Tim Gunn Blasts 'Project Runway' Judges as 'Unprofessional & Offensive'
"Project Runway" mentor Tim Gunn was open about how much he "hated" "Project Runway" Season 14, but he's not done criticizing the Lifetime series -- and he's making some good points.
Gunn said he's "sick" of the "mean-spirited" regular season judges, and dramatic designers who just "want to be TV characters." Gunn put the show on blast while promoting "Project Runway: Junior" to New Zealand news site stuff.co.nz, saying he loves the "Junior" series and its judges -- and wishes the main show was more like the spinoff.
"I'd had very, very little experience working with younger people but I have to tell you, I love it so much that if I had to choose between regular Runway and Project Runway Junior, I would choose Junior in a heartbeat."
He praised "Junior" judges Christian Siriano, Hannah Jeter, Aya Kanai, and Kelly Osbourne:
"They listen, they take responsibility for their actions, they're not blaming anyone else, they are very professional in their behavior and their decorum, and they're not backbiting or being snarky or nasty about things."
(UNLIKE THOSE OTHER JUDGES.)
Here's how he feels about the main PR judges, Heidi Klum, Nina Garcia, and Zac Posen:
"I am sick of our regular season judges and their attempts to outwit each other and come up with a remark they think is adorable and cute but which is, in fact, piercing and mean-spirited. I don't like it. I find it to be very unprofessional and offensive."
He's not done, though. He's also upset with the regular season designers:
"I have to say this – the adults, some of them, they want to be TV characters and once they arrive it would appear that that's why they're really there."
He's right. This has been a steady complaint from fans for a long time -- especially when "Junior" showed up with polite, mature, drama-free designers. It was a breath of fresh air that dramatically contrasted with the main show melodrama.
Gunn told the NZ site that his favorite season was the one that Sean Kelly won -- Season 13 -- "because there were no games, there was no unnecessary drama and all the designers wanted to do was create the best work possible." Gonna have to disagree with that argument, since there was plenty of drama with Korina and Char, and Char staying on the show past other designers (like Korina and Emily) who produced stronger work. But Sean Kelly is from Wellington, NZ, so it's nice to give a shoutout to a local boy.
Tim Gunn is always pretty candid -- about the Kardashians, fashion trends, how the fashion industry has let down women over size 12. Lifetime renewed "Project Runway" for at least three more seasons, with PR Season 16 expected later this year.
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