Wendy, Santino and Angela

Sigh....

Project Runway has done it again: in their quest to "create" drama, Malan was voted off. I've been too busy to blog about it, but it's still annoying me.

Let's recap: Vincent (who's funny and nuts) and Angela (who DOESN'T sketch, don't ask me why) were paired on episode 2's challenge. They had to team together to create a pageant gown for Miss USA. Gowns basically make or break you in Pageant Land, so this was a pretty hefty challenge. Long story short: Kayne & Robert had the winning gown. Vincent and Angela were at loggerheads since 1) Vincent really didn't know how to work with another person, and 2) Angela had nothing to do with the concept, color, feel or creation of the gown and denounced it while actually doing NO work.

Interestingly enough, in the middle of all of this, Malan and his partner actually got much done. In fact, the only thing that didn't work was the length and the bodice color, which was chocolate brown (well, on my t.v. it was.)The bottom was a bronze-y sienna, which matched Miss USA's skin tone and hair quite well. Though heavily rouched, but very curvaceous, it struck me as a solid design that got squashed due to PR's extreme time restraints. Bummer. It had a strong feel, was very couture, though perhaps a bit "winter" and not really "pageant." I'm not one who believes in ingratiating an audience, but that's usually what pageants are all about. They must fawn, keel and drool for the judges. That aesthetic probably doesn't jive with Malan, but I don't blame him. In fact, I agree.

A strong design should bring the eye forward, and Vincent's gown didn't do that. Angela didn't believe it did, either, but then again this is a person who designs without sketching (something Chloe Dao did, and she's last year's winner.) Angela wanted to pair with Kayne during the sketch time, who was clearly annoyed and he chose Robert, whose chic Barbies I actually own. $300, much bickering and two days later, the end result was Vincent's spring green Judy Jetson "exercise". My opinion? Cute back, strange "curled" sleeves and a nice A-line train, but nothing to celebrate. Malan's gown had an unfinished hem and was a bit puffy on top, but he did manage to work with his partner nicely and executed something very similar to the sketch. If the color choice had been different and more time allotted, the execution might have been very different. Heidi, Vera Wang (with whom I've skated) and Nina did their thing, and then? It's Malan and Angela on the runway.

My god what an easy choice! Angela did no work, what the hell is she doing there? Buh bye.

So I wait and the "auf weidersehen" goes to.....MALAN.

I hurled my remote clear across the room. Thank god it landed on my chair, it would have shattered had it hit the wall. I was furious. Hurt. Insulted. Cheated. Belitted. Bewildered. Pissed. Confused. Like it happened to me.

I've always thought reality tv is a bit of fluff, but after two seasons of PR I'm emotionally involved. This was BEYOND a slight, it was calculated and I'm certain: THEY WANT RATINGS. Buzz is buzz, but this is a travesty. And I truly wonder if Michael Kors not being there had anything to do with it. I love Vera, we've spoken a few times at Rockefeller Center (I gave her daughters skating lessons 10 years ago), and I trust her judgment, but this was a slap in the face to a very strong designer. Go see Malan's website--the clothes are PRISTINE. True, he turned down last season after being chosen, but revenge? I don't think PR would do that. They let Daniel back in after being voted off season 1's first episode and he made it to season 2's fourth episode. Will Malan come back for Season 4? That is, IF there's a season 4. This decision has pissed off PLENTY of people, and might just wreck PR's credibility.

Yes, I'll still watch but I don't know what to cheer now. I thought PR coming on during what is a very humid and icky summer would make me happy, but now I'm just...feh. About the whole thing. I'm not happy. I can only imagine what Malan feels like. I even put up a comment on his blog, something I wouldn't normally do. I haven't emailed anyone I don't personally know since Johnny Weir in 2004, and everyone knows how much I adore him. We even met, and that day is still precious in my mind. Malan's in Long Island City, my mom's old neighborhood. I hope he shows somewhere. I'll be sitting in the front row waiting for that devilish grin.

Reality tv really does have its head up its ass. (Even if these people do know how to sew.)

Whatever...