 "Photo: Photo courtesy of NBC Universal")
In three seasons, "Project Runway" has embedded itself as a pop culture staple. It has challenged up-and-coming designers to create couture garments out of grocery store items, fabricate $1,000 dresses out of $50 materials and redesign outfits from the clothes off their own backs.
But as the fourth season nears, is there really anything left to do? We've already laughed at Santino's Tim Gunn impressions, cringed at Wendy Pepper's audacious comments, admired Austin Scarlett's cornhusk dress and watched in awe as amazing creations manifest themselves just in the nick of time.
Model, host, judge and executive producer Heidi Klum and teacher-turned-"Project Runway"- mentor Tim Gunn claim the show has not run dry quite yet.
"[The contestants] all get a little shock because they always think, 'OK, this is the fourth season already, so we kind of know what's going on here,'" Klum said. "I love it when I can break the news to them that some things are going a little different this time around, you know. So I love that part of it. There are definitely twists."
Put 15 eccentric fashion designers together in one house, and there will inevitably be drama. And, of course, the crazy challenges and all-star guest judges will remain a staple for "Project Runway."
Gunn believes, however, that it is the creativity and fashion that engages, or even addicts, viewers. He warns that "Project Runway" is "television crack."
"Because the level of execution is so extraordinarily high, there's going to be much more talk at home, as there is on the show, about the content of the design work," Gunn said.
As a result, the success of season four relies heavily on the talent of the designers - and Gunn is confident about their abilities.
"I will say with absolute impunity, each of the 15 designers on this season's show, I believe from the onset any one of them could win the entire thing," he said.
Klum and Gunn view the previous winners' successes as testament to the show's clout. Klum said she came across the work of last season's winner, Jeffrey Sebelia, while shopping at The Grove. Chloe Dao, winner of season two, has had her clothing featured on QVC three times, selling out each time. Klum might even sport some of Dao's work in the new season.
It appears that "Project Runway" will be successful as long as the contestants can, to use Tim Gunn's catchphrase, "make it work."
- The new season of "Project Runway" premieres tonight at 10 on Bravo.
