Project Runway Television Program

Call it a catfight over a catwalk. Lifetime Networks said Monday that it had staged a coup by stitching up the rights to the popular reality show "Project Runway." But before the cable channel could take the wraps off, rival NBC Universal sued the show's producer, Weinstein Co., alleging breach of contract. NBC Universal owns Bravo, the cable channel that has been the home of the signature show hosted by supermodel Heidi Klum.

NEW YORK -- OK, "Project Runway" fans, it's official: You're in for a "PR"-heavy 2008. Bravo executives confirmed Tuesday that the hit fashion competition would return for its fifth season in July on that network before strutting over to its new home on Lifetime, on which Season 6 is scheduled to air in late November. The news was announced at Bravo's upfront breakfast, held at Craft, the Flatiron restaurant owned by "Top Chef's" Tom Colicchio.

"Project Runway's" bolt to Lifetime Networks has hit a snag. In a blow to the cable network and Weinstein Co., which produces the program, a New York state judge granted a preliminary injunction Friday to block the show's move to Lifetime -- at least for now. NBC Universal, which has run "Project Runway" on its Bravo channel for four years, sought the injunction by claiming that Weinstein Co.

WEDNESDAY'S episode of “Project Runway” begins the drawn-out reveal of who will be the next winner of the popular fashion design competition: Jerell, Kenley, Korto or Leanne. But the more pressing question hanging over the show is this: After "Runway's" fifth season concludes Oct. 15 on Bravo, how long will viewers have to wait for its return?

I knew I should be paying attention to "Project Runway" when, back in its second season, a friend -- a country-rock-rugged sort of fellow I had associated with baseball rants and guitar solos but until then never with anything relating to women's clothes -- started talking with some authority and passion about contestant Santino Rice one night at band practice. (For or against Santino Rice, I can't remember, but you were pretty much either for him or against him.

Why oh why are they messing with the formula? The season premiere of "Project Runway" consciously discards the typical first challenge of creating a garment out of everyday objects and instead offers the contestants a wealth of fabulous fabrics with which to reflect their core design self. OK, but it's nowhere near as fun as watching someone tear the leather off a divan. And the outfits are, not surprisingly, fairly predictable.

New York Even before the writers strike threatened to denude the TV schedule, it was clear that "Project Runway" was poised to conquer this season. To get a sense of the building anticipation among "Runway" fans about this week's return of the Bravo fashion competition, one had to spend only a few minutes perusing the forums on websites such as TelevisionWithoutPity.com. Under the topic "You know you're obsessed with "P.R." when . . . ," one avid watcher posted: "When you start planning your "P.

In just three seasons, Bravo's "Project Runway" has evolved from a TV trifle into an industry obsession. It was even recognized at last month's L.A. Fashion Awards as a "Fashion Inspiration." Scoring one of the 15 spots on the show can be a career booster (think Season 2 winner Jeffrey Sebelia), or . . . not so much (Season 1 winner Jay McCarroll is reportedly homeless).

They are more likely to be recognized at the local Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf now, but these "Project Runway" alumni are still struggling. In anticipation of the third season of the Bravo series, which begins Wednesday, we caught up with former contestants living in the L.A. area. John Wade, 25 Education: Cal State University Northridge Known on the show for: Being the first man out Home: Fairfax district Work: Assistant manager at Marc Jacobs in L.A. Celebrity client: Dreaming Favorite L.A.

FOR 14 weeks, the fledgling designers on Bravo's hit TV show "Project Runway" are fashion idols. Their creations -- stitched together in just a few hours, including meltdowns -- are studied by 3 million viewers as if they were the work of Karl Lagerfeld himself. They endure whiny models and broken sewing machines, insults from Nina Garcia of Elle magazine and designer Michael Kors, humiliating "challenges" that have them making gowns out of groceries or the clothes off their backs.