Bunim-Murray will replace Magical Elves as the executive producers of Project Runway when the series jumps from its former berth at Bravo to new digs at Lifetime for its sixth season. I can't say that I am particularly pleased with the news.
I think that executive producers Jane Lipsitz and Dan Cutforth have done an incredible job over the last four seasons with Runway and they leave some pretty big shoes to fill in terms of quality and content and I've yet to see that Bunim-Murray can really pull off a series of this magnitude.
Bunim-Murray's previous collaborations with Lifetime include America's Psychic Challenge, so I'm a little concerned that quality will suffer when the series shifts nets; production will also move from New York to Los Angeles for the sixth season, though judges Heidi Klum, Michael Kors, and Nina Garcia, along with mentor Tim Gunn, will return next season.
The fifth season of Project Runway, the last under the watchful eyes of Magical Elves, kicks off on Bravo on July 16th at an earlier time of 9 pm ET/PT.
What do you think? Will you continue to watch Project Runway even after it switches networks? And does a network berth have anything to do with the overall quality--or perception--of an individual series? Discuss.
I think I will reserve judgement till the first B/M show premieres. That's a stong production company and I will give them the benefit of the doubt...for now. While I'd rather it be Magical Elves, I don't think B/M is the worst idea in the world. I don't think you can judge the Lifetime version of PR based on the Lifetime show B/M previously did. Everyone has their bad moments - let's not forget that Magical Elves did Treasure Hunters.
Whether Magical Elves or Bunin-Murray are at the helm, I have to say that, like cheap fabric left out in the sun, my interest in Project Runway is fading fast.
Well I thoroughly disagree.
Just don't change the format, it is perfect exactly as it is. All the talented and crazy designers who magically turn flowers, candy wrappers and (to quote Tim) flotsam & jetsam into lovely fashions is the reason we watch.