The Office -Recap Season 3, Episode 2 - "The Convention"

Still on a high from The Office being back....here is some Gaydar from last week.

What did we love about this new episode?

Michael and Dwight head off to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for a paper convention. Jim and his new boss, Josh, are also there - yay a reunion!!!!

Before Micheal heads off to the convention he asks Pam to order him a Chinese Baby. Pam tells him there is a long wait and it is expensive. He then asks her to get a cheaper baby. Pam just gives the "are you kidding me" stare to the camera.

We then find out that Kelly set Pam up with her neighbor (a cartoonist) - and there will be a double date with Kelly/Ryan and Pam/Alan. During dinner Kelly is feeding Ryan french fries and he looks like he is in hell. Why is he still dating her? Pam didn't think the date was a love match...could it have been the outdated "freedom fries" cartoon?

The office has a few words of advice for Pam - Michael tells Pam to unbutton her top button and "let those things breathe a little" - Phyllis tells Pam she should order the most expensive thing on the menu to show him she is worth it, and Stanley says "then you will have to put out" and Phyliss is like, yea that's true.

Meanwhile, little hints are dropped that Toby has a thing for Pam. He tries to make his move, but chickens out.

Back at the convention - Michael is collecting SWAG ("stuff we all get") and says he furnished his house with SWAG. He is also having too much fun with a life sized palm pilot/cell phone. He also spreading word of the party he wants to have later on and somehow manages to set up a deal with Hammermill paper - so I guess Michael actually does work?

Michael is really annoyed that Jim likes his new boss Josh and gets into competition with him. He almost writes off his entire friendship with Jim...

We also find out Angela (Dwight's secret girlfriend) came to the convention also and waited for Dwight, and while Jim was trying to play a prank on Dwight he walked in on Angela naked in Dwight's hotel room and assumed she was a hooker....and you know he wanted to call Pam about that one!

Michael tries to set up a party in room 308 (his hotel room). He doesn't get much of a response, but Jim ends up coming to the party and relaxing Michael's fears that he left Scranton because of Michael. He tells Michael it was because of Pam and now Michael wants to tell Pam...I bet we will see that in a later episode. Michael also tells Jim he should talk to Roy (Pam's ex) because he would be able to relate.

The show ends with Dwight and Michael turning on the blacklight for the party and you see stains everywhere...ewwww.....

Quote

"Don't be afraid of the space between your dreams and reality. If you can dream it, you can make it so."
- Belva Davis

Project Runway - Season 3 - Episode 11 - What the Elle?

Did you know...

Jeffrey is a romantic
Uli talks in the third person
The produers of Project Runway are sneaky little buggers
That the Wall Street Journal has a fashion section
Laura is tired of living
Michael gets designer's block (it happens to even the best)
There was a secret episode last week (heheheh - sorry to all those who fell for this)

...and the designers might have just lost their minds.

That's right folks - this week we learned something new about everyone on this show. Project Runway - always keeping it fresh!

We start the show this week with a big shake up - a model switch!! Uli took Nazri!!
Michael declared Uli's death at this point - but who wouldn't - it's Nazri! The girl could make anyone win.

So after a few curse words were exchanged, the designers are sent to Nina Garcia's office at Elle Magazine to find out about their challenge.

The designers are given absolute freedom in this challenge. They must create a design which expresses their designing point of view and communicate some story. The designers are also told that they must pick 3 words to describe their point of view which connect to the design. These three words will be given in right before it is time to judge on the runway.

(hey guys don't look so excited)

They are given $250 and 2 days to make it work. A bunch of description words are thrown around.

Romantic.

Confused.


Surprised.

Tired.

(yes I am looking at you Mrs. Bennett)

Tim comes around to check in on the designers. He also comes with another surprise. The winner of this challenge will have their outfit photographed by someone famous (I think someone named Jill Bensimone?? Gilles Bensimon) and be printed in Elle Magazine on its First Look Page.

What a range of emotions.

The designers are told that they will also be taking pictures of their designs out on the streets of Manhattan. Oh, and their time is cut in half now. Only 5 hours to complete their outfits.

Did I mention Uli just ripped up her dress and started from scratch and Michael just barely got a sketch down on paper?

I guess that face makes more sense now.

