NUMBER ONE! Congratulations, ADAM!

It’s official. Adam Lambert Snags First No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart, as confirmed by this Sony Press Release.

Adam Lambert’s newest album, Trepassing, has debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. Also on the BB digital charts, the Canadian Soundscan chart, AND the Canadian digital chart.

His hard work and dedication has paid off with stunning reviews and an even more stunning album.

I am always proud to be his fan, but today is very, very special. Congratulations, Adam.

Especially since he has also made history. In the 60+ years that Billboard has been tracking sales, Adam is the first openly gay artist to achieve this. Other gay artist have topped this chart, but only before they officially came out. So he also deserves congratulations for his bravery.

Adam and “Better Than I Know Myself”

I’ve seen it for months now, and I understand why. People are bothered or confused as to why RCA and/or Adam chose a single like “Better Than I Know Myself” as the all-important first release from the equally important sophomore album. It’s a gorgeous song, but it’s safe, almost “WWFM” like, and the response from radio has been lukewarm, which shows that it was not the best choice. Moreover, once we heard snippets of the much more powerful songs on the rest of the album, the pick seemed even worse. With gems like “Cuckoo” and “Shady” available, why BTIKM?

To add to the confusion, the entire release has been odd. It was released to digital sale December 20, right in the middle of the radio freeze and the Christmas season, at a point when Adam himself was out of the country. Yes, I joked at the time it was a Chanukah present (which began December 21 last year) but it just was very, very odd. There were iTunes banners, and radio stations posted the song on their websites or had contests, but it seemed to be otherwise ignored. It wasn’t even sent for radio adds until the end of January, and there was confusion as to the dates – they changed at least once. Meanwhile, Adam was in China and then in Finland, where he made headlines of a sort we’d all rather forget.

The song, despite the efforts of fans and Adam’s own tireless touring, not to mention an innovative video, never took off, which added to the frustration. It would eventually peak at 17 for Hot Adult Contemporary and never made it past top 50 for CHR – Contemporary Hits Radio, or Top 40. And now it seems it doesn’t even fit the album, so why THAT song and why THAT roll-out?

This is my guess, but I’m not alone in it. I’ve seen it in several places – Tess who posts on MJSBIGBLOG, for example. It just feels right to me.

It’s all the fault of Beg for Mercy, the bootleg album released in November of 2011, with the single of the same name released a month or so earlier. Or, rather, it’s the fault of the people who remixed and marketed it (and sued Adam to boot. That, by the way, was settled.)

All of a sudden, there were ads everywhere for this rock song that Adam didn’t want to see the light of day. Radio stations were playing it; a dj in Britain remixed it. And people were talking, some favorably, but many not, about the “new Adam Lambert album” on Twitter and elsewhere.

And where was Adam’s own album? The one that was supposed to have been released “Octoberish”? With his label’s support, he’d changed from the more traditional Idol album to something very, very different. Instead of having a collection of twelve finished songs plus bonuses, he had what I assume were a couple of dozen songs – remember, he’d cowritten about fifty, plus whatever songs others had written than he’d liked – in various conditions of completion, but none actually DONE, and while he had decided on the album format and some of the songs which would be on the album, he didn’t know all of them yet.

But he needed to counter this other album. He couldn’t afford to let people believe it was his REAL baby, the one he’d mostly co-written, the one he’d executive produced, was this production of old demos that had nothing to do with his current efforts. He couldn’t block the sales – that was what the lawsuit was about. He had to do something.

So he did. He announced the name of his REAL album, using a song he was certain to be on it. He did so in the most dramatic way he could – going back to the award show that nearly aborted his career two years earlier to present another performer, and have the album name announced right then. He also announced it to his million plus followers on twitter. They also chose a reasonable date for the album – all the way in March.

But they needed something else because of the early announcement – they needed a single. And I’m guessing that they needed one as soon as possible because once you have a title and a date, you need to publicize it somehow – you can’t let it be forgotten. And they had nothing – they had a collection of unfinished songs, and they weren’t sure which ones would even make the cut.

