Monday, February 25, 2008 by
Author
"VictorYA, you were very upset about Jack leaving, weren't you?"
"Mmmm."
"She's kind of a bitch, isn't she, Tim?"
"HAHAHAHA! She sure is, Heidi!"
"Yeah? At least I'm not dressed like Wilma Flintstone."
Y'know, we kinda think VictorYA's gotten a bum rap in the editing. They struggled mightily to portray her as a bitch on the reunion show but to us, it looked more like she wasn't going to play the game. Looking at the clip of Jack announcing his leaving, she certainly looked pissed off, but that doesn't make any sense. Jack referred to her as a friend in interviews and he was one of the few designers to attend her Bryant Park show.
If we had to guess, we think she was pissed about some off-camera shenanigans that we never got to see. Perhaps she felt Jack was being forced off the show. Whatever it was, she had no intention of clearing the air, so unfortunately, she wound up looking pretty bad.
First rule in reality television: Play the game, kittens. Play the game.
[Screencaps: Project RunGay]Post a Comment
100 comments:
This has little to do with this post, but I had to share.
My local fabric store was having a sale, and I was waiting in line to get checked out. There was a big piece of fabric elaborately draped behind the cutting table, and this little 6 year old girl with a doll tucked under her arm goes "Look gramma! Rami was here!"
I start laughing, and start talking to her. She's there to buy things for her American Girl doll (she DESIGNS the clothes, her grandmother just sews them and she's going to be a famous designer someday). Her favorite show is Project Runway and she knew a ton about all the designers, which lead to the following conversation.
"I met Jack! We were in New York and I asked to go to Mood and he was there and I met him!"
"Did you get his autograph?"
"No. He had to leave because of a MRSA."
"...Yes, yes he did. Who do you think is going to win?"
"Christian. He's the best. When I grow up, I'm going to marry Christian."
"Uh...okay."
She was making a 'Christian' outfit for her doll. I didn't realize PR was so cross generational!
I am in complete agreement with you about Victorya. I think the editing of the show deliberately misrepresented her character. I think she said as little as she possibly could on the reunion show because she is very aware how the editing can effect it.
Eh. I still think Victorya is a beeotch with no sense of humor.
Sadly it does seem like she is very guarded. It did come across like she was a big old curmudgeon throughout the show.
However if you go back you could tell that wasn't always the case. The girl is as stoic as you can get however there was a section where Elisa is chatting and saying some classic puppet-girl speak. Victorya can be seen clearly in the background laughing and smiling along with everyone else.
Frank
When they all started harping about Chinese food and they did the cut to Victorya I thought this was the moment she was going to go postal. It seemed like a gratuitous edit.
BrianB
But, of course, she's not Chinese. She's Korean.
Thanks for this post, Boys. I have always felt that Victorya got a bum rap on the edit. They need a villian each season and tried to paint her as one. It never took for me. I think she's just serious and professional and was there to work.
Wilma Flintsone! HA!! Very funny. I do hope you'll tal about Heidi's outfit at last night's Oscars, too.
I didn't get why they singled out VictorYa concerning Jack. I don't remember her reaction at the time. If anything, they should have brought up the team challenge with Ricky. Editing or not, though, she's still humorless and uptight.
Editing's a bitch. But she had to have shown something of such a trait to have it been such a prominent part of her portrayal.
Granted, she was likely sedate or guarded, but it's a reality TV program and she had to know that always being reserved or clenched-jawed was going to look not so...um...friendly.
Do you think maybe Victorya was pissed that they brought Chris back? I know didn't think it was fair.
And I thought Christian was the bigger bitch but I think bitchy men are tolerated. Like when Jillian bitched back it was turned around and she was scolded, "Ew, don't go getting all bitchy".
As a woman, I don't care if you call me a bitch because it is better than being called a pussy.
Kathy Griffin has said "When someone on a reality show says the "editing" made them look bad, it's BULLSHIT! The more reality stars you meet, the more you realize they are EXACTLY what you expect them to be."
I think Victorya came off looking like a frigid, condescending bitch . . . because she ACTED like a frigid, condescending bitch.
When Jack announced he was leaving, the editors showed Victoria standing in the back while everyone else ran up to hug him goodbye. I said to myself,"She's the only one with any sense."
My mother has MRSA, and once you have MRSA you are always considered to "have it" whether or not you have an active breakout. When my mother has an active breakout she has to be kept in isolation and anyone who cares for her has to wear gloves, mask and protective clothing, and you do lots of antibacterial scrubbing when you are finished. For all of the designers to be hugging someone with an active MRSA infection is irresponsible. Someone who had previous MRSA breakouts should have been aware of the precautions that should be in place to protect the people around them. I certainly am sorry that happened with Jack during the competetion ( and think he should have been brought back after his infection was treated- in PR land anything is possible...)But I think Victoya was not edited fairly that day.
