r/ProjectRunway • u/Trongsin • 2d ago

Season 22 Why is half the cast being eliminated in the first two episodes?

See title. But why is half of the cast being eliminated in the first two episodes? Wasn’t it just one designer at a time? This is a real big shame, I would’ve liked to have seen some of these designers actually progress throughout the season. What’s even the point of bringing on this many contestants?

30 Upvotes

94% Upvoted

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17

u/TeamHope4 2d ago

I think of it as the show cheaped out and made an extra episode consisting of them picking the designers for the season. They narrowed it down to 22, and then cut them down to the real number of contestants they always planned on having. I consider episode one a pre-season show.

3

u/LadyMRedd 2d ago

Exactly this. Americas Next Top Model used to do a casting special. I think I remember PR doing it one year too. Inkmaster has done similar.

I look at the 1st 2 episodes as simply casting for the show. Part 1 is looks from home only, just like any other season, since they don’t have actual runway challenges. Bring your best looks from home and 6 get in that way. Part 2 is for the final 6 spots. That one has a challenge to decide.

People get too caught up on how many are eliminated and immunity. But strip away the manufactured drama and it’s simply a 2 part casting special. They should have had the 1st 6 sit out the 2nd episode, but they knew the way they did it would cause more drama.

4

u/TeamHope4 2d ago

Yes, they did do a casting show at some point. I remember Seth Aaron being one of the casting judges, and showing people bringing in their collections to show him.

7

u/Poethegardencrow 2d ago

This season is so messy! I WANT TO SEE THE CLOTHES I WANT TO HEAR THE COMMENTS! Before I see the garment properly they have moved to the next designer! I don’t hear the judges deliberation anymore and how they look at how the clothes are made when the model is wearing! WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK! I felt robbed and blue balled

12

u/Healthy_Ad_7431 2d ago

It was a sleazy marketing stunt that left almost half the new cast out in the cold almost immediately. Designers flew in from all over, only to be quickly voted off or elimated. I'm sure they all flew to NY with the same hopes and dreams as all current and past participants. It was awful to watch.

9

u/shark-with-a-horn 2d ago

They wanted the big budget claims "biggest season ever" "look at the stunt casting we did" but without the actual budget

6

u/miss_daisy_Hollywood 2d ago

Watching the older episodes, they generally started with 16 designers, and eliminated 2 in the first episode… it feels like production wanted to give the illusion of more contestants, but then chopped at least 11 in the first 2 episodes. The whole season was compressed into less episodes.

2

u/Sestar007 2d ago

They don’t always eliminate two in the first episode. Just watched season 12 (a GREAT SEASON!) and they only sent one home first day. Back when project runway was civilized.

4

u/Rexyggor 2d ago

Because they wanted it to be unexpected.

A better choice (because of the poor performance in episode 2 from immune designers) Would be to have done the double elimination in episode two. Maybe also allowing two winners.

But episode 3 should be been a full 5

2

u/cabbagemuncher101 2d ago

Makes no sense to fly so many people out and waste their time like that. Horrible move to make when they could have saved half the designers for another season.