Project Runway's Producers Stick With NBC, Not Lifetime

BuzzSugar — Mon, 05 May 2008 16:39:39 -0700

Lifetime stole Project Runway from NBC - so now, NBC has stolen back the show's producers. Magical Elves, the team behind Runway, Top Chef, and Step It Up and Dance, has just signed a deal with NBC that gives the network and its cable channels the first shot at any projects the company develops. The producers can also work on existing NBC projects.

So, if Project Runway does indeed make the move to Lifetime this Fall (a decision that's still being challenged in court), it will have a new production team. Not sure what that means? Well, consider the difference between Runway and, say, the first season of Top Design, which largely fell flat. The producers are responsible for the entire feel of the show - which is making Lifetime's claim that they'd deliver the same Runway we know and love seem a little doubtful.

Meanwhile, there have been reports of other changes on the Lifetime version of the show, including the news that the show will film part of its sixth season in LA and a new rumor that Marie Claire could replace Elle as the show's magazine partner. I'm not saying change is bad - shows can start to get a little stale after five seasons or so - but I don't think I'd want to see Runway be drastically reimagined. Color me officially worried. How about you?

Meanwhile, season five of Runway is still set to air this Summer on Bravo, so we might be all worn out by the time Lifetime finally gets its crack at the show anyway. Too much of a good thing?

NBC and Source