Project Runway: Well, that was kind of a buzz kill

As Tim Gunn would say: Oh my.

Last night on part 1 of the finale of Project Runway, the designers were sent off with six weeks (what happened to three months?) and $9,000 to make 10 looks (is it just me or by the end of the PR season are you totally sick of the word "looks"?).

Four weeks in, Tim Gunn booked his airfare and hit the road.

First up, Andy in Hawaii. And it was no spa life for our Laotian immigrant Warrior Woman designer, kids. His family owns a catfish farm. He worked his butt off as a child. Seeing Tim Gunn and waders and squealing at the sight of baby catfish was certainly a treat.

So Tim is super-duper Dr. Gunn on all these visits and is so busy grilling people about their psyches etc. that he barely has time to critique the clothes.

Andy's collection has a Laotian theme and he just got the fabrics delivered and he is running way behind. Oh no!

Then we head to Palm Springs to see Michael C., who in true Michael C. mode has pumped out 2,467 dresses. His boyfriend is there. Wait, Michael C. is gay? And we've been keeping that a secret because ...

So it turns out there was all this drama in Michael's life, he was so deeply in the closet that he got married and fathered a son and the his boyfriend outed him three years ago and his parents have not supported him ever and would you like more lasagna Tim?

Now we go to Denver with Tim to visit Mondo, in his tiny house with pink walls. Perhaps it's because there is all this attention on anti-gay bullying right now, but I find Mondo's home visit very touching, as he and his parents talk about what an outcast he was as a child. They forced him to play baseball so he could take the piano lessons he wanted. Poor sweet Mondo. He is the example, kids, of why you need to hang on through all the bad stuff, because if you can get to the other side, you can make your dream come true.

And now to Portland, Ore., to see Gretchen. Speaking of bad news, Gretchen returned home to find her partner (gender never specified) had left her and taken all her money. Ouch. On the other hand, I totally get it. So Gretchen is even more of a mess than usual. And even skinnier.

So off to New York, big suite, choose two looks, make a third look, everybody wants to either wow or be wowed.

Runway show: Mondo's is fabulous of course although I don't love the turquoise top. Michael's is effortlessly chic as usual and I hate the furry skirt. Andy's is interesting in that the warrior is not there, but really? A bikini? And Gretchen's is her usual hippie mess, which I hate.

Michael and Nina are brutal. BRUUUUTAL. It's actually painful to watch. Evil Heidi has been replaced by Nice Heidi. I'm not sure what's going on here.

So of course it's Mondo, and then it's Andy and then it's Gretchen, and Michael C. suffers a breakdown on TV like we haven't seen since Kate Gosselin was on Dancing with the Stars. It's really hard for anyone to be happy about the final three since the fourth is curled up in the fetal position heaving sobs. Tim does his best, but really, it's very disconcerting.

Next week, Lincoln Center. Which is not nearly as fun to say as Bryant Park. And Mondo will win.