How Project Runway took over the World

Written by: Xil

For those of you who have been hiding under a rock for the last 10 years, Reality Television has become the biggest market for the good ol' medium of Television. For the most part, the market has been dominated by shows like Survivor, Fear Factor, and the Swan, all of which have premises that make mose people lose a couple hundred IQ points. "Let's watch a bunch of people fight like animals over money!" is essentially the basis of all of these shows and is also exactly why I'll admit I liked them all. Project Runway is just like the rest of these shows, however, it was nastier, more evil, and even a bit scarier than anything I'd face living on an island with 17 beautiful people and a couple of uglies for the realism factor.

So, why did Project Runway manage to do so well even if it was essentially reality television in a pretty dress? Well, friends, it was sold brilliantly and had something for everyone:

Beautiful super model (Hi Heidi...I wuv woo) + Disturbingly awkward challenges (veggie dresses?) + scary designers(you thought Rob and Amber were bad?) = success.

The show's central characters were all pretty well...weird, whether it be the mother-turned-monster, Wendy Pepper, or the ever eccentric boondock boy and winner, Jay McCarroll. Many of the shows cast were very bold characters, all of them vying for the spread in Elle magazine and a chance to start up there own fashion line. The cast members continually fought, and never held anything holy. Jay and Karasaun, (the runner up), held a strong friendship when it came to the game and generally avoided Mrs. Pepper. However, at the final challenge's confessions, Jay was pretty much all over Karasaun.

The show's already made big waves in the UK, where star Elizabeth Hurley has agreed to host the spin off Project Runway, which should be airing in next year's lineup. No need to worry for us North Americans either, the next season of Project Runway is already well in development. So we'll being seeing some new angry designers, beautiful women and even more beautiful clothing soon!