240 replies to this topic

[Lamb18]

I'm liking him more and more. I wasn't sure if I would since he has so many snarky comments in his interviews, but tonight he was crying because Sarah was leaving. So I like him for that. His red dress was also beautiful.

[nelblu]

I like him. I really liked the red dress too, and I liked his little rant about how A.J. should stop talking.

[CrumbyButtons]

When I watched "21 Jump Street" (religiously!) - I wasn't in love with Johnny Depp - it was Peter DeLuise for me! And, to me, Michael could be a DeLuise brother. So I liked him right away. And I also loved that he was crying so hard he couldn't even speak over Sarah. That really got to me.

[Leesaa]

I was really happy for him when he won this week. He seems like such a sweet guy. I thought his dress complimented the hat very well. I loved the color and the simple design. The other designers were all quite shocked when he won, but I thought he deserved to at least be in the top 3 this week, whether he won or not.

[dietplum]

Major TV crush. He's so handsome I swoon.

[midwestgirl123]

Yup. X-treme QTPie !!!

Go Michael C!!!

[JediDVguy]

Adorable, and he's well above all of the juvenille antics that surrounded him in last Thursday's episode. His episode 5 vlog was eye-opening.

[anonymiss]

What a talented and beautiful person Michael Costello is. Favorite reality tv contestant in years. He's talented, classy, smart, witty, funny, and kind.

[ScampKid]

You know, I don't know why everybody was giving Michael such shit for his Philip Treacy dress. The moment I saw it I loved it. To me, he made his model look like some Grecian goddess of the sea, but he did it without beating the theme to death. I didn't think it was the winning look (I though Christopher's was the best), but it shouldn't have gotten the total sandbagging that the other designers gave it.

[Leesaa]

The underdog wins again! Yay! I don't understand why everyone dislikes him so much?! But I loved the looks on their faces when he came in and said he won again. I really did like his little black dress, I thought it was gorgeous.

[hollyholy9]

Seriously, why do the other designers hate Michael so much? They can't even be polite about it. Did I miss something?

[dietplum]

I don't know where the whole "Michael sucks" idea even came from. If you go back and re-watch all the episodes, he doesn't really make anything terrible. He's won two challenges and, in the party store challenge, he made a really gorgeous dress that many have said belonged in the top 3. The whole thing is a meme that Gretchen, Christopher, and Ivy created because they are prissy and miserable.

[Maka]

in the party store challenge, he made a really gorgeous dress that many have said belonged in the top 3.

You know, I didn't like the color of his dress, but the design of it - I thought - was amazing. I deeply respected that he made a full gown instead of the same ol' puffy short dress/skirt most everyone else was leaning towards.

I'm not sure where the piling on comes from either. Over in the episode thread, I said I felt like it was Lord of the Flies up in there suddenly and Michael is Piggy. It's deeply creepy to me. I get this intensely hostile vibe from most of the rest of the designers aimed at him that's way over-the-top for the situation. They keep saying he can't sew, but I haven't seen any evidence of it other than their word for it, and he got a little flustered during the team challenge after everyone was harping at him, so he didn't seem to make a cowl the way everyone else wanted him to. The other blouse he made, with the open back, was the best thing in that frickin' collection. But even if he can't sew, he's not killing puppies up in that work room.

I'm starting to think that it's just a mob mentality coming on because:
- Michael seems a little insecure, so he's easy to pick on.
- Gretchen was the early winner that everyone seemed to suddenly respect and want to beat - so if she says Michael sucks, he must suck.
- Now he's suddenly winning or making the best garment in your lousy collection, so he's a threat.

Otherwise, I can't account for them all. At least Peach and Casanova seemed to steer clear of the bashing.

[Fukui San]

Michael C, Marcel from Top Chef is on the line offering moral support and advice. Item 1: sleep with one eye open.

I liked Mondo's better, but Michael's was certainly stylish. He might not have the best "skills", perhaps, but he has a good eye and instincts.

I'm kind of hoping that he alternates between winning challenges and doing poorly so that the mean girls can lament about his immunity over and over.

[Skelley]

I just hope he outlasts Ivy and Gretchen. Especially Ivy. What a rude, nasty woman. I don't see how she can call his character into question when she's so terribly, terribly nasty.

Michael hadn't made much of an impression on me, good or bad, early in the season, and then the hate just welled up out of, seemingly, nowhere. From where I'm sitting it seems unfounded. It's like they're all ganging up on a happy puppy.

[DuchessKitty]

I don't know where the whole "Michael sucks" idea even came from. If you go back and re-watch all the episodes, he doesn't really make anything terrible. He's won two challenges and, in the party store challenge, he made a really gorgeous dress that many have said belonged in the top 3.

