia/Michelle that they are safe. She adds that Layana and Michelle got the highest scores from her for the entire show, but because Patricia got the lowest score, they are just safe. She emphasizes this to remind them of how important it is to work as a team. I wish that point would really become a bigger thing. There are so many egos here and you have to really learn how to open your ears and accept criticism. And, maybe, like in the case of Michelle, you have to learn how to be able to give criticism so that it will be heard. Patricia apologizes to them onstage and backstage she apologizes again.
Samantha/Daniel and Stanley/Richard have the high scores. The losers leave the stage for a moment. Daniel explains that he wanted to create something his client could wear on a cruise. She says that she feels hip. Heidi commends him for the personal flourishes that he put on the outfit. Nina welcomes him back to the good side. Joan tells her that she looks like a first wife and she would rather see her look like a GILF (Grandma I'd Like To Freak). Samantha explains that her client loves leopard, her weight loss and her tattoos. Joan calls her a "menopausal kitten." Heidi doesn't love the dress. Nina thinks that the dress is too "princess."
Stanley says he wanted to accentuate his model's elegance. Heidi thinks that the pants are too short. Also, she thinks the crotch area is not perfect. Joan thinks that this lady looks like a second wife. Bingo! Richard says that he wanted his client to be comfortable. She says she feels sexy. Joan likes that it shows her legs. Richard explains that she was reticent about showing so much leg and Joan says that she was wrong. "You've got great knees, bitch. So show them." Man, I love her. Heidi says that she would love to wear this dress. Nina likes the idea, but thinks that it drowns the client. Rachel thinks that it's the most youthful design shown on the runway for this challenge and she thinks Richard's client looks beautiful.
The losers return. Amanda says that she thought her print was appropriate for an artist, like her client. The poor lady says that she likes the dress. Rachel likes the idea of the print for the artist, but everything else is horrible. Joan says it's wrong too. Heidi asks about the back and the weird sewing and Amanda says she was trying to make the dress kick out and be fitted. Wrong. Nina thinks that it is not dignified. She's right. Holly says that she feels like a princess. Heidi says that it looks too tight. She says that she moves comfortably in it, but Heidi says that it doesn't look like she does. Holly says that she's sorry about that, which breaks my heart. Heidi says that it's all Benjamin's fault. Really? It doesn't look that bad. Nina thinks that he tried to manipulate the fabric too much. Joan says that she looks like she's hiding the Liberty Bell under her dress. Holly- so adorable- says that she accepts their criticism but refuses to blame Benjamin.
Amanda says that she felt good about her input into Ben's look, but she thinks she could have used more of his assistance. Is she blaming him? I can't tell. I can't tell what he's doing with his reply either.
Tu admits that his sewing was poor. His client says that he understood what she wanted but she was disappointed that he didn't have enough time t finish it properly. Tu says that he has never designed for a mature lady before and Joan tells him that he doesn't have a fucking clue in hell who he is designing for. Big laughs from everyone including Tu. Melissa asks Kate how much she helped and she said she only really had ten minutes to help. About her own dress, she explains that she tried to give her client an hourglass. Joan says that she is as happy as John Travolta in a massage parlor. Heidi likes Kate's look and says that she would not be in the bottom if it weren't for Tu. She says that's OK because she thinks the two of them work really well together. That's sweet. She says that Tu is the first person to show her respect in the competition. Wow.
The judges confer. Backstage, Benjamin tells how Heidi hated his look. Amanda starts crying and says that she is going home. Luckily, the clients are not there. The designers return to the stage. Stanley won the challenge! Richard is safe too. Daniel and Samantha are in. Kate and Tu are in. That leaves Amanda and Benjamin. Amanda whispers, "Sorry" to Benjamin. Benjamin is...out. Amanda starts crying. I mean, this is her fault, right? That really sucks. I feel bad for him. He seems shocked. He interviews that he thinks that the wrong choice was made. I would agree with that assessment. He decides to be graceful about the whole thing.
Tim tells everyone that this means it's going to be anyone's game. He hugs Benjamin and sends him away. He says that he wishes he could have shown more, but there's a whole other life after this.
Jeff Long is a writer/performer in Brooklyn. He can be reached at jeff.long75@gmail.com and followed on Twitter at @jblong.