-Mom in Maryland
Christian is young. He isn't old enough to be "bitchy", for God's sake. I'm sure his parents didn't try to force him into some mold and just let him be himself. He's got a lot of sarcastic wit...I don't believe he's mean spirited at all. Personally, I think it is "bitchy" to keep calling him "bitchy". And how could anyone not love him after his most recent win when he skipped off the stage. Bitchy?? I don't think so! Adorable? YES!
In the extra's Heidi is trying to ask her, her opinion of her experience, and she clearly states she doesn't want to participate, that she'll just listen.
It's obvious she was contractually obligated to be at the reunion.
And for Tim to say "No, it's not just you", which is rude-speak for Tim, means something when on. Tim probably just got fed up with her attitude, not that I can blame him.
BTW, she couldn't be pissed about Chris coming back, during the filming, because at that point none of the designers knew what was going to happen. But you know what entitled Princess? Suck it up! It's not YOUR show (or yours either, Carmen)
"Bitch" is the wrong term for Victorya. She lacks the flamboyance for true bitchiness, and that's the problem with her portrayal -- we were collectively amused with the designers who preened and pouted and made snarky remarks about one another, but bored with Victorya's chilly reserve.
Her treatment of Ricky wasn't bitchy, just controlling and infantilizing, same as how Rami handled Sweet P.
(LOVE Melanie's story!)
She might not be a total bitch but she does have a stick up her ass. One can argue that you can manipulate footage to make it tell any story you want for reality television BUT no one can deny that at some point she did make those faces and comments.
I think Victorya was taking the high road. She had to attend the reunion show, but that doesn't mean she was going to reward Tim and Heidi for their rudeness.
The cut to a shot of her right after the Chinese food comment was horrible!
"Yeah? At least I'm not dressed like Wilma Flintstone." So true!
I agree about the bum rap. I think it is partly just that she has the type of quiet personality that doesn't 'play' on a reality tv type environment.
And as for being a bitch; I thought that Heidi came off as the BIGGEST bitch. She's very smiley & pretty and so she gets the benefit of the doubt, but she is a hardcore bitch (and NOT in a good way either).
And another reality, for this 'reality show' is: While Heidi is raking in big bucks from it, all these designers are working for free (yes, they are getting notoriety, etc, but that isn't the same as the cash in the bank she is making off of them).
In those circumstances, it wouldn't kill her to be a little gracious and not try to humiliate them on a reunion show, would it? That is what she was trying to do with Victorya.
--GothamTomato
"And I thought Christian was the bigger bitch but I think bitchy men are tolerated."
So true, Psychomom.
After Jack left, VYa was later heard to say that she was pissed that Chris was invited back to the show. I think she gave a written interview on this subject. It resides somewhere in media land.
The editing showed VYa just as she was, stoic. I think the producers tried to goad her into something more, but she stubbornly would not oblige.
Does not make for good T.V. I think that this experience will influence what kind of designer personality is chosen in the future.
Somebody please clarify what it was Heidi actually said to Tim. I watched it twice and didn't catch it either time. Did she actually call VYa a bitch or what did she say?
OT: Link to Tim and Heidi at the Oscars last night, and Tim and Stacey London this morning on the Today Show.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/
21134540/vp/23332256#23332256
I agree with Mom in Maryland. I think Victorya was staying as far away from Jack as she could. If she was such a "close friend" she would have at least come within 25 feet of him which she did not. She does not look sad nor sympathetic, she has the smug/hostile mask on her face that she does so well. She may have been unfairly edited but she actually did put the snotty expression on her face at many points in time!
Quite a few people have said that perhaps she was upset that Chris was brought back but I don't see how they would have this knowledge until AFTER they were told Jack was leaving. The reaction we are seeing from V seems to be about Jack, not Chris.
Car In Utah
Or maybe that's just how she looks when she's upset. Victorya might not emote as others do, in fact if you were to go to a Hong family dinner and announce you were dying, the response might be the same.
In other words, they might be upset, but they'll show it with a poker face.
But there were other reasons not to like her as a designer. And for me, her repetitive designs, and dull color palette were enough.
I got the impression that she was upset about the producers requiring to drop out to get medical attention. I myself, as a viewer, wasn't crazy about that, either. It seemed that since he had immunity, he should have been able to sit that one out, and it seemed like they could have cut him a little slack to get medical attention and then go from there based on what his prognosis was.
