« September 2008 | Main | November 2008 »
Lacey Schwimmer announces that she, too, has endometriosis.
Survivor is on tonight. Get up to date here. I haven't been able to recruit anyone to recap it. Are people out there watching this season? Seems like the women are dropping like flies.
Get up to date on what news Web sites are calling the Jennifer Hudson case.
The women were jazzed that they made it to Amsterdam, the Netherlands. But once they arrived, they found themselves racing through the city in order to get 25 extra frames during the next photo shoot.
Elina and Samantha paired up and won the extra pictures.
Later, Elina, Analeigh and Marjorie got in a bathtub (naked) and made a lot of noise, which annoyed the other girls who were trying to sleep.
The next day. the girls went to the Red Light District for their photo shoot. They were challenged with posing in outfits in the same display windows that prostitutes use.
Marjorie wowed Miss J Alexander. But the winning model pair -- Samantha and McKey -- were invited to come back to Amsterdam for an international fashion week.
After the shoot, Samantha and Elina had an argument about prostitution. (Elina favors it; Samantha isn't a huge fan.)
The next morning, the girls got on a huge sailboat for a photo shoot. McKey, Analeigh and Marjorie really seemed to excel during the shoot. Jay Manuel showered them with praise. He was a little more lukewarm with Sheena, Elina, and Samantha.
It was no surprise that Sheena and Elina comprised the bottom two. Sheena was eliminated. Tyra Banks told her that she is a star. Sheena took the elimination in stride. She said the show had changed her life, and that the audience had not seen the last of her. I have a feeling that she's right.
A week after "southern belles" Marisa and Brooke were eliminated, couple Aja and Ty found themselves trying to battle back from last place.
The dating couple started off the most recent leg of the race in last place and couldn't rebound from the deficit. Aja and Ty surprisingly remained pretty positive even though they were eliminated. Both said their relationship had gotten stronger during the competition. (Save that stuff for Dr. Phil.)
Meanwhile, the other teams didn't struggle too much with a series of challenges that involved going on a scavenger hunt in Singapore; catching fish in large wooden traps; navigating their way through an ancient temple to find a "chamber of echoes"; and racing to another temple for the end of the leg.
Christy and Kelly brought the much needed drama factor back to the show.
This week, the two divorced best friends were extremely nasty to Dallas, They referred to him as "teen wolf" for a majority of the show. (I suspect that they are jealous because he has shown interest in Starr, whom the two women hate with a passion.)
Siblings Nick and Starr won this portion of the race. As a result, they won a trip to St. John's.
Sarah and Terrence continue to make foolish mistakes. Last week, they didn't follow the rules and illegally used a taxi cab. This week, they got caught speeding. As a result, they will be penalized with a 30-minute delay at the start of the next episode. (That might prove costly with fewer teams left.)
Anyway, getting back to Dallas and Starr. Next week's preview hints that the two might be taking their flirting to a new level. (I wonder how that will affect their competitive spirit? I'm sure their partners want to win the competition, not register for wedding gifts at Macy's.)
My boss told me she watched last night's DWTS and that it was "an hour of her life that she'll never get back." For me, make that many hours, after I lost my recap entry thanks to crashing blog software. I have to agree with her; this season is boring. I didn't watch past seasons, but I'm told they were better. The judges getting all excited over Susan Lucci's mambo? Really? Boring Viennese waltzes? Check. Cloris is STILL here? That's a joke. At least Lance and Lacey were at the top score-wise. Brooke and Derek lack pizazz. See more here.
So, it's time for the results show. Why are the dancers wearing their hip-hop group dance outfits? Please tell me they are not doing that again. It was terrible!
Unfortunately, we are being "treated" to it, says host Tom. Susan looks just as uncomfortable as she did last night. Cloris is rocking the orange tights. The routine starts with "It Takes Two," which I remember from my grammar school days. It is not a good song.
In no particular order, we learn the first couple safe is Lance and Lacey. Joining them are ... wait ... is Cody! He'll dance with Edyta next week.
The kids are up next. The mini-competition is a fun idea. The first couple are the brother and sister of one of the girls who danced last season. So cute! I love watching the kids dance. Craig and Samantha do the chachacha. It's great. Michael Flatley, our guest judge, says it was sensational. He tells them dancing will teach them the value of hard work. Bruno says it was vibrant and precise. Carrie Ann says it was like "poetry in motion" and she gives them a "woo-hoo!" with some arm flailing.
Their competition is the pair of Simon and Lucy. Simon says he started dancing because his mom bribed him with $20, and that no one at school knows he's a dancer. Ha! (Secret's out now!) Simon and Lucy dance the samba. I really like their dance; they have a lot of inventive moves. Carrie Ann says Lucy has a fantastic shape, and that it was well done. Michael likes it, too, but is a bit more ... reserved? Bruno says it was fun and echoes Carrie Ann's love of Lucy's extension. There was no woo-hoo from the judges, though. Craig and Samantha are moving on.
The Pussycat Dolls (in trashy outfits) and Missy Elliot (with a gold sparkly mike and black sweat pants) are performing now. Yawn. (My boyfriend is telling me the details of the group; apparently, the main one sticks around, the the background signers are a "revolving" group of women, he tells me. Why does he know this?)
Cody says Julianne's surgery went well. Tom tells a bad joke about her competing in a triathlon. We learn that Warren and Kym are continuing to the next round.
And now ... Michael "the Celtic Tiger' Flatley dances on a flaming stage (I'm not joking). First, he dances behind a red screen. We see just his shadow. After some sirens, he's out in the open, tapping away. There's steam rising from a box he's on. ("I don't know if this could be worse," says my boyfriend.) Now there's fire! He runs away just before the box he was tapping on explodes. Phew!
