Debuting December 1, 2004 on cable's Bravo network, the 60-minute "reality" series
Project Runway had much in common with UPN's
America's Next Top Model--except that, instead of focusing on the people who wore the fancy clothes, this series zeroed in on the people who put the clothes together in the first place. Hosted by supermodel
Heidi Klum, who also executive produced, the show brought together twelve talented but untested fashion designers, who went through a weekly ritual of tasks challenges to determine which of the dozen would win $100,000, a whole slew of prizes, a slot at the annual Olympus Fashion Week in New York, his or her own line of clothes, and the tutelage of the trendy clothing chain Banana Republic. In each episode, one of the contestants was eliminated, with Heidi solemnly intoning "You're in or you're out"; and in most of the intallments, viewers were treated to the fascinating spectacle of watching a design come to life, from drawing board to first chunk of fabric to the splendiferous finished product. The challenges were stage and arranged at Parsons' The New School for Design, while the judges were A-list designer
Michael Kors and Elle magazine editor Nina Garcia. Unlike many another reality show of its era,
Project Runway exuded class and taste in every frame, and was fully deserving of the Emmy nomination it received during its first season on the air. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide