Project Run-a-way

Well, hello!

The week is finally over and I feel satisfied enough to exclaim another moderately good week (I did not use the term great - mind you, trying for a little variety).

Today, let's discuss Project Runway or as I have recently termed Project Run-a-way, Auf Wiedersehen!

The Off-Runway Drama
Although, we had just viewed the Project Runway 5 season finale just a few weeks prior, you may have heard or read recent reports that Project Runway is moving from Bravo to Lifetime Television.

Apparently, there has been "Trouble in Paradise" as over the past several months legal fisticuffs have been underway between NBC (Parent company of Bravo) and Bob and Harvey Weinstein (Weinstein Company).

“Runway” had been tentatively scheduled to begin on Lifetime on Jan. 7. Lifetime has built much of its winter schedule around the arrival of “Runway,” one of the most successful recent shows in cable television.

However with all of the legal wrangling, the debut of Project Runway 6 seems further away...

So, what exactly happened?
It all began last spring, when allegedly NBC chose not to renew the contract of Project Runway thus the Weinstein company began to entertain offers from other networks. One offer in particular from Lifetime.

NBC is claiming that they were not allowed to exercise a clause in its contract, which said that it gets to refuse the move when Lifetime bought the rights to produce the next five years of the show.

According to sources, deal points were significantly more appealing than what NBC would have paid to renew the show (Allegedly, of course). Lifetime paid $150 million to air the show over the next five years.

Last month, a New York judge has blocked the show's move to the Lifetime network, claiming producers at The Weinstein Company violated Bravo bosses' right of first refusal to future cycles of Project Runway when choosing to switch networks earlier this year.

"We've shot the whole season already, we don't know what will happen, so we're kind of waiting to hear what the bigwigs have to say on what's gonna happen with this battle. I just hope we air," said Supermodel and creator Heidi Klum.

The Runway Copycat
A recent article in the New York Times (You know of my thoughts about the New York Times), stated that the reason NBC was trying to delay the passing of the Project Runway to Lifetime was because NBC is developing a "Copycat" show.

Recent reports have circulated that Bravo was actively posting (Via Craigslist) over the course of the weekend in search for talent for a new show called "Fashion House". Note, if casting notices are being posted, more than likely the project has received a greenlight.

Let's Kiss and Make-Up...
Having said, Bravo is one my favored networks for a number of reasons. I appreciate networks that push the envelope socially and culturally - what NBC cannot, Bravo can...Queer Eye, Project Runway, Top Chef, Top Design.

It is undeniable that Project Runway helped shape Bravo as a Pop Culture network...Now, Lifetime will hope to accomplish much of the same...

Quite frankly, I cannot say enough good things about Lifetime and their recent updates to their programming schedule. The network is making a conscious move to diversify its slate with programs other than "Woman in Crisis" made for television movies.

Does it not make sense that rather than spending millions of dollars and thousands of hours of legal wrestling to acquire Project Runway from Bravo, why would not Lifetime simply develop a spin-off show? In fact, Fashion House could have been the new show airing on Lifetime...Is it just me or is this NOT Rocket Science? Ah, it's fun to think...

Anyway on a more positive exodus, the good news is that the new strategy is brilliant move and will place Lifetime on the map as a serious competitor. Stay Tuned...