- Following a small tour through the city, the designers arrive at the Armory Track and Field Center where they meet US Olympian and five-time medal winner, Apolo Ohno. He reveals that the designers will have a chance to create a look for the US Olympic women's team for the opening ceremonies of the Summer Games. With 30 minutes to sketch while at the Armory's museum of Olympic history and its fashion and a budget of $150 to shop at Mood, designers begin their Olympic journey.
- Welcome back to the runway!
The gang awakens and begins prepping for the long day ahead. Korto is sad that my Emily is gone, but readies her mind for the next challenge. Kenley, meanwhile, expresses relief that she has immunity. It's good to be Kenley (for the moment).
The designers arrive at the runway. "Before we talk about the next challenge, let's bring the winner's and the loser's models," Heidi says. Kenley decides to stick with Shannon ... meaning that Leslie is OUT. Goodbye, sweet Leslie. We hardly knew ya.
Heidi then tells the group that Tim is waiting downstairs with a surprise. "I don't really have any idea where we're gonna be going, I just really hope that is has nothing to do with female wrestlers," Jerell says.
Tim and the gang hop in a van and hit the highway -- their destination still a closely guarded secret. The conversation turns to Blayne's frequent (every other day) tanning habits. "I just want to go tanning ... please," he tells the camera.
The group exits the van and struts down a sidewalk as if this were a scene out of "Reservoir Dogs." They stop at the Armory Track and Field Center. "This place is ginormous," Suede notes. Standing on the track, Stella notices a speed skater. Why, it's none other than U.S. Olympian Apolo Ohno! He's so adorable!
"We wanna know what you'd do when given the chance to create the look for the U.S. Olympic team for the opening ceremonies of the summer games," Ohno says.
Ohno he didn't! Tim explains that although there are both male and female athletes at the Olympics (thanks, Tim), the competitors will design only for the women.
"The Olympics are humongous," Blayne says. "So big. Thousands and millions and billions of people. Heck yeah, I'm going for the gold!"
The designers have 30 minutes to tour the Armory museum and sketch before moving to Mood. Joe is confident, claiming to have watched the ceremonies since he was 12. Terri, meanwhile, is thinking "classic American sportswear." Not surprisingly, Stella is thinking a bit more bold. "Something gladiator," she says.
Now to shopping. Stella picks out a black stretch satin ... which seems to concern Tim. Terri then notices that Keith has taken the fabric that she picked out. "Oh no, he didn't!" she says. Oh yes, he DID.
Back at Parsons, the group has nine hours to go. Tim lets the gang know that the challenge's top prize is once again immunity. Huge sighs of longing from around the room. "I want all of you to pull the stops out for this, OK?" Tim says.
The tearing, sewing, clipping and gabbing begins. Joe explains to the camera that he is designing a super-patriotic, short-skirt hybrid loving dubbed the "skort." Daniel, who has no experience with sports, leans toward a "cocktail, more fantasy" look. Hmm. This could be trouble.
Before long, the discussion once again turns to Blayne's tanning habits ... or lack thereof since the start of the contest. "I think he may be becoming tanorexic," Jerell quips.
With seven hours to go, most of the contestants hunch over sewing machines. Terri is going for "some kind of corset, bustiere" design that includes pants, vest, shirt and jacket. "I'm shocked by how many pieces Terri has just cranked out," Leanne says. "I think she's got a sweat shop hidden under her table."
Jennifer's design is Barbi-esque, featuring a colorful skirt, camisole and sweater jacket. On the opposite side of the spectrum, Stella defends her choice of black material as "space age and modern." She goes on to note that there are a "lot of bikers" who watch the Olympics. Leanne is not impressed. Time marches on. Korto, Joe and others are getting mighty annoyed at Kenley's mighty annoying laugh. "Somebody get this girl a muzzle," Jerell snaps.
Tim arrives. He loves Joe's skort, including its specially designed red-and-blue zipper. On the other hand, Blayne's outfit is looking a little too "Sgt. Pepper" for Tim's taste. Blayne hardly helps his cause by not catching the reference ... at all. Not a big Beatles fan, that Blayne. "Sorry, Ringo," he says.
Now it's time to catch up with Daniel, who is unsure of where to head with his top. Tim warns that Daniel is beginning to "unravel" for the third straight week. Focus, Daniel! Jerell's design is looking a little too "Lucy Ricardo" for Tim's tastes. Thankfully, young Jerell catches the reference. Jennifer's jacket, meanwhile, looks "matronly." Tim encourages her to "ramp it up."
Tim says goodnight ... and drama quickly erupts. Joe accuses Daniel of rethreading and stealing his sewing machine. Daniel, in turn, thinks Joe is some sort of psycho. "People are crabby, people are fighting over machines," Suede observes. "I mean, it's totally wackadoodle."
"There's too much drama because there's too many queens around," Joe says. "It's crazy."
The next day, the tired designers return to work. Tim reenters with the three-hour warning ... and the models! One montage of stretching, sucking in and adjusting later, the models are off for hair and makeup. One montage of hair and make up later, Tim is back in the room. It's time to hit the runway!
Heidi enters -- delivers her patented "one day you're in and the next day you're out" line -- and then introduces the judges: Michael Kors, Nina Garcia and ... wait for it ... Apolo Ohno! Still adorable!
The models strut their designers' stuff. Not surprisingly, the competitors all adore their own creations. But will the judges? Heidi calls out seven names, leaving six: Joe, Korto, Jerell, Jennifer, Daniel and Terri. They represent the lowest and highest scores.
"One of you will be named the winner ... and one of you will be out," Heidi says.
-- Apolo loves the colors that Terri used. Michael loves the "Lauren Hutton" look. Nina also likes the outfit, calling it "smart."
-- Jennifer explains that she used a track suit from the 1920s as inspiration for something more modern. Heidi, however, doesn't see it as "modern" at all -- or very Olympic, for that matter. Apolo doesn't see the design as "confident" enough. Nina says the outfit "almost looks silly" due to its utter lack of athletic style.
-- Heidi loves Joe's red-and-blue zipper. Nina is "very happy" that at least one of the competitors used "athletic details." Michael has a slight problem with the shortness of the skort, but still thinks its "very smart."
-- Poor Daniel is told by Apolo that there is nothing athletic about his 1940s design. "I don't see this having any relevance with this challenge," Nina says. Heidi notices that the blue material looks purple. Michael dismisses the outfit as "something from the Republic of Cocktail Land." Ouch.
-- Korto's white linen pants and vest receive an excellent review from Nina. Heidi notes that America would be proud to wear it. Apolo is also a big fan.
-- Apolo says Jerell's outfit is unique, but not athletic. Nina is simply puzzled, noting that it looks like "Mary Had a Little Lamb." Michael says its creative and interesting, but "out there." WAY too out there.
The designers are dismissed. Korto, Joe and Terri emerge as the faves. Jennifer, Jerell and Daniel ... not so much. Heidi calls the designers back out.
Immunity goes to ... Korto. "It was just confirmation that I am good enough," she says. "It's about freaking time."
As expected, Joe and Terri are also in.
Jerell is ... in.
Daniel is ... in.
Which means that Jennifer is OUT.
"I don't think my garment seemed stuck in the past," she says. "I really would have liked to stay longer. I think I brought a different point of view with my surrealism."
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