Jessica Edwards
This is nothing like the project runway that we all know and love. All Stars this season just ruined it for me with its constant product placements and judges that were so easy to disagree with (with the exception of Nina who only appeared once as a guest judge). My major disappointment in the show was the over use and bad use of product placement. I secretly think that the contestant were being paid every time they mentioned Resource Water with statements such as; "where is my resource water?" Or does anyone have anything to drink, how about Resource Water". It couldn't have been any tackier if it tried. It makes me wonder if there was something in the Resource water that was getting the judges confused about what looked good and what looked bad. 9 times out of 10 they would pick something that looked badly constructed or just flat out the same thing they had picked last week as apposed to something that looked great. I don't think I'll ever bother watching the All Stars again, however, as for the original Project Runway, Tim and Heidi will always have me coming back for more.
Shopaholic35
Project Runway All Stars may not be as good as the original Project Runway but it definitely is able to hold it's own. I would say that the all stars version is more fashion forward. As the designers have had some time to develop their abilities and styles they are better equipped to handle the challenges. The competition feels more fierce and cutting edge.I love that you get an update on your favourite and most hated designers. It's also a second chance for the designers who got robbed (by Heidi's obvious bias and lack of taste) to prove what they can do and shine.I do totally agree though that the show is strongly overused for product placement and endorsements which can be distracting but I guess that's everything in life. Still great reality TV.
Peter Kowalski
The original Project Runway is a classic. After 12 seasons, I can honestly say it hasn't lost its touch and never lost the quality. Heidi, Tim and Nina are absolutely fantastic, and they have been, always.All Stars, on the other hand, is a completely different story. Stiff judges I can never agree with, boring challenges and the worst of the worst - so many product placements it's like the show is a walking commercial. If you had any doubts, the very last episode cleared them out. It's not even the very core of the challenge that was the problem - contestants were to design a dress for Marge Simpson, which, on some level, was a fresh and brave idea - but how both companies carried that out. The working rooms were all completely swimming with The Simpsons' decorations, silhouettes and stands, Marge's portraits were everywhere (on walls, on the desks) and if you had any doubts just WHO is sponsoring the show - "gifts" were given to the designers, God-awful Simpsons sneakers. "Thank you, Marge", you could hear designers saying, barely able to cover their disgust. Alright. We got it. The Simpsons team is sponsoring. Enough.I'm not completely against product placement, but the companies must understand it's a very delicate matter. It can't be done by throwing everything you have in storage onto the walls.Just as I was making my peace with The Simpsons' over-sponsoring, I heard, right in the middle of sewing, someone said... "Who wants some Resource water?"And I gave up. Me and the show must part ways. I'm sure there are hundreds of people who don't really care - they will eat everything up, everything they see on the screen, they will take in and gladly have their brains washed. Not me.
mochmochmoch
It's filled with all the industry legends of the design world. All these contestants are so lucky to have the ultimate education in the industry to have the mentor and feedback the way they get to have. My only thing is, I hate the host because she feels negative, mean and doesn't feel special like Heidi. At the end when she was dismissing the runner ups she treated them like they were nothing when she should've been celebrating their accomplishments despite the fact that they couldn't get first.Isaac was alittle nice about presenting his crits where the designers didn't seem to get his messages. I really like him in Michael Kor's shoes.The mentor, Johanna Coles is like the best person to fill Tim Gunn's shoes because she's so knowledgeable, respectable, tasteful, warm and a female that more intimidating than Tim. Really great job picking her.Overall, I like how the crits and the contestants came out more refined and civil as opposed to catty, dirty and negative crits can be. but I would've liked to have seen more surprises from the show because especially the last 3 designers worked so hard.