Tim Gunn introduces the episode. Hi, Tim! Tonight's deal is that Project Runway "superfans" submitted videos asking for makeovers. We see some of the videos, but I don't care. Tim claims that the eight that were chosen are "Über Duber Super Fans," and I would prefer that he not talk like that. They're on the top of a tour bus being driven around New York City on some kind of Project Runway tour. When they get to Parsons, they're very excited. Although when you think about it, there are only like three Project Runway locations in the city and that's counting Fashion Week. They're also excited to see Tim, who is pleased to see them as well.
He gives them friendly hugs and welcomes them to Parsons. They're happy to be here. He takes them on a tour, and we get to see some neat backstage stuff. He warns them that the craft service table is dangerous, "because one candy bar is too many and the whole table isn't enough." There's the Runway! And we see it from unusual angles, which is actually pretty exciting because we can see where the monitors are positioned just off-camera. Everyone's allowed up on the runway, and they naturally take their time strutting up and down and posing behind the silhouette wall. Tim tells the fans that the designers don't know they're here, so he has them hide in the sewing room. They're happy to!
Meanwhile, the designers are killing time in the workroom. Somebody speculates on just making a dress out of muslin, which might mean that they're out of money. Or it might just be a random sentence flown in from a completely different day. Tim has them gather around, and he tells them they have new clients who are very excited. This, of course, causes some worry from the designers. The "superfans" come in and are introduced to the designers. Some designers are pleased to meet superfans and some (Ken) don't seem to care. The challenge has something to do with L'Oréal Paris and hair. In the middle of Tim's explanation, Ken has an interview where he describes Tim's speech as "blah blah blah blah blah." I agree, Ken! However, Ken then segues into a speech about how he's never sewn for real women, and he's scared. To be fair, he's not putting the women down or objecting; he's just saying he's never done it.
Back to Tim: every fan's been pre-assigned to a designer. Sorry, fans; I'm not going to go to the trouble of describing you in detail unless drama crops up. I will say that Jamie, who is Helen's client, looks a lot like Miranda from earlier this season. The closest anyone comes to complaining is when Bradon says that his client, Jennifer, doesn't really need a makeover. The clients apparently get to come along to Mood, which they like. And it's a two-day challenge, which the designers are thrilled about. Everyone's happy!
Kate's client is a mother of five, and she wants to be "super hot." Dom's client is "comfortable in her skin," which I think means she's willing to show some skin. Justin's client has lost 130 pounds and is Mormon. The part about being Mormon is there because modesty is important to her. No plunging neckline, please. Bradon asks his client in vague terms what she's looking for, and she immediately translates that as "Where am I going?" Because that's what the judges are always asking about the clients. These might really be superfans! That'll be convenient. She wants to be "intimidating, powerful, sophisticated, classy." That's what she imagines all the women are like in New York. Which is awesome; she has a goal. Helen's client is a lawyer who doesn't feel elegant, so she might get a gown. Alexandria's client is studying art history and Alexandria warns her not to look frumpy. She's worried about horizontal stripes making her look bigger, but she's quite tiny… and not just because she's to Alexandria, who's very tall. Alexander's client wants a suit and he's prepared for that. Ken's client is in fleece and jeans all the time and she wants an alternative. He tells us that he doesn't want her dream of being on Project Runway to be ruined. Everyone's saying the right things so far, but the "real person" challenges have kind of an ugly history, so I'm braced for anything.
Tim rounds everyone (designers and fans) up and takes them to Mood. They'll have 45 minutes to shop. Well, "shop" and "play with Swatch." The fans are agog at all the fabrics. And it's probably convenient for the designers to have them right there to weigh in on colors and whatnot. Helen's making a strapless gown that she says will be "ultra-fitted." The design has the word "ELEGANT" written across it in big letters. I guess if you don't write that down, you run the risk of making something crude and ugly. And there will be a minidress underneath it for modesty. Alexandria's client rejects some patterns. Bradon has been under budget, so he's willing to spend a bit more on some patent leather for a superfan. She looks pretty concerned about this. Ken's client is very involved in the fabric decision. She likes a green fabric much more than he does, and he goes along with her. He knows that might be a bad decision, but he wants to make the fan happy.