Next, a bunch of people, including a Marine, tells us what the celebrities need to do to win. Can anyone say filler?
In no particular order, we learn Brooke and Derek and Maurice and Cheryl are safe. After the commercial break, we learn that Cloris and Corky's luck is up (they did have a really low score!). So Susan and partner are safe. Cloris should have been long gone, but you gotta give her credit. "I'm not leaving!" she says. "I'm going to get a pretty costume and be here next week!" she says (in the audience, that is).
So, the blogging software did not work last night for me nor did it work this morning. So, I'll have to try again tonight to recount DWTS. Sorry for the delay.
Julianne Hough (left) confirmed on her Web site and the show, however, that she had endometriosis, a often-painful condition in which tissue similar to that which lines the uterus grows elsewhere in the body. She's having her appendix out today. Edyta will fill in as Cody's partner.
(Photo: Associated Press)
There's apparently a news conference going on right now about the killings in Jennifer Hudson's family. Keep up with the news here.
In Dancing with the Stars news, it appears Julianne Hough might have an ovarian cyst. Tmz.com says there's no word on whether she will remain on the show this season.
Guest blogger Karen Shih gets us up to date on Top Design:
This week, the designers have to create a room of their choice around a Swarovski chandelier. Eddie, who has immunity after a good Pop Design, gets to choose the order in which everyone picks chandeliers.
He goes first, naturally, and chooses the "Golden Teak Glitterbox,: which is a long, horizontally oriented, rectangular chandelier. Andrea goes second and picks the "Light Peridot Glitterbox," which is like Eddie's, but green and hanging down, long-ways.
Nathan chooses the "Ice Branch," which really does look like the trees in my backyard that one year after that ice storm. Ondine picks the "Light Sock," which looks like just one large crystal at the bottom of a fishnet.
Preston is left with this pear-shaped, purply-gray ugliness. He's proven to be fairly brilliant though, so it probably won't hold him back.
After a week without a new episode -- recap episodes don't count -- I was in the mood for more Top Model. I wasn't disappointed. This episode had everything that makes the show great. There was a good amount of drama, a fashion show, a CoverGirl commercial, a guest appearance and a surprising elimination. Wow!
The episode started with Elina, Sheena and Joslyn lamenting about their past performances. (Fans of the show knew that one was probably going to be sent packing.) Elina and Marjorie were complaining that it was hard for them to show emotion because it's not a "European" thing to do. The other contestants didn't seem sympathetic.
The next day, the girls learned the art of modeling garments while walking. They showed off their new skills during a Petro Zillia fashion show. The catch was that the girls had to wear body-length green suits that worked similar to a green screen. The audience watched a monitor, which essentially only showed off the outfit.
Elina was extremely nervous. She complained that she couldn't breathe. But it didn't matter. She overcame her nerves and was named the challenge winner. As a result, she won a photo spread in Seventeen magazine.
After the photo shoot, Sheena and Elina got into an argument. I'm not exactly sure why the two clashed this time. I think it had something to do with the fact that Elina did a holiday photo shoot even though she's not religious.
The CoverGirl commercial was just the thing Sheena needed to rebound from her bottom-two finish in the previous episode. (The judges later said she did a very good job.) Analeigh also did a great job. Tyra Banks told her that she did the best commercial in the history of the show.
Joslyn, who was really sick during the commercial, actually turned in a good take. Tyra later said she was impressed with Joslyn's ability to fight through her illness. But it wasn't enough to overcome Elina. Tyra told Joslyn that she had been faltering too much in past weeks.
The elimination of Joslyn was especially hard because she just missed out on going to Amsterdam, the Netherlands, which is where the contestants will head in the next episode.
I haven't had a chance to blog about the finale of Project Runway, and I apologize. I had grand plans to do so last night and instead came down with some kind of flulike illness that made it hard enough to get through Dancing with the Stars, let alone watch PR after that. But enough of my excuses. By now, you've gone elsewhere to read a recap, or you have watched the episode. So, instead, tell me what you think of the results and enjoy these fun links:
After-Bryant Park interviews with the constants. Kenley is her same old self. Apparently, she is teaching a sewing class, and she tells Entertainment Weekly, "I lost all my money because I did Project Runway, and I'm just trying to get my money back, plus more." She also says, "Korto sent really bad, unfinished pieces down the runway, and underwear was showing, too. I don't care if you have the best line in the world, if your stuff is showing underwear, and it's unfinished, that's unacceptable at Bryant Park. That was really insulting, to have my beautiful, couture-made line come in third next to that was really insulting." (Whaaaat?)
Buy Kenley's creations, including the green sprouts she wore in her hair during her runway show, on her Web site. (A size 8 dress is a 26-inch waist? Really?)
Before Leanne was on the show, she sold her clothes on etsy and through her Web site (it looks like you can't just shop, as you can on Kenley's). I really wish I knew about etsy when her pieces were available. Some of these dresses are fabulous. (I'm so glad she won! I heard a rumor that the applause during her show was louder and that Bravo had to adjust it for the airing.)
For those of you who want Korto's dresses, keep an eye on her site. It's not quite up to date, but I imagine she's been fairly busy!
We are told tonight will be "unprecedented" because there will be new styles: West Coast swing, which I'm pretty sure Len calls "dirty," the hustle, salsa and the jitterbug. The show wastes no time getting to the dancing (time-wasting is for the results show).
