Heidi Klum on Returning With out Tim Gunn, Season 21 

[This story contains minor spoilers from the Project Runway season 21 premiere.]

Being the host of Challenge Runway is technically a job, however Heidi Klum doesn’t take into account it work. 

“It’s not even work for me. It’s not, actually. It’s a pleasure,” the supermodel and sprawling actuality TV host tells The Hollywood Reporter when requested what it’s wish to be again on the collection alongside some new and previous faces. Amongst these are longtime choose Nina Garcia, new addition Legislation Roach and the designer’s mentor and season 4 winner Christian Siriano. 

A discrepancy between season 21 and its current predecessors mark the return of Klum to the internet hosting chair. By now, Challenge Runway followers know the timeline of the present’s shifts prior to now few years: Klum and Tim Gunn exited the collection collectively after season 16, Karlie Kloss and Siriano stepped in to fill their footwear for season 17, Kloss departed by season 18 and the collection subsequently returned to Bravo. 

Now, it’s time for an overhaul of what government producer Michael Rucker describes as “the OG,” referring to Challenge Runway being one of many earliest actuality TV exhibits. Other than Klum’s homecoming, Rucker can be reviving his EP credit score after engaged on the primary 5 seasons of the present. That, mixed with a shift to Disney-backing on Freeform, breathes brand-new life into Challenge Runway.

To rejoice the premiere of season 21, THR spoke with Klum and EP Rucker in separate edited conversations beneath concerning the dynamic forged (with two franchise alumni, twins and a RuPaul’s Drag Race queen), how the host gathered a star-studded record of visitor judges and why Gunn wasn’t introduced again to Challenge Runway alongside Klum. 

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Why was it the correct time so that you can return as a number, Heidi, and also you as EP, Michael? 

HEIDI KLUM Generally the universe brings issues again to you, like a boomerang. It goes on the market, after which whoops, it comes proper again. It was A kind of moments like, “Sure, why not?” I really like the present. I helped promote the present 21 years in the past when it went to completely different networks and [when we were] attempting to get this present on the air. Folks had been like, “Why would we wish to watch individuals sew?” And 21 years later, Challenge Runway remains to be actually the one [fashion] competitors actuality present that has managed to nonetheless be on the market that individuals get pleasure from and love watching. It’s a testomony that what we’re doing is the correct factor. Folks love watching gifted individuals doing stuff on a time crunch with additionally not some huge cash. They love watching the method and the end result. It’s only a actually enjoyable present to look at. 

MICHAEL RUCKER By season 5 [of Project Runway], I used to be burned out. We had a smaller workforce and we had a choice to make of whether or not or not we had been going to proceed on — again within the day with Dan [Cutforth] and Jane [Lipsitz of production company Magical Elves] — and we determined to not. I felt like we had run our course. We had accomplished wonderful work and I actually by no means thought I used to be going to work on Challenge Runway ever once more. I used to be requested to showrun a couple of seasons when it got here again on Bravo, and I mentioned no. It felt like going again to show at highschool or be the health club trainer.

However when this chance got here up, [that changed] as a result of it was Disney and since I showran Hulu and Freeform’s [Chrissy & Dave] Dine Out, and I actually loved my working expertise with Hulu and Disney and Freeform. We had lightning in a bottle within the first 5 seasons. Not solely was it a tremendous storytelling machine, however individuals discovered it very humorous. We had well-rounded designers and you bought to know their personalities, and that’s one thing I actually wished to verify we introduced again and Disney was very a lot on board. Once I heard Heidi was additionally coming again, that was the clear image for me. I labored with Christian earlier than, and I really like Nina, however Heidi coming again felt proper. It felt like we might do one thing completely different and evolve the present. Maintain the DNA, don’t lose the core viewers, however evolve it for the place we’re immediately in leisure and within the trend world.

Heidi, within the premiere, you mentioned loads of occasions, “I can’t consider I’m saying this!” Once you stepped away in 2018, did you ever see your self returning, or did you at all times go away that door open behind your thoughts?

KLUM Folks say you shut one and one other one opens, and that occurs. However I additionally suppose there’s nothing mistaken with going again to a door that you simply’ve used earlier than. That’s what occurs in life. Life throws you curveballs; issues occur and also you go on a distinct journey. Challenge Runway is my first baby, and at all times will probably be. You don’t flip your again totally in your youngsters, interval. I got here again as a result of I actually like it. It felt like coming dwelling, everybody was tremendous stoked. I’ve identified so most of the fashions who’re strolling the runway for the designers for a lot of, a few years. I additionally introduced Michael Kors again. I known as loads of my buddies and individuals who I do know within the business. Michael was like, “I don’t know,” and I’m like, “It’s a must to come again, please,” so he did an episode with us. I known as my good friend Sofía (I at all times wish to name her Viagra) Vergara, I known as my good friend Tyra [Banks]. A variety of my household is on the present — my trend household. It’s been a extremely enjoyable, enjoyable season. Plus, the designers are unimaginable. 