But BTIKM came to them already written and maybe at that point it was mostly done. It was from the first batch of songs, the ones before he changed direction, but Adam liked it enough to keep it, liked it enough to be okay with putting it on the album. Maybe he even got the idea for the theme of his album from this song. I have no idea. And at that point, RCA wanted SOMETHING. Maybe they liked that it resembled WWFM, and that it was safe. Or maybe they’d have been happy to pick something else, something more top 40, but there wasn’t anything ready enough

It had a great pedigree, though, and Adam was spectacular, and they needed something. So they decided on a soft drop – release it late in the year, have a couple of performances on TV to reintroduce Adam to the world as a singer as opposed to a reality show judge and mentor, and make a good video. We kinda realized this when it was just used as buzz in the UK.

But also? It made a great excuse for Adam to tour first Europe to introduce the album, and then visit US radio for one long, long month, where he sang songs along with his single – but also where he played tracks to program directors and, on a couple of occasions, clubs, and performed two private concerts where he introduced his songs to live audiences. He even had a listening party for the gay press – sounding them all out for his next single. Because THIS would be the important one, the one that would bring him back to CHR, the one he’d sing on American Idol. This one had to be right, had to show who he was now, not who he was in 2009.

No, it wasn’t a great first single but it did the job – it put him in touch with the people he most needed in radio while showing off his considerable talent. Would they have been happier had it smashed? Of course. Would they have been happier if he hadn’t delayed either time? Probably. But this way he had time to correct the single and with the knowledge that radio WANTS this song, and to finish the album the way he wanted.

So, maybe it wasn’t the best thing in the world, but good things came out of it anyway. And we have a new single and an album full of amazing songs, and even a new band line-up. Nothing’s perfect, but it’s all good. (And, hey, top 17 in HAC is not the worst thing, either.)

Again, this is pure guesswork. But it feels right to me.

S11 Top 25 Results – Bloodbath

25 young men and women walked onto that stage. 12 of them went home, for good. My first season of Idol was season 5. It and seasons six and seven started the live shows with the top twenty-four and whittled them down to twelve over three weeks of four eliminations – two boys, two girls. During that time, we got to know the contestants and most of them got more than one chance. Season 8 resurrected an older method where we went from 36 to (as it happened) 13 over three weeks, but each results night was a bloodbath where only three out of each group of twelve survived, with hope that three (well, four) would get a wildcard nod. And I hated it. I was happy when they brought the old system back for season 9, disaster though that season was.

This is the same, just compressed to one week instead.

And I don’t feel the need to use last names again. Yay.

There are no guest performances, just groups of hopeful young people brought up and told their fates, with the few chosen to be wildcards performing for their lives. It was a bloodbath.

Chase, Philip and Jeremy are called up first. Philip is directed to sit in one of the thirteen chairs, and the other two are sent to the couches as potential wildcards. But first, Jimmy Iovine gives his critique on tape – and he loves Philip (would sign him now) but doesn’t like the other two.

Jessica, Brielle, Hollie and Hallie (yeah. I got confused, too.) are up next. Jimmy like Hollie (I think. He’s also confused – so many blondes) and Brielle, although he didn’t like Brielle’s song. He also likes Hallie. And he really loves Jessica. Hollie and Jessica are in, the other two are on the couches.

Three more boys (boys are in threes until the last group, girls are in fours) are called up – Heejun, Joshua and Adam. Jimmy likes Joshua, doesn’t like Adam (whom he thinks should integrate the large black woman on the inside and the large white man on the outside) and is confused by Heejun, whom he thinks should be on American Comedian. Adam goes to the couches; Heejun and Joshua go to the chairs.

Four more girls – Baylie, Chelsea, Skylar and Shannon. Jimmy loves Skylar, doesn’t think Baylie came together, doesn’t think Chelsea was original enough and likes Shannon. Shannon and Skylar are in, Baylie and Chelsea are waiting for wildcard.

Aaron, Creighton and Reed – and Jimmy doesn’t like any of them. And all are sent to the couches.

Four final girls – Erika, Elise, Hayley and Jen. And one more spot in the safe ten. Jimmy thinks Jen is another Adele wannabe, likes Erica and Elise (and HER Adele) and doesn’t like Hayley. Erica and Hayley are sent to the couches, and it’s Jen vs Elise – Adele vs Adele. And Elise is safe.

