Project Runway - The Complete First Season

List Price: $39.99 Discount Price: $30.99

Customer Reviews:

What a great show! [Posted on 2008-07-23]
I gotta start off by saying that my family lives in that dark netherworld of people who refuse to pay for cable, so we see everything "late" - when it comes out on DVD. Thus, we were early devotees of "American's Next Top Model," which was fun for a while, but grew old quick. Meanwhile, our friends were telling us how fab "Project Runway" was, and we had to smile our tight little, sad smiles and nod our heads politely and wait 'til the darn thing came out on disc.

FINALLY, we watched Season One, and boy what a grrrreat show this is!! Unlike "Top Model" (with which you have to compare it) "Runway" isn't gimmicky or dumbed-down -- instead of putting its contestants in silly situations that or having their "professional" critiques be dominated by catty comments (ala Tyra's show), "Runway" is an actual test of skill, and places real demands on the contestants that really show their abilities, often to an astonishing degree. More than that, since it is a contest of skill -- social and sartorial -- there's an actual chance that the people you like might actually win, whereas in "Top Model," it's always the lamest person who wins in the end.

"Runway" is a great show -- our friends were right; we were wrong. I'm big enough to admit it.

...But we're still not gonna pay for cable.

:-)

FINALLY! Creativity on Reality TV! [Posted on 2008-08-16]
I was immediately hooked when I caught some re-runs of this show on Bravo, and decided to buy the DVDs...ALL OF THEM! As an artist and photographer, I was immediately captured by the premise of the creative challenges presented to the budding designers each week. Heidi Klum is the attractive hostess of the show, ably supported by Tim Gunn, the Director of the renowned Parsons New School of Design. 12 hopeful designers start off the competition, and are eliminated one at a time each week after they are evaluated by judges (including designer Michael Kors & Nina Garcia from Elle Magazine) on the runway for their fashion creations. Some of the creative challenges include using things purchased at a grocery store to create a dress, re-designing the uniform of a postal worker (after spending a day in the field wearing the uniform), and working with the models (who also get eliminated one at a time each week) to create the model's ideal wedding gown. Reality TV is usually about the drama and contrived situations; do they exist here? Sure, however, it is refreshing to see that the majority of the show is about design and critiquing the unique creations that the designers whip up...and I do mean whip, as each challenge is done with very little lead time. The last 3 "survivors" get to exhibit an entire line at New York's Fashion week (actress Parker Posey sits in as one of the judges), with the grand prize including a photo spread in Elle Magazine and $100k in funding to create their own design line of clothes.

Extras on the DVD include "Wear Are They Now" featurettes for the final 5 designers; deleted scenes (which are best watching AFTER you watch the episodes, as they show further behind-the-scenes antics of the 12 contestants); a design photo gallery for all 12 designers.

An excellent set for up-and-coming designers as well as models. This show is a class act that rarely gets bogged down in the emotional drama (although there are a few choice scenes!).

Entertaining but totally fake. The show's producers, not the judges, choose who is "out" [Posted on 2008-08-28]
I have recently watched, with my wife, several seasons of this show. It is very entertaining, but a heads up should be given to anyone who actually thinks that reality TV is in anyway real. For instance, when watching season one, one might wonder how a designer as bad as Wendy Pepper could stay on the show for so long.

Here is the answer: She is an evil person. Having such a despicable character stay on the show, mixing things up and generating drama, creates high ratings. That is it. If one reads the small print at the end of each episode, one learns--shock, shock--that it is actually the producers of the show and Bravo itself that ultimately gets to say who is "out." Why? Because it's all based on calculations of what combination of personalities will result in the highest ratings.

So what, you say? Well, the important implication of this is that the entire show is fake. That's right. The judges are NOT sitting there and choosing who actually gets booted off, as the show displays. The show's producers are doing that for them, behind the scenes. In fact, I would find it very interesting if the judges had to reveal what they actually write on their cards. One person speaks and then the others almost always just parrot what the first person says. I would bet high money, as a psychologist, that their cards would not reflect this.

Much of it is based on "who likes who" personally, because--let's face it--the whole racket is totally subjective anyway and entirely full of BS. Just listen to the designers. "It's like totally open and closed--at the same time." Better yet, watch Ali G asking phony questions to real-life designers, and watch them BS their way through Ali G's fake questions. The result is no different than the judge's asking sincere questions here.

On a final note I would like to say that this show should be hosted by a famous designer--not by a model. Klum likes to say that the show is a competition for models too, but the model competition is just based on who hits it off with whom. It's not really a competition. Also, Heidi Klum is VERY annoying. Her accent does not sound like an accent. It sounds like a speech impediment. I cannot STAND how she says "out."

Clothing design for the untalented viewer [Posted on 2008-09-18]
I caught one Project Runway of the second season and really enjoyed it. Therefore, I asked for the first season for my birthday. I just got it last week and finished it in two days. Morning, noon and night watching till I was bleary-eyed. I absolutely loved it and am going to order the third season right now. I am not a bit artistic, can't sew, not a great cook; in other words I am not runway material. But, I am in awe of talent and these finalists do have it. Thank you for putting this show together, and I love Heidi, whom I never saw before.

Love Project Runway [Posted on 2008-10-19]
I do love Project Runway and I couldn't wait to get each season on DVD. While I am glad to have each show without commercials, I am disappointed that there is no additional material included. I was hoping for outtakes, extra interviews, or SOMETHING I hadn't seen on Bravo. Complete letdown. I'm not sorry I bought it, I'm sorry I paid so much for it.

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