Searching for the new Christian in Project Runway 5

Project Runway returns for Season 5 with a redux of it's supermarket challenge and ends up with mostly table cloth wrapped models strutting the catwalk. It was one of those rare instances on the show where so many offerings were terrible that it was difficult to guess who would be eliminated (similar to last season's create-men's-clothing challenge). One excellent exception to this was a brilliant (but somewhat ill-fitted) cocktail dress made entirely of those plastic cups that you see frat boys playing beer pong with. On the other end of the spectrum, Jerry's hideous hooded shower curtain ensemble made his model appear a Klan Jawa princess from the future (of some low budget Sci-Fi), proving that even with this many poor offerings, somebody has to be the "worst". Ouch.

But who cares about the outfits. The question on everybody's mind is surely "have the Bravo executive producers found this season's Christian replacement?" Christian's combination of confidence, on-screen charisma, fierce asymmetrical haircut, and spouting of trendy provocative phrases kept viewers tuning back for more, earned him an appearance on Ugly Better, and led to Amy Poehler honoring him with a parody sketch on Saturday Night Live. After viewing this one episode, I can't rule the possibility either way on whether any of this season's designers will steal the spotlight in a similar way. Although, seeing Austin Scarlett as a guest judge reminded me how much I like him. He is like a non-creepy version of the Shear Genius judge Kim VO, but I digress.

There is at least one person who bears a slight surface resemblance to Christian, but is not male. Leanne Marshall (Portland, OR resident and founder of the Leanimal clothing line) wears similar hipster style glasses... the type that I fall for every time. It is too early to judge these designers for their work or their on screen personalities, but Bravo proves once again that more-of-the-same is sometimes just-what-the-doctor-ordered.