Bob O’Leary

Wednesday night has become my favorite night of television this winter. I start the night watching basketball, particularly if the Magic are on. Then after watching my macho sports, I do a 180-degree turn of the channel to Project Runway.

To those who don’t know me, I bet your “gaydar” is picking up signals. Well, I’m not just heterosexual. I’m also considerably fashioned challenged.

Those that do know me also know my fashion knowledge consists of the color blue, Ralph Lauren, and the phrase “machine washable.” Were it not for those three and the women in my life, it’s doubtful that I would wear anything other than gym clothes.

But I have become addicted to Project Runway. It’s by far and away the best reality show out there. Other shows have backstabbing contestants and drama queens. Project Runway has drama queens of both sexes, but these queens can sew. Even more surprising, some of the designers are actually straight males.

But sexual orientation does not matter, nor does somebody’s popularity with other contestants. The show is all about design and creativity – how these designers make clothes, and how the clothes fit on the models. As Tim Gunn says, it’s how they “make it work.”

It also shows fashion in a most favorable light. Gunn comes across as a kindly mentor, a rarity in reality television. I would have loved to have him as a college professor. The designers are given a lot of creative challenges, sometimes even designing for women other than your typical models.

Of course, there is Heidi Klum.

Heidi is not only she drop-dead gorgeous; she’s also one hell of a model. A model’s main job is to make the clothes she is wearing look good. Heidi does the same for the rest of the show, wearing it like a Donna Karan dress and staying icy cool.

But she’s at her best when she dismisses the designer voted out each week. Forget Donald Trump saying “you’re fired!” or Jeff Probst telling someone that Tribal Council has spoken. Heidi tells the designer “auf Wiedersehen,” then gives them a hug and a kiss.

As one straight male said after being voted off, “It’s not too bad. I got a hug and kiss from Heidi Klum!”