The Fashion Show

This past Thursday night, Bravo premiered the first episode of Fake Project Runway... I'm sorry, I meant The Fashion Show. When the network first announced production of the reality show, I thought it was a bad idea. A cheap knock-off of a popular reality series would be a disaster. After seeing the first episode, I have to admit it wasn't that bad. The series still has a number of kinks to work out, but if it does well enough for a second season order, the problems can be fixed. That's not to say The Fashion Show isn't a cheap knock-off of Project Runway, because it is, but at least it has the potential to be entertaining. So, how can the show improve itself? Well here are some of my suggestions:

Get better lighting - Seriously, the show looks rather drab and ugly, appearing as if it were filmed in somebody's basement.

Get rid of the hallway discussions - Both the Isaac/Kelly chat and the post-runway panel deliberation came off as cheesy. At least give the panel a table to sit around.

Do something about Kelly Rowlands - Essentially the show's Padma Lakshmi, she comes off as a nice person, but personality-wise can't compare with fellow judges Isaac Mizrahi and Fern Mallis. Over time Padma improved as co-host of Top Chef, so maybe Kelly will do the same.

Get more talented contestants - In the first episode, half the cast complained about not being good at sewing. That just shouldn't be!

Add a hot guy or two - It helps every other reality program.

The Naked Episode

Last night was Make Me a Supermodel's nude photoshoot, and I have to admit it was kind of boring. You would expect an episode featuring Jonathan's bare backside would get me excited, but it didn't. I mean, of course, Jonathan had a great rear, as did Branden, but the episode as a whole was on the dull side, even with the hilarious Branden's bleeding testicles bit. At the very least, they finally got rid of Amanda. After saying she didn't want her son to grow up gay, she was obviously going to get kicked off. . You can't get away with being openly homophobic on a Bravo reality series - unless you're an attractive male - coughbrandencough. Anyway some photos from last night:

Jonathan

Branden

Nathan Fillion on Craig Ferguson

If you were able to catch last night's episode of The Late Show with Craig Ferguson (thank you Tivo), you had a chance to see actor Nathan Fillion don a leather kilt. Let me just say, Nathan Fillion = sexy, a kilt = sexy, Nathan Fillion in a kilt = DAMN sexy! That man has some meaty legs. The picture on the left isn't from last nights show (I didn't get a shot of that), but he's wearing the same leather kilt. Apparently he's willing to wear a kilt in public more than once. I definitely approve.

Farewell Celia!

Celia was kicked off America's Next Top Model last night. Though it was always apparent she wouldn't win, since obviously the title's going to wind-face girl and she's "SOOOOOOOO ANCIENT," I'm still sad to see her exit. Celia was by far my favorite contestant this season, but like Tyra and the rest of the panel said, she should become a stylist or designer, because the girl has some serious fashion sense.

Oh Housewives, I Wish They'd Condense You

If any series were to benefit the most from having a condensed season, it would, without a doubt, be Desperate Housewives. This season has been like every other season, in that it starts out strong, limps its way through the middle, then finishes well. At least I'm guessing this season will end well, since the finale hasn't occured yet. If the series was reduced to between 13 and 16 episodes per season, I'd bet the writing would be tighter and the show overall would be more involving. A condensed episode run would definitely help the central mystery plotline of each season. It wouldn't have to start and stop every few episodes, stretched out with unnecessary subplots that serve only has filler. How much better would the series be if each housewife had only one plotline to follow through the course of a season? Unfortunately, this will never happen. It's just wishfull thinking on my part.

Screen Goddess Top 5 - Deborah Kerr

1. Black Narcissus (Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, 1947)
2. From Here to Eternity (Fred Zinnemann, 1953)
3. The Innocents (Jack Clayton, 1961)
4. The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp (Michael Powell & Emeric Pressburger, 1943)
5. An Affair to Remember (Leo McCarey, 1957)

Sunday Blessings - Eric Bana

This week's installment of Sunday Blessings focuses on actor Eric Bana, co-star of the upcoming Star Trek feature. Now, I admit my picks for Sunday Blessings are often himbos who have little, if any, real acting chops, but this week I've picked someone who has talent and proven it. Bana's big break into films was the Australian bio-pic Chopper, in which he proved to have an engaging star presense, giving a warrented over-the-top performance. He followed up with servicable performances in Black Hawk Down and The Hulk, working with talented auteurs Ridley Scott and Ang Lee. That's not a bad career move. The American public finally took notice of him in the sword-and-sandals epic Troy. While the film sucked, Bana easily gave the best performance - proabably his best performance to date - and was the sexiest thing about it, which is impressive considering Troy also featured Brad Pitt and Orlando Bloom. Bana's subsequent roles haven't especially been noteworthy. His performance in Munich was somehow off, but I blame that on Spielberg's direction, and I didn't even bother to seem him in Lucky You and The Other Boleyn Girl. Regardless, I'm still fascinated by the actor. I'm interested in how he handles the role of villian in Star Trek, though the shaved head and pointy ears look doesn't suit him, and I'm looking forward to his role in The Time Traveler's Wife, released later this year. Rumor is there's a good deal of nudity. When in regards to Eric Bana, that's definitely a good thing. Amen!