What was on TV? Wed, Jan 12, 2004

20 years ago, Prince Harry made a very bad decision when selecting his costume party outfit. Let's see what was on TV.

8:00 Lost on ABC

1xx "Hearts and Minds"

Available on Netflix and Hulu

"Hearts and Minds" is not Lost's finest hour. Lost tries being a WB drama, and it just makes me appreciate WB dramas more, even the bad ones. But this is Lost, so it isn't just a WB drama pastiche. It's also a Tennessee Williams pastiche and a drug trip episode! Lost always makes it weird, it has a truly experimental streak that only comes when you makes 20+ episodes a year. Even when it isn't great, it's weird and fascinating. Its flaws and ragged edges just make me love it more.

9:00 Alias on ABC`

4x03 "The Awful Truth"

Available on Disney+

Sydney has to track down a wife-killer in this episode. And this just reminds me of Vaughn's very violent and disturbing murder of his wife in the season three finale. I was honestly into the darkness of that moment. But when the show refuses to grapple with it, even when the plot presents a clear opportunity to do so, the moment becomes really ugly and gross. Vaughn's not that interesting, pretty as Michael Vartan is. Alias can't afford to make him unlikable

10:00 Project Runway (recorded)

1x05 ""Model' Clients (a.k.a. Wedding Dress)" (record Law and Order on NBC)

Available on Tubi

In the new year, Project Runway finally started getting some press as people started catching up over the break and Wendy's Banana Republic design sold out on the store's website. There was even a piece in Entertainment Weekly!

Anyone who heard the buzz and tuned in this week was treated to a truly delicious episode. The contestants must collaborate with the models to design their dream wedding dress. Seeing these delightfully pretentious and neurotic folks collaborate with literal teenage girls (and in some cases their boyfriends! I cringed) was peak entertainment. Seeing Jay match "Morganza's" drama while also keeping it professional and making a dress that matched his own vision was a particular highlight, sterling work there. I do feel bad for Morgan though, they try to paint her as flighty for a momentary word-finding problem. And if word-finding failures make you a reality TV villain material, then I might as well be Tom Sandoval.

According to the press coverage at the time, Project Runway auctioned the winning designs online. But I hope they let the model keep the wedding dress Kara made for her. It fit her perfectly and she just looked so happy in it.

Late Night

To me, John Mayer is just the villain of one of Taylor Swift's top five songs. But before Taylor destroyed him, John Mayer was a beloved and respected cultural figure! And after this episode of Conan, I understand why. He's funny, charming, dorky, and handsome. He sticks around for the "lullaby" segment, proving himself both a talented musician and a game talk show guest. I was enchanted. Then he left the stage and the lyrics of "Dear John" started playing in my head. Sorry Johnny! But you should have known better, to quote Taylor herself. You sang "White Horse" with her on stage! You always knew she could destroy you.

What Else Was On

• PBS aired a concert version of Leonard Bernstein's Candide starring Kristin Chenoweth and Patti LuPone.
• CBS premiered the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Model Search. The people voted on this one, American Idol, which sounds both gross and boring.
• Elizabeth Rohm left Law and Order and her character asked "Is this because I'm a lesbian?" More on that later!

Tivo Status

The first part of Masterpiece Theater's He Knew He Was Right, one episode of Carnivale, one episode of Law and Order, and the three-hour Masterpiece Theater miniseries The Lost Prince. 7 hours total.