Thank you!

I am truly confused about the claims that he can't sew and doesn't have taste. Ivy dear, have you seen some of the pants you've made in this competition?

[Fukui San]

Eliminated designer Kristin's blog has some interesting things to say about this challenge, as she was a decoy there. She goes into why people don't like Michael C.

Let me go on record and say that I have no personal problems with Michael C. Hence, I can only speak from 3rd party point of view. The general consensus is that he plays dirty. He definitely talks dirty; if you notice in Episode 4, I comment on my hat looking “like a big Vagina” and he quips “Oh how do you know what a big vagina looks like?” Now I could have said “because I have one M#$5r f#ck#%r!”. I knew what he was alluding to, as if I were a character on the “Real L-Word”, let’s not go there. I decided to take the high road and just say my 2 cents. That is my only real dirty encounter with him. I think the bottom line is that he is more of a draper, like me, no real construction/techincal skills and does at times have questionable taste which was my major criticism of him. He just does what he likes and see what sticks. People who have more techinical skills seem to have a problem with this approach because you don’t “have a plan”. Not everyone works this way. People are entitled to their opinions, doesn’t mean it’s all true or valid.

So he has a iffy sense of humor, and he relies on draping. Rami relied on draping, though, and no one questioned his skills. Kristin seemed to think the dislike had "some validity" but she didn't like the "little villain/witch of the show" either. I'm guessing that means Ivy though it could be Gretchen instead.

[El Robzter]

Thanks for linking that, Fukui San. It sounds like his "lack of a plan" is what people might not like, though I don't really feel like I have anymore insight into what makes him so unlikeable from what she shared.

She did also say "there is some validity to their concerns which I can’t reveal at this stage." If that comment is based on something he does on an as-yet-unaired episode, I still don't get why they hate him so much on the ones that we've seen so far.

Also:

He definitely talks dirty; if you notice in Episode 4, I comment on my hat looking “like a big Vagina” and he quips “Oh how do you know what a big vagina looks like?” Now I could have said “because I have one M#$5r f#ck#%r!”. I knew what he was alluding to, as if I were a character on the “Real L-Word”, let’s not go there. I decided to take the high road and just say my 2 cents. That is my only real dirty encounter with him.

That qualifies as a dirty encounter? On this show? And I don't think saying “because I have one M#$5r f#ck#%r!” would have been taking the low road, either - if anything it would probably have been the exact right thing to come back with (and much better television).

[dietplum]

I agree. It just sounds like typical workroom banter to me. Of course, banter can sometimes cross the line when people take liberties with someone they may not know quite well enough to say such things, but I've watched that scene several times and it all seemed like upbeat silly fun, especially with Kristin then sticking her butt out for spankings from Casanova.

[rulesoftravel]

He definitely talks dirty; if you notice in Episode 4, I comment on my hat looking “like a big Vagina” and he quips “Oh how do you know what a big vagina looks like?” Now I could have said “because I have one M#$5r f#ck#%r!”. I knew what he was alluding to, as if I were a character on the “Real L-Word”, let’s not go there. I decided to take the high road and just say my 2 cents. That is my only real dirty encounter with him.

That bothered Kristin , who started the vagina monologues...? How very odd.

Dirty encounter-is she kidding?

[MerBear]

I would enjoy knowing Michael. I like his sense of humor and he seems to have a kind, puppy spirit underneath that sometimes bitchy sense of humor (which I enjoy coming from him in his PRIVATE talking-head moments). He isn't a bitch to the others and has a cute smile and a genuine joy when he wins because he doesn't assume anything (unlike some of the others). I hope he stays strong against some of these heinous people.

My least favorite season ever, as it stands now. No one to really latch onto and root for -- too much focus on the hatefulness directed toward Michael.

[Leesaa]

The general consensus is that he plays dirty. He definitely talks dirty; if you notice in Episode 4, I comment on my hat looking “like a big Vagina” and he quips “Oh how do you know what a big vagina looks like?” Now I could have said “because I have one M#$5r f#ck#%r!”. I knew what he was alluding to, as if I were a character on the “Real L-Word”, let’s not go there.

She should have gone with her response, because it would have been humorous. I personally don't get what was so offensive about his vagina comment. Is Kristin gay, or is she straight and afraid the viewers will think she's gay because of his comment? So he has a different sense of humor, that's "playing dirty"? I just don't get the Michael hate at all. Maybe later in the season, we'll see what everyone hates about him. But so far, I don't see anything worthy of the hate he gets from the others.

