Heidi brings out the ‘winning and losing’ models. (Although the models, provided they actually show up, can have as little bearing on the winning or losing design as we at home, they still get blamed for it.) Leanne was the winner of the previous challenge and gets to keep her model or swap the model for a barely-used one. She keeps her model. Keith’s old model, Alyssa, is sent away. She doesn’t seem overly sad. And really, why should she be? She’s just gotten national TV exposure, is young and presumably healthy, and good-looking enough to be a professional model. That must be why Bravo doesn’t choose to dwell much on the passing of each fallen mannequin.
Heidi announces a special guest who will “fill you in on all the details.” Heidi looks as mysterious as she can muster (which expression is exactly the same as all her others), and a silhouette appears behind the scrim. Spooky music is played for the home audience. The designers are either tired or bored; their faces betray no emotion. And it is... Tim! Well yes, we all think he is special, but is he a guest? Isn’t he an... employee? Nice budget, Bravo.
“It’s just lil’ ol’ me,” Tim chuckles. Then, Tim announces that the group will be designing for a “fashion legend.” Leanne’s private vlog clip has her expressing relief “we’re not gonna be designing an outfit for Tim Gunn.” Oh, hon-ay. You should be so lucky. Back at the Parsons runway: “I am taking you to meet this legend... now!” Tim exhorts. It’s times like these I can’t help thinking of Tim’s visual and aural resemblance to Mr. Peabody. Climb on board the Wayback Machine, kids. We’re going somewhere touched by Improbable History.
Turns out Blayne’s Improbable History would include Mary Kate Olsen. As the group walks down the New York sidewalk toward its mysterious destination, the Tan One expresses his ardor for the troll twin. Maybe the Elle cover we saw so often in early episodes this season worked its hypnotic spell over Blayne. The squinty eyes of an Olsen... the matted hair... it called to him. Then again, a few matted blond extensions and a baggy dress and Blayne would be an Olsen. So maybe he doesn’t want to be ‘with’ Mary Kate so much as find his long-lost triplet. But then Blayne vlogs, “I wanna marry Mary Kate! Who doesn’t?” So is he drawn to her because he feels a kinship? Or is it lust? Well, maybe a little of both, then? They could have impossibly apple-headed, tiny, blond and tan troll-spawn. His troll spawn, his troll twin. His troll twin, his troll spawn. I think the makings of a really scary (straight to DVD) movie is in there somewhere. All the little apple-headed trollspawn could wear identical purple hoodies. The little troll girls, broomstick skirts. And I’ve just scared myself. Maybe I should just write off the entire Blayne monologue as another bid for camera time? Somehow that thought is not much more comforting.
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