TLC Makes Most Awkward Show on TV

I'm watching a show on TLC where they find 4 people with varying degrees of knowledge in fashion design to create an outfit for a "celebrity" for a red carpet event. I probably could have put that last phrase in quotes, too. And just one of the designs gets chosen and worn by the "celebrity." The awkwardness comes in when the designers, with their varying levels of knowledge, show their sketches to the celebrity. Out of the 4 designers, only one sketch resembled a fashion illustration. The others were amateurish and embarrassing. As they are being briefed on their mission, the host says that they will have seamstresses on hand to help. So these people can't draw or sew? What is this show about?

Another uncomfortable moment came in when one of the designers was showing her sketch and the host said, "I like what you did with the rhinestones on the back." And the designer cuts her off (or that's how it seemed the way it was edited) and says, "They're not rhinestones, they're Austrian crystals." The host was like, "Hmmkay."

And hearing the designers explain their designs brought me back to art school all over again. Critique day. Some people were better than others. And those who were really bad got called out on that every time. It could be very stressful.

Then the celebrity has to choose 3 designs from among the 4. The celebrity's thoughts were transparent, "Okay, I have to wear one of these. They all look horrible. So now I have to choose the 3 best of these disasters. Ooh, this is hard! Can I back out of this? Is it too late?"

Way to go, TLC, your answer to Project Runway is an uncomfortable failure.