If I was his friend, I might have been pissed to, depending on the circumstances.
I still think she's kind of a frosty bitch and didn't care for her design point of view, but I can also agree that the show seemed eager to make her disliked. I just think that the truth, as usual, is somewhere in the gray area; partly the editing and partly her actually being kind of a bitch.
She was very unhappy about Chris returning to the show. She has said as much in interviews. I also think she's very guarded, and I agree that she wasn't going to play the game, but yeah, she comes off as a bitch.
During the challenge where she partnered with Ricky and Elisa, when she refused to be team leader, took over the leadership role, and threw Ricky "under the bus", she kind of proved herself to be a bitch. I'm sure there was a LOT that went on with her that we just didn't see on camera.
CarinUtah -- Did you not watch the episode when Jack leaves? The last person of the designers showed was Vyctoria and Jack -- he was telling her to rock--- THis is so disgusting that I know all of this - but I have become so horribly obsessed with this show. Jack and V were friends through a mutal friend before the show. THey are still friends (according to all posts). What I heard was that when Jack annouced that he would have to leave -- all the designers wanted to finish his product for him and there not be an elimination -- however, the producers were against it. I think V is a strong principled (and based on what she believes should be principles) and will not alter. I think Bravo has made her appear to be the villian. I wish her luck. What Chica La Bouche says makes sense.
Note to MELANIE -- What a great kid -- I hope somehow Christian hears about this -- what a compliment!
I think when someone throws off a vibe that's a few degrees off, others do pick up on it. That's probably what Tim and Heidi were commenting on.
But I did find it to be rather ungracious for Heidi to bring it up.
Victorya probably isn't the first person you'd approach at a party. She's probably not such a villian, she quieter with a will of steel, and most likely easily overlooked and misunderstood.
You can't blame the producers for all that eye rolling, the way she treated Ricky or her calling Sweet P "Kit." Those things betray a snobby attitude.
At the same time, it was obvious that there was more going on than she was going to reveal. I agree with the boys--the producers railroaded her because she wouldn't play it the way they wanted.
Okay. The reality is the girl jsut does not come across as that likeable on tv and I think the it does come across as her having a very guarded personality.
I think back to her various interviews talking about the people she did become friends with on the show. Jack, Christian and Elisa are very different people and she had different reasons for connecting with them. But the common thread seems to be allowing herself to be friends with them.
She mentions how she became friends with jack based on the fact they had a mutal friend. The fact Jack was friends with this other person was an instant recommendation in her mind. She says she became friends with Elisa when it was clear to her Elisa was for real.
Guarded people can come across as very cold, arrogant and unapproachable. It takes effort to get through to them and make a connection.
Personally i do understand people's aversion to her personality. Part of the situation is genuinely of her own making. I do believe she comes across as cold but there were probably times when she was relaxed and more likeable but when didn't get to see. We barely saw it during the course of the show.
Frank
Victorya has never really been a villian in my mind (passive-agressive as portrayed on the show, yes, but not a villian), and I'm not the kind to hurl names at someone I only know from TV. But I'm with TLo that her beef had more to do with the producers' actions in light of Jack's diagnosis than with anything having to do with the other contestants or Heidi or Tim directly. I suspect this is one of the reasons Tim's podcast was not around this year, because you know he would not have kept his mouth shut about it (and that's part of why I liked the podcasts). So, I'm not that quick to call Victorya names, but she could have been proactive in explaining her side on the reunion show. Now we'll never really know what went on....
I just don't know what to think about VictorYa. The Jack scene IS confusing but it makes me lean toward "this person just deals with anything that's unpleasant with the one same face". It appeared she was "angry" but maybe it was she was so upset about him having to leave, didn't want to break down if she and Jack had bonded so just landed with this pissed off look. That situation actually makes me rethink my position on her just being an arrogant beeyotch. Now how she responded to St. Tim at various times is a whole other story.
YaYa is an android; it's the only logical explanation for showing a nearly complete lack of emotion.
Wally said...
Kathy Griffin has said "When someone on a reality show says the "editing" made them look bad, it's BULLSHIT! The more reality stars you meet, the more you realize they are EXACTLY what you expect them to be."
I think Victorya came off looking like a frigid, condescending bitch . . . because she ACTED like a frigid, condescending bitch.
Do you also believe that Tim Gunn praised Ricky's denim dress? Because that is what the editors would have you believe to fit the story line. Tim Gunn himself said the editing made it seem as though he praised Ricky, when in fact he had given Ricky a stern warning.
bitchesdye said...
