Top Chef: Project Runway In The Kitchen

It's back. Top Chef (above) - pretty much an exact copy of Project Runway, with contestants making intricate dishes instead of dresses - returned last week with its premiere episode, but I was mourning the demise of Project Runway and was unable to focus on my previous favorite. My, how a week changes things.

Last night I was glued to my TV for the stellar second episode of (what looks to be) a stellar second season for Top Chef. After catching bits and pieces of its debut, I wasn't overly impressed with the new bunch - I did grow attached to season one's contestants - but I had to give the new outing a try. This week's episode improved dramatically upon the first. Lying! Cheating! Getting drunk?

The fourteen remaining chefs were divided into two teams, Team Korea and Team Vietnam, and charged with making a corresponding two-dish menu for a large event. As Team Vietnam sat down conscientiously planning its dishes, Team Korea got drunk. Not too drunk, but drunk enough so that everyone talked loudly over everyone else and couldn't focus on the traitor in their midst...

That's right, only the second episode out and we've already got the drama usually reserved for the final ones. Otto, the elderly chef from The Las Vegas Culinary Institue, was accused of, and consequently sent home for, stealing a case of ingredients. (I'm not quite sure what lychees are.) Marisa, the obvious attention-monger of the group, brought it to everyone's attention during preparation for the challenge and again at the judging table - I'm thinking to distract from her heinously unappealing gelatin-coated dessert. Smart thinking, but we'll see how long she lasts. Judge Tom Colicchio said during the judges' conference he'd prefer to send her home if Otto owned up to stealing the lychees, but Otto saved him the trouble and bowed out.

Two episodes down, fourteen chefs to go. Who'll be on the chopping block next?

Project Finale

Well, he won. Jeffrey Sebelia (right) was declared the winner on last night's finale of Project Runway. What started out seeming like a seedy outsourcing scandal was eventually downgraded into a "compromise" (according to Laura) in which Jeff simply had to exclude a pair of leather shorts. Needless to say, that was a little disappointing, but not as disappointing as Michael Knight -- what happened to him all of a sudden? More on that later.

During last week's episode, suspicions of Jeffrey's work reached a boiling point and we were left wondering what the investigation would reveal. Turns out, not too much, except that Tim Gunn and the producers were "convinced" that Jeffrey's garments were all courtesy of his own (sometimes crazy) hands. Jeff was so overcome with emotion that he started blubbering -- and it may be just me, but it seemed like there was a lot of crying in this episode (Tim Gunn wept on multiple occasions, shockingly).

On to the runway shows. The beautiful thing about PR finales is that practically the whole hour is devoted to what normal episodes reserve for the last fifteen minutes -- the amazing fashions. Jeffrey was first to show at New York's Fashion Week and his collection was...not bad at all. I had a problem with Jeff's work during the rest of the season, it sometimes looked thrown together and a little too out there, but maybe all he needed was his own time and space to make the things he wanted to make. His red polka dot fabric looked young and also chic as it made the transition from a wrap dress to a bathing suit. His other bold color and pattern choices served him well and his line definitely showed the most innovation and range. I'm actually not as upset about him winning as I thought I might be. However...

Uli probably could have taken the title also. Her collection had multiple stylish pieces that judge Nina Garcia noted "every woman would want to wear." She ranged from well-made leather shorts to her standard print dress and yet it somehow seemed completely cohesive, a total "safari" as Uli had envisioned. Though she did show some growth through the course of the show and her final collection was very likable, she couldn't compete with Jeff's maniacal creativity.

Laura's collection was probably the most technically proficient, but that pretty much equals boredom right? I was glad to see her chartreuse gown from last week was gone, but too many of her matronly staples were left -- feathers, golds and high waists. Heidi noted that you could have one of Laura's pieces "in your closet forever," but that kind of statement rarely belies an exciting designer the judges or the fashion world would be waiting for.

Ah, Michael. Poor, poor Michael. I really was not ready for Michael's hoochie-rific, urban safari woman. He had far too many lace-up, metallic, cleavage-baring garments and though they were intended to be sexy and glamorous, they seemed unfocused and not up to par with the other designer's collections. During judging, Michael admitted that at 28 (the youngest competitor on the show) he is the most inexperienced of the bunch and the judges noted his point of view is not as developed, not to mention his ongoing "quest to find identity." He was so successful during the season because he was given strict parameters and made something to fit those objectives, but when he was given free reign to complete his own collection, his inspiration was lacking and consequently his final products were as well.

Overall, I loved this season. I appreciate the surprise of Jeffrey winning, and deservedly so. It's not like we'll never hear from the others, I'm sure they all have a future in the bustling fashion world. Either that or they can always pop up in later seasons of the Project...

Project Reunion

This week's episode of Project Runway was an old standby of the reality show genre: the reunion episode. All of the contestants got the chance to talk about how they really felt about each other, scandals during the season and embarassing previously unseen footage.

All of the designers were back for this surprisingly entertaining look back at season three so far. We were treated to PR favorite Tim Gunn's extensive vocabulary ("three dollar words" according to Robert) and some of the contestants hilariously overused phrases, including Vincent's creepy "that turns me on" exchanges. Vincent could have tried to redeem himself and prove he is not as unhinged as he seemed, but instead we were treated to an unaired tirade involving an expensive shirt he didn't want laundered -- Heidi noted of the meltdown, "We've never had to bleep so much." The only thing funnier than more revelations about Vincent's instability was the fainting epidemic afflicting the show's models. Amanda and Marilinda held up judgement proceedings (on multiple occasions) and needed to sit on the runway to regain their composure. (This is just a shot in the dark, but maybe they should try eating something before those taxing walks down the runway.)

On to the most controversial element of the reunion special (and probably all of season three): Keith Michael. After sauntering out and declaring that he thought his dismissal (for design how-to books) was unfair, Keith Michael leveled conspiracy accusations against producers of the show. He alleged that the books magically appeared back in his room and that he had nothing to do with it. Heidi and Tim immediately dismissed the unfounded (and quite unbelievable) allegations, much to Keith's dismay.

The final four (Uli, Jeffrey, Laura and Michael) received little airtime during this episode, but Michael was on hand long enough to be named the fan favorite and get an oversized check for $10,000. All in all, it was a fun episode and an informative look back at how the field was narrowed from 15 to four.

Favorite Quote: "That happens to you a lot. Why does that happen to you a lot?" ~Heidi, whispering to model Amanda who fainted multiple times during the runway shows

Next week's prelude to the Fashion Week finale and ultimate showdown looks unmissable, with Laura accusing Jeffrey of some scandalous behavior (for more check out the article at E! Online ).