Four final boys – DeAndre, Eben, Colton and Jermaine. Only two will go on. Jimmy can hear a whole album of Jermaine, thinks Eben and DeAndre are too young and thinks Colton will win. He won’t. Phillip will. Be that as it may, Eben and DeAndre go to the couches and Colton and Jermaine are safe.

And the torture continues – the judges pick six and only six people from the couches and they get to sing for their lives – or at least their careers.

Jen sings “Oh, Darling” by the Beatles and is powerful. Jeremy sings, “I Know You Won’t” by Carrie Underwood. He does well. Brielle, the poor thing, sings Adele’s “Someone Like You”, and it’s too big and old for her. DeAndre sings “Georgia on My Mind,” with a lot of falsetto. Not a fan of this admittedly nice kid. I don’t know why. And Erika powers her way through Lady Gaga’s “Edge of Glory” and she is magnificent. People are singing with her. Reed sings “Use Me” by Bill Withers, and makes it jazz again.

So the final three wild cards, the ones that are purely the choice of the judges with no real input from the audience, are Erika, DeAndre and Jeremy.

S11 Top 12 Girls

Girls Night. Twelve girls, and there will be no more.

Once again, I will pretty much ignore the judges.

Also, the girls seem to specialize in creative spellings, so I will try to get them right, but no guarantees.

Chelsea Sorrell sings Carrie Underwood’s “Cowboy Casanova”. This is a mistake because inviting comparisons to other Idols can be a problem. Although I will say they have avoided that so far. She gets actual constructive criticism from the judges. Which is a shame because I thought she sang well.

Erika Van Pelt sings “What About Love” by Heart and she has a gorgeous, rich voice that can carry this song.

Jen Hirsh sings Adele’s “One and Only.” Yeah. She’s NOT Adele.

Brielle Von Heugel sings Otis Redding’s “Sitting on the Dock of the Bay.” And it’s bad.

Hallie Day sings “Feelin’ Good” by Nina Simone. And, yes, Adam did a masterful job with this, but it’s a song contestants love. It’s also cursed – no one has done well by it. But she does a nice job.

Skylar Lane sings “Stay with Me” by the Faces, rocking it powerfully country style.

I totally miss Bayley Brown’s song – “Every Little Thing That You Do”, but it’s country and that’s all I can say.

Holly Cavenaugh sings Christina Aguilera’s “Reflection” and starts out flat. She does get better.

Hayley Johnson sings Annie Lennox’s “Sweet Dreams” and I think I’m the only person who likes it. Ah, well. Randy hates it.

I really can’t judge Christian music, so I can’t say anything about Shannon Magrane’s song choice, Kathy Troccoli’s “Go Light Your World.”

Jessica Sanchez, who is the only non-white girl left, sings “Love You I Do” by Jennifer Hudson. I didn’t feel it but everyone else did.

Elise Testone also sings Adele’s “One and Only” and, again it’s too big for her.

The judges are useless again, but I do think the girls are talented and maybe, finally, after four years, we’ll have a female winner.

American Idol Season 11 Top 12 Boys

Tonight is the top 12 plus one boys. I have pretty much ignored Idol this year, so most of them are complete strangers to me. This, I feel, is a good thing.

Also, I’m pretty much ignoring the “judges” as they are not judging.

The new set is very sparkly and active and X-Factorish. The girls (not singing tonight) are very blonde.

The first singer is Reed Grimm, who sings Maroon 5′s “Moves Like Jagger.” Which he does not. It sounds overly jazzy to me. Next is Adam Brock. Who is a trained chef and who wants to sing. Okaaaay. He’s singing Aretha Franklin’s “Think” and he’s…okay.

Deandre Brackensnick. He auditioned last year. He’s singing Earth Wind and Fire’s “Reason” and he so, so, SO flat. And the judges still love him.

Colton Dixon, another returnee, has dyed his hair like James Durbin. He’s singing Paramore’s “Decode.” He says he’s going to get out from behind his piano, so he starts out playing on the piano (huh) and then climbs on it. Steven thinks that makes him a relevant singer.