First up are my favorites, Lance and Lacey, with the West Coast swing (apparently Lacey is the West Coast swing champion, and her dad is the master who brought it into ballroom competition) Lacey is awesome, but Lance is just OK. It seems as if he's just there to show Lacey off, and he falls! Len tells Lacey that she needs to give up a bit of her talent and show off Lance more. Bruno tells Lance not to hold back. Carrie Ann echoes that Lacey didn't pay enough attention to Lance and his dancing this week. Score: 21
Next are Toni and Alec with another West Coast swing. The dance is really different than Lance and Lacey's, and Toni looks a bit reserved. She's totally not into it. Bruno says there were some sections that were really West Coast swing. I guess the key word is "some." Carrie Ann says Toni was overdancing it. Len says "things are not happening." He says she needs to put bit more excitement into her dances. Toni lives on as the one with potential. Score: 22 (Really? Higher than Lance and Lacey?)
It's time for the hustle. Susan has fractured her foot, but she apparently did the hustle back in the '70s at places like Studio 54. So can she dance with Tony through the pain? Yes! But I reallllly hate it. The music is way too fast for their movements. Carrie Ann (who, by the way, is wearing the best red dress ever) admires Susan for dancing with an injury but says it seems as if she's performing in a glass box with very thin walls -- and that she's afraid she's going to "break" out. That's one way to say it, I guess! Len says Tony is treating her like a China doll. Bruno says it looked like a "precious" hustle. They did the right steps. Score: 22 (Really?)
Warren and Kym are up and dance a hustle to "Funkytown." Warren looks like he's back to his old self. They're fun to watch (as always) and have a fabulous lift in there. Len says it was enjoyable and well-done. Bruno says Warren delivered. Carrie Ann says it was fun and nostalgic. Score: 25
Cloris and Corky dance a salsa. Of course, there are more of her antics (e.g. she walks over Corky so we can see up her skirt, he grabs her chest). And while it's slow, there is definitely dancing going on -- sometimes. Bruno says "the old girl can still turn her tricks." And "on the plus side, you actually did a salsa." Carrie Ann pretty much thanks her for her personality. Len says he loves Cloris because she's the first person on the show older than him and gives the team a well-done. Score: 21 (Really?)
Maurice and Cheryl are back after a disappointing last week. Their salsa is fun, and I like it a lot; so, naturally, I think the judges will disagree. But Carrie Ann pulls Maurice aside and gives him a hug. "I knew it was in you!" she says. "Great posture." Len says if there were a mark for energy, he would give him a 10. Bruno says he he was like "a master of theater" tonight. Score: 27 (It's their best score by far; Lacey does NOT look happy in the background!)
Brooke and Derek are up with the jitterbug (which apparently was choreographed with the help of some Internet research on "how to do the jitterbug." Ha!). Her hot pink costume is fabulous, and his hair is just so appropriate. Len says Brooke is consistently "top." Bruno calls it vigorous and upbeat. "Glorius!" he says. Carrie Ann says, "Can I nitpick?" Yes, they say. "I can't!" she responds. I predict a big score. Score? 29 (the first one of the season)
Cody and Julianne have a tough act to follow. They, too, look great in character. The dance is so upbeat and fun, and their facial expressions are cute. Bruno says it was a "firebug" and that the frantic energy was incredible. He likes how Cody really acted the part. Carrie Ann said it was the perfect dance for Cody, and that his arms were frantic in a good way and in the right places. Len liked it, too. Score: 28 (The crowd boos the judges!)
I hope Susan, Cloris or Toni go. Till tomorrow ...
Karen Shih is still watching Top Design even though Wisit is gone. Here is her recap:
Our first week without Wisit … ah, sad times.
Today's challenge looks ahead: The designers have to create the room of the future, for the year 2108. They have raw, three-wall spaces, and they’ll have carpenters to help. It's an individual challenge (yay!), and they get $7,000 and two-and-a-half days to work.
Eddie is going for a cloning center lobby, because he wants to be able to pick beeyootiful children. No uggos for him, apparently.
Andrea wants a pod house that can be moved … that flies? A super-girly, pink room, she says, if it's the last room she does in the competition. Pessimistic mood, optimistic color.
Ondine wants a fireplace, just like Eddie. I don't get it. What are we burning for fuel in 2108? And what is a cooling fireplace?
Natalie wants something with flying saucers. And hydraulics. And something about floors raising and different rooms appearing. I have no idea.
Preston is making a modern hotel that's traveling in space.
What do you think is going to happen in 100 years? I know every movie has us flying cars and taking vacations to space, but I think this is more like 3008, not 2108.
Shopping goes relatively well, until IKEA frazzles Ondine when she can't find all of her pieces in the big warehouse. (I love IKEA. I spent a whole afternoon there the other day and only bought cookies and some funny-shaped ice trays. But I loved it.)
A couple hours from completion, India rolls in and tells them they have a Pop Design. Ouch. It's a pop quiz! Jonathan asks them questions about designs, giving them two pictures of designs and asking which is the "real deal," then eliminating them as people get questions wrong. Nathan wins again and gets immunity.
At this point in Top Chef and Project Runway, I know contestants no longer get immunity, though they get nice other prizes. It seems more fair that way, doesn't it? You should be judged by the merit of your overall design at a certain point, not by some question you answer. Oh well.
The morning of elimination, Andrea's pretty depressed and doesn't want to be picked on anymore, she says.
Almost a last-minute disaster! Ondine is running around frantically and spills black paint all over the edge of Eddie's design, but it seems to come off, so no permanent harm done.
At judging, Kelly is wearing a strange camouflage turban and a short purple dress with squiggly things hanging off of it.
Natalie's room is super retro and bright orange, and she explains the hydraulic system that should provide multiple rooms. The judges don't seem to buy it.
Ondine has a depressing view of the future, with no daylight. She has a climate-controlled, gray room, with a fireplace that cools and some fans to aid it.
