Bravo, Lifetime and the Weinstein Company have reached a deal on Project Runway. Finally! I’m going through withdrawals. The details are still a bit sketchy, but People Magazine is confirming that the Weinstein company has basically paid off Bravo/NBC Universal to ship the valuable Project Runway property over to Lifetime.

The sixth season that will appear on Lifetime – reportedly this summer – has already been filmed, even though Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn had no idea if it would actually air anywhere. People has more:

Project Runway is returning to television this summer — and it will air on Lifetime.
According to the network, legal battles surrounding beleaguered reality show’s already-filmed sixth season have been amicably resolved.

“The Weinstein Company will pay NBCU for the right to move Project Runway to Lifetime. All of the parties are pleased with the outcome,” the networks say in a joint statement.

Changing gears, the upcoming season of Project Runway relocated from New York to Los Angeles, though it will continue to be hosted by Heidi Klum and judged by Michael Kors and Nina Garcia. Tim Gunn will also mentor the designers. As usual, the finale was shot during fashion week – this year, in February.

But ongoing legal disputes prevented producers from revealing any information about the cast, and the three final collections were shown blindly, with their designers unidentified. International Herald Tribute editor Suzy Menkes acted as the guest judge at the show.

In addition, sources close to the show have told PEOPLE that Project Runway’s season 6 will utilize “local resources” in Los Angeles — namely focusing more on Hollywood — and will feature appearances by Christina Aguilera, Eva Longoria Parker and Rebecca Romijn.

Project Runway producer Harvey Weinstein expressed his appreciation for the resolution to the legal battle. “I want to personally congratulate Jeff Zucker and NBCU on their success in the litigation and thank Jeff for resolving this in a professional manner,” he said in a statement.

According to Lifetime, the network will also air a companion series, Models of the Runway, alongside Project Runway. “All of us at Lifetime are thrilled to move forward with Heidi, Tim, Nina, Michael, The Weinstein Company and the entire Project Runway team,” network president and CEO Andrea Wong said in a statement. “We are proud to add these shows to our growing slate of original programming.”

From People Magazine

This deal is the product of more than a year of legal wrangling. It all started when Harvey Weinstein (executive producer of PR) thought he could get more money from Lifetime. Lifetime jumped at the chance to own the valuable ratings smash and cult-like favorite. Bravo/NBC was like, “Oh no you didn’t!” and thus, lawsuits were born.

It’s also wonderful to see that the deal includes Tim Gunn, who is basically the real star of the show. I like Heidi and everything, but I love Tim. Last season’s weak contestants almost killed me, but I was still hooked, so it’s good to know I’ll be getting my fix this summer!

Phoots are of Heidi Klum, Timm Gunn, Michael Kors and Nina Garcia on 2/20/09. Heidi Klum is also shown on Rodeo Drive doing a photoshoot yesterday, 4/1/09. Credit: WENN.com

Tim Gunn is a god among men. So is Anderson “Coop” Cooper, of CNN’s AC 360. So it makes perfect sense that Tim Gunn (Bravo’s “silver fox”) would announce he has a crush on CNN’s “silver fox” The Coop.

Tim Gunn declared The Coop “fabulous” at a recent event, and gives OK! magazine the scoop: the two silver foxes exchange e-mails! I would pay money to read those e-mails. I bet they are the bitchiest, most fabulous e-mails ever. I bet the subject headings are “Did you see what she was wearing?” and “Re: Madonna – Not Fabulous!”. Wait, I have more! Subject: “Seriously, did you see her hair?” and “Re: Lady Gaga’s thighs!” Or how about Subject: “Fug extensions” and “Re: Oh no she didn’t”. OK! has more:

Project Runway host Tim Gunn is daring to design a dream date on the not-so down low.

He’s after his celeb crush and fellow silver fox Anderson Cooper, although the newsman, who stays silent on his sexuality, has been elusive.

“We’ve actually been trying to have lunch for a year and a half,” Tim, 55, told OK! at the recent Address Psoriasis launch in NYC. “Both of us are so busy that we haven’t been successful doing it, but we exchange e-mails.”

What attracts Tim to the 41-year-old AC 360 anchor?

“His brain, looks and style,” says Tim. “He’s fabulous!”

From OK! Magazine

Anderson Cooper’s sexuality has been the “down low” discussion for years. His alleged homosexuality is probably the worst-kept secret in the media today. The Advocate even claimed The Coop was living in a “glass closet”.

