Stella says plenty of bikers watch the Olympics

[jlh]

I cannot wait for Top Design, for reals. I fear that the only people with me on this are ziggy1278 and slytherincess, however.

The guys at Project Rungay said they hadn't seen this much ass go down the runway since the 2055 challenge back in season 1 and I have to agree. Last season's menswear challenge had a lot of unfinished garments, but they didn't miss the point of the challenge entirely. Seriously, how many of them actually did some sportswear? I find it odd that the museum sent the designers down some retro hole instead of grounding them in American sportswear. You could see Kors's frustration, especially with Daniel—Republic of Cocktail-land and drinking as an Olympic sport indeed! Classic American design is grounded in sportswear, and it's irritating that so few of the designers could embrace that. Never mind embracing the muscular physique of most of the athletes. I love Apollo Ohno, but I wish that they had had a sporty lady host, so they could see what she looks like—it's unfortunate that this was filmed during the tennis season, so Venus Williams was unavailable, as that is who they should have had in mind.

I worry for Daniel, and I started worrying in episode one when he said Austin was his favorite designer on the show, ever. His inability to get outside of his box is much worse than Austin's—Austin could make a sporty pant; see the post office challenge. I think if Jennifer had done that skirt in a red and white stripe and the jacket in navy she probably would have ended up in the vast middle. Jerrell's was odd and Daniel's was definitely a big miss but at least they were red white and blue. I have no idea what Jennifer's outfit was all about.

As for the winners, I liked all the top three and had problems with all of them. Joe: why was the skirt part so much longer than the shorts? Korto: why were those trousers so transparent? Terri: why was the top strapless? She had a little bulge over the top and athletes with muscular shoulders and chests would have even more of a problem with it. I would have liked more of a square-necked tank, I think—more versatile.

A general note on the season as a whole: NBC is really using this show as a promotional vehicle, aren't they? It's almost as bad as Fox planting random stars of their shows in the audience at Idol. First the Olympics, then Brooke Sheilds, who stars in an NBC show. Some of it really does make the Top Chef sponsored challenges seem more organic in comparison.

P____ pinged me last night and said that he thinks PR might have jumped the shark. I've been saying lately that I'm personally over the whole bitchy-gay-fabulousness thing, which of course women can also do. I'm finding that I prefer the vaguely lesbian vibe of Top Chef; maintaining the appropriate level of fabulousness is exhausting. Besides, my two boys, P____ and D__, are not particularly obsessed with it nor demand it of me. However, I find that the seven fabulous gay boys this season—that is, all of them but Joe—really leave me hanging, while the women, who are by and large downtown girls rather than uptown ladies like Laura Bennett, are doing very well. Korto, Terri, Kelli and Kenley are all making clothes I would wear—I might even wear Stella's in the right mood. I don't have a lot of time for Jennifer (is any of that surreal?) or Emily and Leanne is too mannered for me. But on the boy side, I can't say I'm excited about any of them except Daniel, and him less as he repeats himself. And straight-boy-Joe is just kind of boring, though I adore him for being very aware of his responsibilities as a father of daughters.

Anyway, time for a poll, I think.

[Poll #1237393]

Comments

[ali-wildgoose.livejournal.com]

Oh man, Tim....I really just want him to be my gay day!

[sistermagpie.livejournal.com]

I still don't know hardly anyone's names on this show. It makes me appreciate Suede's referring to himself in the third person.

[adjudicated.livejournal.com]

I have been otherwise occupied since Tuesday evening, so I haven't even seen all my shows for this week! However, I AM WITH YOU on Top Design . . . I want to give it another chance. I wasn't thrilled with it last year, but I think the premise has potential. So, yes, I will watch.