Bravo TV has lost Project Runway to Lifetime Network. What’s a television channel to do when they have lost their biggest hit? Make a competing spin-off, of course! Introducing Fashion Show, the newest fashion reality TV competition.

I am a definite fan of Project Runway. When I found out about Fashion Show I assumed it would be a cheap imitation, much like a knock-off of a designer’s most successful piece. The show premiered May 7th and I caught the first episode online at BravoTV.com, but the show airs Thursday nights on Bravo. The premise is the same with a few minor tweaks for copyright’s sake. Fifteen professional designers compete for a $125,000 prize to use towards their clothing line that will be available for sale on BravoTV.com. Four finalists will create a full collection and the viewers will determine the winner. The judges will facilitate the competition from 15 designers down to 4 through a weekly elimination challenge. The judges are Isaac Mizrahi (fashion designer), Kelly Rowland (singer, actress, and fashionista), Fern Mallis (Senior Vice President of IMG Fashion), and a weekly guest judge. Each week there is a mini-challenge too, which is judged by Laura Brown of Harper’s Bazaar magazine. Isaac Mizrahi and Kelly Rowland are also the co-hosts as well as playing the “Tim Gunn” role of checking in on the designers.

My skepticism was keen as the show opened with similar music, similar cinematography, and a similar overall look and feel to the show. But soon enough, I was won over. Fashion Show actually fixes a lot of the pitfalls of Project Runway. Having an audience at the runway show for each elimination round is much more entertaining and lively. Not having the weird model challenge (that apparently is there to keep the models on their best behavior, there doesn’t seem to be a point otherwise) keeps the focus on the designers and their work instead of the models. Once the show got rolling, while it still had the feel of Project Runway, the music changed, the graphic approach shifted, and overall it felt like an updated, polished version of an old, beloved classic. Seriously, I didn’t expect to like the show this much!

I love Isaac Mizrahi. He’s so enthusiastic, cute, and approachable. I love his affordable designs at Target. I should’ve realized that I’d like him better than Michael Korr. I miss Heidi Klum, but I like how Kelly Rowland is a down-to-earth southern girl turned fashionista. She’s a good representation of the viewers. I also miss Tim Gunn, but it’s okay. I can be a two-timer and watch Project Runway as well when it returns. I’m still getting to know Fern Mallis, but she’s definitely qualified for the position of judge. We’ll have to wait and see how well received this panel of judges will be over the course of the season.

Fashion Show is still very new and we’re not sure how the Project Runway fans will react. Will they add this to their fashion-based reality TV repertoire or will they reject it as a faux pas? Well, I can tell you one thing for sure: They won over this Project Runway fan. Tell me, have they won you over too?