Could it be that The Coop’s coming out party involves Tim Gunn’s strategically leaked fabulous e-mails? Probably not, although I’m not sure why. MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow now holds the mantle of being the first openly gay woman to hostess a prime-time cable news show. So why is Anderson still reticent to “come out”? Is it different for alleged gay men?

I love Tim Gunn. I love his good heart, his style, his voice and mannerisms. I love Project Runway, even though I may never see it again because it’s stuck in litigation. And it’s great that Gunn adores Meryl Streep and Angelina Jolie – he admires them so much they are the top two people he wants to meet on Oscar night. Gunn will be co-hosting ABC’s “live pre-Oscar special”, which I think is just a fancy way of saying “red carpet”.

Gunn gave an interview to E! Online, and he was he usual sassy self. Last year, he famously called Jennifer Aniston’s style “desperate”, so you know he’s totally Team Jolie. In this interview, Gunn calls La Jolie’s style “age appropriate” and “context appropriate”. I’m a Brangeloonie, but even I don’t think Angie’s style is flawless. She’s been dressed in glittery, pale sacks for most of the red carpets this year. But I will give him “context appropriate” – Jolie knows what’s appropriate for what occasion. Here’s the full Tim Gunn interview:

Tim Gunn would like a word with Meryl Streep.

“I am her biggest fan and I can’t get enough of her,” the Project Runway mentoring guru tells me. “But wearing my fashion hat, I want to say to Meryl Streep, ‘You need to accept responsibility for what you are wearing. I don’t know that you do.’ She is so smart, so stunning, and she has a great figure.”

Gunn says he’d love to go shopping with Ms. Streep to help her—yup—make it work.

“Sometimes she gets it right, but more often she doesn’t,” Gunn says. “The message she’s sending is, I’m too smart for this and it doesn’t matter to me what I’m wearing. I want to say to her that it should matter to you.”

Gunn may finally get that chance to chat with Streep on Sunday, when he cohosts ABC’s live pre-Oscar special with Good Morning America’s Robin Roberts and Jess Cagle (Entertainment Weekly’s managing editor).

Gunn is also hoping to meet Angelina Jolie on the big day. No, he doesn’t think she needs any help in the fashion department. Jolie, Gunn gushes, always gets it right.

“She’s one who knows her body, understands how important silhouetted proportion is and getting your look right is,” he explains. “She always has a great fit. But you know what impresses me more about Angelina Jolie than the red carpet dresses? It’s how she navigates the real world. She does it without looking inappropriate. She’s age appropriate and she’s context appropriate. She has a sophistication yet a sexiness and she has a consistent polish.”

…Gunn is still not sure what he’ll be wearing to the Oscars. But it does sound like he’s leaning toward his J. Crew tuxedo. He says, “I’m taking a note from Michelle Obama.”

From E! Online

J.Crew tux? Tim, go for Armani! He’d be dazzling in Armani, wouldn’t he? I found his Michelle Obama remark very telling though – through NY Fashion week, multiple designers have been commenting that they’ve taken their cues from Michelle Obama’s style, elegance and frugality. And am I the only one who wants to see Tim Gunn style Meryl Streep? She would look fabulous.

Tim Gunn is shown on 12/9/08. Angelina Jolie is shown at various events the past few months. Credit: WENN

A New York Supreme Court Justice has halted intentions of Weinstein Co. production Project Runway from moving to the Lifetime Channel.  In a breach of contract lawsuit filed by NBC Universal, the parent company of Bravo, against the Weinstein Co. a preliminary injunction was ordered against a $150 million deal with Lifetime to move the wildly popular reality-competition series from NBC-run Bravo where it’s aired for five seasons.

NBC Universal had aired the series on its Bravo channel. It sued Weinstein after the production company made a reported $150 million deal with Lifetime for the show.

The temporary injunction bars Weinstein from taking “Project Runway” or any spinoff to Lifetime and contended that evidence showed that Weinstein violated NBC’s “right of first refusal” for the show.

[From AP via Breitbart]

Lifetime was very disappointed by the ruling but vowed to “pursue all measures” to uphold the agreement made with Weinstein Co. to bring Emmy award nominee for Outstanding Reality or Reality Competition Host, Heidi Klum and fan favorite Tim Gunn to their network.  The sixth season of Project Runway was scheduled to premier in January on Lifetime with guest judge Lindsay Lohan.

