by Todd Betzold

 

After much hype and some delays, we have finally arrived at the premiere of Project Runway All Stars with some of the best designers from previous seasons.

 

We have a new host, new judges and the drama of all the designers they have brought back. Since they are all stars, there will be no immunity as they compete to win their own boutique in select Nieman Marcus stores and online, a fashion spread in Marie Claire magazine and a position as guest editor for one year, $100,000 in office equipment and space from HP and a cash prize of $100,000. I would have to agree...this is the ultimate prize package, I mean if you are a designer!

 

We get to meet the new host, supermodel Angela Lindvall (boring and definitely no Heidi) and the new judges, fashion designers Georgina Chapman and Isaac Mizrahi. We'll see how they do, but I think I am going to be bored with these people.

 

Let's kickoff the season with the first ever All Stars Fashion Show, comprising of one recent work the designers have done and 30 minutes to get their model ready. There was no point to this besides the designers giving sass and the judges saying it will be an exciting season...thanks!

 

The designers get a video message from Giancarlo Giammetti and Valentino and oh boy, do the queens come out. Anthony Williams and Austin Scarlett waving fanning their faces so they don't pass out. Michael Costello covering his mouth in shock and Jerell Scott wiping away tears...15 minutes into show and they annoy me. It's going to be a long season.

 

First challenge: the unconventional challenge. Austin won the first ever unconventional challenge back on the first ever episode and now "pressure" is on for him in this one. They will have to create a look using materials from a 99 cent store. To put the twist on it, they must create a piece inspired by the look they had shown during the fashion show.

 

Shopping time and Michael and April both buy mop heads, so Michael is afraid April's dress is going to kick his butt...probably if you are afraid before even started. How did you make it to All Stars?

 

How can you replace Tim Gunn? I can't wait for the next regular season...I need my regular peeps back, but alas...enter Marie Claire editor-in-chief Joanna Coles. Sweet P is making a ruffle dress, Gordana kisses Joanna's butt and Elisa wants to lick her thumb and give Joanna her blessing. Apparently Elisa is as crazy as she looks.

 

Want to know a bad combination in the studio? That would be a plastic dress and a hot glue gun. Austin didn't know that and the gun sat on his dress and melted a hole in his dress. He finds it at the end of the night and hopes he can fix it in the morning, to which he patches it up for the runway.

 

The 13 designers will go down to 12 tonight, so let's get to this runway show already. Neiman Marcus Fashion Director Ken Downing will be throwing his two cents into the mix tonight as a guest judge. It's kind of amazing to see how they took 99 cent products and made them into these dresses. I'm impressed...maybe they are all stars after all.

 

Austin, Mila, April, Anthony, Kara, Kenley and Michael did enough to design one more week, which leaves us with Rami, Sweet P, Elisa, Jerell, Mondo and Gordana.

 

We see love for Rami, Jerell and Mondo and no love for Sweet P, Elisa and Gordana. After some deliberation, the judges give the win to Rami. Jerell, Mondo and Gordana are safe. Will it be Sweet P or Elisa going home? The terry cloth dress wins out and Sweet P is safe and our first designer going home is Elisa.

 

Project Runway All Stars airs Thursdays at 9/8c on Lifetime.

 

(Image courtesy of Lifetime)

 

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