Eddie's room is the "Golden Clone Foyer." He splatters the white walls with red paint and has bright red furniture. Over the fireplace, he twists a gold plastic pipe into DNA … though Kelly asks if it's sperm. Heh, heh.
Nathan's all-black bachelor pad is covered with white galactic bubbles. He uses a cat-scratcher as a table -- cute idea. It doesn't seem like the manliest room with those bubbles.
Andrea's room is pink and wouldn't look too out of place today. It's simple.
Preston's traveling hotel room has two distinct rooms; the kitchen area with cool silver walls and white molding, and one with black walls and views of "space," actually his silver splatters.
At judging, they like the boys' rooms. They like Preston's room, saying he's always polished, and Eddie's, though he doesn’t take criticism as well as they would like. His room is "granny gone wild," Kelly says. Jonathan says he doesn't like the color palette, particularly the bright red. Nathan has too much going on, but they like his general idea.
The girls are at the bottom. Natalie's room seemed unfinished, they said, and they said her room looked unfinished. Her room was "just sad," Margaret says. Jonathan says she's green. Andrea's room wasn't futuristic, the judges say, and her big table and lamp were distracting. It was too safe.
Ondine's room lacks polish, they say.
Preston wins this week!
Natalie goes home. The judges are right -- she designs the same bright dorm room week after week. She's adorable, and her rooms are too, but there's nothing too sophisticated about it. She's got years ahead of her though, so I'm sure she'll do great!
Next week: Five left … and someone quits?! My money's on Andrea.
Seriously, you should have watched the season finale of Project Runway instead of last night's Top Model. Last night was the recap episode that usually promises to give you "never before seen" behind-the-scenes footage. It usually equates to all the stuff that should have been left on the cutting-room floor. Last night was no exception.
I'll admit, I didn't know how much of a jerk Elina has been all season. The producers have been doing some crafty editing showing her better sides. The clips last night show that she is extremely rude and closed-minded. She basically called Sheena stupid. She also said that Isis looked like a hyena and had no business modeling. Talk about being a Mean Girl!
Leanne! I have to say, I liked all the collections a lot, but I liked hers best! I'm glad Kenley didn't win, but I feel bad for Korto. She's fabulous, too.
FYI: The fan favorite is Korto. That tidbit was announced during a commercial break. Huh? What? Why? Why no reunion show? Boo! Well, congrats Korto, enjoy your $10,000.
Full recap to come ...
Daisy De La Hoya, the Rock of Love 2 runner-up, is getting her own show. Daisy of Love will premiere in the spring. She's taking online applications here.
VH1 sure knows how to squeeze every drop out of a show. This station has more spinoffs than CSI and Law and Order. Think about it. The Surreal Life was the epicenter of Strange Love, Flavor of Love, I Love New York and I Love New York 2.
(Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
It was no surprise last night that Cloris and Corky and Rocco and Karina were on the chopping block on ABC's Dancing with the Stars (I am new to this show and confused; they were the bottom two, right?). The TV chef who tried hard but ultimately didn't cut the mustard was told to pack his knives and go ... shoot, wrong reality show. (And how many food cliches can I fit into this post?) What did you guys think of the outcome, and how about those cute dancing kids?
Next week, the show will debut four dances new to the show: the hustle, jitterbug, West Coast swing and the salsa. Good times.
Jay Manuel and J. Alexander are close to getting their own spinoff!
The CW has reportedly ordered a pilot of Operation Fabulous staring Tyra Bank's sidekicks. It will be produced by Tyra Banks and Ken Mok. The two J's will travel the country giving women fashion advice. They will also give them makeovers and send them back into their communities with a new sense of self. (It kind of reminds me of Queer Eye For The Straight Guy.)
I was unable to watch Dancing with the Stars last night because I had to work pretty late and forgot to DVR it. (I know, I could have watched it online, but my computer at home doesn't stream shows as quickly as I would like.) So, I asked my parents to quickly fill me in.
Mom tells me Rocco and Karina are in last place after yesterday's show, and Brooke and Derek are at the top (technically, they are tied with Lance and Lacey, but let's face it: B&D are trouncing the competition.)
Dad said the judges gave some high scores to Lance and Lacey (two 9s!), who did a gothic tango. "Rocco was the worst," Dad says. "He has no musicality!" He says Brooke was the best, but that judge Len Goodman said she was a bit too ... racy. But, Dad says, it was a samba, and isn't it supposed to be passionate? Cloris and Corky did well, he tells me. I thought he was joking, but apparently they scored a 22 with their tango. She tried to do the steps, Dad says. He also tells me Susan Lucci did OK, but that Warren and Kym, who did a samba, didn't get the praise they usually do. "They got 7s!" I hear him say in the background while I'm talking to Mom.
Read a more detailed recap here.
What did you think? Who will go home? Remember, the scores and votes from last week will be carried over.
The episode started with a little drama. Christy and Kelly accused Starr of throwing Christy's bra off of the ledge while it was drying. Starr denied it. Meow! Can you say cat fight?
All the teams had to make their way from Brazil to La Paz, Bolivia, for the next leg of the race. Some of the teams -- Nick and Starr, Mark and Bill -- had a little trouble adjusting to the higher altitude there.
After camping out near a statue, the teams had to scour a newspaper's classified ads for their clue. At the location of their next clue -- a hat shop -- teams were given two options to complete the next portion of the race. In Musical March, teams had to walk through the city on foot while leading a band. In Bumpy Ride, teams had to ride wooden bicycles along cobblestone roads. Terrence and Sarah and Mark and Bill did not follow the directions and used a taxi to complete this part of the race.
Sarah and Mark realized halfway through their taxi ride that they had to complete the race on foot. They headed back to the beginning and completed the racecorrectly . Mark and Bill? Not so much. All the competitors completed the first mission without use of a taxi, so they were able to progress to the next part of the race, which involved one member of each team wrestling a professional female competitor.
On the way to wrestling, Aja and Ty's taxi overheated, which resulted in them having to find a new taxi. At the challenge, Aja stirred the pot when she told Kelly and Christy that Starr tried to get them to use a road block on the women. Christy and Kelly didn't seem too happy about that.
Ken and Tina were the first team to complete this portion of the race. They received a seven-night vacation to Mexico. Toni and Dallas finished second.
Meanwhile, Mark and Bill were still caught on the wrestling challenge. Bill was having one heck of a time completing the challenge. He was winded by the altitude, and he kept forgetting the wrestling moves, which forced him to restart. After three tries, he finally completed the challenge. The problem was that many of the teams had passed his in the process.
Marissa and Brooke, a team that has consistently finished in second-to-last place, were ahead of Mark and Bill. Terence and Sarah appeared to be right on the heels of the two self-proclaimed "computer geeks." Christy and Kelly were in last place. They were hoping that another team would get tripped up.
It was a mad race to the finish. Terrence and Sarah finished just before Marissa and Brooke.
It was at this point that Mark and Bill realized that they weren't suppose to take a taxi earlier in the race. They remarked that they would likely be hit with a time delay.
Aja and Ty completed this portion of the race fifth; Nick and Starr finished sixth. Andrew and Dan, the dorkiest frat boys I've ever seen, finished seventh. Mark and Bill finished eighth but were told that they had to absorb a 30-minute penalty.
In the end, the penalty was the demise of Mark and Bill. Kelly and Christy actually finished last, but the time penalty bumped them into ninth place. Mark and Bill were eliminated.
Guest blogger Karen Shih recaps the latest episode of Top Design:
I fell asleep during the initial airing of this week's episode, so I'm watching it at 1 a.m. for the rerun. If this blog sounds a little incoherent, well, there you go.
This week, Top Design goes green! The intro shows the designers getting ready, and Eddie's getting a little bitter and maybe a little cocky. He hates that Nathan is winning and he's not, but he's all, I work for Martha Stewart, and Martha only hires the best.
So booyah, essentially.
Last night's Project Runway was the first of a two-part season finale, and this episode focused on the collections the designers had made during their month at home, as well as the continuing drama over Kenley's attitude. The show backtracks at first, showing Kenley storming out of the apartments on her way home (to Brooklyn -- on the subway?) and Jerell, Korto and Leanne saying goodbye and giggling that Kenley had ditched them: "Was there someone else here?" They say it was "rude" and typical of her, but I have to say in Kenley's defense that they're not making anything any easier by ganging up on her and being catty and passive-aggressive. (OK, I feel better now.)
The first half of the show features Tim's visits to each of the four designers' homes, where he critiques their collection -- all of which must include a wedding dress -- and then visits with their friends and family.
First up is Korto, in Little Rock, Ark. She tells Tim she was inspired by the woods that surround her office building and uses a lot of snakeskin in her designs. (Lots of snakes in Arkansas! Won't be visiting anytime soon!) As will be true for all the designers, we see less of the collection and more of the wedding dress because that's what they'll be judged on for this show's elimination. I like Korto's at this point, on the rack; it's beige and eclectic and very Korto. Tim points out a "very sexual" cutaway in one of Korto's other dresses (awkward!), and they repair to her home, where Tim repeatedly tries to engage Korto's very cute daughter to no avail, and Korto and a friend put on a drumming show. Korto talks a bit about her background, coming with her family from Liberia at a young age, and gets a little choked up, which will be another theme of this episode.
Next, Tim visits Leanne in Portland, Ore., and she explains that she was inspired by the water, particularly waves, and used that motif to guide her collection. Most of it is white and blue, and Tim fawns over a blue skirt with wave pleats and suggests she consider making her whites less white. Leanne responds with her typical refrain: "I've got a lot of work to do!" For her family/friend/social vignette, she takes Tim on a tandem bike ride to a city park, and Tim looks hilariously awesome (and awesomely hilarious) riding on the back. (Why isn't Leanne wearing a helmet? Bad, bad!)
Tim's third stop is in Los Angeles, where he visits Jerell and his friends and family. Jerell's collection is very ornate (lots of evening wear), and many of the dresses' busts are heavily adorned, as we saw in his last elimination-challenge dress. Tim has some tips on the wedding dress, which is large and asymmetrical and very busy up top, and suggests Jerell bring in some of the fabric that sticks out from the bust, but Jerell says later that "it speaks to me as a designer" and hints that he's not going to change it. Death wish? Tim and Jerell then go meet Jerell's mom, sister, "love interest" and assorted friends, and it's Jerell's turn to get choked up as he talks about growing up in a bad section of L.A., near where the riots began in the '90s, and how his father worked long hours driving trucks to support the family. Jerell's mom and sister confirm that he was a really creative child, and Jerell wins an award I didn't know I was giving: cutest kid photos of the episode. He was adorable!
Finally, Tim visits Kenley, back in New York, where she lives in Brooklyn. He compliments her apartment and a photo of her grandmother, and Kenley tells him she was a model in the '40s and a huge inspiration to Kenley. (It's all making sense now!) She died a few months ago, and it's Kenley's turn to cry, which she does, and again when Tim compliments her collection. I'm personally blown away by what she's sewn, including hand-painted fabrics, and her wedding dress is a huge, puffy, feathery, really gorgeous creation. We may have underestimated Kenley through this point, but the judges must have known what they were doing in keeping her around. Oddly enough, Tim and Kenley don't have any activities planned or anyone to meet, which sort of underscores what everyone's been saying about her attitude and even what she's been saying about "fighting my way through life."