In a statement, Lifetime said: “We are disappointed with the court’s decision to grant the preliminary injunction against the Weinstein Co. It’s unfortunate that the people hurt most by this ongoing dispute are the loyal fans of ‘Project Runway.’ In the meantime, Lifetime will pursue all measures to uphold its valid and binding agreement reached with the Weinstein Co. for Season 6 of ‘Project Runway.’”

Lowe also showed concern for the viewers of the popular series in his 43-page ruling, writing “what is of concern for this court is the time ‘Project Runway’ will be off of the air during the course of this litigation.

Implementing this injunction will leave the program in limbo while the matter proceeds to trial.”

But the judge also pointed out that in the history of the show there have been hiatuses between six months and 13 months. Pursuant to court rules, Lowe ordered NBC to post a $20 million bond, which is typical in cases when plaintiffs win temporary injunctions. Court rules indicate that the bond should be paid if it is later found that the injunction was improper.

[From the Hollywood Reporter]

NBC says the reason the Weinstein Co. went to Lifetime looking for a better deal was because NBC didn’t want to bundle the show with other Weinstein Co. productions.  Weinstein argued that there was no right of first refusal in their contract and that the deal was offered to NBC but Lifetime outbid them.

Weinstein Co. and Lifetime were also ordered not to promote, market or air Project Runway.

With a show that has never been on any sort of regular schedule between seasons, it looks like another year of waiting while this all gets hashed out in court.  This is disappointing for fans, but imagine the disappointment of the designers competing in season six who thought they’d had gotten their big break.  Production of the show will not be effected, but who knows when it will actually air.

And imagine how Heidi Klum must feel.  First the Emmy co-host disaster, now this?  It hasn’t been her week.
 
Here is Heidi Klum leaving ABC Studios after appearing on ‘Live with Regis and Kelly’ on July 15th. Photographer: Ray Filmano. Images thanks to WENN

Just as it was confirmed that Jennifer Lopez was slated to appear as a guest judge on the season finale of Bravo’s hit series “Project Runway,” the diva has backed out of the appearance, citing a foot injury.

Due to a foot injury, Jennifer Lopez stepped down from guest-judging the season five finale of Project Runway. The show — filmed Friday morning in New York’s Bryant Park — had to go on with the contestants’ fashion mentor, Tim Gunn, who took her spot. “I am really thrilled about judging,” Tim tells In Touch. But as for what happened to J. Lo, Tim says, “All I know is that I was called at the last minute this morning. No one was more surprised than I! I thought, ‘Okay, let’s make it work.’ “

[From In Touch Weekly]

Hmm. Foot injury, eh? I’ve seen photos this week of Lopez traipsing all over New York in killer stilettos with no problem for Fashion Week. However, Lopez is training for a marathon, so perhaps she pulled something while working out. Or did she?

At the opening of the Project Runway finalists’ show in Bryant Park during Fashion Week in NYC Friday morning, Heidi Klum announced that the much buzzed about appearance by Jennifer Lopez as a guest judge on the season finale will not be happening.

“Jennifer Lopez was going to be our guest judge, [but she] cancelled yesterday due to a foot injury,” Heidi told the audience.

Despite Heidi’s comments, Gunnar Petersen, Jennifer’s trainer, denies any mishap, telling OK! “No injuries, all good.”

[From OK! Magazine]

Whatever. I am glad Lopez won’t be polluting my favorite reality show. She’s irrelevant and her fashion sense sucks. Maybe she didn’t want to play sloppy seconds to Victoria Beckham, who appeared as a guest judge on the finale last year. Regardless, Tim Gunn will be a great judge. And really – this show doesn’t need the special guest stars. It’s good enough on its own. This year’s designers are a very diverse crew- from the flamboyant Suede, who refers to himself in the third person, to 50′s pinup stylista Kenley, who has more confidence than actual talent. My personal favorite is Leanne, who is quietly becoming the best designer of the bunch. Each week she turns out amazing clothes, without all the drama and ego trips. She’s the anti-J.Lo.

Tim Gunn and Heidi Klum are shown below at Fashion Week at the “Project Runway Season Five Finalists Fashion Show Finale” on 9/12/08. Jennifer Lopez is shown at the Oscar de la Renta Show on
9/10/08. Credit: Janet Mayer/PRPhotos.