Passing the Torch

Project Runway - Season 5, Episode 4

The bad news is that Timiffany's DVR cut off the first fifteen minutes of this episode. The good news is that it doesn't seem to make much of a difference. The gist of this one is easily picked up. The designers are tasked with making an outfit suitable for United States athletes to wear at the Olympic opening ceremonies. Based on some of the garments we'll see later, some of the designers were apparently composing their grocery lists or thinking about how much they like pudding instead of listening.

Our viewing party joins the episode in the middle of a bunch of people whining about Kenley's annoying laugh. Normally, I'd be on her side on this one, but I've worked in offices with laughers; it really does get old quickly. Korto tells us about her background, and while her story of leaving Liberia with her family is touching, it's certainly no Laotian family prison. That dispensed with, Joe snipes at Daniel for threading one of the sewing machines with red thread. I've never understood why each designer doesn't just get their own machine that nobody else can use without permission, but then I guess we wouldn't get scintillating scenes like this one. So Joe yells at Daniel for not psychically divining which machine Joe uses. Daniel fails to fall over himself to apologize, so Joe goes into the workroom and gossips about how horrible Daniel is for this, having the temerity to give a world-weary sigh about all the drama the gay designers create. Um...Joe? The only fit-throwing priss I see right now is you.

Standouts on the runway include Korto, Keith, and Terri. We pause for a while on Terri's garment, as it looks like either her model's boobs have been shoved sideways, or her nipples have been digitally erased. A lot of designers, such as Kelli, make pretty clothing that is completely unsuitable for the challenge; I doubt our nation's athletes are going to stride into the opening ceremonies in cocktail dresses. Joe, unsurprisingly, takes the sports aspect more seriously, and winds up in the top three, along with Terri and Korto. Korto wins the challenge and immunity.

Daniel's dress isn't athletic in the least, and his saturated blue fabric comes off as purple on the runway. Jennifer makezzz..... Jerell's outfit is downright hideous. Yes, the one he's wearing, but especially the one he's made. It'd be like describing the Olympics to the Little House on the Prairie characters, and asking them to make a dress based on what they've just heard. Though I wouldn't be sad to see him go, Jennifer's reign of bland cannot be ignored any longer, and she gets the heave-ho. I've already forgotten her.

Overall Grade: B-