Jeremy Rosado sings Sara Bareilles’ Gravity, and does it nicely, if unexceptionally. On the other hand, Aaron Marcellus does a lovely job singing Jackson 5′s “Never Can Say Goodbye.” Chase Lightens sings “Storm Warning” by Hunter Hayes and it’s country.

Creighton Fraker pings hard, but that’s irrelevant. He’s also funny and charming and I like the way he sings Cyndi Lauper’s “True Colors.”

And here’s the winner, Phillip Phillips, who does a really good job with Phil Collins’ “In the Air Tonight” in a very different arrangement. And Randy gave actual constructive criticism. I am in shock.

Eben Frankenwicz, who is 15, sings Adele’s “Set Fire to the Rain” and does it badly and innappropriately. Heejun Han has a totally charming mother and is charming himself. He does a creditable job with Robbie Williams’ “Angel.”

Joshua Ledet “You Pulled Me Through” by Jennifer Hudson. Young man can SING.

Then they bring back Jermaine Jones as number 13. He’s very, very tall and has a rich, deep voice, which he uses to sing “Dance with My Father” by Luther Vandross. I love that.

All but six of these young men will be gone by the end of the week. That’s harsh.

RuPaul’s Drag Race S4Ep2 + Untucked

Yeah, I had a bit of a marathon today. This time it was wrestling. But first butts. The queens were divided up into three teams of four and given materials to create large rear ends – various kinds of foam rubber and packing peanuts. The best queen on each team wins. They have thirty minutes to create, pack and do some kind of drag (all are wearing stretch pants and heels by the end.) The winners (I have no idea what RuPaul’s criteria were, and I honestly don’t care) were Phi Phi, Willam and Chad.

They pick teams for a wrestling match (and bump stomachs and otherwise act like pro wrestlers when they do, because they may be queens and ladies, but they’re also boys. It’s adorable.) Half of each team are the Faces or Heroes, half are the Villains or Heels. (And they themselves are all the Luscious Ladies of WTF.) Which means they have to design wrestling outfits and drag that makes them appropriate but also beautiful. This comes into play when Ru talks to one team, who want the villains to wear beards but she changes their minds.

The wrestling matches are fun – they each do a little skit at the beginning with the Heroes talking and then the Villains crashing in. The funniest villains were Madame LaQueer and Chad, for Chad’s team. And LaQueer is nursing an injured ankle and really doesn’t want to do anything active. Until she was on, and then she was ON. However, Latrice and Kenya (fantastic pairing!) were also amazing. I don’t even remember the others, and I saw it tonight.

At the runway show (they’re instructed to be very girly, which would be a problem for Sharon), it’s announced that Chad’s team wins, and that the overall winners are LaQueer and Chad. They do not get immunity, but they do leave the runway.

The other queens are judged on a combination of runway look and wrestling match, and honestly – well. It’s down to LaShawn, who doesn’t look good, and The Princess, who looks adorable BUT did a terrible job in the ring. The Princess does a much better job and LaShawn leaves to gain more experience.

And, honestly speaking, none of it matters because Untucked blew me away. The winning team settle into the lounge with their drinks and start talking about Jiggly. It seems Jiggly said she found the idea of two performers – two drag queens – dating each other to be disgusting. And Sharon is dating another performer, named “Alaska.” And Sharon doesn’t care what people say about HER, but no one attacks her family. Chad isn’t happy about that, either.

Ru tells them to go to the Gold Bar to open the Big Pink Box. The note says there’s something Sharon Needles is missing. They all guess her boyfriend,and so it is. Alaska seems sweet and loving and with a wicked, snarky sense of humor and it’s clear Sharon loves her very much and misses her. The other three hug her and sniffle at the scene and it’s just nice. But Chad also says that maybe Jiggly

Meanwhile, on the runway, the remaining queens are asked who is the least popular, and they all name Jiggly, who is understandably upset. Latrice and Phi Phi help conduct an intervention, explaining they weren’t throwing shade. Jiggly wants to believe that her experiences are the worst, but Phi Phi had also been beaten up – spent her eighteenth birthday in the hospital, and Latrice lost her mother while she was in PRISON. And they are not altogether dealing with those experiences, either, but they are not letting them rule their lives as Jiggly is. And that had me in tears. They also assure Jiggly she has a dozen sisters now.

