Project Runway

 Review

Common Sense Media says

Check this one out before sharing with fashion-crazed teens.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Kids say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this popular reality contest includes scenes in which models are fitted into skimpy clothes. Designers drink and smoke and use mild profanity like "hell." The contestants are all motivated and creative, but they can also be two-faced and gossipy about their fellow competitors. Instead of focusing on the creative process, the show tends to highlight prima donna personalities and unprofessional behavior.

  • The show is a contest, and there's some unsportsmanlike behavior -- which the cameras tend to linger on. But you can also take away positive messages about working hard and being creative.
  • While the contestants certainly aren't uniformly well behaved or nice to each other, they all try very hard to win and demonstrate resourcefulness and creativity as they do so.
  • Not applicable.
  • Models are seen being fitted in outfits that can be very skimpy (including lingerie).
  • Occasional profanity such as "hell" or references to sex.
  • Sponsors' products are mentioned frequently. Sponsors have included TRESemme, Garnier, Bluefly.com, Piper Lime, Macy's, and Elle and Marie Claire magazines.
  • Designers are seen drinking and smoking cigarettes.

What's the story?

In PROJECT RUNWAY, more than a dozen designers -- ranging from instructors at fashion schools to small-time designers with their own businesses to very young recent grads -- compete in weekly design challenges. The finalists then create their own lines to present at New York's Fashion Week. The winner gets money, a magazine fashion spread, and other prizes. Hostess/executive producer Heidi Klum meets with the designers when their challenges are announced and on the runway when their pieces are judged by famous designers, magazine fashion editors, and other celebrity guests. Tim Gunn, head of the Parsons School for Design, is the liaison to the designers and guides them through their challenges.


Is it any good?

 

Watching the designers create their pieces in incredibly short amounts of time with small budgets -- and usually in the midst of hysteria a-- is awe-inspiring. Unfortunately, Project Runway doesn't really linger on the design process (sketching, selecting fabric and materials, cutting, pinning, measuring, sewing, detailing). Instead, the cameras tend to focus on the drama between the contestants' over-achieving, arrogant personalities as the designers scramble to finish their challenges (and cut each other down). Then viewers watch as the competitors' unique designs are displayed on the super-thin bodies of aspiring models. Is this what we want teens to be thinking is real?

It's easy to get sucked into this admittedly addictive show. For kids serious about design, it offers a peek into the nasty side of the fashion industry -- what's behind the glitz and glitter and bling. But beware: This show is a very slippery slope and hard to turn off once you start.


Explore, discuss, enjoy

  • Families can talk about the unglamorous side of the fashion world. How much education, hard work, and risk does it take to become a designer?

  • Does being a worthy competitor mean foregoing any gestures of cooperation?


This review of Project Runway was written by
Kid, 12 years old
October 7, 2009
 
I /lovee/ Project Runway, it reallyy is a great show. there's a littlee bit of languagee, but it's mildd. i would ratee this on for 11 and upppp x]

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Teen, 13 years old
July 19, 2009
 
:D
It's a GREAT show. I love Project Runway. I've gotten most of my friends to watch it with me so we can discuss what we watched the next day. My only concern is the language, as the designers on the show are pretty much drama queens/kings. But honestly, I wouldn't let that stop anyone from watching this movie. It is great.
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Kid, 12 years old
February 17, 2010
 
ON for 12+
This is the best show ever!!!! The designers can be a little mean to each other sometimes, though.
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Kid, 11 years old
April 9, 2010
 
Best for preteens & up
I always watch this and think that it's awesome.

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Teen, 13 years old
November 18, 2009
 
Great reality show
This show is amazing and addicting to watch. I love the different designs that walk down the runway. There is some minor profanity contestants use, and there is definitely a lot of consumerism (ex. Macy's, bluefly*, Tresemme, Marie Claire, etc.)
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Teen, 13 years old
January 19, 2009
 
BEST SHOW any ages(:
seriously, i love love love this show ! so does my little sister ! it's GREAT !

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Teen, 17 years old
July 11, 2009
 
Younger viewers, such as 12 and under may not enjoy, or find it a tad boring.
I love this TV show, and it's great for budding designers. While it is reality tv, and they do show the "Drama" the designs, challanges, and clothes are really quite good to watch. This also may provide a learning experience for people who wish to become designers. The contestants often set good role model examples (such as being yourself), and show off their creativity. A couple words of warning: they do show the models stripping, but it's all blurred out, and the other thing is that in the 2nd seasons, they somehow forgot to bleep out Santiono Rice's swearing, on the last disk. I was sitting and watching it happily, and almost every time he was interviewed, he somehow managed to slip in a swear word they didn't bother to bleep out!! It was quite shocking, since they always catch that sort of thing, just a heads up.... But this is over-all a delightful show, and actually one the whole family can enjoy.
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Kid, 12 years old
April 9, 2008
 
Fantastic Show!
It is really appropriate for most ages. There's a little bit of cursing, but probably nothing your kid hasn't heard before. It is entertaining, too.

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Teen, 14 years old
May 31, 2010
 
Ehhhh...
Its good for people who want to one day be in the fashion agency, but the show includes a lot of skimpy outfits, cursing, and I don't think the contestants are good role models. Oh, also there is drinking.
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Adult
May 7, 2011
 
The Show Needs to Keep It's Language and Content Clean and Safe for All Audiences.
On 5/7/2011, Project Runway was shown on a U.S. TV station. In one episode, a woman contestant points her open scissors at the camera, and says something like: "In the next competition, I'm gonna cut his little_____ off." The subject that she is pretending to destroy is an area of another contestant's body. Her language and subject matter, is language that is not appropriate for kids under 17. The censors of this show should not have allowed kind of language on the show. Language like that is only appropriate for: people over 17, or for shows that have a rating of: adult, 17+, or R or not rated/X rated/rated Mature. I like the show, it is a show that is good at showing people in the fashion industry. The show also has fun competitions, but I feel that we need to keep [TV language and TV content appropriate], on TV shows that are rated and designed for all audiences, and TV shows that are rated for kids who are 16 and under.
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This review of Project Runway was written by
TV rating:TV-14
Network:Bravo
Cast:Heidi Klum, Tim Gunn
Genre:Reality TV

This review of Project Runway was written by
 

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