Tim Gunn, genius.

Wednesday night TV means only one thing to me — that’s the night that I watch my beloved “Project Runway”. The gentleman to the left, for the uninformed, is one Mr. Tim Gunn. Gunn is the Chair of the Fashion Design department at Parsons, The New School for Design…and he is the man.

Having sworn off reality television when it was first really taking over network programming, I chanced upon a teaser advertisement three years ago on Bravo that told of a new show coming up for their fall lineup. It pitted 12 designers from all over the country against one another in weekly design challenges. Immediately, I decided that I was not going to watch it for three reasons: firstly, it was a reality TV program; secondly, it was a reality TV program about fashion design; and lastly, it was a reality TV program about fashion design that featured what appeared to be a gamut of goofballs. Nuh-uh, not gonna watch it.

I watched it.

And still watch it.

And run a damn site that keeps track of our office pool regarding the show.

In short, I love this show.

While the viewing public is drowning in an ocean of reality shows that feature any Tom, Dick, and Omorosa they can find, “Project Runway” brings in an eclectic group of truly talented designers. And while the other reality programs will ask contestants to do anything from manipulating others to dating Flavor Flav, PR gives the people on their show challenges that require them to actually have skills. Mad skills. Mad skills while under the gun to meet a deadline. So while some chump on “Fear Factor” has to chew up three potato bugs, the designers over on “Project Runway” are being asked to design an evening gown…that will be worn in the Miss Universe pageant by Tara Conner, the United State’s representative…in roughly a day…with a budget of a few hundred dollars. Hmm. See the difference?

Well, millions of people have definitely seen the difference. “Project Runway” has become cable’s top-rated show among adults 18-49. The third season debuted to 3.4 million viewers and the show continues to grow in popularity. This year’s Emmys even gave it a nod in its “Reality Television” category. The show’s patron saint of design, Tim Gunn, has become a pop culture sensation in his own right (Tim Gunn bobblehead, anyone?). Heidi Klum, supermodel extraordinaire, hosts the show. What’s not to love?

What truly makes the show great is the cast of designers each season. The inaugural season gave us smooth operater Kara Saun (who I had picked to win the whole thing from the beginning), the extremely disliked Wendy Pepper, and the lovable yet sassy (yes, I said “sassy”) Jay McCarroll — who became the show’s first winner. The second season introduced us to the villanous Santino Rice (who I had picked to win the whole thing from the beginning), prodigy Daniel Vosovic, our little lamb Andrae Gonzalo, and eventual winner Chloe Dao (?!?!?!?).

And while the other reality programs will ask contestants to do anything from manipulating others to dating Flavor Flav, PR gives the people on their show challenges that require them to actually have skills. Mad skills.

The designers on “Project Runway” are allowed on the show after a lengthy interview process and, like I said before, come from all walks of life. This season features everything from a super-skinny mother of five (soon to be six) children to a boutique owner from Georgia that specializes in prom dresses. The joy comes each week as the contestants receive their challenge, start in on it, and then handle the pressures of the deadline — be it something not turning out the way they wanted it to or even getting into an argument with another person on the show. The running commentary from the various designers is classic. You’ll see one designer giving tactful criticism to another during the creation stage and then cutting them down with a biting remark behind closed doors. Cattiness at its best! God knows I love trash talk.

All in all, “Project Runway” is my favorite reality show on television and easily the one that requires the most talent. If you’ve ever worked in an industry that requires precision, skill, and creativity — not to mention the pressures of a looming deadline — then this show is for you. I work in advertising, so I’m used to seeing this kind of “fun” on a daily basis. The only difference is, I don’t have a Tim Gunn coming in and getting to hear him cut down everyone’s work. If only…

Make it work!