Project Runway Finale Part 1 (Spoiler)

[MaineDem]

Holy crap!

What's up with Jeff? I wondered how all his work was done when they got back to NY. He had nothing left to do unlike the other three.

Previews look like he's gone! What do you think?

I'm still shocked.

[eleny]

1. It was a great episode

But I wonder if they're teasing with clips that make it look like he's gone.

Have you peeked at all the collections at the web site?

[dsc]

2. Clearly Jeff had access to things that none of the rest did

Kayne would have been similarly blessed had he made the finals. It will be interesting to see if he went too far.

[AngryOldDem]

3. I thought something was up....

...when Tim Gunn asked everybody to hand over their receipts for the $8,000. Jeff acted a little hesitant. Plus, he didn't seem to be quite the arrogant blowhard that he has been, either. That struck me as odd.

But later on, when Gunn was looking at a couple of Jeff's designs, I thought I heard it implied that he (Jeff) did send out some things for finishing, and Gunn seemed to think that was okay. So I'm wondering if they are allowed to have help with some minor details, in which case, when does that help cross the line? It looks like Jeff has an up-and-running business (not like Michael, who is working out of his home, and Chloe from last season, who did the same) so would it be against the rules if, say, he allowed his employees (which I'm sure he must have) to help with sewing, etc.?

If someone is that established -- and he has his own line, correct? -- why is he even on PR? (And didn't Laura ask that at some point?)

As to whether he stays on...stay tuned, I guess. If what has been alleged is proven true, I have to ask: Just what was he thinking???? Same thing I wondered with Keith.

[Longhorn]

4. They certainly foreshadowed the problem with that scene but

I'm wondering how the receipts would show anything. Surely Jeffrey wouldn't be stupid enough to include receipts for the work he had done, assuming he hired it out? And if he didn't include them, yet used some of the $8000 to pay for it, there's no rule that they had to use ALL of the $8000, is there? Of course, I'm not defending Jeffrey if he broke the rules -- just wondering how the receipts would prove it unless he was very stupid or careless about it. If his excuse was going to be that he didn't know it was against the rules, then it seems that he would have admitted it as soon as Laura told him about her suspicions -- an "innocent" mistake.

And I agree that Tim seemed to act like a little help was okay. He just said, "Okay," when Jeffrey told him about it instead of, "What? You got help with the smocking?!!"

The reason I believe something must be amiss is that it wasn't just one designer who is trying to cause trouble for another. These guys worked together for weeks and really do know what each other's work looks like. The fact that Michael backed Laura up makes me thing there's something to her accusation. Uli didn't want to believe it and seemed to be looking for reasons to defend Jeffrey.

I have to say I don't know if I would have the guts to confront Jeffrey, especially as nasty as he can be, and I admire Laura for not just sniping behind his back. She seems to have a fantastic collection -- at least, by Tim's reaction -- so I don't feel like she did it to help her chances of winning but just because it would be wrong for Jeffrey to get away with breaking the rules like that. On the other hand, it shows the damage of merely being accused of cheating. Even if they decide there isn't enough evidence that he did it, it's not the same as proving that he is innocent. But I guess that is true most times someone is accused and then acquitted. It's not the same as being proven innocent.

Knowing more about his past after the last episode, I feel sorry for Jeffrey -- if he did it, I'm sorry that he felt he had to cheat in order to win, and if he didn't do it, sorry that he has to suffer the humiliation of being accused. :shrug:

[eleny]

5. I admire Laura

And since Jeffrey had help with the smocking of a garment, Laura was right. She observed that he had so much detail to his work that was completed and things didn't add up.

I kept thinking that she's raising five boys, so far, and she has a sense of when something is going sideways. The lady has savvy.

[Longhorn]

7. I saw the episode again today

and it was pleating, not smocking. Sorry. :)

[eleny]

9. I'd rather do smocking than pleating!

Maybe because smocking examples are prettier to me and pleating leaves less room for fudging.

[AngryOldDem]

11. Laura was well within her purview to raise the point

It boils down to the integrity of the show, as well as the hard, honest work of those designers who do follow the rules. She can bring up her suspicions, and let the powers-that-be take it from there. I give her credit for being upfront with Jeffrey by letting him know what she had done. (And another curious point: I thought Jeff would ABSOLUTELY EXPLODE when she told him. He didn't. Hmmm...)

The only thing I can think that the receipts would prove is if he came in ridiculously under budget, or if the cost of some of the work was not "usual and customary" for the industry. Why anyone would attempt to fudge this is again beyond me, because it is so easily found out. I would think that the bulk of the money would go for fabrics and accessories, anyway.

Right now I truly feel sorry for Jeff, for the reasons you state. Of all the designers, he did not need to cheat, but I honestly don't know what to think. He is truly in a no-win situation right now.

[eleny]

6. I was surprised to hear Gunn say "okay" when Jeff said he had help

But my guess is that he wouldn't make a decision on the spot by himself. I imagine that he would go back to the producers with the information for discussion and a decision based on the contract. This twist makes this season so interesting.

[Longhorn]

8. You make a good point.

That could be exactly what they get him on. If he admitted it and it's a violation, then they won't need further proof.

And you're right -- two cheaters (that got caught, any way) in one season!

[eleny]

10. I just now watched the "moms" episode for the first time

And I think Jeffery needed to get the boot with that awful outfit. At least Robert's outfit had some color and flare.

Jeffrey's dress was pretty horrible and there are no words for his behavior. I have this little feeling that Angela's mom stayed so as not to make trouble for her daughter.

[AngryOldDem]

12. It's not Gunn's call to make

Even with Keith, who was literally caught red-handed, Gunn took the evidence to the producers.

[eleny]

13. That's what I figured

It's the producer's call, for sure.

[Qanisqineq]

15. I thought on Season 1

they talked about some of the things that the finalists had help on. I don't remember exactly what was done but I thought certain things were okay.

But then again, I could be mis-remembering.

[eleny]

16. Interesting

I don't remember that. But I'm not famous for my memory!

I think the teasing previews with Jeffrey crying on Uli's shoulder and all that are putting me off the track. My guess is that those were tears of relief. But we'll see.

I've always enjoyed this show. One of my favorite moments was Santino mimicking Gunn. I thought it was all good natured ribbing that even tickled Gunn. "Make it work!"

[AngryOldDem]

17. I especially liked his Red Lobster routine...

...with Tim and the designer-whose-name-escapes-me-right-now. (I can picture him but for the life of me cannot remember his name.) It went on and on and had them fighting at Red Lobster and someone running out of the restaurant in tears. It was a riot.

Santino grew on me.

I was at work and was having the finale taped, but the tape ran out. So I'm trying to stay awake long enough to catch it again at midnight....

ON EDIT: Andre! It was Andre!

[eleny]

18. "Where's Andre?"

:rofl:

[AngryOldDem]

19. I just remember Kara Saun and the shoes

She apparently cut a deal with a shoe manufacturer where the manufacturer would have provided all of her footwear for free. The show made her take all the shoes back. I think Wendy Pepper was the Laura to Saun's Jeffrey in that fight. I recall the two women had quite a shouting match.

[qanda]

14. Oh boy! This is really interesting

The first time I thought something wasn't quite right was when Jeffery pulled the items out of plastic for Tim to see. I guess I'm just so used to seeing stuff that has come from somewhere else in plastic that it was odd to me. Then Jeffery's reaction about clinched it for me that something was up. I do think they're his designs, but even when the designers had five months to finish their designs, they were still adding stuff at the end. It's just too convenient that he doesn't even need to add a button.