The Qeppersons: A Match Made in Hell

Doesn't the title seem like the name of a Lifetime movie?
It's Week 3 of PR and Tim Gunn says "Don't Forget Your Sunscreen". The designers bus it to the beach (there were shots of the Santa Monica Pier - so presumably that's where they ended up). Tim tells the designers that they are charged with creating a fun and fashionable surf wear look and, to their chagrin, that this is a team challenge. I know the minute he said that everyone was chanting "Not Mitchell. Not Mitchell" in their heads.
So the leaders are
-Shirin, who chose Carol Hannah - knowing a good minion when she saw one
-Logan, who chose Christopher
-Nicolas, who chose Gordana - Slavic solidarity?
-Mitchell, who chose Ra'mon - for reasons he made abundantly clear: "I wanted to choose someone who could carry me"
-Althea, who chose Louise - because of her success in the previous challenge
-Q, who chose Epperson - because she wanted to provide us viewers w entertainment
-Johnny, who was stuck with Irina - but don't they make a nice matched pair?

Maybe I'm oversensitive when it comes to my Tim Gunn, but I got my back up about Shirin's comment: "Tim Gunn in flip-flops...it's a stretch." Tim Gunn doesn't make fashion mistakes - he is infallible and fantastic. Who are you, Shirin?

Ra'mon says what everyone's thinking once he's teamed up with Mitchell: "I feel like I have a giant bullseye painted in the middle of my face"

The teams get 15 minutes in Mood and the Qeppersons begin their epic battle. You know there's trouble when Epperson is the one hurrying Q in the fabric store.

Once the designers are up and running, Tim comes to inform them that the judges are raising the stakes and that each team must create a second look - an avant garde design that ties in with their beach look.

Ramon: "Ladies and Gentlemen, Capital WTF"

Gordana on Nicolas' design: "Maybe this is a sea woman who is becoming a human like in the movie Mermaid"
Does she mean:
a)Splash
b)The Little Mermaid
c)The Cher movie Mermaids (which has no actual mermaids)
d)none of the above

Garnier dude: "This look blah blah blah Wonder Waves TM" = annoying synergy
Don't we get enough with the weekly:
-L'oreal Paris Makeup Room
-Garnier Hair Salon
-Macy's Accessory Wall
+ the prize plugs?

Tim talking about the 1st avant garde design Ra'mon whipped up aka Scuba Steve. "Cartoon with a super hero and a greek goddess"

Mitchell was a sad, low self esteem bum this week. He totally quit before it was over.

The judges this week are:
Max Azria (BCBG) covering for Michael Kors
Nina Garcia (now I get the Marie Claire!! That's where she works now...)
Heidi
Rachel Bilson

The Gibson Girls
Althea(Leader) and Louise



I liked the top of the beach look on the dress form, but it's kinda dumpy with that skirt. The avant garde look has a beautiful top - the skirt wasn't perfect.

The Sopranos
Johnny(Leader) and Irina


My initial reaction: Meh.
I still think the front of the beach outfit is shlubby, but I have to admit - the pop of color on the back is very interesting.
I like the IDEA of the avant garde look. But it looks really sloppy and thrown together to me.

The Marlboro Men
Logan(Leader) and Christopher


I don't care for the first one. It's too Miami beach.
The avant garde look has an interesting top - but doesn't really work as a whole - especially on a beach theme.

Team Titanic
Ra'mon and Mitchell(Leader?)

The beach look is beautiful...but who would wear that at the beach? Especially a surfer girl? It's a grecian-style party dress.
I think the neoprene green avant garde look is a mess. I can see a good design in there somewhere, but it just doesn't have the execution. The back skirt is especially sloppy. They said they liked it but qualified it saying it needed alterations. Since when do people win on almosts?

Hansel and Gretel
Nicolas(Leader) and Gordana

My initial reaction to these pieces was one of great horror and consternation. I now realize that the top of the beach look is fantastic - but totally destroyed by the huge sloppy white pants. The space hooker outfit is almost artistically interesting if you spray mace in your eyes and squint while standing 20 feet away...but it's mostly just a trashy train wreck.

The Qeppersons
Q(Leader?) and Epperson


The beach look has a good top and print, but the skirt isn't great - it's a hot mess from the back.
The avant garde look (and honestly, I'm not sure they HAVE an avant garde look...)is an atrocity. Even worse in still shots than it was in motion.
I think Max Azria made a perceptive comment on the Qepperson marriage: "She's weak and he took advantage." Q has got a mouth and puts up a tough front - but you can tell she doesn't feel comfortable in PR. She asks Tim permission to cut fabric, she runs around like a chicken with her head cut off in Mood. I don't think she has the confidence to make it far in this competition. She was absolutely toothless on the runway when it came time to confront their collaborative issues.

The Hottie and the Nottie (I'm sorry - it IS a Paris Hilton reference)
Shirin(Leader) and Carol Hannah


Both are fine, but boring and overly simple.

I was disappointed that they didn't really address the fact that NO ONE made anything remotely sporty that a surfer girl would actually wear on the beach. This challenge seemed wishy-washy in it's terms.
Mitchell, 3 strikes and you're out! I'm so proud of you for making PR history by being booted from the show the week you're part of the winning design team.
I'm waiting for someone here to blow me away, so make it work people.