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Okay, so the passage above could be construed as a bit morbid, but hey, honestly I couldn’t come up with another song lyric encapsulating closure more than Jim Morrison’s words. (And I did wrack my brain for all of ten seconds.) But this is truly it, people: the Swan Song, the Curtain Call, Mary Jane’s Last Dance. Who would have thought that going from 15 bright-eyed and bushy tailed designers to our final four would have been so full of the unexpected? Now, if you would have told me that we’d have one designer reveal she was pregnant on the show, another designer have America fall in love with him after a two-show sting, a designer kicked off, and two designers...]]> http://www.bravotv.com/blog/ruckersblog/2006/10/ramblings_of_a_runway_producer_the_last_ramble.php http://www.bravotv.com/blog/ruckersblog/2006/10/ramblings_of_a_runway_producer_the_last_ramble.php Wed, 18 Oct 2006 10:00:54 -0500 The Tim visits are always a treat to work on (I sound 70), mainly because you get to enter each designer’s reality and not the one that was created for them with a five-block radius between Parsons and Atlas. Heading out to see the designers and their collections in the ATL, the Big Apple, location set for Miami Vice, and City of Lost Souls, I felt like a kid who was getting a sneak peak at his Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa presents early. (Don’t want to show favoritism.) Plus, stockpiling air miles and a per diem means my dream of disappearing like Keyser Soze is that much closer to becoming a reality. (“And poof, he’s gone.”)

However, when traveling with Tim Gunn there are few things one should know:

1. The man consistently wants to help carry 80-pound production cases while wearing fully pressed suit and shinned dress shoes despite being, what we refer to as, “talent.” (I carry your bags, Tim. That’s...

Since this week is the reunion episode, I don’t have much to write about. Basically, we brought all the designers back, they got together, they talked about fashion, Project Runway, dawgs, you know, no big whoop. Just Project Runway talk.

And oh yeah, I had a cameo in the reunion that found it’s home on the cutting room floor (though if you find the video blog, you can experience the LOST moment in all it’s mediocrity). I have to work on being less mediocre. Maybe I should buy a Tony Robbins book or a Richard Simmons CD.

Therefore, in lieu of a run-of-the-mill blog, I decided to let Andy Cohen of Andy’s Blog interview me* to fulfill my contraction obligation of giving “All Runway, All the Time” to the fans. (The last time Tim missed a blog, a pair of men sporting three-day stubble and Louisville Sluggers...]]> http://www.bravotv.com/blog/ruckersblog/2006/10/ramblings_of_a_runway_producer_blogger_to_blogger.php http://www.bravotv.com/blog/ruckersblog/2006/10/ramblings_of_a_runway_producer_blogger_to_blogger.php Wed, 04 Oct 2006 20:00:00 -0500 So, children, it’s the last hurrah: The last challenge of P-Run 3: The Fall of Western Civilization, Part II. Traditionally, the last challenge has been one of the more uneventful episodes, due in part to the fact that there are so few designers to choose moments from. (Um … maybe we cut back to another shot of Michael sewing. That is brilliant! Hello, People’s Choice Award©!) The other problem with the final challenge of the series (and I once again revert back to the plethora of golden wisdom I received from Intro to Psych and Learning and Behavior at college) is that with four designers left, the understanding that the remaining four will be producing a full line to be showcased (with one not in contention) under the lights of Olympus Fashion Week stunts some of their “gung-ho” desires for victory.

For a real world application of this theory, it would be like me knowing in 2004 that the...]]> http://www.bravotv.com/blog/ruckersblog/2006/09/ramblings_of_a_runway_producer_the_last_picture_show.php http://www.bravotv.com/blog/ruckersblog/2006/09/ramblings_of_a_runway_producer_the_last_picture_show.php Wed, 27 Sep 2006 20:00:00 -0500 Now, first of all, I’m just as confused as to why there isn’t a new episode this week as the rest of you. But I guess Bravo wanted to give me ample time to talk about myself, look more conceited than I am and generally make an ass out myself.

Have I mentioned I’m a very, very confident human being?

But before we set off on the voyage of the S.S. Self Aggrandizer, let me pause and ask something that’s been chapping my hide for awhile: “Can we get some blogs about Project Runway up in this piece?”

I mean besides Tim’s Take (he’s the O.G. and his blog is the gold standard), Andy’s Blog, Nick’s Blog, Daniel V.’s Blog, Kara Janx’s Blog, Malan’s Blog, Nathaniel Hawkins’ Blog and Scotty Brown’s Blog (I think he’s a cameraman on the show), where are we going to find out about our favorite show? Seriously, it’s an outrage that there...]]> http://www.bravotv.com/blog/ruckersblog/2006/09/ramblings_of_a_runway_producer_im_a_male_model_not_a_male_prostitute.php http://www.bravotv.com/blog/ruckersblog/2006/09/ramblings_of_a_runway_producer_im_a_male_model_not_a_male_prostitute.php Wed, 20 Sep 2006 15:58:37 -0500 Hoo-ray. I’m writing this blog at 3:14 in the am the day it’s due. Now, you might be thinking, “Michael, how could you be so sluggish and careless with your work?” But that’s where you’d be wrong, my friend. I’ve been working at least 14-hour days on the finale episodes this week and the fact that I can barely see my eyeballs due to their slow absorption into my darken eye sockets is proof of my dedication. As Kermit would put it, “It isn’t easy being green.” (Yes, that analogy is a stretch.)