Then we go back to Gold Bar where Sharon attempts to throw some shade (more cute joking, I think) that she was so amazed at Chad for having surgery to get the mask she has to use make-up to get.

At which point, Chad becomes entirely awesome. She’d been convinced, twenty years ago, to get silicon injected into her face so she’d look more like Cher, and it was a “random stranger” using a black bag of silicon, and it was done asymmetrically, and has caused her many problems and she’d had multiple corrective procedures because she did this. And she gently explained that no one should ever do this, that there are safer procedures and they should learn from her experiences.

Yep, I was crying AGAIN.

Sharon confronts Jiggly, who says she wasn’t talking about Sharon’s specific relationship and she was just expressing her opinion. But she herself prefers a “real man”. Which Sharon says Alaska IS.

Usually, Untucked are snarkfests of fun and shade, but this was something else again.

RuPaul’s Drag Race S4Ep1+ Untucked

Many, many, so many apologies. Let’s get on with the show.

One by one, the new crop of queens walk into the “Youbettawerk” room, starting with Willam. Willam is very pretty (prettier as a boy) who has had actual tv acting roles. Which she will never let you forget. She also has a scathing sense of humor. Dida Ritz stood out for her towering hair, Kenya for her pretty face and diminutive size. Latrice Royale for her magnificent size and even more magnificent voice. There were two other plus-sized queens – Jiggly and Madame LaQueer. Chad Michaels came in in sweet and experienced, LaShawn was brand-new. The Princess is gauged and tattooed; Sharon Needles is “stupid” except she’s not. Alysa has a breastplate. Phi Phi O’Hare looks like Mondo but doesn’t have his charm and Milan is very, very pretty. Or “fishy”, as they say.

RuPaul announces that this will be the RuPocalypse. First challenge is to have Mike Ruiz take their pictures while the Pit Crew shoots “toxic waste” at them. They all wear white A-line strapless dresses over crinolines – basically looks like they pulled skirts under their armpits. They stand (in their heels, their hair and that dress) on a tiny turntable. Several fall. Latrice doesn’t even bother standing up again – she awesomely poses right there. Jiggly wins. I actually don’t know who was good and who was bad, so, you know. Fine.

Then they’re taken out (in drag) to this abandoned town set, and meet zombies – contestants from former seasons, and get – I think – materials for their costumes.

They then repair back to the workroom to create those costumes. Jiggly can’t sew. And, okay. Let me say this AGAIN. If you’re going on Amazing Race, learn to drive a stick shift. If you’re going on Project Runway, learn how to make a pattern. If you’re going on Survivor, learn how to make a fire without a match. If you’re going on Top Chef, learn how to make a couple of desserts that can be adapted to different materials. If you’re going on RPDR, LEARN HOW TO SEW.

I’m not going through the various costumes because the most striking was Sharon Needles, who came out bald-wigged and covered with make up (and in the first dress she EVER sewed) with fake blood in her mouth. And therefore she won. Deservedly so. On the bottom were Jiggly, who basically hot-glued junk all over her outfit, and Alysa, who wore her breastplate. And Jiggly did an awesome job lip-syncing for her life, while Alysa…didn’t. Sashay away, my dear.

The Untucked was people telling Jiggly she needed to know how to sew, and Jiggly not having it. Also they critiqued the photos, and decided that LaQueer posed best. Phi Phi got into it with Willam, who does name drop all the time – why did she even go on this show? On the other hand, Willam recognized that, as the middle group, they were not winners and Phi Phi didn’t like that, either. Jiggly and Phi Phi are going to liven this show up, I think.

Project Runway All Stars Eps 3 and 4

Project Runway – two episodes that I actually DID see. Both were very weird.

