Given the last two episodes of Project Runway (The Brooke Shields Lipstick Jungle challenge and the New York drag queens challenge), I was pretty curious what could possibly happen next. The line I had been waiting for all season (Tim Gunn’s reference of a “pterodactyl from gay Jurassic Park”) was uttered last week, so I wasn’t sure what to look forward to in the coming weeks.

Last week’s challenge began with lots of Keith whining and fretting about the judge’s criticism last week. Granted, I didn’t love his design for his “model” and the outfit seemed almost too gaudy (oh yes) for a drag queen. With so much focus on Keith and how he was so worried about impressing the judges and being in the bottom two for the past two weeks, it almost seemed like typical building of suspense in Project Runway land – Make it look like Keith is getting auf’d, and then someone else completely different would get the Heidi air-kiss of death.

For the challenge, the designers were sent to a parking garage with no idea who they were meeting. They speculated – a superstar? Mariah Carey, perhaps? But upon taking a freight elevator to the top of the garage, they were met by Tim Gunn in a snazzy pinkish shirt (okay, it might have been magenta – the color on my television is a little off) and the lead color designer for Saturn. Behind them were four brand-spankin’ new Saturn Hybrid Vues. To be honest, I’m surprised we got this far into the season without the blatant product placement – so… Go Saturn!

The challenge was one of innovation. Designers were tasked with designing a look using parts from those Saturn Vues. Tim informed the designers that the winner of the challenge would have immunity which sent the designers rushing around the cars hacking, slicing and throwing parts around. All the contestants except Stella, that is – who found all that rushing around to be “embarrassing.”

It became obvious that Keith’s headspace was more on the judge’s and what they would think rather than his design. My spidey sense was getting a bit nervous for Keith at that point (in fact, my notes say “Uh oh”).

Stella decided she didn’t want to make a “leather dress” (first time for everything, Stella) and Suede started in with the “whackadoodle”, and I was starting to think that we would be home free until about 23 minutes into the show, Blayne uttered his first “-licious” (what does everyone think of this: cute and quirky or just plain obnoxious?).

Blayne was feeling frustrated with the materials being difficult to work with, but Jerrell (who hasn’t done so hot on the Runway the past few weeks) was feeling pretty confident. Meanwhile Kenley got hit with the news that her model, the oh-so-gorgeous Shannone, had dropped out of the competition and would be replaced by Germaine – setting Kenley into a tizzy as the models’ proportions were completely different. Tension rose in the workroom with Jerrell declaring that Terri has “two faces” and Keith’s model sitting down and ripping his design.

Nina Garcia was absent from the runway, with Laura Bennett filling in for her. The guest judge was Rachel Zoe (Nice work Bravo – I’m sure that has NOTHING to do with the fact that Rachel’s show will be airing soon). The looks came down the runway – designs of seatcovers, cargo netting, mirrors, air filters and various other car parts paraded down the runway. Declared safe were Suede, Joe, Kenley and Terri.

Remaining on the Runway were Jerrell, Blayne, Korto, Leanne, Stella and Keith. Rachel Zoe declared Jerrell’s design, made with resin interior moldings to be “quite amazing” and the rest of the judges agreed. Blayne’s outfit, complete with broken mirror pieces was “ill fitting”. Judge’s loved Korto’s design, a woven jacket made of seatbelts – Michael Kors felt that Korto “edited the process well” and Zoe said “I want to own it!” (Me too!). Michael Kors also adored the silhouette of Leanne’s dress. Keith’s design was not flattering, according to the judge’s which caused Keith to whine about last week’s criticism and the judge’s to be perfectly clear that that’s the way of the design world, get over it. Stella’s design was not so much loved either – so it was no surprise that Stella and Keith landed in the bottom two after Leanne won the challenge (her first win – and quite honestly, her first win-worthy design on the show). That meant both Blayne and Korto were safe.

The judge’s felt Stella’s design was expected, disconnected and too simple. It was a challenge of innovation, and her design wasn’t. Keith’s was boring and poorly crafted. In the end, Stella was granted reprieve to join her fellow designers backstage, while Keith, attempting to hide his tears was auf’d, receiving Heidi’s air-kiss of death.

Do you agree with the judges? Did they get it right?

(photo credit: BL Wynn)