Back to the workroom. Ken is still nervous about the green and he's second-guessing himself already. Justin gets his client's autograph, saying he might use it as the inspiration of his design. She loves him now. He throws around words like "conceptual," "modern" and "one-of-a-kind." So I think it's safe to say I won't understand his dress at all. Tim comes in and reminds everyone that the makeover will involve makeup and hair, too. So somebody from L'Oréal Paris comes in to consult. And you'll never believe what happens : a bunch of footage about how great L'Oréal Paris is! Crazy, right? It turns out that every single one of these women needs a hair product from this one company! I'm skipping this.
Back to the workroom. Kate is happy that it's a "real woman" challenge, and this is where I have to remind everyone that the models are also real women. Helen is going to make her client "vamp it up." Ken is making a shift dress out of two fabrics, and he says, "Hopefully it looks amazing." That is not the confidence I like to see, Ken. Make it look amazing! Justin likes Bradon's dress, which is the first black dress he's made on the show. Dom's making a "date dress" and everyone likes this plan. However, everyone is concerned about Alexander's plan to make a suit. He says it would normally take four days. Alexandria's a little vague on her plan, it seems to me. She's not sure whether she wants "modern" or "sophisticated" or "something you'd actually wear on an interview."
With twenty minutes to go in the day, Ken says he's behind everyone else, which makes him feel a lot of pressure. Alexander is also burnt out. And they're out of time! Go home now!
They walk back to the hotel. Bradon says superfans are exhausting. I think he actually means that the whole process is exhausting, but it sounds like he's already tired of dealing with fans. Alexander tells us that since Jeremy's gone, he and Bradon are moving in with Justin and Ken. Don't go thinking these people get their own hotel room! Ken tells us that he and Justin have formed a bond from being roommates, and he doesn't like the idea of new people coming in. So we see Alexander and Bradon pack up all their stuff and drag it down the hallway. In the Ken/Justin room, Ken is right to the door, ironing something and wearing a ridiculous facial mask. He ignores Alexander's knocking, but Alexander has a key so he gets in anyway and when Alexander cheerfully asks him if he'll move out of the way so he can get his big bag into the room, Ken rolls his eyes and ignores him. In an interview, Ken sniffs, "I understand we have to combine rooms, but barging in is not acceptable." It's his room too, now. It's not "barging in." Ken continues ironing and refusing to get out of the way so Alexander and Bradon can come in. Finally, he looks up and tells Alexander, "I'm almost done." Alexander takes a moment to consider the situation. He interviews that it's 11:00 pm and they're all tired. When Ken decides he's marked his territory, he stands the iron on the ironing board and steps back, so Alexander walks forward, shoving the ironing board out of his way and letting the iron fall to the floor. He tells Ken, "I can throw drama too, honey."
Ken throws a fit. Of course. Because that's what he does. In his eyes, Alexander has come into his temporary home. It does not in any way occur to him that it is also Alexander's temporary home, because Alexander is a person who is not Ken, which means Ken doesn't care about him. Justin decides not to get involved, because he's smart. A talent coordinator named Megan has to deal with Ken, so she tries to get him to sit down with him. But he's in Full Tantrum Mode and refuses to calm down. He shrieks at her, "Everybody's frustrated and I'm not about to change my living arrangements for no-[BLEEP]ing body!" Boy, imagine if he'd had to move into Alexander and Bradon's room?
The morning, everyone's on the couch in the break room at Parsons. Alexander and Bradon are wearing sunglasses. Kate, Helen and Dom are under a blanket. Dom's completely under it so I can't even see her head. Justin is sitting quietly. They all look exhausted. In fact, they all look like they're asleep, which might well be the case. Ken is not in the shot. Tim speaks with Ken in the hallway. He asks how Ken is, and then he gets to the point. He says he saw the tape, and Ken just says, "Okay." Tim says Alexander's behavior was inexcusable. Ken says he went into "defense mode." There's a lot offense in his defense mode. I'm not interested in Ken defending himself at this point. Tim wants to have an open conversation to clear the air, and Ken is willing to go along with it. Alexander says he admitted fault immediately. Tim says Justin, Bradon and Alexander will be sharing a room while Ken will be in a room by himself. What's this now? Ken's repeated tantrums get him his own room? That's ridiculous. Tim tells Ken he has some anger management issues, and Ken does not react. Helen asks if there's going to be another eruption and Ken talks some nonsense that doesn't address the way he keeps blowing up at people. Alexandria, who has been mostly left out of the drama, says that they should try to move forward and give the superfans a good experience. She thinks people should put all this energy into making "cool artwork." That'd be neat, wouldn't it?
