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[The following is an editorial column by contributor Alison Coffey and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Austinist staff. --The Editors]
In my youth (also known as The 80's) summertime was not a prime time for television viewing. The Keatons and the Seavers were on vacation (hey--does anyone remember how Mike Seaver's best friend had the nickname Boner?) and unless you liked reruns of Good Times (which I did, actually) or watching Def Leppard's "Pour Some Sugar on Me" video a hundred times a day on MTV (that was back when MTV showed videos), then your best bet was to find entertainment elsewhere (in my small hometown that was called hanging at the Pizza Hut parking lot). Kids today have so many more options. And adults do too. HBO takes care of just about every night of the week. Then there's all those other cable channels--Sci Fi, F/X, A&E. Even Lifetime has original programming now, not just those crappy movies about Reba McEntire waking up from a coma 20 years later and really wanting to get laid (that I always get sucked into). With all this diverse and bountiful programming, there is just no excuse not to be a couch potato.
Thank goodness for July 12th, my favorite day of the year so far. The new season of Project Runway finally premiered and I couldn't be more excited to have Tim Gunn back in my life. Heck, even Michael Kors is growing on me, especially with his calling things "gorg"--short for gorgeous. I don't know why it always tickles me when people shorten words. Like my husband calling ibuprofen "ibu". I don't really understand the point (how hard is it to say "gorgeous"?) but it warms me all the same.
The new batch of designers are the usual interesting mix of people--young and old, gay and straight, tattooed on the neck and not tattooed on the neck (ouch!). One guy, Malan, is like a movie version of a fashion designer. He's a white guy born in Taiwan with a posh british accent that Micheal Kors thought might be fake. Apparently he was accepted for the second season of the show and TURNED THEM DOWN. Then he came back again. He has a distaste for inexpensive fabric and ripping up hotel rooms to turn into clothing (well, I'd have to side with him there). Malan is gone now, having been auf weidersehened the second episode after making a hideous brown gown for Miss USA to judge. Brown? Keith Michael is the guy with oodles of talent and no empathy. He got kicked off for breaking the rules. No surprise. Cutie pie blonde girl Alison Kelly is my favorite of the bunch, but I'm smitten with quite a few of them.
Let's hope Oklahoma boy Kayne Gillaspie makes it to the final three. This guy has a boutique in Norman for pageant and prom dresses. He's sassy and southern and I love him.
Hey Kathy Griffin, I just love you. With your quick wit and dirty mouth I'm always having a blast hanging out with you. That is, if you consider me on my couch and you in your Hollywood Hills home hanging out. Why not? You're the best friend I always wanted, Kathy. Hilarious, self-deprecating, gossipy, and liberal. I love a girl who isn't afraid to make vagina jokes.
Kathy Griffin: Life on the D-List chronicles Ms. Griffins life, well, on the d-list. This means that when she does a show in Louisville and is presented a key to the city only five people show up, four of whom work for the city.
It was a short, sweet summer season and it's in reruns now, but Bravo plays it so much you shouldn't have any problem catching up.
My other main summer viewing (besides catching up with Battlestar Galactica and The Wire on DVD) was NBC's Last Comic Standing, a comedy competition where I'm funnier than at least half the contestants. Well, okay, at least Matthew Odam is funnier than half the contestants. What I'm trying to say is, the funniest people didn't always get picked. Instead, the producers obviously kept the contestants who would be the most interesting on their show. Or who might fight with each other. Thousands of funny people showed up for the auditions and lord knows at least fifty percent of them were funnier than Stella. Stella tells jokes about the drudgery of sleeping with her husband. Heh.
The mean judges toured the country for talent, even coming to Austin. We had some good ones, too, but only one of our own (well, she's from San Marcos--sort of our own) made it into the "house", which was actually a boat.
All the comics lived together and played together and tried to top each other in funny antics and comebacks. They seem like mostly likable people so it hurt just a little bit to see them get offed. Even if they aren't that funny. Like April Macie. She's cute and has some silly antics but is she ready for a showbiz career? Not really. I can make some goofy faces and funny noises, too. Am I a comedian? Yeah, I did do a good job with the maid of honor speech at my sister's wedding, but those people were mostly drunk and mostly family.
After a bunch of eliminations the final two were Josh Blue and Ty Burnett.
I was rooting for Ty. Ty was more original than the others, but Josh won out. Josh is the lovable goof who happens to have cerebral palsy. He always found inventive ways to make light of his disability, but I still found Ty more talented at bringing on the belly laughs. Unless I'm just far removed from what mainstream America finds hilarious, which is a real possibility.
So we only have about a month left until the serious TV season starts. And as much as I love my summertime schedule, I can't wait to find out what is going on with The Others.
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Damnit, I'm not ashamed to admit this: my girlfriend has got me watching Project Runway. I gotta say, my favorite designer, in terms of personality and clothes, is the chill black guy (who's outfit appeared in the post). Second, though, is that young blond girl. Kayne annoys me.
"Carry on." It's about time they axed Bradley. He was worthless. Malan should have kicked around for a couple more weeks in his place. Laura and Angela are really picking it up and Michael's a badass.
Also rec'd summer watching: Curb Your Enthusiasm V, good stuff.
unlike in previous seasons, i have only seen bits of two episodes this season, but i can say, mr. wright, that i agree with you and said the other night that one of those two will win it. why doesn't bodog.com let me bet on these kind of things?
Project Runway is a thinking man's America's Next Top Model. Although, as a neaderthal I am not ashamed to admit I enthusiastically watch the latter.
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