In Manhattan, the designers later regather for the runway show, and there's awkwardness when Kenley arrives at the apartment the four of them are sharing. Leanne and Korto avoid making eye contact with her when she shows up, though Jerell is friendly (friendly or two-faced? You decide!). Kenley offers a half-hearted "sorry for being a bitch, like, that one time" apology as she goes to put her suitcases away, and then she pours champagne for the group. That seems to do the trick.
The next morning, the designers find out they have a second challenge for this episode: to create bridesmaid dresses in about two days to match their wedding dresses. The new dresses also should be in line with their collections. No one is happy about this, and Korto seems especially tense. Jerell slaps together a shimmery aqua dress pretty quickly and defends it to Korto by saying that bridesmaid dresses are supposed to be ugly. Uh-oh.
Tim stops in for consultations and tells Leanne that he loves her blue and white creation but encourages her to rethink the length; it reaches the floor. He's appropriately skittish about Jerell's and tells him not to fight with Mother Nature when Jerell says he's thinking about incorporating some yarn. (Seriously?) Tim enthuses over Kenley's bright blue bubble dress, and he tells Korto that hers isn't easily distinguished from the wedding dress. The next day, both Leeann and Korto have chopped theirs to knee-length, and Kenley is inappropriately annoyed, thinking she had cornered the market on short dresses.
On the runway, Korto's wedding and bridesmaid dresses are a disaster. The newest dress has an odd yellow waistband, and the wedding dress is very overdone and too complicated, as the judges point out. Judge Michael Kors says Leanne's two are beautifully crafted, and judge Nina Garcia calls them dreamy. Heidi, who's had something of an overenunciation problem all episode, calls the designs "Fan-TAS-tic!" Kenley also gets high praise, with Kors saying her bridesmaid dress is the "cutest damn dress I've ever seen" but pointing out that her gorgeous wedding dress looks a lot like an Alexander McQueen that just walked down the runway. (Check both out here.) Jerrell's are interesting, but that's mostly due to the flowers the models have growing out of their heads, as opposed to the designs. The judges aren't happy about the bust of the wedding dress (the issue that Tim spotted earlier), and Garcia hates the gray tulle at the bottom -- she says it just looks dirty and like he didn't put much thought into it. (Editor's note: See all the outfits here. Unfortunately, Bravo only shows us the top of Leanne's dresses and the top of Kenley's wedding dress.)
The judges confer some more in private, and there's a growing consensus that Kenley has something to say. Kors says she's "kooky and meticulous at the same time." They are generally unhappy with Korto and Jerell, and for the first time, I think Korto may be cut. (Noooo!)
But they shortly reach a decision, and Jerell is out. The rest of the designers are flooded with relief, and Jerell is quite cool and mature about having to leave. He says he imagines visiting a retrospective of his work at the Met when he's 80 and says he wants "to leave this legacy of beautiful clothes that inspire people."
Next week is the finale, and we're treated to a delicious preview of more Kenley drama. I can't wait!
Last night's episode was all about posing and personality. The girls met with Tyra Banks for a little one-on-one posing tutorial. Marjorie was deemed the challenge winner -- again!
Later, the girls went to a photo shoot where they portrayed characters at an awards show. Elina made a breakthrough during the photo shoot. It resulted in her tearing down her tough exterior and crying. Jay Manuel said it was her best photo shoot to date.
Sheena sort of struggled. Jay Manuel was not pleased with her performance. He said she didn't have enough emotion in her posing. (She's been accused of being too "hoochie" most of the season.)
Later in the episode, the judges gushed over McKey, Analeigh, Joslyn and Marjorie. The judge had reservations about Samantha, Elina, Sheena and Lauren Brie.
Marjorie's photo was picked as the judge's favorite this week. She posed as a woman having to use the toilet in her gown.
The bottom two comprised Lauren Brie and Sheena. Lauren Brie was sent packing. Tyra said she lacked the personality of Sheena. She informed Lauren Brie that it is important for the entire public to like her, not just her own circle of friends. (Whatever Tyra ... )
Next week, the contestants will do a commercial. Elina and Sheena will get into a tiff. I can't wait!
Chef Gordon Ramsay doesn't think Prince Charles' line of organic produce cuts the mustard. The Hell's Kitchen personality calls Prince Charles' Duchy Originals, which include crackers to meat, "boring" and "processed."
I guess Ramsay doesn't care whom he is insulting. At least he's consistent.
Apologies for not recapping Project Runway last week; I was out of town and didn't get a chance to watch it as soon as I would have liked. But if had written about the show, it would have been one whiny entry.
The designers were charged with creating outfits based on photos taken at a botanical garden. Daniel's orchidlike outfit from Season 2 is a fabulous example of something the designers shoulda and coulda done. Instead, we get fish scales a la Kenley. (I liked how she forgot her tulle and NO ONE would give her any of theirs. Ha!) Leanne's soft-yet-structured dress was OK, and Korto's orange creation was bleh (and a bit pageantlike). Jerell's dress was the best, but it didn't knock anyone's socks off.
In a predictable fashion (yes, I see the bad pun), all four designers will create collections, and the judges will dismiss one of them before Fashion Week. Yawn.
Who's going to be Auf'd tonight? (Crossing fingers ... hoping it's Kenley.)
American Idol alumna Kellie Pickler has told People that she had a yearlong bout with depression and severe reactions to anti-depressant pills. The country singer, 22, told the magazine that family problems and her breakup with boyfriend Jordin Tootoo, a hockey player, contributed to her struggles. Pickler is now dating Nashville, Tenn., songwriter Kyle Jacobs, the magazine says.
