Last night, Bravo aired part one of the Project Runway season finale. The final four (Korto, Jerell, Kenley and Leanne) were working hard on their collections in their hometowns when Tim Gunn stopped by to pay them visits and, of course, offer his critiques.

Korto plays with her drum partner for Tim and her friends

This season is a little different, as the four finalists had to construct a wedding gown as part of their collection, something no one was excited about. Arriving back in New York for the final week of preparation, Tim told them they also would have to design a bridesmaid's dress to accompany the bridal gown, and that was what they would be judged on to find out who would be Aufed and which final three would be showing at Bryant Park.

From left to right: Kenley, Leanne, Korto, Jerell

Poor Jerell, the lonely only guy was let go based on his overdone bridal gown and shoddy bridesmaid's dress, leaving Korto, Kenley and Leanne to compete at Fashion Week for the chance to win Project Runway's wonderful prizes.Leanne shows off her bridal gown

In the past four seasons, there has only been one female winner, Season 2’s Chloe Dao. Each previous finale has included at least one male (quite often two), so Season 5 is an anomaly of sorts. Korto, Kenley and Leanne all have very distinct styles that will make it difficult on the judges in next week's conclusion.

Who will win? Will it be Leanne, Portland's architecturally inclined designer of chic wear; Korto from Arkansas, who brings her African influences into beautifully constructed garments; or Kenley from Brooklyn, the woman everyone loves to hate but can still somehow pull off a cute and wearable dress? … continue reading

Long weekends are good for several things, like catching up on AfterEllen.com content you might have missed, or perhaps taking advantage of a last day at the lake before it starts getting too cold. Or, you can be completely lazy because you have the right to, and watch consecutive episodes of Project Runway on Bravo.

Television marathons are a genius invention that allows you to catch up on any shows you might have missed. Even if you are lucky enough to have TiVo, it's still way more fun to veg out and let the cable box do all the work while you have one channel on all day. And hey, maybe you've seen every episode of Army Wives already, but you've never once checked out CSI: Miami. What better way to see if you'd be into the show than to watch from the beginning? Labor Day was made for this type of awesomeness.

Here's what you can find on television all day today: … continue reading

CSI: Miami (A&E)
Project Runway (Bravo)
That 70’s Show (FX)

Proving once again that it is the gayest channel on television, Bravo will feature Sandra Bernhard as a guest judge on tonight's Project Runway.

The episode is titled "Bright Lights, Big City," and the contestants will be using New York City as their muse to design an outfit for the out singer/actress/author/comic. I'm not sure how much Bernhard knows about fashion, but she's a master of biting critique, and that's exactly what I like in a reality television judge.

The episode airs at 9 p.m. EST. Afterward, viewers can chat live online with Bernhard at BravoTV.com. (In fact, you can chat live online while watching out hairstylist Dee on Bravo's Shear Genius. Gay TV, I'm telling you.) … continue reading

I'm a sucker for Bravo shows like Project Runway and Work Out. The cable network has a way with reality television that is just ultra dramatic and ultra gay, but in a non-sleazy way. So when they announced they were joining the latest trend of having their very own awards show, it piqued my interest. And with Kathy Griffin as the host, it seemed that the occasion would be a must-see, for the possibility of a Jackie Warner joke if nothing else.

Like most other awards shows, the A-list Awards won't be aired live, so while it taped last night in New York City, we won't get to watch who wins until June 12. But I happen to enjoy simple spoilers that don't give too much away, such as who came, what they wore, and what I can expect when it comes on in a couple of weeks. (One thing I did notice: no Jackie Warner in sight! Isn't this in her contract with Bravo? Someone, look into this.)

The categories for the show are a little different than most, and include A-List TV Show, A-List Drama King, A-List Fashion, and A-List Chef. And it's not all Bravo shows and their kin nominated, so it doesn't appear to be all one-sided (yet – we still don't know any of the winners). Some of the nominees graced the red carpet and the stage of the Hammerstein Ballroom last night. Most of them looked their best, including: … continue reading

Margaret Cho

Recently the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences announced that it has approved a new Emmy Award category for Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program. The competitive shoe will be on the other foot when the hosts battle it out with each other at the 2008 Emmy Awards. The category is open to hosts only so "reactive participants or judges" are not eligible to receive the award (sorry, Paula Abdul.)

Hosting is no easy task: each week these women help us wade through the competitive waters of posing, food plating, dating and hem lines. Let’s hope that some of these ladies have a chance at Emmy gold when they go up against some of the already assumed male nominees (I’m talking to you, Seacrest.)

