Michael Knight: Fan Favorite

October 06, 2006

Was anyone shocked that Michael Knight won the fan favorite award? I was more surprised to read yesterday that someone named an elementary school after our Brainiac in Chief, Prezzy Bush! (Is that fitting, or what?) I spoke to Michael around 6pm yesterday as NYC went from a summer day to a crispy fall evening. -- Andy Cohen (who blogs HERE)

YOU'RE IN NEW YORK RIGHT NOW, RIGHT?
Yes. I'm in a hotel and me, Jeffrey, and Uli are all staying next to each other.

THAT'S FUN. IS IT NICE TO BE HERE IN NYC AS A SUPERSTAR?
Yeah, I have just been hanging out with some of my friends. I wasn't expecting anyone to notice me in this huge city, but I've had a few good sightings.

WHAT QUALIFIES AS A GOOD SIGHTING?
Just when people say they love you and love your work and you've inspired them and have motivated them. That's so cool.

FAN FAVORITE, HUH? WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO YOU?
It felt really good. It's so cool that the fans like me and understand my work. No matter what any of the designers say or what anyone thinks, I think it's a testament to who I am as a person and people understanding me. I think also I have some fans of my design aspect. I love to see my work accepted by the masses, which is what we all want as a designer. I hope those fans will turn into customers and clients!

WITHOUT GIVING ANYTHING AWAY ABOUT THE OUTCOME -- WHAT WAS IT LIKE SHOWING AT BRYANT PARK?
It was amazing to show at Bryant Park. We showed the same day as Donna Karan, Ralph Lauren, and Jay McCarroll! I've always known I would show there but I was so excited to see it actually happen. I was doing it!

YOU MET BRANDY BEFORE THE RUNWAY SHOW, RIGHT?

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Part 2: Santino Gets Nasty

October 05, 2006

THIS IS PART TWO OF THE INTERVIEW WITH SANTINO. PART ONE WAS PUBLISHED YESTERDAY.

OK, GIVE ME YOUR OPINIONS OF THE OTHERS STILL IN THE GAME. LAURA I KNOW ... ULI?

I liked Uli too when she came to the casting. I vouched for her. Some of the other judges didn't see it or thought it humdrum -- but she had a great eye for combining prints. She's talented, she has a stylist background, and that's completely valid. A lot of her work on the show I found mesmerising and beautiful.

MICHAEL?
I didn't go to the final fashion show in NYC, but it looks like Michael brought the Projects to the runway. But he can ride on being Mr. Congeniality. Michael will probably win the fan favorite award ... for whatever that's worth.

WHERE CAN SOMEONE BUY A SANTINO DRESS? WHAT IF SOMEONE WANTS TO COMMISSION SOMETHING FROM YOU?
I'm pretty easy to find. They can email me either through santinorice.com or I've given them my card and they get back to me. I've kept my Myspace as well!

WHAT ARE YOU UP TO THESE DAYS?
Boy, let me tell you, I love this question! I get it on a bi-daily basis. Let me see, I'm still constantly searching for new stimulation. Still very curious about life. Self-discovering. Still looking and talking to potential investors. Fashioning my escape from mediocrity. Creating a full-fledged lifestyle empire! But check back tomorrow...

DO YOU HAVE ANY REGRETS ABOUT BEING ON THE SHOW?
I really only want to live in the present. I've got a enthusiastic following. I've maintained my sense of humor. There's always another story to tell! Sure, I struggle with things. But for me I know the end will justify the means. I think I navigated the show better than most.... I'm trying to think of at least one regret though.... Oh, that I wasn't invited to the Emmys!

DO YOU KEEP IN TOUCH WITH ANY RUNWAY ALUMNI?
I talk to Andrae regularly, that's about it.