[rulesoftravel]

My thoughts on someone getting upset about a vagina joke is :don't call the hat a big vagina, in the first place. Just a thought.

I liked Michael C's dress-really liked it more before the pocket and the lace sleeves, but he pleased his model and she looked happy. He can make it longer later.

[Maka]

I don't get how he has the reputation of "playing dirty" - we haven't been shown anything like that. Not like with Jeffrey, during his season and his making-a-mother-cry-debacle. And you know PR loves their storylines, so if they could have such an easy villain, you know they would have run with it. Instead, Michael C. is getting the victim edit and almost everyone else on the show is coming off looking like assholes. Unless this is all a big ruse on the show's part to pull a Wendy Pepper edit on us later! But, Michael really doesn't strike me as being that calculating. I'd be even more surprised than season 1 if he turned out to be a diabolical genius.

My thoughts on someone getting upset about a vagina joke is :don't call the hat a big vagina, in the first place. Just a thought.

Exactly! And how is that dirty talk to ask how she knows what one looks like? It seemed to have been said in a joking manner, so responding that you have one would have been the appropriate thing to say, and could have been said laughingly, to keep things light if she wanted. Also, wasn't she the one getting spankings for pleasure earlier that epi? Oy! So many of these designers seem weirdly bi-polar this season.

If all the hate is really because he's more of a drapper, then big hairy deal. Though I'm still dubious since someone said over in the epi thread pointed out that Casanova - probably the best tailor of this season - named Michael C. as being a good tailor himself. I'd believe Casanova over the rest of those pack of lemmings any day.

Edited by Maka, Sep 3, 2010 @ 3:39 PM.

[Lamb18]

But even if he can't sew, he's not killing puppies up in that work room.

He's not killing plush puppies either!

I think he's an emotional, empathetic person who wants to please other people and wants others to like him. So he'll be snarky about other contestants because that's what his interviewers want to hear. So he keeps on asking others on Team Luxe if he's doing things right because he wants to please them. But I just remember him sitting there crying when Sarah was eliminated.

When he was listing all the things the judges liked about his dress to the other designers, I got the feeling he was rubbing it in: "So there! HA! Saying I can't sew and I WON!"

[nelblu]

She did also say "there is some validity to their concerns"

But their "concerns" are that he doesn't know how to sew. Supposedly. So what? Even if it turns out to be true (which wouldn't make sense given that he's been doing fine so far), why does that mean it's OK that they hate him? If they're upset because they think the judging is unfair, they need to take it up with Tim or the judges.

And Kristin, all your little "vagina" story reveals is that you're vaguely homophobic.

Frankly I liked Kristin in the first episode, but by the time of the hat challenge, with all her whining and complaining, I started to think she was kind of an idiot. This blog entry hasn't done anything to change that perception.

Edited by nelblu, Sep 3, 2010 @ 8:13 PM.

[Fukui San]

The designers' complaints about Michael C. not knowing how to sew because he likes to drape reminds me of the story that contestant Stephen Rosenberg (?) told in an interview about his first challenge. (He was on during the season Christian won.) They were working on their first challenge, and he noticed that all Rami was doing was fussing with his sheet of fabric for hours. He thought "man, that guy is in trouble." The next time he notices, he sees that Rami had pretty much created the flowing goddess toga outfit that ended up winning the first challenge.

No one really gave Rami much shit about relying on draping like they do Michael C., but it's really killing the meticulous pattern maker types this season to see him praised when it looks so easy.

[likeacarcrash]

Tom and Lorenzo asked Peach about Michael C. in an interview, and here's what she had to say:

[Laughs] Michael Costello came onto the show, he even said this to us, because he wants his own reality show and he’s creating this character that you see. There were two sides of Michael Costello and one of them did not have the nicest language; not just curse words, subject matter too. I don’t know how to put it, but he is not the victim that they’re painting him to be... <snip> They do have a couple of villains they get to have fun with because they did really set themselves up for what they’ve been portrayed as, but Michael Costello should not be pitied.

Hmm. His edit could get very interesting in the next few weeks.

Edited by likeacarcrash, Sep 3, 2010 @ 9:17 PM.

[Anabolina]

You know, maybe I'm drinking the Michael C haterade because I've either hated or not cared about anything he's made and esspecially anything he's won for. The last dress looked hideous to me. Ugh. And I totally get where Peach is coming through with the 2 sided personality. He just seems so fake (I know on a reality competition, go figure).

[Puds38]

Like Marcel I simply do not understand why they don't simply ignore Micheal. I also don't understand why team Luxe insisted on harping on his lack of technical skills were what caused them a problem. Last I checked he didn't pick the color, fabric or theme for that team and he had immunity.