(Photo: Associated Press)
Celebrity chef Rocco DiSpirito and his partner, Karina Smirnoff, came in last place on Monday's Dancing with the Stars, but they're not out of the competition just yet because volleyball champ Misty May-Treanor, who injured her Achilles tendon Friday, had dropped out of the contest. The reprieve is really no surprise given that ABC plans a set number of episodes.
Maybe America will actually get it right next week and vote out Cloris Leachman. Rocco's dancing was much improved Monday night, and Cloris' humor (which is, well, somewhat lewd) should only take her so far.
LaKisha Jones, the American Idol alumna who used to live in Maryland, was married in Los Angeles on Sunday, according to the Associated Press. The fourth-placed contestant in Season 6 of Idol married financial adviser Larry Davis at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel.
Other alumni in attendance included Sanjaya Malakar, Haley Scarnato and Melinda Doolittle. I hope to God Melinda was the only person -- other than LaKisha -- allowed to sing!
In other news, Idol judge Simon Cowell is celebrating his 49th birthday today. I don't think he wants Sanjaya or Haley singing him "Happy Birthday" either!
If ever there was a need for TiVo, this would be the time.
I missed the last half of The Amazing Race on Sunday night because a football game ran a half-hour late. That pushed back the entire CBS lineup. My VCR was set to record The Amazing Race. Instead, I got the tail end of 60 Minutes and the majority of the pairs struggling to get through a challenge that involved them pushing sailboats into the water. I already know Anthony and Stephanie were eliminated. Anyone care to fill me in on the other happenings in the episode?
Another two hours of Dancing with the Stars. Does the show get shorter when there are fewer couples?
First, we actually see footage of Misty May-Treanor getting injured during practice, but we won't find out how she's doing until say, 9:45 p.m. Sigh. (We are treated to several pictures of poor Misty in pain before almost every commercial break.)
Now it's time for the dancing. Susan and Tony do a jive. I can't stop looking at her neck and collarbone. They are just protruding way too much. She's so skinny! (I know I keep commenting on that. This will be the last time -- I promise.) As for the dance, it's cute but not awesome. At the end, the camera zooms in on an Ace bandage wrapped around her ankle. Judge Len says Susan's kept a constant standard throughout. Judge Bruno says her feet were a bit unsteady. He also says something I cannot (again) understand. He does mention her ample, um, chest. Judge Carrie Ann commended her on dancing on her ankle but said she seemed a bit timid. Score: 21
Next up are Lance and Lacey with a Viennese waltz. They try to go all traditional on us, probably in hopes of getting a score higher than a six from Len. It's OK. I miss the L&L I know. Bruno says Lance looked a bit heavy and labored, and that the dance lacked the freedom that it usually has when he is more himself. Carrie thought it was fantastic. She said Lance really pulled his weight. Len it was flat-footed, the posture was poor, the hold was poor -- but after throwing in a few compliments, he says it was the best dance he's seen from them. Score: 22
Maurice and Cheryl do a jive to "Rock Around the Clock." It is full of energy and is a noticeable improvement from prior weeks' dances. I can tell Maurice is enjoying himself because he's smiling. Carrie Ann says Maurice became a "contender." Len thought it was his best dance. Bruno says he was glad to see that Maurice worked on precision. Score: 24 (the couple's best score by far)
Rocco and Karina do the waltz. Rocco is blindfolded. Good thing he takes that blindfold off early -- but wouldn't have that been fun to watch? Anyway, the dance is OK. The hold looks a bit weak, but there were some good steps. They run up to the judges and put some costumelike glasses on Len. Overall, Len says, it was a "pretty good job." Bruno calls it a "lump of mashed potatoes." He says Rocco should have kept the blindfold on (yes!), and that he lacks musicality. Carrie Ann says that she agrees with Len and that the chef is the most improved dancer of the competition. Score: 20
Warren and Kym do the Viennese waltz, too. I really like this couple. He's so great to watch; I really like how he gets into the dances' characters. Bruno calls it "big, smooth and beautiful." Bruno notes that he's so versatile. Carrie Ann was blown away. "It was kinda like a dream come true," she says. Len says he's giving the "skinny people a real run for their money." He thought this waltz would be Warren's stumbling block, but it wasn't. Score: 25 (that means there's a nine in there!)
Cody and Julianne do the jive. It's fun but seems long (I later learn that the jive routines actually are longer). He keeps playing her leg like a guitar, and it's kind of, well, lame. "Your energy was definitely high," says Carrie Ann, but "you were counting the whole time." Len thought the first half was fantastic, but then it got repetitious (he cites all that leg-guitar playing). Bruno, for once, agrees with Len. Score: 21 (I am pretty sick of people saying, "Winner, winner chicken dinner.")
