One dozen aspiring fashion designers vie for the honor of their own trendy clothing line and the sponsorship of the high-end Banana Republic clothing chain in Season One of the cable-TV reality series Project Runway. Hosted by supermodel Heidi Klum, the series follow the hopefuls as they participate in a dizzying array of tasks, challenges, and elimination rounds staged at Parsons The New School for Design. Acting as arbiters for who is retained, who is cut out and who ultimately wins the competition are world-famous designer Michael Kors and Elle magazine editor Nina Garcia. In addition to the aforementioned prizes, the winner will also receive $100,000 and a much-coveted berth at New Yorks annual Olympus Fashion Week. This seasons crop of contestants runs the usual reality-show gamut from Sweet to Snooty, Hardworking to Lazy, and Ethical to (comparatively) Underhanded. In alphabetical order, the lineup includes Marion Cadenas, Nora Caliguri, Ken Danieli, Daniel Franco, Starr Ilzhoefer, Kevin Johnn, Jay McCarroll, Wendy Pepper, Robert Plotkin, Vanessa Riley, Kara Saun, Austin Scarlett and Alexandra Vidal. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide