The ‘Project Runway’ Legal Dispute Has Been Settled!
Great news … which better NOT turn out to be a cruel April Fool’s joke. I just received word from NBC that the disputing parties whose legal wrangling has kept Project Runway off the air have reached a settlement in the case — which means the show is finally free to return to the TV airwaves. Here is the full text of the statement that has just been released by NBC Universal:
NBC Universal, The Weinstein Company and Lifetime have resolved their disputes. The Weinstein Company will pay NBCU for the right to move Project Runway to Lifetime. All of the parties are pleased with the outcome. Harvey Weinstein added, “I want to personally congratulate Jeff Zucker and NBCU on their success in the litigation and thank Jeff for resolving this in a professional manner. We look forward to working together on our ongoing projects.”
I realize that in my excitement and in my haste to pass along this information I could be falling for the cruelest of pranks but the statement was sent to me by an NBC Universal employee and I can’t (well, don’t wanna) believe that something like this would be used as a joke. I will update with any news from confirming sources as soon as I can. I have to believe that this matter has finally been resolved ‘cuz I am dying for another season of Project Runway. It remains to be seen when we will be able to see the show on the air again but I’m crossing my fingers that it will be soon. We shall see.
UPDATE: The LA Times confirms the story, the disputing parties have settled to let Project Runway make the move to Lifetime:
According to a statement issued by NBC Universal today, the dispute is over because the Weinstein Company has agreed to pay NBCU for the right to move the popular reality series to Lifetime. “All of the parties are pleased with the outcome,” NBC Universal said in a statement. Harvey Weinstein, co-chairman of the Weinstein Company, added: “I want to personally congratulate Jeff Zucker and NBCU on their success in the litigation and thank Jeff for resolving this in a professional manner. We look forward to working together on our ongoing projects” … Andrea Wong, president and CEO of Lifetime Networks, who fought hard to land the show, issued the following statement: “I couldn’t be more excited that Lifetime will bring its viewers an amazing, all-new season of ‘Project Runway’ this summer. As the highest-rated cable network for women, Lifetime is the perfect home for this outstanding program as well as its companion series Models of the Runway. All of us at Lifetime are thrilled to move forward with Heidi, Tim, Nina, Michael, The Weinstein Company and the entire ‘Project Runway’ team. We are proud to add these shows to our growing slate of original programming, including the hit series ‘Army Wives’, the all-new upcoming series Drop Dead Diva and our top-rated original movies. Weinstein also added the following: “We’re thrilled to be launching our relationship with Lifetime with this groundbreaking cable deal that includes the next 5 years of ‘Project Runway,’ our new spin-off show ‘Models of the Runway’ and the development of ‘Project Pygmalion,’ along with a package of our movies. With these upcoming shows and the success of our new series ‘The No. 1Ladies Detective Agency’ on HBO, we are very excited about the continued growth of The Weinstein Co’s television division. We are also looking forward to working with NBC Universal on the upcoming theatrical release of ‘Inglourious Basterds’ and the continued development of other projects together.”
YIPPPPPPPPPPPPEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!! BEST.NEWS.EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOT!
[Source]
Tags: 'Project Runway', Lifetime TV, NBC
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April 1st, 2009 at 1:28 pm
Great news, now i want to know when and where
April 1st, 2009 at 1:30 pm
Ooohhh!!! If this is a joke I’m gonna..I’m gonna..I’m gonna bite my pillow!!
April 1st, 2009 at 1:35 pm
SWEET!! I miss me some PR!!
April 1st, 2009 at 1:48 pm
Hallelujah! I am still not sure how I feel about Lifetime, since it just seems weird in general… the network, that is. I guess we’ll see. Oh Project Runway, how I missed you. <3
April 1st, 2009 at 1:51 pm
Excellent, Hopeful it’s not as disappointing as this years ‘Project Runway Canada’! Now to wait ‘patiently’ for the premier date.
April 1st, 2009 at 1:51 pm
WOOT WOOT!!!! I’m SO excited!!! As soon as they saw when the show will air, it’s getting season passed on my DVR.
April 1st, 2009 at 1:58 pm
Yeah!! Thanks for the info!!
April 1st, 2009 at 1:58 pm
YAY!!!!!!
April 1st, 2009 at 2:52 pm
I can’t wait I have missed PR too my husband actually watches this show with me that very special YaY !!
April 1st, 2009 at 3:55 pm
OMG!!! i am sooo sooo sooo excited!!! w00t! w00t!!!
April 1st, 2009 at 4:06 pm
as an avid fan of pr, i can’t wait to have it back on the air!! however, i’m not so enthusiastic about the move to lifetime… i think it’s an eventual death sentence for the series :-/
April 1st, 2009 at 4:29 pm
yay for project runway!
April 1st, 2009 at 4:51 pm
But ewwww… lifetime? I just don’t think I can follow this show over there (believe me, love project runway!) but lifetime is so “women in jeopardy” ick for me. I can’t imagine them not destroying everything that makes this show cool…
April 1st, 2009 at 6:12 pm
Bravo, Lifetime, Animal Planet, PBS- I don’t care what the network is, I can’t wait to see PR again! I’ll give it a shot- and @Jokerfish, there is a Project Runway Canada? Who hosts? Is there a Canadian Tim Gunn??
April 1st, 2009 at 7:02 pm
hey they should use this song by this new artist i found on myspace.com/katsj called disrespectful the song is so divaish its a hot song its the new stuff so i think with new episodes new songs should come too. you guys check it out and lets start a movement with this song i know this song makes a statement just like pr does, i cant wait for it to air
April 1st, 2009 at 9:30 pm
Hey Trent, I was watching “I get that a lot” TV show tonight, and I thought of you.. Heidi was on it and she was hilarious!!! Worth watching :)
April 1st, 2009 at 10:25 pm
@ KiTX. Project Runway Canada is in its second season, and I’ve been enjoying this season a lot! It’s been a great replacement for the original in its asbsence. The role of Heidi is played by Iman, and Tim Gunn is Brian Bailey, a Canadian fashion designer. Brian is more nurturing than Tim, but not as hilarious. Iman is not as sweet as Heidi!! She can be downright scary! I would not want to piss her off, that’s for sure. The format is the same, and I’ve been impressed with what the designers have come up with this season. Two of my favourite challenges have been making their old wedding dresses into new outfits for divorcees, a Post-It note challenge. I recommend it… not as good as the original, but not a bad tribute!
April 2nd, 2009 at 3:07 am
Yay!
April 2nd, 2009 at 6:03 am
YOu Better not be fooling us!!!!!
April 2nd, 2009 at 7:03 am
sooo excited!! but i’m nervous about the move to lifetime…
April 2nd, 2009 at 12:30 pm
since its on lifetime now will the guest judges be Meridith Baxter Birney and Nancy McKeon?