There’s such a recent, trendy vibe to season 21. The place did that inspiration come from?

RUCKER We introduced loads of trendy modifying, storytelling and visible humor. I’ve accomplished loads of hybrid comedy exhibits, and that was a giant a part of the inspiration of what I mentioned to Disney. I used to be like, “I would like individuals to chortle. We’re not going to lose all of the pillars of Challenge Runway that individuals love, however I wish to be sure that we find out about these designers.” The issues that we did in these first 5 seasons had been ensuring that you simply noticed their personalities. I believe that’s the explanation why Challenge Runway is in season 21. There have been many various trend exhibits which have tried, however why Challenge Runway is tried and true, in addition to being the OG, is that you simply obtained to know these designers and felt a private connection to them. 

I additionally like smoke and mirrors kind of stuff. The thought of fireplace on the runway [later this season] was, like, “Let’s make it extra of a spectacle of the runway present. Let’s have enjoyable, let’s give the runway exhibits persona.” And fairly truthfully, it’s additionally the place trend is as of late. After we did these first 5 seasons, [during] Vogue Week in Bryant Park, you had been in a tent, and there wasn’t a lot you might do. However trend began taking it to a stage of spectacle, and I hadn’t seen that with Runway. I felt like we [could] carry extra spectacle and wow issue that could be very a lot within the DNA of the place trend is now, and modernize it. 

There are a couple of previous rivals on this season’s forged, there’s additionally a set of twins and a RuPaul’s Drag Race alum. Folks might suppose that these casting selections are merely for headlines, however they match with the forged. Why do you suppose that these returning designers had been introduced again and “notable” personalities had been introduced onto season 21?

RUCKER It’s a particularly reasonable query. To any individual who’s jaded [to] be like, “Oh, they’re simply doing it for the drama, doing it for the splash and the likes,” having any individual like Jesus [from season seven], to carry any individual again who has advanced and who’s now extra within the mindset of [having] a longtime enterprise and desirous to show the place they went, I believe [is an] comprehensible story for anyone. There are lots of people who need to have the ability to showcase, “Hey, that is the place I’m at now.” That’s a common story, and I believe that that’s what was actually thrilling about bringing him again. His brother was the one who initially utilized. We beloved Antonio and his story, after which we realized that Jesus was his twin brother. Jesus might have mentioned, “I’ve no need to return.” However I believe showcasing the place he was and the place he’s now was crucial to him. 

After which Utica, [aka] Ethan… this can be a complete factor. One of many issues that was actually vital to us is that he wasn’t approaching as Utica Queen, as a result of this can be a present about designers. He had clearly obtained notoriety on Drag Race for his sleeping bag robe that he [made on the show], however he truly has a design background. These had been the conversations [we had], saying, “In case you’re approaching the present, I would like Ethan. If Utica Queen is a performance-based factor, that has its place.” We might see that there was a need for him to attempt to faucet into this world, go into extra able to put on, couture stuff, figuring out that he’s accomplished a lot stuff for the drag group. That was, for me personally, a really fascinating story. He’s identified for Drag Race and he has followers, however what it got here all the way down to is, “Do you wish to come right here to progress as a designer?” It’s not one observe. It was Ethan wanting to actually show to himself that he’s a designer as properly.

Heidi, this was your first time doing this present with out Tim Gunn. Had been you unhappy to come back again with out Tim? 

KLUM Clearly, sure. I didn’t know the present some other means however doing it with Tim. We’ve [done] 17 seasons collectively, and all over the place we might go, in case you’d see me, you see Tim. We had been type of like this odd couple that individuals beloved. He was my TV husband, and now I get to do it with my TV child. I really feel like Christian Siriano is our Challenge Runway child, as one of many designers who gained the present and broke out to large success. Now, doing this with him looks like a full-circle second. Lots of people ask me, “Why didn’t you could have [Tim] come on?” Nevertheless it’s not up for me to make that call. I really like Tim Gunn, however that was actually lower than me.

Working alongside Christian this season, how was that? You judged him when he was a contestant.

