Show in Limbo, Cast of 'Runway' Hides

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(Feb. 21) - "Project Runway" taped its sixth-season finale Friday, but something was missing: the finalists.
Because of a legal battle, three unknown designers sent theircollections down the runway at the tents in Bryant Park on thefinal day of New York Fashion Week. Since the cast has not beenannounced, the finalists stayed hidden backstage.
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Project Runway' Snapshots

    Contestants' designs are modeled in the Project Runway Season 6 Finale show during Fashion Week Friday, Feb. 20, 2009 in New York. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)

    AP

    A model presents a creation during the Project Runway show during New York Fashion Week, February 20, 2009. REUTERS/Eric Thayer (UNITED STATES)

    Reuters

    Project Runway judges Nina Garcia (L-R), designer Michael Kors, supermodel Heidi Klum and show executive producer Desiree Gruber watch the Project Runway Fall 2009 fashion show at New York Fashion Week February 20, 2009. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid (UNITED STATES)

    Reuters

    (L-R) TV personalities Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn at the Project Runway Fall 2009 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at The Promenade in Bryant Park on February 20, 2009 in New York City. Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall 2009 - "Project Runway" Season 6 - Runway The Promenade in Bryant Park New York, NY United States February 20, 2009 Photo by Steve Mack/FilmMagic.com To license this image (56799855), contact FilmMagic.com

    Steve Mack/FilmMagic.com

    A model presents a creation during the Project Runway Fall 2009 fashion show at New York Fashion Week February 20, 2009. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid (UNITED STATES)

    Reuters

    A model presents a creation during the Project Runway Fall 2009 fashion show at New York Fashion Week February 20, 2009. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid (UNITED STATES)

    Reuters

    Project Runway judges from L, Nina Garcia, designer Michael Kors and model Heidi Klum watch models present creations during the Project Runway Fall 2009 fashion show at New York Fashion Week February 20, 2009. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid (UNITED STATES)

    Reuters

    NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 20: Senior vice president of IMG Fern Mallis (R) attends the Project Runway Fall 2009 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in the Promenade at Bryant Park on February 20, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images for IMG) *** Local Caption *** Fern Mallis

    Getty Images for IMG

    NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 20: Designers Kara Janx and Jay McCarroll attends the Project Runway Fall 2009 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in the Promenade at Bryant Park on February 20, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images for IMG) *** Local Caption *** Jay McCarroll;Kara Janx

    Getty Images for IMG

    NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 20: Designer Jay McCarroll attends the Project Runway Fall 2009 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in the Promenade at Bryant Park on February 20, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images for IMG) *** Local Caption *** Designer Jay McCarroll

    Getty Images for IMG

Host Heidi Klum told the audience that she was "a little bitsad" the finalists couldn't have their moment in the spotlightafter working so hard to get there.
"This year is gonna be a little bit different for us, for allof you, for our designers backstage. ... We're all in a bit of alimbo and we hope that everything gets sorted out very soon," Klumsaid.
The new season of "Project Runway," which aired for fiveseasons on Bravo, has been delayed because of a legal battleinvolving NBC Universal, which owns Bravo; the Weinstein Co.; andthe Lifetime Channel.
NBC Universal sued Weinstein after the production company made areported $150 million deal with Lifetime for the series thatfeatures Klum, Michael Kors and Nina Garcia on the judges' panel.
"It's a show that is very helpful for the industry," saidGarcia, on her way to choose the winning designer after the show."It's very encouraging for young designers. It's something that Ithink we all should be doing, supporting (the) young talent, nowmore than ever. We're in this weird economic downturn and thefashion industry is suffering."
The overall mood of the three collections was darkly glamorous,though one designer sent out brighter looks, including a turquoisegown and a gold cocktail dress, echoing the metallic trend seenthroughout the week.
International Herald Tribune editor Suzy Menkes was a guestjudge for the finale. The new season was filmed in Los Angelesinstead of New York, home of the previous five seasons.
Last September, a New York Supreme Court justice issued atemporary injunction preventing Weinstein from taking "Runway" orany spinoff to Lifetime and contended that evidence showed thatWeinstein violated NBC's "right of first refusal" for the show.
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Weinstein has said there was no right of first refusal in thecontract and that NBC Universal was offered the deal and wasoutbid.
The sixth season had been expected to start airing on Lifetimein January.
Christian Siriano, who won the show's fourth season, mostlyliked what he saw.
"I don't think it blew me away at all," he said. "But I thinkit was really strong and consistent. I don't think there was, like,a BAD collection - where last season, there was some rough ones."
Throughout the season, typically, a contestant iseliminated at the end of each weekly show. The runway finale istaped, edited and shown on television soon afterward.
Despite all the secrecy, one of the show's judges, NinaGarcia of Marie Claire magazine, joked at the conclusion: "Ofcourse, there's a clear winner in my mind."
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2009-02-21 09:57:51
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