Toni and Alec dance an unconventional Viennese waltz. Her Marie Antoinette-like costume is quite elaborate, and she has a big wig with an orange feather. As for the dance itself, I'm not a big fan. It doesn't look particularly elegant. Len says, "If it's not broke, don't fix it." He says Toni doesn't need the gimmicks or the props. Bruno says they took a risk, but he didn't love it. Carrie Ann enjoyed it though. She mentions that the Viennese waltz was originally a shocking dance. Score: 22
Next are Cloris and Corky with a jive. I think it's needless to say, but I will anyway: It's the slowest jive I've ever seen. There's a really awkward part during which she is leaning over his, well, rear and fanning her nose. Interesting. She also walks on her hands as he holds her legs. Toward the end, it seems as if they are just tangled on the floor. It is their week to head home. Cloris says, "I just want ones." Bruno says, "To call this wacky would be the understatement of the year." He can't say much else. Carrie Ann says we "definitely got crazy Cloris." Len says she did do a really basic step. "A" meaning only one. Score: 16
Brooke and Derek do a sweet Viennese waltz. They keep up the great quality they're becoming known for. Brooke shows off her flexibility and pretty lines. Carrie Ann says she is becoming her favorite dancer. Len calls it the "best dance of this season so far." Bruno says it was beautiful. The choreography "just comes out of your body in such a natural way," Bruno adds. Score: 28 (including the first 10 of the season)
Then Misty arrives on crutches; she has a cast up to her knee. We see more footage of the day she was injured. You can actually hear the pop of her injury. She says she thought, hey, I'm an athlete, I'll tape it up and go back out. We then see the X-ray of her snapped Achilles tendon. Misty says she was disappointed to miss the night since it was the first dance she was going to do in sneakers. She's out for the season (obviously), but she says she plans to cheer from the sidelines. She's going into surgery today (Tuesday).
It's a shame she's out; she was fun to watch. But it appears Kim is NOT coming back -- at least not yet.
I hope you didn't pick Misty May-Treanor in your office pool. The two-time Olympic gold medalist and Dancing with the Stars competitor has apparently torn her Achilles tendon. She's out of show, says Brooke Burke. Read more about it here.
So far, show producers are being very coy. They told Access Hollywood that May-Treanor sustained an "injury on Friday and received immediate medical attention."
I'm following Burke on this one ...
(Editor's note: Rumors are flying that Kim Kardashian may return to the competition.)
Say it ain't so! Ted Allen will not be part of the four-person judging panel when Top Chef returns to Bravo in November. He'll be replaced by British journalist and food critic Toby Young.
I'm unsure why Allen is not returning. A press release from Bravo doesn't mention him at all.
Here are the contestants for the coming season. One, Melissa, is from Maryland, and Red Maple chef Jill Snyder is indeed competing! Read more about that on Sam Sessa's blog, Midnight Sun.
- Alex, 33 - Hometown: New York; resides in Los Angeles
- Ariane, 41 - Hometown/resides in: Verona, N.J.
- Carla, 44 - Hometown: Nashville, Tenn.; resides in Washington
- Danny, 26 Hometown/resides in: New Hyde Park, N.Y.
- Fabio, 30 - Hometown: Florence, Italy; resides in Moorpark, Calif.
- Gene, 33 - Hometown: Whitmore Village, Hawaii; resides in Las Vegas
- Hosea, 34 - Hometown: Taos, N.M.; resides in Boulder, Colo.
- Jamie, 30 - Hometown: New York; resides in San Francisco
- Jeff, 30 Hometown: Niceville, Fla.; resides in: Miami
- Jill, 28 - Hometown: Latrobe, Pa.; resides in Baltimore
- Lauren, 24 - Hometown: Cincinnati; stationed at Fort Stewart, Ga.
- Leah, 27 - Hometown: Scarsdale, N.Y.; resides in New York
- Melissa, 28 Hometown: Maryland; resides in Boulder, Colo.
- Patrick, 21 - Hometown: Quincy, Mass.; resides in Hyde Park, N.Y.
- Radhika, 28 - Hometown/resides in: Chicago
- Richard, 27 - Hometown: Long Island, N.Y.; resides in San Diego
- Stefan, 35 Hometown: Tampere, Finland; resides in Santa Monica, Calif.
The first few minutes of this week's episode of ANTM, the cameras were glued to Samantha and Clark, who were on opposite ends of the confidence spectrum. Samantha was kind of in the dumps after her lackluster performance last week. Clark was beaming. She said there was no way she was going to be sent home. (Talk about irony.)
Speaking of confidence, or lack thereof, let's talk about Marjorie. She was so down on herself the entire episode. She kept on doubting her abilities. She also explained that this way of thinking is very European. (She’s originally from France.)
Joslyn was also lamenting that she hadn't produced a great photo recently. She said she was afraid of going home (foreshadowing ... ).
So, the girls went to a warehouse for their first challenge with judge Paulina Porizkova. The girls had to alter oversized outfits to flatter their bodies. Marjorie didn't do well to the point that she started to cry. Paulina comforted her, and the group moved on. McKey won the challenge, which resulted in her getting 50 extra frames in the coming photo shoot.
Later that night, Samantha and Marjorie got into an argument when Samantha questioned whether or not Marjorie wanted to remain in the competition. (Can you say foreshadowing?)
At the photo shoot, they learned that they were going to pose as destructive giants. The models were dressed in '60s mod (think Amy Winehouse). Mckey did a great job. Mr. Jay Manuel gushed over her performance. Joslyn struggled. So did Clark. Samantha did a good job. Marjorie crashed and burned.
Despite Marjorie's struggles on the photo shoot, she turned out a good photo during judging. The same couldn't be said for Joslyn and Clark. They were in the bottom two this week. Clark was sent home. The cocky Clark was inconsolable.
Guest blogger Karen Shih is back and excited that, finally, the designers are NOT working in teams on Top Design:
Finally, an individual challenge! But it's not designing a room … it's a design triathlon, and the winner of each part gets immunity. Don't they seem to just throw immunity around a lot here? They never really do that on the other Bravo elimination shows.
First up, chairs. The designers need to make one-of-a-kind chairs in two hours. India judges each section with a different judge, and Kelly, wearing some strange origamilike creation with gigantic sleeves, is first.
They don’t like Natalie's weirdly purple and patterned chair. It's a "remnant from a Vegas hotel," says Kelly.
They don’t like Theresa's green and blue patterned chair either, because they said all she did was put fabric on it, and she didn’t do that well.