Two weeks ago, they had to design for Miss Piggy – and they had to act as if they were dressing a real, living being instead of a puppet. Now, I adore the Muppets, and La Piggy is one of my favorites, and I practice willing suspension of disbelief ALL the time, as is appropriate for a science fiction and fantasy fan. However, I don’t think I could have done this with a straight face. I admire them all for doing so.

That said, they were designing cocktail dresses that had to both look good on a human model and on a felt pig. Yeah, that’s not easy.

But they mostly did it, with a relative minimum of drama, too. I do like this season for that.

Michael won with a sparkly, metallic dress that I actually did not like. Gordana lost (and was auf’d) for what looked, to me, like a floaty pink nighty. And I had no problem with that at all. Kenly made a weird pink camel print dress, Rami came out with polka dots and whimsy – I think he should have won. Mila channeled the sixties with black color blocking and made something pretty. Austin had the wrong pink, the wrong gray and very much the wrong bows on the hips. Jerell was ugly in pink, Mondo made a pretty dress but not one for a piggy puppet, Anthony made a really lovely black dress with sheer stripes, April made an awkward one, and Kara’s just confused me.

Last week, it was based on gelato flavors and they had to make the dresses in six hours. They didn’t even get to go to Mood – a mini-Mood was brought to them. Michael chose his flavor first, and then got to choose the next person, who then chose the next. Kara went last.

Michael won, AGAIN, with what looked like a pink satin robe (he had grapefruit.) No. April (blueberry) built a layered dress that just didn’t work and was sent home. Mondo, who had cantelope, made a caftan that looked like a cantelope. Actually flattering to the figure, but still. It was a caftan that looked like a cantelope. Kara, who had the delicious-sounding chocolate with cayenne pepper by default, made a dress with layered ruffles that left her model looking pregnant. Anthony’s green tea had a sheer skirt; Mila’s milk with sour cherry (also delicious sounding) was too literal for my tastes. Kenley had passion fruit, and made a cute little patterned dress that was…boring, really. Rami had kiwi, and his dress was overdone and weird. Austin’s Vanilla Madagascar creation looked like a bridal gown to me, and Jerell’s fruit of the forest dress was just ugly.

So Michal wins twice, a man wins for the fourth time and a woman goes home for the fourth time. Um.

Something feels wrong here.

Project Runway All Stars Ep 2

The challenge is “A Night at the Opera” – make a gown suitable for the opera, as couture as possible in one day with $350. This is Austin’s challenge to lose, and he knows a real couture dress takes months to make properly with all the handwork required.

The guest judges are Mark Badgely and James Mishkah, who design evening gowns. It should be feminine and indulge fantasies, and if they go black, they need to make it stand out.

April decides to do red so she’s out of her comfort zone, while Sweet P feels like a loser. I love you, Sweet P, but go with that. They sketch – some on paper, some using their product placed tablets. Mondo doesn’t because he gets his inspiration from his materials.

They go off to Mood, where Kenley picks up pink polka dot organza. For an opera gown. Yeah, that’ll look appropriate. And then Michael sees that both he and April are choosing red fabric. April doesn’t care, but Michael does, so he switches to black jersey – not a fabric I associate with evening wear.

And then April, despite the time constraints, decides to dye her fabric for an ombre effect. The other designers don’t think this is a wise idea. Meanwhile, the first thing that Michael does is make a lovely collar, because that’s going to be the most eye catching thing to do and this way it was done.

Joanna comes in to mentor, and she asks good questions, like how will you surprise people and what is your time management and what is your plan B. Rami has fuschia satin and is making triangles. Austin is nervous because this is his area. Joanna is doubtful about April’s dyeing, and her triangle inserts, and
April has no plan B.

Michael’s dress looks a little shapeless. Kara has a pastel floral taffeta that looks like a bridesmaid dress. Sweet P is working the bodice and full skirt look that didn’t work for her before. Also, using a colorful print. Anthony is using cream organza, and he has to avoid making a bridal gown. He says he will.

Mondo thinks Kara is the weakest of the lot right now. Mila thinks Austin’s dress is too basic, but a well-made basic dress beats a poorly made elaborate one.