So the designers get to work and magically are able to finish their designs in time. They take out the girls and start shooting

Because I am not a screencap queen I wasn't able to show you folks Nazri on the street - living life - having fun - and playing with random musicians in the subway. Take my word for it - she looked great. (By the way - thank you Elad for hooking it up with these photos!) The Project Rungay boys got a picture of it - check it out here.

Meanwhile - Laura was having some trouble working an elevator. Only makes sense when she is so accustomed to an elevator man taking care of this for her.

So enough of this boring stuff - let's get to the designs already!!!! The judges are Heidi, Michael Kors, Nina Garcia and Teri Agins (lead fashion writer for the Wall Street Journal)

Uli - WINNER!!!!

Fun, Life, Adventure

(I wear my sunglasses at night)

Uli took her model out to Times Sq. and down to the subway to show a woman who is having fun and living life. The judges LOVED it. They said it looked Uli but still managed to surprise them, which was the exact goal of this challenge. Who knew that all she had to do was shorten the dress to win the challenge!

Laura

Glamour, Confidence, Elegance


(yes that is my ribcage, again)

Laura wanted to show a girl who is confident enough to hail a cab. She also wanted to show someone confident enough to show her breast plate to the world. I believe Michael Kors said he was going to kill himself if he saw another bare neck from Laura. Finally they see what we have been saying all season! The judges said that they were not surprised and although this very cocktail dress is Laura's thing, they need more variety and less ribs.

Jeffrey

Provocative, Irreverence, Romantic


(I am about to creep you out by now being Romantic)

I do not think I have ever heard the word "romantic" used so many times ever in my life. It annoyed me and creeped me out - almost as much as Vincent getting off on everything. Jeffrey took his model to Central Park (because, you know, it's romantic) and wanted to give the dress an heirloom feel. I have no clue what is "irreverant" or "provocative" about this dress. The judges don't buy any of it. They used my favorite word to describe it - dowdy. Heidi said it reminded her of a milkmaid. Jeffrey, all this romance just isn't you, stick to what you know best, hating and shit talking!

Michael

Sexiness, Sensuality, Sultry


(I am at home waiting for your call - 1800 MKs GIRL)

I realized something tonight. Michael is amazing and I love him, but he is immature when it comes to his designs and point of view. The fact that he used an alliteration where all three words practically meant the same thing said to me that he just wants his designs to be hot - but is that the next big thing in fashion, or is that consumerism? I still love his work and if he made anything that would fit me I would go out and buy it, but I am not setting trends and changing the way people think about clothes.

Michael took his model to Atlas because he wanted that "lounge" feel. I guess Atlas has some nice interior design, but he is in NYC, why didn't he just bring her to an ultra modern lounge? Uli said Michael's picture and dress looked like it belonged in a sex ad. Well, he was going for that "sexy" look. The Judges were not happy. They pointed out that gowns are not his forté and that they expected more from him. I think it all comes back to the fact that he is still not mature enough as a designer to know his asthetic and what he does well. I think with time he will only get better, which is great because if we love what he does now can you imagine what he will put out in the future?

So now that we know who is in, don't you wanna know who is out?

NOBODY!!!

The producers decided to throw in one last surprise and let all 4 designers into fashion week! Hoooray!!! We don't have to choose!!!! No more speculation over who is the decoy. All four lines (which we have already had a peek at) will be judged and soon we will have a winner to Season 3 of Project Runway!

i'm alive!

hey you loyal gtm readers, i just wanted to pop in and say a quick hello to everyone. i'm sorry for having dropped this blog over the past few months, but most of you know why -- bar exam studying, post bar-exam depression, engagement party planning and now a new job! i'm actually writing this quick blog post from work. i'll add a photo collage this evening to correspond with some of the awesome news i've received over the past few weeks...until then, hope everyone's doing well!

Quote

"It's a shallow life that doesn't give a person a few scars."
- Garrison Keillor

Another Project Runway Scandal?

*Warning Possible Spoiler*

Earlier this season Project Runway was rocked with the Keith Michael scandal which eventually got him "immediately dismissed" from the show. Now we have a new scandal on our hands...

Did Jeffrey cheat????

According to New York Magazine it all went down like this...