You can't blame the producers for all that eye rolling, the way she treated Ricky or her calling Sweet P "Kit." Those things betray a snobby attitude.
At the same time, it was obvious that there was more going on than she was going to reveal. I agree with the boys--the producers railroaded her because she wouldn't play it the way they wanted.
So much has been read into when she called Sweet P "Kit". Let me tell you I call my own children outside of their names (and they are not all even the same sex)daily. She was tired and she was offering to make Sweet P a sandwitch, and that is really kind of nice, isn't it?
I don't think she got a bum rap at all. Editing can only go so far, and I can usually tell someone's character. I think she is a stuck up bitch. There is only so much editing can do.
I think she was angry because Chris came back. Their little clique (Jack, VictorYA, PPS, and Kevin) admittedly hang out together and don't hang with the other new yorkers. So I think it pissed her off that Chris came back in Jack's place.
Another thing was that when she was auf'd, the others weren't jumping to hug her. So she said "no group hugs" just to save face. No one was getting up except Christian ( a member of her clique) So there is something to the other's not liking her.
I have to second what Sewing Siren said about VictorYA calling Sweet P "Kit." I have a boy and a girl and love them to death, but on certain tiring days I will just point to one of them and say, "You there," because I can't remember their names right then.
I don't think VictorYA is the bitch the editors made her out to be. She's just a very stoic, non-animated person who doesn't have a sense of humor. That's not a crime in itself. She didn't make good TV and didn't belong on the show in the first place, so they had to do SOMETHING with her.
OMG!! Wilma Flinstone -- EXACTLY!!!
She's just a bitter loser. I don't like her at all.
I think she was pissed because Jack had to leave. I never liked her but never understood why people hate her so much.
Maybe the reason Victorya was pissed off that Jack was leaving was because she thought that the PR producers should allow him to return to the competition after his MRSA was treated.
Let me tell you I call my own children outside of their names (and they are not all even the same sex)daily.
Darling, there are days I can't even get the dog's name right, let alone my kids. One day the refrigerator was called, "the white thing in the kitchen." And that's on a day when I'm relatively well rested!
Victorya needn't have been so upset. And there is no saying "what if?" I have to say, looking at Jack's portfolio, I don't think he would've made it to the final 3.
Also, if I compare his dress that he made in the competition --the car upholstery smock to Chris's puff bolero dress? Chris's is way better.
Between him and Chris March, Chris has far more derring do than the supposedly "anti-skank", Jackie Kennedy, big print loving Jack.
"sewing siren said: So much has been read into when she called Sweet P "Kit"."
Right?
Seriously, what's the big deal?
--GothamTomato
I think the producers didn't get what they were getting with the mix of personalities this season, and they were bound and determined to create drama any way they could. Case in point: several of the various cut-away shots during the reunion were really just brutally nasty. You really get the sense that VictorYA and Carmen were not well-liked by the production team.
At the same time, I wonder how much people's audition tapes misled the production team. Case in point: Jillian's tape. Did we see ANY of that personality during the show. Nuh-uh. I never watched VictorYA's but perhaps it, too, promised more personality and less emotional control than was delivered?
oops, brain fart. Meant to say the producers didn't like what they got.
I am sure there is a cultural aspect to it too. Asians in general are very respectful of others, especially their elders. Maybe it is the way she was raised, not to talk back. Maybe that is why she didn't defend herself. Also, that is maybe why she doesn't say too much, because of her upbringing.
Then again, there was the whole Ricky thing where she showed her passive-agressive side in full force. So maybe she is just a bitch.
I think reality tv always edits for certain effects. And some people have personalities that are simply easier for editors to fit into a mold. Also, some personalities are simply more likable from afar. I definitely don't want any reality tv shows and tell myself that I have any real understanding of the people at all. It's all smoke and mirrors, delivered to me through the lens of someone else's perspective. But it sure is fun to watch PR. Sometimes.
But what could she have been upset about actually? Jack clearly had to leave.
Did she want him to come back? Did she want the show to wait for him? Did she want him not to be replaced?
The latter is the only one that really makes sense to me.
Yeah. I rewatched all the episodes last week.
You can see that there are plenty of places where Victorya is smiling, laughing, congratulating someone, hugging someone -- but, that's all in the background.
Her character here is The Wiley Chinaman and that's that.
-- desertwind
Editing, schmediting.
Do you really think YaYa was passing aroung girl scout cookies and trading email addresses with the other designers during the breaks in the reunion shoot?
Does anyone know if she has any siblings? The only child/princess profile is pretty strong with her, but I could be wrong.
Editing, schmediting.
Do you really think YaYa was passing aroung girl scout cookies and trading email addresses with the other designers during the breaks in the reunion shoot?
