“Project Runway: All Stars”
Thursday 9pm, Lifetime
The good news: 13 of the most beloved and/or memorable contestants from “Project Runway” seasons past are back for a second chance. We’re talking Season 1’s Austin Scarlett (now with an unfortunate pornstache), Season 4’s Sweet P, Season 8’s Michael Costello, and Season 5’s Kenley Collins, for my money the most hateful contestant in this show’s history. The bad news: none of the regular “PR” crew is back—no Heidi, no Michael, no Nina. Instead, they’re replaced by new judges Isaac Mizrahi and Georgina Chapman, with model host Angela Lindvall and Marie Claire editor Joanna Coles in the Tim Gunn role. I am perplexed. The potentially worse news is that, according to a story that Gawker ran months ago, an inside source claims that obvious favoritism on the part of the judges ensured that a specific fan-favorite designer ended up winning the whole thing. So this should be interesting…
“Absolutely Fabulous”
Sunday 10pm, BBC America/Logo
I may bitch about networks being out of ideas, bringing back hit shows from the recent past because nothing is working now. But I won’t bitch about this, sweetie darlings! “Absolutely Fabulous,” the gloriously hedonistic British sitcom starring Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley, is celebrating its 20th anniversary (I’ll pause while you gag over your lost youth) with three new specials in 2012. The first airs this week, and involves Saffy returning home from prison, Patsy discovering that she has no actual traceable identity, and Bubble reenacting last summer’s royal wedding.
“House of Lies”
Sunday 10pm, Showtime
Don Cheadle is one of those actors who gets lots of roles and lots of acclaim, but is rarely viewed as a headliner. This new project might change that. In “House of Lies,” Cheadle plays a successful, totally unscrupulous management consultant who lies, cheats, and manipulates his way into mega-dollar deals with wealthy companies. I think we would all enjoy seeing the rich get fleeced for a change. Cheadle is joined by another well-regarded, can’t-quite-break-through star, Kristen Bell (“Veronica Mars,” “Heroes”), plus Ben Shwartz, better known as Jean-Ralphio on “Parks and Recreation.” The concept is interesting and the main cast is great, but I worry that the execution might veer into forced quirkiness, what with cross-dressing plot lines and a pill-popping, sex-obsessed ex who doubles as a business rival. It’s starting to sound a little “Ally McBeal” up in here.