I DID A BLOG WHERE RALPH FIENNES INTERVIEWED ME ABOUT RUNWAY AND HE ASKED IF ANYBODY GOT IT ON DURING PRODUCTION OF THE SHOW. I SAID I HEARD A RUMOR THAT SOMETHING WENT ON IN YOUR APARTMENT. JUST END IT. CLEAR IT UP, BOY.
Like why would you have said that? Why would you have talked in your blog about a RUMOR that you heard? I've heard a lot of rumors about you, ones from reliable sources, I don't blog about it!

GOOD POINT AND GOOD QUESTION. I THINK IT IS WAS THE FIRST THING THAT CAME TO MY MIND AND I JUST SPIT IT OUT AND AFTERWARDS SOMEONE EMAILED ME AND BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION HOW STUPID IT WAS BECAUSE ANDRAE HAS A LONG-TERM BOYFRIEND. AND IT WAS A RUMOR AND I THOUGHT ABOUT IT AND FELT AWFUL ....
Ok.

IS THAT WHY YOU ASKED?

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Project Runway: Santino Talks Smack

October 04, 2006

Santino Rice is one of the most talented, popular, and divisive designers in Runway history. Everyone has been on pins and needles waiting for either Barbara Walters or I to nab the exclusive Santino interview about the man's views of runway and the universe. I called him last night around midnight in NYC to see what was up in LA..

WHAT ARE YOU DOING RIGHT NOW?
I'm in a car driving to dinner.

OK SO WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS SEASON SO FAR?
It's not quite as good is it!? Why is that ?! What''s missing!? What's missing, Andy?

UM ... KARA JANX
Yeah... What else? You can have 99 more guesses.

PEOPLE THINK THAT THIS YEAR'S DESIGNERS WERE OVERALL MORE TALENTED THAN YOUR YEAR. DO YOU AGREE?
Definitely -- I wish that the competition would have been as strong on the 2nd season. Hopefully the outcome of the show will enable more real, professional designers to try out for the show in the future. If as a designer on the show you weren't able to see the obvious pecking order, it would make for better work that gets shown. There was still too many people that didn't belong on the show this season as well though. Ones who were on for shits and giggles.

WHO ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?
I think that overall the talent pool is way better and more experienced but there's still people that -- I felt like, even someone like Laura who is a talented homemaker, home sewer of sorts, has great taste but at the end of the day is a hobbyist. I don't have time for hobbyists in fashion. She has a great attitude and personality and I like the things she says that get people all up in arms or whatever, but she's still a novelty. Her personality is great, and as a person I'm sure she's lovely. I don't know how old she is -- but I think that if you haven't pursued your dream by the time you're 30, it's likely that you're never going to. This show gives people an inkling of false hope, but I don't think time needs to be spent on those people or that side of the equation. I'm talking about the people that have a long-lost dream of coming out of hibernation to be a fashion star via a fashion reality gameshow.

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Talking Dog Poo with Mr. Leguizamo

October 02, 2006

In Dennis Hensley's regularly-scheduled blog, OUTzone got an up-close-and-personal view of actor John Leguizamo. Seems Dennis got to interview the dynamo for The The Advocate. But lucky for us, we got the nasty outtakes.

DENNIS HENSLEY: Your book’s very honest. Did you struggle with how much to reveal?

JOHN LEGUIZAMO: When you’re writing at home, you’re like, “I’m going to tell the truth.” Then, when you start letting it out of your hands, the panic hits. Still, I hope people get some laughs out of it and that they can understand me in a deeper way and not just in an “E! True Hollywood Story” kind of cheesy, sleazy way.

DH: You write that on the film Regarding Henry, some crew members took out their frustrations with director Mike Nichols by peeing in his cappuccino machine.

JL: I hope Mike finds that kind of humorous because I like him, he’s a friend of mine. That was a lesson for me that you gotta learn how to deal with all kinds of political things in making a movie.

DH: Then there’s the story about how you were going to give your girlfriend at the time, Samantha Mathis, an expensive pair of earrings but your dog ate them and so you had to follow the dog around until he pooped them out.

for the full interview visit Dennis H. here.