Does anyone know if she has any siblings? The only child/princess profile is pretty strong with her, but I could be wrong.
What I don't get is how people automatically assume that when Jack announced his leaving and there was a shot of Vciotrai's face that it was in live time. We haven't a clue if that was a reaction shot during the announcement or before the announcement or after the announcement or... . It's an entirely separate scene shot so I'm suspect of that part of the show just because we already know they edit it out of sequence sometimes.
And she was completely right not to go running up and hugging someone with an active outbreak of MRSA and I'm pissed off that the production crew didn't warn the others not to do it to.
Don't you think that the minute Jack postulated 'MRSA' that someone in production wasn't googling away on their blackberry and calling the production office to get some medical advice and *knew* that it wasn't a smart thing to get too close to someone with MRSA?
And, frankly, I was pretty pissed at Jack, too. *He*, most of all, knew that he was putting people at risk. He'd *had* MRSA before. And he did nothing to wave the designers back.
Yeah. I think the real problem with her is that she *is* stoic combined with an inability to blend well with others (i.e. team challenges).
It's not a particularly sympathetic or nice thing (unless, I guess, you're under fire in a war zone), but I don't think it equates to being a bitch.
A bitch will belittle and scheme and scream. She was just cold (and smart, if the Jack editing *is* correct).
Let's not bring ethnicity into this.
desertwind's comment of "Her character here is The Wiley Chinaman and that's that." was unnecessary. It's spelled "wily", BTW.
I have a very close friend who works on the show and they mentioned to me that VictorYA is as bitchy as she apears and was a complete diva/pain-in-the-ass for the entire crew.
Sometimes reality t.v. edits the "characters" to portray them as mean or bitchy or drama queens, but in this case they had to edit her to me more likable.
PS -- I can only imagine that the producers are scared to death they'll wind up getting sued for health and safety violations. And that Victorya made a stink at the time about how this serious medical emergency was being handled.
melanie-Thanks for sharing that precious moment with us!
It's so much fun to find random PR fans out there and discuss the show with them!
Lynette, I was NOT referring to Victorya's personal character.
Editing turns all of the contestants into "characters" in a story. The "character" that was created for Victorya is "The Wily Chinaman". I am being deliberate in my use of a racist term here.
Why else would they cut to her right after Christian complains about Chinese food?
-- desertwind
Well, I do work for Bravo, in what capacity I cannot say. But she was not edited to look bad. She was actually much worse. We read this blog regularly and don't normally comment, but I had to set the record straight on this one.
Happily anon.
Anonymous said...
Well, I do work for Bravo, in what capacity I cannot say. But she was not edited to look bad. She was actually much worse. We read this blog regularly and don't normally comment, but I had to set the record straight on this one.
Happily anon.
Thanks for setting the record straight anonymous. I promise,from now on, I will believe every single thing I see on TV.
THANK YOU tlo! i can't tell you how tired i was of the comments accusing victorya of being a snarky, ice-princess, cold-hearted bitch when to me all it looked like was that she was simply more stoic and introverted than her competitors. but boy, did PR ever have fun manipulating her pursed mouth expression for the benefit of a mob who has nothing better to do than participate in a VYa hatefest:
- omg, VYa called sweet P by the name of the girl she's been living with for the past few weeks! what a bitch!
- omg, VYa raised her eyebrows at heidi! what a whore!
- omg, VYa said that didn't like ricky's ideas for their challenge! how passive-aggressive of her!
- omg, VYa designed and stood by a hideous garment that i would never wear! how arrogant of her!
that sort of thing. you gotta wonder about these poor overly judgmental souls typing away such frothing hate at their computers about someone who actually hasn't even said anything. i've said it once, i'll say it again. americans hate and assume the worst about their introverts.
Great story, Melanie!
Lima Bean, Heidi said, "Victorya's always a little uptight--or is it just me?" or something pretty close to that.
Maybe Victorya's like she seemed, maybe not; more likely, somewhere in between. But, for God sake: frigid, cold, bitch, uptight? What grade are some of you people in?
And desert wind, seriously, what planet are living on that you think it's okay to throw around ethnic slurs and stereotypes?
I AM NOT THROWING AROUND ETHNIC SLURS OR STEREOTYPES.
Honestly, I'm really not. For god sake. (Did you SEE that edit in the reunion show? Christian moans about Chinese food and they cut straight to Victorya! What's up with that?
She is from Korea. I know that. "Wily Chinaman" is a racist stereotype. I know that.
I'm saying that they created a "villain" "character" for Victorya, which goes further than "bitch".
