To my friends at Project Runway

Let's begin with the good stuff. This season is much, much better than the last one. That was Blahsville, from the mediocre contestants to the forgettable challenges (which I, quite literally, cannot even remember). Don't ever leave New York again, and never, ever go so long without Michael and Nina. This season's designers are generally much more talented and interesting, though the less said about this, the better.

However, there is one problem that is growing increasingly irritating. I don't know when PR became quite such a blatant shill for its sponsors, but it's getting genuinely embarrassing. Last week it was that smug looking stylist from Garnier Fructis introducing a challenge that had nothing to do with hair, spouting some claptrap about beauty and nature and ohmygodpleasemakeitstop. Last night, they dragged out Collier Strong from the L'Oreal Make-up salon to introduce a challenge that had nothing to do with make-up. Pretending the corporate stylists are there because they will be creating special hair/make-up looks for the challenge is risible, because they do that every week.

Seriously, I'm surprised Tim Gunn hasn't pitched himself off the roof of Atlas apartments by now, since he's the one who has to direct the models to the Garnier Fructis salon and the L'Oreal Paris make-up room and the Blue Fly accessories wall every damn week while trying to keep his dignity intact. We already have to sit through the commercials. Enough already.