Padma Lakshmi

Cookbook author, model, recent Hot 100 listmaker, and an ambassador for the United Nations Development Fund for Women: what is not to love about Padma Lakshmi? The TV host of Bravo’s Top Chef has the dutiful tasks of explaining elimination challenges and sitting at judges table critiquing the creations of talented chefs each week. A typical day for Padma may include discerning which tastes better: braised and grilled beef short ribs with mushrooms or a truffle and cognac cream macaroni and cheese? Talk about Sophie’s choice.

Padma balances respectability and likeability among the contestants despite having to be the one to deliver her signature send off to the ousted chefs each week: “Please pack your knives and go.” See, she even says “please.” What other host on reality TV has that kind etiquette? … continue reading

Bridget McManus and I recently stormed the red carpet at the annual HRC gala in Los Angeles where we spoke to some very lovely people.

Legendary friend-of-the-gays Judith Light humbled us with her thoughtful and dignified responses to our ridiculous questions. Then we caught up with Andrea Meyerson, being honored that night with the Local Hero Award for founding the lesbian social network “Women on a Roll." She introduced us to some of her friends, distracted us with a jaw-dropping gown, and once again confirmed my assertion that she is the lesbian Goldie Hawn.

We also chatted up some of our favorite reality tv gay boys, Christian Siriano (Project Runway) and Jesse Brune (Work Out). Christian told us all about the perks of his new found fame (free fast food!) and gave Bridget some very loving and gentle feedback about her outfit. (If you hear someone calling her a "hot mess," it was me, not Christian.)

Jesse Brune told us all about being raised by lesbians (we are only slightly more ferocious than wolves) and how the gay ladies in his life have taught him the joys of processing. We love him.

Finally, after some excruciating "will she or won't she talk to us" drama, Iron Chef America's openly gay chef Cat Cora — honored that night with the Hero for Visibility Award — talked to us about her favorite spices, what superhero powers she'd most like to possess, and teased us with a description of the hot new chef uniforms we'll be seeing this season on ICA.

She even gave a little shout out to AE. Soon after, I proposed to her and we were escorted off the property. … continue reading

Tonight on the CW, Cycle 10 of America's Next Top Model begins, with new judge Paulina Porizkova. The promo photos certainly are dazzling. Tyra scares me — in a totally good way, of course!

If that's not enough fashion for you, tune in for the first part of Project Runway's two-part season finale on Bravo. Count me among the Christian fans, even though I found him annoying at first. But I already miss Sweet P.

Later, on VHI, the Rags to Riches series profiles Macy Gray. (Check out the great Q&A with Gray on the VH1 site.)

And, of course, it's ladies' night on American Idol. Will Paula Abdul be coherent (like last night) or orbiting a distant planet (like last week)?

Last week, roc mentioned in her Project Runway preview that Marie, one of the models on Bravo's hit reality show, identifies as a lesbian on her MySpace page. AfterEllen.com asked Marie a few questions about her life and career.

AE: When did you come out?
Marie: I had known for quite a while, but I guess I finally came out when I was about 20 years old. I came out to my friends first, and then maybe over the course of a year I came out to my (surprisingly) very supportive family. … continue reading

Yay! Project Runway is back. Season 4 premieres tomorrow night. I must remind myself to breathe. Oh, how I love fashion and style! And Heidi Klum. And Tim Gunn.

But what really captures me is the thrill of watching creativity from its infancy to its final product. That's the essence of Bravo's most-watched show. Never mind that often the challenges tossed at the contestants cause creative brain freeze, and never mind that you wouldn't want even your worst enemy caught dead in some of the creations that actually win a particular challenge. It's the process that makes the show work, not just the final articles of clothing.

Of course, I can't make a Halloween ghost outfit out of a white cotton sheet, so the creative energy on this show is awe-inspiring for me. Style, fashion and diva attitudes are a luminous mix of entertainment! OK, fine: I also enjoy watching the models glide down the runway each week, but I swear that is merely a secondary reward. I swear. (By the way, one of the models, Marie, identifies as lesbian on her MySpace page.)

The 15 new contestants (8 men and 7 women) have been announced, and each sent three items down the runway with typical mixed results during a brief show in New York a few days ago. But I say the quality of design looks great. Take a look for yourself: … continue reading

There has never yet been an openly lesbian contestant on Bravo's Project Runway, although second-season designer Zulema Griffin has said that though she was openly gay while taping the show, producers edited out her queerness.

Well, here's a chance to kill two birds with one stone: get a lesbian or bisexual woman on Project Runway, and prove once and for all that lesbians have fashion sense! Yesterday Bravo announced they are kicking off a nationwide casting call for Season 4 of Project Runway in the following cities:

LOS ANGELES: Friday, March 30 – Sunday, April 1
CHICAGO: Tuesday, April 3
MIAMI: Thursday, April 5
NEW YORK CITY: Saturday, April 7 - Monday, April 9

For more information on what to bring with you, go here. And if you're lesbian or bi and are cast in Season 4, drop me a note asap! … continue reading