I don't like it and I think it was a lazy, easy story-edit.
-- desertwind
PS - I think we can take two things from this little exercise.
(a) Use quotation marks more liberally in comments and
(b) Be very, very nice to production when you're on a reality show.
Oh, carp. I'm digging myself a bigger hole.
I do not throw these racist stereotypes out here lightly. I have a point to make about how her "character" has been edited.
I am saying the story-edit created for Victorya's "the villain character" is:
(a) "The bitch"
While rewatching all the episodes last week, I was struck by how in real life (and, visible in the background of many scenes) she is more relaxed and fun with her fellow designers than the "bitch" character she's edited to portray. For example, we never learned during the show that she and Elisa became close friends.
It's clear now that she did not play nice with the producers and production crew and they've got their revenge.
and (b) "the stereotypical asian villain we've seen in a million movies". I did not pick up on this "story-character" until they cut straight to her after the Chinese food comments at the reunion. Why cut to Victorya then? Did they think they were being funny and cute with that edit? All in good fun?
THAT edit made me wonder just what else are they saying about her "character". Not her personally -- the "character" they've created for her in the story-arc of the show.
Perhaps I over-reacted to that particular edit because I've picked up some outright racist comments made on other boards. Perhaps they really thought that edit was all in good fun.
Perhaps they didn't think about it at all.
-- desertwind
desert wind,
it seems I misread your intent, and I apologize. I'm not sure I completely get your point, but I do take you at your word. I'm not sure you realize that "China" put together with "man" (with or without "wiley") is considered as offensive as "the n word" and all those other terms most of us (hopefully) leave out of our vocabularies. I suspect you wouldn't have used those words, even to make the same point, so you might not have realized it's as offensive.
Has anyone noticed how Wonder Twin-ish Rami and Steven look?
-Kim
desertwind: Re: your 3:50 post. There you go! See, if you had posted these thoughts instead of the original post, there'd be no misunderstanding your opinions. Okay, peace.
Andrea, I know exactly how offensive that term is and I used it to make my point about racial stereotyping and popular storytelling.
It was lazy and cheap and I should have found a better way to express my thoughts.
Believe me, I apologize for offending any of you.
-- desertwind
PS Hmmmm - If this were a dissertation I'd go back and re-re-watch all the episodes to make or break my point about what the editors were doing. But, frankly, this season was not that great.
I never thought of Victorya as a bitch. That's mostly a word that people use to denigrate women who dare to exhibit strong personalities and make their opinions known. Most bitches are really just women who don't take shit from anyone.
However, Victorya most definitely was the most passive-aggressive person they've ever had on the show. Refusing to be the team leader on Ricky and Elisa's team (because she knew that if they went down, she'd be the one to be aufed), and then undercutting Ricky at every possible opportunity? Classic. And nasty. That's what made me dislike her, not her robotic stoicism.
VictorYA never bothered me. I think in way she's very introverted, not necessarily a bitch...plus the fact that I'm sure she's pissed she didn't win.
I have a very close friend who works on the show and they mentioned to me that VictorYA is as bitchy as she apears and was a complete diva/pain-in-the-ass for the entire crew.
Thank You.
It's what a lot of us thought.
and
i've said it once, i'll say it again. americans hate and assume the worst about their introverts.
Go ahead, say it. It isn't true. It might be in your case as an introverted poster, that you feel misjudged yourself. However,
when someone tosses off vibes, undercuts others by becoming a shrew, then people aren't likely to give them a second chance, introvert or NOT.
I remembering hearing Tim in an interview that some of the designers were much worse than they were being depicted. The editing process actually made a lot of them come off better than they actually behaved during the filming process.
I think the interview was on YouTube, and from what I recall, it was about a 20 minutes talk with an interviewer at a restaurant.
this is what i think:
i feel that it was innappropriate to display the clips of jack leaving because not only was it tacky, but he honestly didn't have any desire to see it. why should they remind him of how he could have almost won? i think victorya felt the same way. she knows they try to make it drama filled and she didn't want to be a part of it.
You can't have it both ways: TLo have said - repeatedly, and I think, rightly - that PR is entertainment. It's a reality show to entertain us, first and foremost. And VYa's failure to "entertain" is in fact a failure. IF we accept the premise that this is an ENTERTAINMENT first, then I think it's fair to rail against VYA for not "playing the game" (ie, entertaining us). She can't be just stoic and "there to work" and be professional if the show is about entertainment first.
I didn't like her clothing at all, and I did not care for her behavior, or lack thereof. She was not gracious at all when she won OR lost on the runway - that eye-rolling thing! She deployed the Eye-Roll at times that seemed inappropriate, and yes - that gave the impression she was snobby and nasty.
