'Project Runway': Scenes From 'Sex and the Pity'

I. Started. Crying.

As advertised, three simple words provided a big surprise last night on "PR4" -- they just weren't the *same* three words that Bravo had been teasing and touting for days through a silky veil of clues.

Sarah. Jessica. Parker. THAT was the triple-word Big Score that the network had been oh-so-coy about, letting it drop that the show had landed a "Celebrity Fashion Icon." The Mystery Guest Judge's identity was no shocker, though -- especially after a week ago, more than 100 of you told "Channel This" that the Divine Miss SJP was your preferred pick to be the show's next three-named visitor. In other words:

You. Were. Right. (To which we reply heartily: Bravo!)

As it turns out, "I Started Crying" (also the episode's title) was the verbal triptych that genuinely caught us unawares. Why? Because those words were uttered not by Ricky (aka Mr. Waterworks) but rather by Chris "Get That Man a Box O' Kleenex" March. His reason for getting verklempt: As Chris explained -- going misty-eyed in SJP's presence -- he moved to NYC in the first place spurred partly by "Sex and the City."

As Elton once sang (as a Matthew Broderick-voiced character frolicked): Can you feel the love tonight?

From tears to triumph, in fact, the show had distinct storylines that could have played beautifully within episodes of HBO's "Sex and the City." To wit:

* "MR. BIG GETS HIS COMEUPPANCE": The cocky CHRISTIAN "Paging Chris Kattan" Siriano dryly predicted that he (and his, like, way-'80s design) would probably finish the challenge in the top two, but not win because judges would prefer a more "boring" design. Instead, Christian barely escaped elimination, finishing in the bottom two.

* "A FOREIGNER WOOS CARRIE": Like Aleksandr, a "foreign" visitor with an unusual approach seeks to sweep Sarah Jessica Parker off her aesthetic feet. In this case, the Stranger From a Strange Land was ELISA, whom near-everyone was likening to an interplanetary interloper. Elisa, to her credit, was quite poised and deft in rejoindering that while she might come from another planet artistically, she also comes "with gifts." Well-played, Ms. Jimenez. Well-played.

* "A MIRANDA RIGHT": With a simple and simply tasteful dress-and-vest (in a "sophisticated palette"), VICTORYA, paired with KEVIN, won the challenge -- and the opportunity to design SJP's new fall/winter line. Victorya, like a true friend, was the one who "really listened" to Sarah's wishes, SJP said.

* "BREAKING UP BY POST-IT SCORECARD": MARION was jilted from the show, left to agonize over what had gone terribly wrong with his badly proportioned (going for Boho?) knit disaster. Even Burger the Boyfriend didn't skedaddle quite this hastily.

* "STANFORD BLATCH MEETS AN IDOL": Chris's meeting Sarah Jessica was our favorite Parker-related TV encounter since "SATC's" tickled Stanford bought Heather Graham a street-side pretzel. In Chris's damp eyes, Sarah is better than "Mrs. Big"--she's Ms. Big-Time.

With "PR4's" characters so abundant, Sarah not only walked away with a new design for her Bitten collection. She also, if she's thinking smart, copped a veritable gift-bag of fertile storylines for that re-greenlighted "Sex & the City" feature film.

Well-played, Ms. Big-Time. Well-played.

-- MICHAEL CAVNA, TV Editor

Michael Cavna  |  November 22, 2007; 10:04 AM ET Project Runway
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