Jeffrey Sebelia is working at home on his line for Olympus Fashion Week when Tim Gunn makes his appearance at Jeffrey's home to do the thing Tim does best...tell the designer to make it work!

Each season, right before fashion week, Tim Gunn visits each of the final designers to talk about their lines, give criticism, and help put them in the right direction. He also gives the viewers a little glimpse into the real life of the designer, where they live, their family and friends, and what they really look and act like when they are not under the constant lights of reality TV.

But back to the scandal...

Tim apparently told Jeffrey that he still had a lot of work to do, which I think was about 3 weeks before fashion week.

(hmmm...make it work?)

Well, word travels quickly among the mommies....Jeffrey's mom and Laura's mom had become "friends" after the mommy episode, and Jeffrey's mom told Laura's mom what Tim said. Of course Laura's mom got back to Laura and told her that Jeffrey still had a lot of work to do before fashion week (can you imagine the little party that happened after Laura heard that?)

(I heard it through the grapevine)

Anyway...after Olympus Fashion week Laura was surprised to see Jeffrey's line completely finished so she went to the producers and accused Jeffrey of outsourcing his work to get it done in time for Fashion Week (and although Tim says "make it work" outsourcing is a big NO NO on Project Runway)

Tim Gunn has been quoted saying “His collection was very ambitious, I wasn’t born yesterday.” He also confirmed that Bravo has done a full investigation but the results are not allowed to be shared at this time.

So now the backlash....of course via MYSPACE - Blogging Project Runway reports that Jeffrey posted this on the comments section of Erica's (a Project Runway fan) Myspace Page:

Hey!!! Thanks for the concern, but all I have to say is be carefull of what you read and also of what is presented in the press. Those people take any information they get(usually unfounded rumors) and just print them in order to bolster their own readership with no regard to the person they might be slandering. They are just doing their job as bottom feeding, sludge dredging , no-life having journalists. Not all are like that. In fact a credible journalist might fact check and actually consult all parties before wrecklessly printing such an accusation. Beleive me, there have been other possible tabloid stories that could have been printed along they way, but those people thought about their responsibility and decided not to pollute people just for their sensationalism. As a reader, I would encourage you to write new York magazine and ask them to clarify their sources, and challenge them to print the motivation for their actions. Maybe because I'm not a rich, pregnant social climber from New York...everything can be subjective.

Yea, you gotta love Myspace. Jeffrey's Myspace doesn't have any reference to this comment...now to figure out Erica's page out of Jeffrey's 7000+ friends...

So yes there is a big spoiler in there if you didn't catch it...Jeffrey is likely one of the final 3 designers since he got the visit from Tim (meaning he is not a decoy. but is there a decoy this year, we don't know?? does Tim visit everyone? we don't know that either.)

What do you think? Would Jeffrey do something that is so clearly against the rules? I don't want to believe something like this has happened...but maybe it is a big tabloid lie....but that is what many people said after Keith Michael's scandal was all over the internet...hmmmmm. Hopefully we will find out in a few weeks, when Bravo airs the final episode on October 18.

Why Is The Sky Blue?

This morning I came across this blog post about 6 Commonly Believed Things That Are Wrong.

I do not know this person's background to know how they know what is true or not (it says they are a student at Stanford, which means they could be in their early 20's and be a know it all type) - but either way, the person has made some good points so check it out.

The 6 Commonly Believed Things That Are Wrong:
1. Centrifugal force
2. The sky is blue because of the ocean or space.
3. Extra Dimensions
4. Nuclear power plants can explode like a bomb
5. Microwave ovens (or other electronics) can cause cancer
6. Medieval people thought the world was flat

I read in the comments of Digg a funny #7

7. Blogs are a reliable source of information.

(Thanks Digg)

Quote

"The beginning is always today."
- Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley

Why Did We Go To Lollapalooza...

...when all the good bands are coming to Florida!!!!

Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Pompano Beach, Club Cinema -October 12, 2006

Do Make Say Think opening for Broken Social Scene
Ft. Lauderdale, Culture Room - November 1, 2006

Ted Leo & The Pharmacists opening for Death Cab for Cutie
Bank Atlantic/University of Miami Convocation Center - November 20, 2006

I made it my new life goal to see Broken Social Scene again after we saw them at Lollapalooza in Chicago *See below*- and my wish came true! They are coming to my backyard!!! Their show was transcendent (yes I said it) and to see them play a set longer than 45 minutes is going to kick ass.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs are not one of my top bands - but Pinc loves them - so we are totally there!
Do Make Say Think is also not on my list - but Elad is all about them - and they are playing with freaking Broken Social Scene - HELLOOOOOO!!!!!

