Pop Fashion: New on Lifetime

So, I'll admit upfront--I'm not a fan of Project Runway. Never have been, probably never will be. Why, you ask? Why do I watch all that other crappy reality TV, but not this show which actually features people who are skilled completing difficult tasks? You just answered your own question. Less making things, more getting drunk and sleeping with each other! You see, I like my reality to be on the side of a serial drama, not so much a competition (ANTM is the obvious exception). I HATE game shows, I intensely dislike watching sports on TV, so why would I want to watch people compete to make the best garment in an allotted amount of time? Isn't that just sports? Or a game show?

But I digress. I do not care of these things, but I understand that many people do--just as I understand that watching wealthy 20-somethings fight with each other and then cry isn't everyone's cup of tea. However, I'm willing to give Project Runway a shot. I might not like televised competition, but I do enjoy me some fashion (and drama, which I'm sure this show is not lacking). As I've discovered through countless commercials that interrupt my viewing of films like Vacancy and The Messengers on Lifetime: Television for Women, Project Runway is moving from Bravo to Lifetime, beginning its sixth season on August 20, which means I'll be much more likely to watch it.

I'm not sure exactly how the networks "rank" these days, but is moving from Bravo to Lifetime a little bit of a demotion? Or will more people watch the show if it's on Lifetime? It seems to me that Bravo usually houses the competition-themed reality shows (not physical competition, but something that one wouldn't usually think of as a sport, like cake decorating or fashion) and Lifetime sticks with the drama. The marketing for Project Runway has certainly been drama focused and not so much competition focused--it's being marketed as a character driven series rather than as a game show.

In the endless commercials, the audience is introduced to just one designer, and we learn a little bit about that designer's story. If one were unfamiliar with Project Runway (or with reality television in general) one might conclude that these were advertisements for a new serial drama. We learn that one guy grew up poor, with a single mom and brother, and the one thing he dreams about is being able to take care of his mom one day. We learn another young man has issues with his father...something something...most difficult thing he's ever had to do.

Even on Lifetime's website, the first thing we see about the show is meeting the designers. I'm curious, Project Runway viewers: is this always how the show's been marketed? Maybe part of the reason I never got into it is merely the fact that I don't often watch Bravo, so I didn't really know when new seasons were starting, when the show aired, or what I had to tune in for. Was it always a show that was first about these designers as characters, second about designers competing with each other? If there's more drama and character development and less competition, I might actually get into this.

This topic has been buzzworthy for awhile now, and I'm just jumping on the bandwagon. The promos Lifetime had been running before the "meet the characters of your next favorite soap opera" promos began featured people on the street (mostly women) who all talked about how much they love Project Runway--regular folks, just like me and you! Several even had their own Tim Gunn impressions! Hey, my friends and I make those impressions too. These commercials were recieved in both a positive and negative light, interestingly. Personally, I don't think they held a candle to the new ads.

Loyal viewers: how do you feel about the move to Lifetime? About the promos?

This entry was posted by Brigitte, on Thursday, July 30, 2009. You can leave your response.