Project Runway season 8

[Project Runway - 'Finale, Part 1']

With only a week to go before the finale of 'Project Runway' the contestants fought for positions. Heidi announced that they had $9,000 and six weeks to create a ten-piece collection. Clearly it was not enough time or money for these contestants to create anything breathtaking or amazing.

While Season Six had the same budget, those designers had a lot more time to think about their collections. These contestants needed time to go back and think about things longer. Andy had the biggest handicap because the fabrics he ordered arrived three weeks into his six-week process. Some of Tim's visits seemed too last-minute, where you couldn't save a sinking ship.

I finally appreciated the evolution of Gretchen throughout the season. While her clothes maintained the hippy/granola aesthetic, her bitchy and aggressive nature covered up the fact that she was having trouble at home. She looked like she was closer to the other finalists than she did in the first few episodes, and she was all hugs at the end of the episode.

['Project Runway' - 'There's a Pattern Here']

'Project Runway' is hateful for making the most deceptive commercial previews. For a good week, they have been toting this "Someone Will Break the Rules" storyline. So what happened this week? Nothing! It's in the preview for next week. Again.

The challenge was a re-hash of last season's HP challenge where the contestants got to design their own textile patterns. Sadly most of the outfits paled in comparison to Seth Aaron's jacket or Emilio's skirt. This season the contestants had to use childhood memories as their inspiration.

['Project Runway' - 'Race to the Finish']

Why did Heidi even show up at the beginning of 'Project Runway'? The contestants haven't done a model swap in weeks and she hasn't announced a challenge in weeks, leaving all the bitch-work for Tim. It's not like she was pregnant with her fourteenth child.

Anyway, with the help of always-available Collier Strong, Tim announced a challenge where the contestants had to make a high fashion dress that would be feature in a two-page advertorial.

Similar to a high-stakes challenge on 'Top Chef', the designers had the chance to win $20,000. It was a way to light a fire under them because the designs have been getting sleepier and sleepier as the episodes pass by. As last week's winner Mondo got to choose first, and then Tim pulled out the rest of the names.

It's time for another season of fashion fun with Heidi Klum, Tim Gunn, Michael Kors and Nina Garcia, and when 'Project Runway' kicks off its eighth season on Thu., July 29 (9PM ET, Lifetime), fans will notice a major change: Each episode is now 90-minutes long.