And when I heard Death Cab was coming to town again of course I was excited - but then hearing Ted Leo was opening - that is just having my cake and eating it too. Ted Leo has been one of my favorites for the past 2 years - fun music that causes you to get speeding tickets! And because Pinc is so "iron fist" about getting concert tickets - we were first on the virtual internet line and got great seats!

Expect a bunch of concert reviews and gushing over Ben Gibbard :)

*Check out more Lollapalooz here*:
Pinc's review of Lollapalooza
Getting to Maybe's picture post of Lollapalooza

Quote

"Let's have some new cliches."
Samuel Goldwyn

Postsecret

Check out more at Postsecret.

The Office - Season 3 - Gay Witch Hunt

How funny was last night's episode? I am so happy this show is back!!!!

A mini-recap: Michael calls Oscar a "faggy" and immediately a complaint is made and we find out that Oscar is really gay. So the entire episode is about the office coming to terms with that. First they are in shock, then they laugh about it, then they fear it, and then they embrace it. And it all ends with a kiss!!!! And Oscar gets a sweet 3 month paid vacation and use of the company car so he won't sue!!!

On top of that, Jim has started working in the new office in Stamford and his new coworkers are very serious workers. He tries to pull the calculator in the jello stunt on one of them (played by Ed Helms) and there was a violent reaction to that. His new coworkers just don't get him.

We also find out that Pam broke off her engagement and she is living alone now - and her ex is vowing to win her back!!! Does Jim know all of this???

So let's discuss...what were your favorite parts of last night's episode?

Quote

"The best car safety device is a rear-view mirror with a cop in it."
- Dudley Moore

Project Runway - Season 3 - The Secret Episode

How crazy was tonight? I totally expected to watch last week's episode (Black and White) for a 2nd time and Bravo surprised me with a Secret Episode!!!! And so much punch to this special....let's get to it!

First the four designers, Uli, Jeffrey, Michael and Laura, are sleeping in Atlas and are woken up by a little "ding dong" at the door. Who is it? Tim Gunn of course!!!

"Deee-Zine-Errs, I am here to take you to your next challenge. Get changed and let's go!"

The designers are taken to the runway and are first told they will not be told their new challenge just yet. First they have some special guests to announce.

OH NO!!! NOT ANGELA AND VINCENT AGAIN!!!

And slowly they come out....

New York!

Oh wait, that is the wrong show.

And here they come....

Austin

Jay

Santino

Andrae

Nick

Wendy

Shetangy (aka Zulema)

Daniel Vosovik

Daniel Franco

And Starr

(sound of screeching tires - who is Starr?)

The designers are told that Bravo has been doing a poll all season of what designers the fans want back from prior seasons- and these were the top 10 designers.

The entire group is shocked. I mean how did Starr get picked? Wouldn't someone like Robert or Kara Saun get picked over Starr?

The designers are brought back to the workroom to be told their next challenge...

The designers have to make a bathing suit that represents where they are from. That means the colors, fabric, style, all around image reflect the city or place the designer's come from. FINALLY AN ULI CHALLENGE!!!!!

Michael tells everyone he knows how to represent where he is from....ATL!!!

So the designers get 10 minutes to sketch and 15 dollars to spend at Mood. $15??? How is that possible? Well they are only making bathingsuits - so I guess they don't need as much fabric?

The designers start to get to work....

And the room is abuzz....how did Starr win her way back onto the show????

Immediately Santino and Jeffrey take their corner and start talking smack about the other designers. Santino tells Jeffrey he heard Starr paid her way back into the show.

Nick and Daniel Vosovik take their corner of the room. They start giving eyes around the room...especially at Michael! Nick asks Daniel who that random girl is on the other side of the room.

Daniel tells Nick her name is Starr and he heard she rigged the voting to get back on the show!

Santino pulls Andrae over and asks him if he heard about Starr???

Andrae has no clue who she is. Santino then tells Andrae that Starr slept her way back on the show!

