by Meeta Agrawal
The old Project Runway adage proves true: one minute you’re in, the next you’re out — only this time, it’s the judges being aufed. Jennifer Lopez has long been booked as the guest judge for this season’s runway finale (an honor that Victoria Beckham held last season), but at this morning’s taping at New York’s Bryant Park, host Heidi Klum announced that J. Lo has canceled at the last minute due to a foot injury. Faced with filling the spot in a day’s time, the show has turned to co-host Tim Gunn to fill the vacated judge’s chair. Amazingly, it’ll be the first time in five seasons that the workroom mentor has a place on the judging panel. “It was a thrill and an honor,” Gunn said of his appointment, adding that he promises to be unbiased.
addCredit(“Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images”)
Hooray! I think Tim would have much more valuable things to say than J. Lo. Does anyone really care about J. Lo anyway?
that’s too bad. i was looking forward to hearing from her. what has happened to her sweetface line btw?
I don’t know about this one…I like Tim being the benevolent mentor and not stepping in to judge. He offers a number of suggestions and critiques to the designers, particularly when he does the hometown visits to the finalists. I’m not sure that he can put that aside and judge the collections strictly from what comes down the runway. Oh well, this season has already been a disaster.
And apparently all 6 of the remaining finalists got to present a collection of 10 pieces, so no spoilers there!
Wow! I can’t wait to hear what Tim has to say about the collections. I always enjoy his comments to the designers in the workroom. He’s a much better choice than J. Lo.
Ummm…. in the middle of fashion week they couldn’t find ANY other famous fashion icon to replace J.Lo?? That seems absurd. I love Tim, but he’s not a judge, he’s a mentor. His status on the show will be forever changed by this move.
I haven’t seen a single comment on any site that follows Project Runway that anyone is disappointed that JLo won’t be there. People don’t like her, and she was a terrible choice to begin with. –I LOVE Tim Gunn and know he will do a fantastic job, but I do agree with the above comments that it’s nicer to have Tim as the unbiased mentor.
Isn’t the last judge usually reserved for a fashion icon? So why would they have even approached Jennifer Lopez in the first place? She is by no means a fashion icon. I mean, if Sarah Jessica Parker wasn’t on their shortlist for final judge, then there should be no way in hell J.Lo should be. I would love for the Olsens (either both or MK or A individually) to be guest judges. Please get Narciso Rodriguez next season!!! No one knows how to dress women beautifully moreso than him.
Wait. You don’t consider J. Lo to be a fashion icon, but you DO consider the OLSEN TWINS to be fashion icons??!? Yeeks.
Yes! I would sooooo much rather hear Tim Gunn’s opinion than that twat J-Hole! Yes, yes, yes!!! He & Michael Coors together on the judges panel=double-snarky-fabulous!!!
a FOOT injury???? All the judges physically do is sit in a chair and judge. Noone asked her to dance or anything. What a lame excuse. I kinda agree with the fact that Tim is more of a mentor but I’m sure he can put aside his personal feelings for each candidate to judge fairly.
Nikki, you seriously consider the Olsen twins, the fashion hobos, to be fashion icons over J.Lo? My God, I would hate to see what you wear on a night out.
J.Lo is by no means the “best” choice but she’s much better than those twins you so adore… yuck!!
Oh thank god! Tim Gunn has long deserved to be on the judges panel.
OK I like JLo well enough (and agree that a foot injury is a LAME-O excuse) but am even HAPPIER that Tim Gunn is the One. The Best Judge Ever. I certainly do think he can be impartial and his taste level is impeccable. Yea–a saving grace to this crappy season of my favorite show.
Ok… I guess ill be the only pro JLO person on this board. With that being said, I was looking forward to her being on the show. Do I think she is a fashion icon? Actually yes. Herers why: Im sure some designers practiacally break their necks trying to get JLO in their garments ( I love/hate that the show makes me refer to “clothes” as “garments” now) for whatever red carpet,event,etc. She’s an influence with an imense following. Is she the chicest? No, but ask your neighbor who she is and theyll know. Ask them who Anna Wintour is and theyll probably have no idea. Sometimes fashion is just as much about accesibility as it is aspirational.