KLUM I believe what individuals don’t know is that I see him throughout the yr on a regular basis. It’s not like we haven’t seen one another for years. Over time he’s at all times been in my life, and I’ve at all times been in his life, so it wasn’t like hastily we see one another once more. Now we obtained to do that collectively, and it was loads of enjoyable. He’s not solely a fantastic designer, however a fantastic human being. And he has at all times beloved the present and what he does. He loves serving to the designers, and I believe he’s doing a fantastic job.

Michael, as any individual who labored on the early seasons of Challenge Runway, was it odd so that you can see Christian on-screen with Heidi as an alternative of Tim Gunn? 

RUCKER It was refreshing. It felt very pure. Heidi and Christian have had a relationship from [his] season, season 4. I nonetheless bear in mind when he gained after which they took the picture. When he did the previous 4 seasons on Bravo because the mentor, he actually lower his tooth. He knew what it was wish to have gotten criticism from Heidi, from the judges [and he] knew what the mentor function was like having labored with Tim, and I believe that he actually has come into his personal. He’s actually captivated with mentoring on and out of doors of the present, as a result of this can be a very tough business. He is aware of it greater than most, like after I went to his dwelling go to on season 4, his mattress was in his closet. He slept on the ground. He lived and breathed trend, and he is aware of what it’s love to do the grind.

He’s coming from a spot of truly having accomplished it, and what I really like about Christian is that he cares so much. Some persons are in these roles on exhibits to be a sound chew, [but] he truly cares. When he’s giving recommendation, it’s coming from a spot of, “Belief me, be your self, observe your voice, but additionally perceive that I do know what it’s like, having been there, and I additionally know the place type of trend is at.” He actually is there to shepherd these designers.

Had been there any conversations of how Tim might have additionally got here again, be that as a mentor alongside Christian, or in some other capability? 

RUCKER Christian had established himself because the mentor for quite a few occasions. My hope is that the door is at all times open for Tim to come back on in some type of capability. However I believe that figuring out that Christian had established himself because the mentor for the previous 4 seasons, we wished to maintain that going. As a result of Heidi and Christian have such a pure chemistry they usually know one another, we wished to maintain on that custom, and likewise introduce that to an entire new technology of Challenge Runway followers. Christian’s been doing this with out Heidi for 4 seasons, so we felt actually assured with Christian working with Heidi after which bringing in any individual new, like Legislation [Roach], who was the wild card and [a] breath of recent air. I understand how to speak to Heidi and Christian and Nina as a result of I’ve labored with them earlier than, however I didn’t know what Legislation was gonna be like, and he was wonderful.

Heidi, what was it like so that you can return to Challenge Runway with Nina and with the brand new addition of Legislation Roach?

KLUM It’s like working with buddies. I really like trend, I really like placing a highlight on gifted individuals, serving to them get on the market. Nina is so educated and so enjoyable, and so is Legislation. Legislation clothes among the largest stars on the planet. He actually at all times comes out with a brand new idea for somebody, like take into consideration Zendaya. Sooner or later she’s on this Mugler, robotic, silver steel [look], after which she is in a stunning goddess gown, after which she’s on this Hollywood vibe, so he at all times tells a narrative each time she steps onto the purple carpet. I’m working with actually profitable, educated, unimaginable people who find themselves additionally enjoyable on the similar time. It’s been a extremely nice season. People who find themselves followers of the present will get pleasure from having Legislation on and all of the wonderful visitors that come on. Each episode is particular. 

Do you each have a favourite second from the season, and what else are you able to tease from the remainder of season 21 of Challenge Runway? 

KLUM I beloved having Sofía there, as a result of she’s not solely my good friend on-screen, but additionally off-screen. [I remember] calling her and saying, “Come, please do an episode.” And since she needed to put on the profitable look [from a challenge this season], she mentioned to me, “Properly, what am I going to do if this sucks? Perhaps I [will] hate all of the seems to be, and I’ve to select one winner, and I’ve to put on it?” And I mentioned, “Okay, in case you hate it, I’m going to put on flats going ahead,” as a result of she hates nothing greater than being shorter than me. So she’s like, “Okay, if I actually hate it, you’re gonna be in flats then without end after I see you,” and I made her that promise, so that you simply must see how that got here out.

RUCKER This isn’t solely a tremendous trend season, but additionally one of many extra dramatic seasons I’ve ever labored on in Challenge Runway, in a good way. It’s undoubtedly, in all probability, probably the most dramatic season of Challenge Runway I’ve ever labored on. 

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New episodes of Challenge Runway season 21 launch Thursdays at 9 p.m. on Freeform, and stream shortly after on Hulu and Disney+.