With the meeting over, Kate interviews that everyone should get over themselves. "It's a job. Be professional." It's a good thing I don't remember last season very well or I expect I'd be bringing up some things, Kate.
Back to the workroom. People work in silence, so we have to fill time with interviews about the situation. Dom finally breaks the tension by claiming she's going to put "a flutter thing" on her dress. Kate and Helen confer about Kate's dress. We're relying on the women to talk a lot here, because the men are all seething.
Tim comes in and asks how things are going. Ah, it's time for the check-in! Justin's taken his client's autograph and put it in white on the front of a black dress. And he's making sure the dress goes to the kneecap, because she's a Mormon. Tim says a skirt should never be longer than the lowest part of the knee. Alexander is still doing a suit. Tim is very concerned about the bust area, and recommends that it be "superbly presented." Alexandria is going for a job interview outfit, and Tim says to keep her young. Kate is making her client a "hot mom." Bradon is worried that his client won't look like she got enough of a makeover because she started out great. Ken and Tim have a euphemistic talk about the best way to hide a woman's midsection. Again, Ken does not complain about having probably the largest "real woman" client. Which is good! Dom is doing a large-scale print, which Tim thinks is "problematic." Helen thinks her client acts like a wallflower but is really a bombshell.
The superfans come in for the fitting, and everyone gets hugs. The designers enthuse about how well the new hairstyles came out. Dom reminds us that the fitting is very important, because they don't know their clients' bodies the way they know the regular models. The white signature Justin has is made out of fabric, and he waves it in the air to his client's delight. Ken's client loves her dress, and Ken tries to keep her mind on the fitting by asking if it's okay to put the hemline above the knee. And she's a superfan, so she says, "The hemline is always the issue for the judges. So you put it where you have heard comments before." He likes that she knows what the score is. She predicts that Nina will say something is "editorial" and that Heidi will want the hemline shorter. Bradon likes his dress. Helen likes the fit on her client. Alexander does not like how much work he has left to do. It doesn't look like a suit yet.
And there's only an hour to go! Panic! Alexander says he isn't even halfway finished, which sounds even worse when Helen and Dom are talking about how well the day went. Helen's looking forward to a relaxed runway day where she can just chill.
The morning begins apparently without drama. Tim gives the usual instructions. The models get two hours for hair and makeup. Alexander's suit isn't assembled yet. There's some talk about how they all hope the judges aren't jerks to the fans. I'm sure Heidi has enough sense not to let her cronies be mean to fans on camera. The fans come in and get their clothes. Helen describes Justin's dress as "so vogue" and "triumphant." Ken's client loves the dress, but he thinks he's doomed, because the dress is very simple and the color is hideous. Kate says that making her client feel good about herself is why she became a designer. Alexander's vest might be too small, so now he has to work on something that was already done.
Hey, more hair! And more product placement for hair products! And also makeup! I'd rather watch another Ken tantrum.
Alexander's client is hovering over him while he's trying to get finished. She thinks it's neat to see actual workroom panic. Well, sure! And here's Tim to say they have ten minutes. As he walks out, he shares a great moment with the sign language interpreter. He's even nice to sign language interpreters! I mean, not that sign language interpreters aren't people, but it's easy to forget they're there. Anyways, back to Alexander, who is missing his bobbin and can't get a zipper in. Ken interviews, "Hopefully Alexander does not complete his look and the judges can tell that it's unfinished so I'm not in the bottom and I can get a safe card." See, when he started, I thought he was being awful, but really it's a perfectly normal thing to want. He doesn't like his dress so he hopes somebody else does a worse job. That's fine. There's some last minute walk-coaching, and it is time! Tim tells "designers and superfan models" that it's time to go. Alexander says that his model is "not naked," but that's about all he can say. She's really just in a vest, not a suit.