Representative of my current state, though not a current picture.

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So, forgive me if my work is not up to par or snuff, but my sleeping nights have become quite rough. “Entertain, entertain,” is all I can think. “Entertain, entertain” before you sleep a wink! So here I sit trying to amuse, while taking you on an early morning...]]> http://www.bravotv.com/blog/ruckersblog/2006/09/rambling_of_a_runway_producer_blackwhitegreen_with_envy.php http://www.bravotv.com/blog/ruckersblog/2006/09/rambling_of_a_runway_producer_blackwhitegreen_with_envy.php Wed, 13 Sep 2006 20:00:00 -0500 Unfortch, I wasn’t traveling down the Seine eating fine cheese, sipping on even finer wines and tripping the light fantastic with Parisian models this week. (That’s what I do with my time off. Insert “rim shot” here.) So, I decided to scour the past eight blogs and partake in a game of “tit for tat” with those who have generously taken time to comment on my ramblings.

Buckle up. It’s going to be a bumpy ride.

Yeah.. it's official.. I'm completely hooked on this blog. Love the writing & love the pictures. Thanks for helping pass the time of my mundane workday... I guess I should've have been a producer instead of working at a cancer hospital :( oh well.
Posted by: Melissa Ivery | July 27, 2006 12:49 PM

Melissa, what? You are ridiculous. Are you being serious? You work at cancer hospital and I work in television. There is no comparison as to what produces more social...]]> http://www.bravotv.com/blog/ruckersblog/2006/09/ramblings_of_a_runway_producer_the_hunter_becomes_the_hunted.php http://www.bravotv.com/blog/ruckersblog/2006/09/ramblings_of_a_runway_producer_the_hunter_becomes_the_hunted.php Wed, 06 Sep 2006 20:00:00 -0500 Could you please stop trying to be so clever, and concentrate instead on being conversational and communicative? Really irritating! Half the time I couldn't understand what you were trying to say. We already assume you to be very bright, since you are a producer on a popular TV show. You don't need the pretentiousness.
Posted by: michelle yde | August 26, 2006 03:49 PM

All I can say, Michelle, is that the irritation won’t dissipate anytime soon. I’m like Poison Ivy, but much more boring and less intelligent. Believe me, I’ve seen monkeys do better work then myself on this show. And I’m not even talking about the trained orangutan types like Clyde in Every Which Way But Loose. So, I dedicate this entry to you, Michelle. Pity my life.

On to the dance:
Ah, Paris. The city of love, the city of lights, and the city I didn’t get to see. Months earlier I received a phone...]]> http://www.bravotv.com/blog/ruckersblog/2006/08/im_not_a_loser_im_a_winner.php http://www.bravotv.com/blog/ruckersblog/2006/08/im_not_a_loser_im_a_winner.php Wed, 30 Aug 2006 20:00:00 -0500 When gazing at the challenge calendar before production began, my eyes zeroed on this challenge and instantly thought one thing: “I’m assigning this to someone else.” Now, don’t get me wrong, I love my momz and my sister (who have lambasted me on this blog over the last challenge...don’t shoot the piano player) but I knew that this episode was going to be a juggernaut. As Rich Bye put it afterwards: “It’s like trying to fit two tons of sh#t into a 10-pound bag.”

The prep time, the level of secrecy and organization to get all the mothers and sisters to New Amsterdam (New York City to those of you born at the turn of the 18th century) unnoticed and just the sheer sensitivity of handling the designer’s family members all sound like, um, what’s it called when you do stuff and you are responsible for the outcome? Ah, yes, “work.” Therefore, I assigned the challenge to the much...]]> http://www.bravotv.com/blog/ruckersblog/2006/08/ramblings_of_a_runway_producer_mother_hugs_speed.php http://www.bravotv.com/blog/ruckersblog/2006/08/ramblings_of_a_runway_producer_mother_hugs_speed.php Wed, 23 Aug 2006 20:00:00 -0500 I’m trying to write this blog while watching "Late Night with Conan O’Brien," which is like trying to masturbate while your parents are in the other room talking about their “failure of a son.” (I have needs, people). On the show is Heidi Klum…who is in no way connected to that masturbating line… great, now I’ve associated those two thoughts, people will think it’s fact…brain stop making fingers type… her hair does look good though… digging self deeper in a hole…. OK, I’m officially fired from the show.

Also on the show: Justin Long. I went to college with Justin and no joke, I consider him the best actor I’ve seen perform live. If you want to laugh, watch him in my friend Will Carlough's Robin’s Big Date. Unlike my dancing video, it actually got into Sundance.

And Sonic Youth! Since I have long hair, I’m contractually bound to like this band and praise their brilliance as the godfathers...]]> http://www.bravotv.com/blog/ruckersblog/2006/08/reduce_reuse_recycle_reality.php http://www.bravotv.com/blog/ruckersblog/2006/08/reduce_reuse_recycle_reality.php Wed, 16 Aug 2006 19:23:09 -0500