'Project Runway' returns to Bravo in the wake of Weinstein and Co's bankruptcy
The mind-boggling stress, the drama, and the high fashion are coming back — 'Project Runway' will be back for its 17th season on Bravo. The reality show is coming back, quite poetically, to NBC Universal, the network it first premiered on way back in 2004
After airing their first five seasons on the network, the show moved on with A+E Network's Lifetime four years later. It's a homecoming said Andy Cohen as he announced its return during the network's NYC event at Radio City Music Hall on Monday. "Project Runway is coming back where it all started," he reportedly said, "It's coming home on Bravo."
The show's future was thrown in a limbo after Harvey Weinstein's company Weinstein Co. went bankrupt following the grotesque sexual harassment allegations. His company owned the show and after the allegations started pouring in, A+E Networks wanted nothing to do with him, thus putting Project Runway's future in a limbo.
Now that Lantern Entertainment LLC has won the bid to get ownership of Weinstein's company, whose assets include 'Project Runway', the show is making a return. Bravo Media and Lantern have come to an agreement to let the fashion dreams thrive.
"We are beyond excited to reboot Project Runway at the network where it all began. Leaning into the creative process in an entertaining way has always been part of Bravo's DNA, and 'Project Runway' perfectly captures that," said Frances Berwick, president of Lifestyle Networks at NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment, speaking at the event. "This franchise will be an important cornerstone to complement Bravo's original premium scripted and unscripted slate, and we expect it to drive the same level of fandom and passion as we experienced last time it was on Bravo," she said.