Back at the Flatotel, the designers all agree that they are not doing couture because they can’t do the proper techniques. Even Michael is aware of what they can’t do. They’re making prom dresses, basically.

Kenley certainly is. Pink organza with a polka-dot bodice? Purest prom. Gordana’s purple dress has sheer panels in the skirt and I do not understand it. Rami’s fuschia gown is lovely and dramatic. Mila’s black and sequin number made me gasp outloud, it was so pretty. Sweet P’s dark orange print is just ugly. On the other hand, Mondo’s silver print dress is modern and lovely and short. Jerrell has a brown sack of a maternity dress.

Kara made a strapless dress – very basic except for the print. And not extremely well made. Anthony’s cream organza is an elegant asymmetrical drape with deep cleavage and a strange belt. It’s definitely not bridal and quite elegant. Also elegant? Austin’s gold lame’ sheath draped with tulle that was just lovely and perfect. And I liked April’s dress – the ombre was very striking Michael – Michael’s learned to construct clothing. It’s not just the collar – it’s the way he built the dress up and added subtle interest with straps over the bodice, and the pretty low back crossed with a silver belt. Lovely dress.

Top three were Michael, Austin and Anthony. Bottom three were Sweet P, Kara and April. And this is the second week in a row that the top three were all male and the bottom were all female.

The judges loved Antony’s draping and modern design, if they thought the styling was questionable. They utterly adored Austin’s dress, with it’s perfect fit and construction and that it’s elegant and modest. They also love Michael’s use of matte jersey and the collar, and the innovative style.

They hate how Kara’s dress was perfectly generic, and that Sweet P’s was poorly made and just not pretty. And April was too ambitious and so failed to carry anything off. Also, the guest judges hated red and black.

Austin won, and I believe he deserved it, but I would not have cried if either Michael or Anthony had won. Sweet P went home and she was the right one in every way, as much as I love her.

Project Runway All Stars Episode One

This was amazing. Yes, I missed Heidi and Nina and Michael, and especially, Tim, but it was still good. The designers actually deserved the title All-stars – most of them are imaginative and talented. And I’m familiar with most of them.

First they show off garments that they feel reflect who they are now – and some are gorgeous, and some, not so much. Kenley is as fussy as ever, but Rami has discovered structure.

They don’t have to mutilate their own or other’s clothing, nor do they need to tear apart their lovely penthouse suite. Instead, they meet outside a 99cent store. They’re told they have a hundred dollars and that they can use whatever they can find, but it had to reflect, in some way, the garment they brought.

They grab washcloths and umbrellas and trashbags and scarves – anything with cloth – and streamers and Michael and April both grab mops. April doesn’t care, but Michael does because he knows how talented she is.

I like Michael.

And then they sew and design, and it feels – competent. They know what they’re doing because they’ve done this before. And not one of them has to hot glue things on muslin. YAY.

The mentor is Nina’s boss, the editor-in-chief of Marie Claire. Who reminds me of Tabatha. What she does is ask all of them if it will surprise Isaac Mizrahi. That was the main goal. She does love what Mondo is doing, and is confused by SweetPea.

Austin has a problem – at the last minute, he melted the clear plastic of his dress with his hot glue gun (it’s not really a material that can be sewn.) But it’s time to leave and he’ll solve it in the morning.

Which he does with a little patch, so it’s all fine. There’s surprisingly little flurry even. I’m impressed.

Runway show – I don’t like the fussiness about Austin’s waistline. Jana’s skirt and blouse look like clothing someone would wear. Jerrell took filmy scarves and made something lovely and flowy but not cheap. Elisa’s shorts and…something is just strange and disturbing. Rami made a structured and elegant high fashion dress using plaid plastic bags. Sweet Pea had a disastrous combination of washcloths. Mondo created an adorable little black dress with a cute hat. Kenley’s is fussy. Gordana’s streamer creation is just ugly. My notes for the last four just read “pretty”, so that’s where I’ll stay. In fact, most of the dresses were very pretty. Even the two mop dresses were attractive.

Top three are Mondo, Jerrell and Rami, and Rami wins. Deservedly. Bottom three are Elisa, Sweet Pea and Gordana, and Elisa goes home.