Oh, cool! Going into the runway, we get some backstage shots of the fans getting ready, which means we get to see how things are laid out back there. The hair/makeup station looks like it's about twenty feet from the runway entrance.
Heidi welcomes the designers and does her spiel. She's very happy to have superfans, and dedicates the show to the fans who are watching. We get to see someone getting the women ready to walk the runway. Basically, go up some stairs, pose, walk out, pose and walk back. One of them is in tears, and someone is frantically dabbing them away. Tonight's judges are Zac Posen, Zanna Roberts Rassi (filling the Marie Claire spot for Nina, who has been taken off the line-up… probably because she'd be too mean), and Erin Fetherston, who is some kind of designer. Also, Tim and Heidi. It's time!
Justin's model got a great makeover just from somebody brushing her hair. The dress is black with a white squiggle on it, but once Justin explains that it's her signature, I expect that the judges will be enraptured. If that's a word. Bradon's model got a bit of a makeover by getting a haircut. This black dress has some shiny vertical stripes, but otherwise is very much like Justin's. Still, the judges like black dresses. Alexander's garment looks like an unfinished suit. He's kind of emphasized her hips, which I'm sure would be corrected had he done a jacket. Dom's dress is fine. Whatever. It has a big print on it and it's a dress. There's also a thrown-together jacket. Kate's garment has kind of a Robin Hood feel to it. Are those leather pants? I think they're leather pants. Ken's dress is not as bad as he thinks it is. He thinks it looks like a couch from the seventies. I think the black stripes make it look interesting, but he can't see past the color. Alexandria's model is in a boring sweater and skirt. Alexandria sounds defensive as she calls it a "cute interview suit." I think that skirt might be a little short for a job interview. Helen's model got the best makeover. She no longer looks at all like Miranda, which now that I say that sounds a little mean to Miranda. Sorry, Miranda! I'm just saying, her hair is short and she's wearing a gown now. A nice gown, too! She has a slight stumble going up the stairs in her heels and everyone is charmed.
The designers go to the back. Alexander tells Kate and Dom that his client liked his garment, but the judges hated it. He says it was the most fun he's had, which is good. Alexandria is still defensive. Ken kind of smiles as he says the judges hated his dress, and I think he's trying so hard to be good. Everyone noticed how happy his client was. I might be imagining this, but I think Ken really wants to complain that serving his client's needs led him to making a dress he doesn't believe in. I also think he's exhibiting admirable self-control. For him.
Now the judges will get up close with the garments, which will probably be difficult what with the garments being occupies by superfans hyperventilating from being six inches from Heidi Freakin' Klum. First, Helen's gown. Zanna points out some lace she's very fond of. I don't think the fans expected to get poked and prodded by Zac Posen. Heidi thinks it's a plausible red carpet dress. Heidi likes Bradon's dress more than Zanna does. Zac likes these weird epaulet shoulder-things. Heidi gives some faint praise: "Justin. He also did a great job." Yeah, he's great. Big deal. Erin likes the seaming details. Heidi praises Alexandria's model's hair, and then they move on to complaining about the clothes. It looks too "off the rack," apparently. Heidi doesn't like the lack of fashion in Ken's dress, and Zac walks around the model pointing out places where it doesn't fit right. The model says that she asked for it not to be too tight. The judges settle on a way to insult the clothes without including the mode: "We feel you're better than the dress." Nicely done. Alexander's suit is not impressing them. Heidi likes the amount of skin revealed, but there's a weird flap of fabric on the shoulder that they don't understand at all.
It's time for a winner and a loser. Helen is the winner. Good for her! When she gets to the back, Kate and Dom give her a big hug. Justin and Bradon are safe. Alexandria is safe. That leaves Ken and Alexander. Why, that's the same two people who had a big fight earlier! What a weird coincidence. Alexander is in and he's kind of shocked. In the back, Kate is also shocked. So Ken is out. Kiss-kiss. He goes to the back and says he was intimidated as a self-taught designer. But now he has confidence because he got this far. That's great, but man, you have got to calm down. He seems a lot more relaxed now. He gives Alexander a hug and says he still loves him. Alexander returns the sentiment.
Follow Monty on Twitter at @monty_ashley and read his blog, Mysterious Exhortations.
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