Less than a month after Lifetime announced that it nabbed future seasons of Project Runway away from Bravo, NBC/Universal announced today that it has signed an exclusive first-look deal with Dan Cutforth and Jane Lipsitz of Magical Elves, the production team responsible for the Heidi Klum-hosted fashion show. According to NBC, Cutforth and Lipsitz will walk away from Project Runway after season 5 (which will air on Bravo) and begin developing exclusively for all NBC-owned platforms. Lifetime will begin airing originals of Project Runway in season 6, under a deal it forged with Miramax Television. Magical Elves has been responsible for the award-winning Project Runway since its inception on Bravo, as well as Last Comic Standing, Treasure Hunters, Top Chef, and Step It Up and Dance.
“We didn’t have an issue with Project Runway going to Lifetime per se, and we’d both be surprised if it didn’t work for that network,” Cutforth tells EW.com. “When we started doing Project Runway five years ago, we weren’t really a production company. We were two producers taking work on a for-hire basis. But Project Runway became a huge part of our company and we are very much known for it. We’ve been trying to grow our business and it doesn’t make much sense to keep on with it — as much as we love Project Runway.”
Adds Lipsitz, “Even though technically we didn’t create the show, we
created the `creative’ of the show. We gave the show its style and
emotional level. It’s not easy to walk away from it, by any means. All
big decisions are complicated and you have to make sacrifices. Our
emotional side is with Project Runway but our business side has to take over so we can build the company.”
The production duo will remain on Project Runway through season
five on Bravo before it jumps to Lifetime. Pre-production has already
begun on the next season, which will debut in June. “We’re excited
about the cast and are always looking for a balance of talent and
unforgettable characters,” says Cutforth. “I think one teaser I’ll give
is, you’ll never look at tanning beds the same way.”
As for watching season six once it moves to Lifetime without them, the
duo have their doubts. “It would be weird, like going to an
ex-girlfriend’s wedding,” says Cutforth. “We might go but we won’t be
dancing.”
Meanwhile, NBC/Universal hasn’t given up its fight to kill the Lifetime
deal. It filed a lawsuit alleging that the Weinstein Co. failed to give
the NBC-owned Bravo the right of first refusal when it got the offer
from Lifetime. NBC/Universal also is attempting to block Lifetime from
marketing and promoting future cycles of the show.
Adds Lipsitz, “Even though technically we didn’t create the show, wecreated the `creative’ of the show. We gave the show its style andemotional level. It’s not easy to walk away from it, by any means. Allbig decisions are complicated and you have to make sacrifices. Ouremotional side is with Project Runway but our business side has to take over so we can build the company.”
The production duo will remain on Project Runway through seasonfive on Bravo before it jumps to Lifetime. Pre-production has alreadybegun on the next season, which will debut in June. “We’re excitedabout the cast and are always looking for a balance of talent andunforgettable characters,” says Cutforth. “I think one teaser I’ll giveis, you’ll never look at tanning beds the same way.”
As for watching season six once it moves to Lifetime without them, theduo have their doubts. “It would be weird, like going to anex-girlfriend’s wedding,” says Cutforth. “We might go but we won’t bedancing.”
Meanwhile, NBC/Universal hasn’t given up its fight to kill the Lifetimedeal. It filed a lawsuit alleging that the Weinstein Co. failed to givethe NBC-owned Bravo the right of first refusal when it got the offerfrom Lifetime. NBC/Universal also is attempting to block Lifetime frommarketing and promoting future cycles of the show.
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Wow, without the Magical Elves team working on the Lifetime version, I am concerned it will really change up the format. So I wonder if there will be two different shows now? I hope this does not mean the end!
It’s the Avignon papacy all over again!
Seriously, folks, this sucks. The already-slim odds of me watching the Lifetime version are getting even slimmer.
Ok, I was one of those people who said, I’d have no problem watching the show no matter what channel it was on.
Then again, when I said that, I meant I would watch the show that I’ve been watching for four seasons and became addicted to. If the move to Lifetime means a change in producers and a significant change to the show that’s produced, then…well, I won’t say “count me out”. I’ll still check it out. But it’s NOT the news I want to hear.
no, i’m saying it. count me out. sorry lifetime – from the way this is sounding, i sense tori spelling is going to be your finale guest judge, and the designers will be challenged to make clothes for the daisy fuentes line at kohls.
Wow-that’s bad news. I’ll still give PR a shot, but I hope they’re able to maintain the same standards and get coll guest judges. I mean Posh Spice for the final was cool-I don’t want to see PR judged by MaryKate Olson or someone like that.
You just lost one of your three straight male fans, PR. Magical Elves is the force behind that show. I do not like the direction this is going.
Stick a fork in it -Project Runway is done.
I am hating this. I understand people like to get the best deal they can, but if you completely gut what fans have come to love what’s the point?
Auf Weiderstein, PR. We had a good 4 years together. I will relish all I can in season 5.
you know, i’m actually angry at Lifetime for thinking they can get away with it! Who do they think they are? And to the person who mentioned Tori Spelling and Kohls, hilarious! you are dead on!!!
I celebrate NBC for sticking to Harvey Weinstein let him keep the show, take the people who made it what it is and pay them to stay with NBC/Bravo. BRILLIANT Chess move, can’t wait to see what Harvey’s counter move will be. Frankly, i’m enjoying this much more than Project Runway, frankly that show was starting to look tired, and it’s not nearly as good as Top Chef.
remember when everyone was scared of Harvey Weinstein, way back in the 20th Century… this is funny.
If Lifetime execs think they can attract the same audiences that Bravo does, they are kidding themselves.
I’ll still watch, and hope the show retains its general feel. It has been successful for years, whoever the new producers are, they would be stupid to mess with what ain’t broke!
I say settle down… let’s at least SEE the show before we dismiss it?
I truly think it is the worst show i have ever seen.!!!
Remember how ‘Top Design’ looked like ‘Top Chef’ and ‘PR’ but just never really worked? Magical Elves did not produce it. This is not en easy formula to replicate and I hope Lifetime realizes that.
Project Runway is doomed. It may have survived a jump to the new network, but new producers too? Of course I’ll give it a chance, but my hopes are not too high.
Worrisome news, but if the new producers have any sense at all they won’t change anything (or at least not much).
Please, PLEASE, let the new producers have some sense!
i think we should give it a chance… Lifetime has some really great shows. One thing i would like to see is more emphasis on the models, after all their career with the show depends on the designers not their talent. I would like to see a spinoff show featuring the show from the models point of view. (ie ANTM) It survived a channel jump so maybe everyone is panicing too soon.
I am a 65 year-old sartorial slob. I have never been interested in fashion. Then I saw my first Project Runway show in the beginning of it’s series. I have seen every show that you have aired. I love the judges and their comments. I love the competitors and their creativity. I will really miss seeing Project Runway.
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