I never thought VYA was that heinous in the team challenge - I thought she was foolishly obstinate and passive-aggressive for sure, but not a ragingly bitchy passive-aggressor. But I found her very unpleasant, like soured milk, at virtually all times.
Desertwind-- I totally understood you when you used the phrase "wily Chinaman", you were referring to intent of the editing. I loved your comment.
Andrea-- Has it ever occurred to you that "off limit" pejoratives can only retain their sting as long as they're off limit, and unspoken? (What's inherently offensive about "Chinaman", anyway? Got something against the Chinese?) A far better strategy to diffuse supposedly-derogatory words is to actually use them.
Frankly, I give kudos to Victorya for refusing to get sucked into the vicious game being played at the reunion show. It was so damned obvious that the producers wanted nothing but conflict and cruelty. I was sickened by it.
Good on ya, Victorya!
I'd like to see the contracts that they all have to sign and see where it says "You must be witty and entertaining."
I agree that Project Runway must be entertaining but are the designers also required to entertain?
I think this year there was no Wendy, Santino or Jeffrey to hate. Christian? Can you really hate him? I mean really? Rami-- not hatable, just smug. No one was nasty, no one was vicious, no one was psychotic. The producers had to make someone the villian and the best they could come up with with Vya.
I was totally confused by that whole segment.
victorya i really admire you
props to VYA
VICTORYA YOU'RE AWESOME
WHAT A WAY TO SHOVE IT IN HEIDI'S FACE!
I HAVE TO AGREE
ON THE FACT THAT HEIDI IS A HARDCORE BITCH.
SHE'S ALL SMILEY AND BUBBLY AND HAS HER CUTE LITTLE GERMAN ACCENT BUT SHE COMES OFF AS VERY HEARTLESS SOMETIMES. I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT SHE BITCHED TO VICTORYA ON TELEVISION. HOW STUPID THAT IS. I THINK VICTORYA HANDLED IT VERY WELL. I WOULD'VE BITCHED SLAPPED HEIDI'S CONCEALER CLAD SPRAY TANNED FACE, HAVE YOU SEEN THE BITCH W.O HER MAKEUP? FUG.
Victorya is seen being VERY sweet and friendly and supportive a lot, too. And she's seen laughing and having a good time a lot, too. I wish we knew what was going on with the angry looks, though.
The fact that Jack attended her show at Bryant Park tells me that she is not as "bad" as the editing of the show indicates.
I read on ANOTHER P.R. blog that Victorya was angry about the Jack situation because she wanted Project Runway to hold off production long enough to let Jack get treatment and come back on the show... or something like that. This is completely unverified, though. The fact that she & Jack are friends now lends some credence to that theory.
In this case, refusing to "play the game" and being a bitch are one and the same. In other interviews, she has admitted that by the denim challenge, PR had outlived its usefulness to her, and she was ready to leave. Why she ever thought she would be able to act like a human being with cameras pointed at her 24/7 is beyond me. It's obvious that she enjoys being cold and direct. If she's happy, fine. But she better learn to deal with the reactions with a little more understanding. She's the odd one, not all the rest of us.
Yeah, I gotta agree with cb. PR is about watching people make designs, but it's also a television show. Personalities are going to be fairly important. On TV, you can be entertaining, or boring but likeable, or a villain, and it's all good. What you can't be is BLANK. Victorya came way too close to blank for me. There's just nothing there to respond to. It's not just about being stonefaced in her reactions, either. I mean, refusing to answer questions at the reunion show? Why did she even go on PR in the first place if she wasn't interested in the television aspect of it?
Hi all,
I wasn't going to post on this thread until
uncle vanya said:
*If she's happy, fine. But she better learn to deal with the reactions with a little more understanding. She's the odd one, not all the rest of us.*
What a striking truth. How many people in life 'get away with' aberrant(oddball) eyeball-rolling-stone-faced behavior ~courtesy~ of the civility of others?
The liberal kindness of others allows many a sour-person to be a cranky-uptight-pickle-faced-biatch.
I say ...stop it. Call 'em out, every bloody time.
The point at which Tim said, "No, it's not just you" lent gravitas to the situation. Tim, I think, regards most everyone with civility, I suspect it's his middle name.
Polly Civil Syllabicus.
If he dissed tha' chick...something(s) went down that we don't know about. sez me.
p.s. don't hate the YA, just suggest that she spend some time in front of a mirror--practicing happy faces...if only for photo shoots. :)
Those "victims of editing" gave the producers ammo. If they did not act like that, there are not pieces to edit together making them look bad.. but then again, if a camera crew followed any of us around all day, they would probably have enough to make a "bitch edit"
I have a feeling that Victorya is one of those women who gets along with gay men, but not other women. She views women with contempt, especially those who are confident.