Andrae tells Nick...and Nick is very impressed!

Meanwhile....Wendy is hard at work and cannot STAND all the talking and wispering around the room...she automatically assumes everyone is talking about her.

She turns and starts screaming!!!! WOW this workroom is tense!!!! It even made Jay cry a little bit :( And Zulema was all "Jay you need to finish your outfit! I don't care if you have to cut and cry..."

While the designs are under way Daniel Franco is going around checking out the competition

He found his way over to Laura...let's just say Laura wasn't happy with Daniel being so close to her fabulousness...and she gave him a little knee in the head - which impressed Nick very much!

Finally the designs are done and still no clue how Starr got back on the show!!!! We are sent to the runway and we find out who the judges are:

Guest Judge - Tim Gunn!!!!

How did that happen? I have been waiting for the day Tim would be a guest judge!!!

And here is the runway:

Winner - Uli!!!!

The judges said that Uli really knew how to represent Miami and make a bathing suit to fit the style and attitude that Miami gives off. Yellow like the bright sun with plenty of room for silocone!

Safe - Jay

Jay said he had a hard time figuiring out where he is from. We all know he grew up in a small town but he has been in NY for such a long time now that he had to represent that city. The Judges didn't care what he said - he won Season 1 so anything he does is wonderful!

Starr

Starr explained that she came from Planet Xando. The Judges were like, who are you again?

Daniel F

Daniel started talking about bringing the sexy back. Then he confessed his love for Starr. The whole room was very confused. Confused enough to forget to judge on his outfit.

Daniel V

Daniel said he feels he can't represent one place because he has traveled so much and so he represented an international feel. The Judges wondered why he didn't win Season 2 and automatically kept him in just for being so cute.

Zulema

Shetangy talked about coming from 1972. She didn't realize the challenge was about a city - she thought they said time zone. Then she asked for the Judges to do a walk off. Yes A MOTHER FUCKING WALK OFF! The Judges just looked at her like she was nuts and moved on.

Santino

Santino said he is representing his own world - Santino World. The World where he won Project Runway and fairies and elves ruled the world. Somehow the Judges loved it.

Austin


Austin talked about goddesses and ancient Greece. When Nina called him out for not being from ancient Greece he broke into tears and said this is all he knows how to design. The Judges were just happy to see tears on the runway.

Andrae

Andrae wanted to convey Zorro and said he has his roots in Latin America. He then went on a 20 minute rant about how important heritage is and how happy he was to be back on the show and how confused he was to see Starr there and how sad it was that he wasn't closer friends with the designers still and how he has a new line coming out next fall...eventually the cameras ran out of film and had to cut and move onto the next designer.

Nick

Nick talked about how Paris Hilton called him and was all like "Nick make me an outfit" and so he didn't have time to make a bathingsuit, so he is showing this outfit instead. The Judges understood this whole episode was just a cheap shot to get extra ratings and mentioning Paris Hilton's name might do that - so they were happy.

Wendy

Wendy talked about how it was just a party to be back on the show and she wanted her design to reflect that. Then her model's bathingsuit desintegrated and the balloons flew away. It was very embarassing but Wendy didn't blink an eye at it.

Jeffrey

Jeffrey talked about Southern California girls and polka dots. He was inspired by the beach boys and Gwen Stefani. Michael Kors said this is so goth and he didn't see Gwen at all. Nina was like what are you talking about, Michael? And thus, we had our first Judge cat-fight.

Michael

Michael got up and just raised the roof and shouted ATL ATL!!! The Judges were like, how does he do it everyweek? We love it!!!

Laura

Laura told the Judges that she would never DARE wear a bathingsuit. If she would even lower herself to sitting at the country club's pool deck should would be appropriately attired. That said, she used a waterproof stretchy fabric just in case one of her 15 kids splashed her.

By default Starr lost because nobody could figure out how she got on the show. We were then given a little help from Project Runway's producer. He admitted a screw up on Bravo's website and said that all of Kara Saun's votes were going to Starr by mistake because of some weird arrows and check box system.

In the end since none of the 4 designers from Season 3 were cut, they all moved onto Olympus Fashion Week and all the special guest designers were sent back to their post-reality show lives.

And now you all know how I spent my evening without Project Runway.