Were you ready for Project Runway overload last night? It was a long four hours of cut and sew, sashaying and attempts at fierceness. Season 6 premiered at 10pm but was preceded by two hour special, Project Runway: All-Star Challenge and followed by Models of the Runway, which I didn’t catch.

The most excitement of the night was the kick off, with the all-star challenge, where previous Project Runway winners competed for $100,000 courtesy Garnier and L’Oreal. Daniel Vosovic, Santino Rice, Mychael Knight, Jeffrey Sebelia, Korto Momolu, Sweet P Vaughn, Uli Herzner, and Chris March gathered in NYC to flex their design muscles. The objective was to show Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn what types of lines they could create by designing a mini-collection involving three looks.

In the end, Daniel Vosovic and Korto Momolu were the last designers standing. Daniel’s dress was a red carpet look that the judges felt was  over-the-top, and Korto’s restaurant dress, made from placements, was beautiful. After deliberating, judges revealed that Daniel was the winner. I’m not too mad because Daniel is talented, but I think Korto should have won. Love her!

Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn returned two hours later with the official premier of Project Runway season 6. In addition to the new network, LA became the new city where aspiring designers attempted to make their dreams come true. If you missed last night’s premiere, you didn’t miss much. With this many seasons under wraps, it’s Project Runway ad nauseam.

The cast of designer-hopefuls are an interesting bunch—some dynamic, some just crazy. I’m partial to plus sized designer Qrystal Frazier and family man Rodney Epperson, but then there are those cast members who make you palm your face with your hands, wondering why you’re watching.

There’s Malvin aka Pepe Le Pew, nicknamed because of his weird big-banged hair, Logan, who describes himself as a “guy’s guy,” (but he seemed very sensitive), some other cast members in between—but the one who takes the cake is Johnny with the crystal meth addiction (which he announced within the first couple of minutes of the show). I guess he’s functional enough to be on the show, but still grappling with the addiction. I wonder how that worked out for everyone. Wow.

The first challenge was a red carpet design where the designers had to make an Austin Scarlett Oscar dress. You don’t get a good look at the dresses—probably because there’s so many contestants in the beginning—but Tim Gunn didn’t hesitate to tell one girl that her halter-dress looked like a diaper (it was pretty bad). Guest judge Lindsay Lohan was appropriate since she is a Hollywood starlet, and then there were the usual judges, Marie Claire’s Nina Garcia and Michael Kors.

The first week’s loser ended up being Ari, creator of the diaper dress.

The following show was Models of the Runway, which I didn’t really watch. I caught it somewhere in the middle but changed the channel because it seemed like a more boring version of ANTM. Next week, episode two of Project Runway and Models… airs but I think I’ll just stick to Project Runway, not because it’s exciting but because of my attachment to Rodney and especially Qrystal.

Lifetime is the the new home for Project Runway after a legal dispute with Bravo. Now that the new network is squared away, season 6 will air on August 20 at 10pm, and the new designers who will compete for $100,000, have been announced. Out of the 16, 25-50-year-old hopefuls, I already have two favorites—Rodney Epperson and Qristyl Frazier—both from New York. I promise, I’m not being bias.

Forty-two-year old Qristyl Frazier has been on the Brooklyn scene for the past couple of years. I can’t fit her plus-sized designs but I still took note of her things when I’d see them on display in Brooklyn boutiques and at street festivals. I always told myself that if I were to buy clothing for a plus-sized loved one, that Qristyl’s designs were high on my radar. Plus, the way she spells “crystal” is insane (in a good way)! Check out her video:

Rodney Epperson is a 50-year-old family man from Manhattan. I like his vibe, how he relates to his family, and the fact the he and his wife design together. Check him out:

Other designers include:

Althea Harper
Age: 24
Hometown: Dayton, Ohio
Profession: Recent graduate/fashion designer

Ari Fish
Age: 26
Hometown: Kansas City, Mo.
Profession: Clothing designer/cook

Carol Hannah Whitfield
Age: 24
Hometown: New York
Profession: Freelance designer

Christopher Straub
Age: 30
Hometown: Shakopee, Minn.
Profession: Visual merchandiser

Gordana Gehlhausen
Age: 45
Hometown: Charleston, S.C.
Profession: Fashion designer/shop owner

Irina Shabeyeva
Age: 27
Hometown: New York
Profession: Fashion designer

Johnny Sakalis
Age: 30
Hometown: Los Angeles
Profession: Fashion designer

Logan Neitzel
Age: 26
Hometown: Seattle
Profession: Freelance fashion designer

Louise Black
Age: 32
Hometown: Dallas
Profession: Fashion/accessory designer

Malvin Vien
Age: 24
Hometown: New York
Profession: Self-employed

Mitchell Hall
Age: 26
Hometown: Savannah, Ga.
Profession: Creative director, retail

Nicolas Putvinksi
Age: 27
Hometown: New York
Profession: Associate designer

Ra’Mon Lawrence Coleman
Age: 31
Hometown: Minneapolis, Minn.
Profession: Designer for Target

Shirin Askari
Age: 24
Hometown: Richardson, Texas
Profession: Freelance

Have you checked them out? Who are your favorites?

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Well, wait, let me be nicer about it. It was more so an irregular version of the show. You know, it looks the same, and it has all the right parts to it, but something is amiss. Maybe a pocket, maybe a button…whatever it is, something was off about it.

Simply put: Ain’t nothing like the real thing.

Thankfully, the real deal is coming back this summer after being enthralled in a legal battle over who had the rights to air the show.

Heidi Klum and co. have moved the show to Lifetime and the sixth season – which also shifted filming from NY to LA – will finally see the light of day this August.

Here’s the current trailer for the upcoming season:

This ad is so Lifetime (…television for women), but here’s to hoping the show itself will stay true to form.