Good for Heidi for saying how she behaved. Maybe she'll shape up. Given Jack's behavior in that interview in The Advocate, I'd say he and Victorya are two people of average and rather pedestrian competency in design, and are well matched in bitchiness. Of course they'd be friends.
honesty.not.pc said...
I have a very close friend who works on the show and they mentioned to me that VictorYA is as bitchy as she apears and was a complete diva/pain-in-the-ass for the entire crew.
Sometimes reality t.v. edits the "characters" to portray them as mean or bitchy or drama queens, but in this case they had to edit her to me more likable.
***** ***** ***** ***** *****
Anonymous said...
Well, I do work for Bravo, in what capacity I cannot say. But she was not edited to look bad. She was actually much worse. We read this blog regularly and don't normally comment, but I had to set the record straight on this one.
So Kathy Griffin's comment about people who claim to be the victim of editing are frequently far worse in reality applies to YaYa...
I wonder honestly if she didn't know she was doing the bitchface and the eyerolls? I had an employee once who at 60 would respond to everything at meetings and one on ones with customers with faces, eyerolls and sighs until we started taking her up on corrective action regarding it (customers had complained quite a bit). She quite loudly went over our head saying she had never done any of this. We went to a meeting with her and the higher ups about the issue, and she spent the whole time... rolling eyes, sighing making bitchy faces. If Vya's the same case, maybe seeing it on tv was a rude awakening?
oh my god, people!
Pleeeeeeeeese......
stop making excuses for victorya.
Did you not feel the vibe coming off of her from the beginning???
I mean, c'mon!!!!
That girl has attitude and then some! She's a combination of bitchy and insecure. The insecurity and desperate need to succeed makes her completely cut-throat. She is obviously the product of a family that puts enormous pressures on her to win, win win. I mean, did you not see her stunned face of disbelief when she was voted off? She was completely mortified and in disbelief.
I still think she's a Bitch with a capital B.
honesty.not.pc said...
"I have a very close friend who works on the show and they mentioned to me that VictorYA is as bitchy as she apears and was a complete diva/pain-in-the-ass for the entire crew.
Sometimes reality t.v. edits the "characters" to portray them as mean or bitchy or drama queens, but in this case they had to edit her to me more likable."
I figured as much.
***** ***** ***** ***** *****
Anonymous said...
"Well, I do work for Bravo, in what capacity I cannot say. But she was not edited to look bad. She was actually much worse. We read this blog regularly and don't normally comment, but I had to set the record straight on this one."
"So Kathy Griffin's comment about people who claim to be the victim of editing are frequently far worse in reality applies to YaYa..."
I'm sure it was most unpleasant to be around her. Victorya presented herself as condescending and rigid. Team-player isn't in her vocabulary. I'm no Ricky fan, but she challenged him just about every way possible in that team challenge. If she's getting a bum rap, it's because she wants it that way.
Who knows how many times off-camera anyone called Victorya on her behavior. Maybe Heidi's and Tim's comment on the reunion show was a well-thought one that eluded to some really bad behavior throughout the series. You didn't hear anyone speak up to disagree.
VictorYA showed at Bryant Park? Everything on the fashion week website said she was showing downtown...
I thought Victorya was being close mouthed because I had surmised (not sure how) that she didn't like that Jack had to leave the show permanently if he had to go to the hospital to get better with no possibility of return since they said she and Jack were friends. But that's just me guessing.
She didn't get any bum rap she was just plain mean spririted and thinking she was somehow better than everyone else. She deserved the boot and thank gawd we don't have to see her bad tude at Bryant Park. Go back to the 501 Jean episode when Chris asked if a pair or two of jeans on the floor of the warehouse were hers and you'll get a taste of her meanspiritedness.
Probably too late for anyone to see, but check out what Tim Gunn told the Washington Post about Vya.
ON VICTORYA, WHO HE SAYS MISTAKENLY THOUGHT THE SHOW ALLOWED MORE TIME FOR DESIGN CHALLENGES: Her situation "was rather unique. We had to have two off-camera interventions. She was a crabby-appleton. She was so sour and dour and bringing the production down. . . . She said: 'I never dreamed it would be like this. I thought we would have breaks. I thought you cheated it!' "
Desertwind-- I totally understood you when you used the phrase "wily Chinaman", you were referring to intent of the editing. I loved your comment.
Agreed, and I'm Asian myself.
Post a Comment