For anyone who is going through Project Runway withdrawal while it’s on hiatus — unless you’re marathoning old seasons on Hulu — don’t fret! Under the Gunn recently premiered on Lifetime and it’s sure to keep any fashion addict from jonesing.
The new spinoff series has taken all of the best aspects of Project Runway, as well as all the fan-favorite personalities, to create Under the Gunn. Project Runway staple Tim Gunn hosts the show (if that wasn’t obvious from the series name) and we’re pumped because hopefully that means we’ll get even more of his signature catchphrases.
Under the Gunn is set up a little differently than Project Runway; it takes on a format that more closely resembles The Voice. The new series brings back Project Runway alums in order to mentor three groups of designers. Nick Verreos, Mondo Guerra and Anya Ayoung-Chee take on Gunn’s role as mentors to young designers while Gunn doles out advice when needed.
Since Project Runway recently finished its twelfth season and is still going strong, it seems only natural for Lifetime to grow its fashion TV empire with Under the Gunn. The new series is enough like Project Runway that it’s not a hard jump to Under the Gunn — even the workroom and sewing room look the same, despite being housed in the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles rather than New York.
The different format of Under the Gunn changes it up enough to make the show freshly entertaining. It’s a smart move by Lifetime to create a new show off the success of Project Runway, and it’s just as great for the fans because now we won’t have to go too long without our Tim Gunn fix.
And don’t worry, Heidi Klum fans: she’ll be appearing as a guest judge this season, along with many other big stars like Macklemore, Neil Patrick Harris and Jaimie Alexander. Under the Gunn might become our new favorite fashion show. (No offense, Project Runway!)
