Here's a timeline explaining how:
12/04: first viewing. Julie and Mother consume three consecutive episodes of engaging new television program. After viewing Austin Scarlett's ingenious corn husk dress in the Supermarket Challenge, said viewers are declared fans. Project Runway becomes a key bonding instrument between Julie and Mother.
1/05: Julie unsuccessfully tries to introduce Project Runway to her roommate and hallmate friends. Friends whine and say the program is "boring." Julie questions quality of friends.
1/05- 4/05: despite Muhlenberg's poor reception of Bravo, Julie watches the rest of season one in solitude. She feels invigorated by the creative energy and forms minor parasocial relationships with the contestants who are quirky characters without being edited caricatures. She is pleased with reality television.
--Hiatus--
12/05: Season 2 begins. Reception still poor. For an inexplicable reason, Bravo comes in beautifully off-campus. Julie enlists Albright Streeter, Julia Zur, to tape show on weekly basis. Life comes into focus.
2/06: Julie finds a fellow fan in advisor and neurobiology professor, Favorite Person (Muhlenberg Alpha Male, i.e. - gay and fabulous). The two discuss the latest ProjRun in Neuro lab. Julie is thrilled with strong new rapport with FP.
3/06: Favorite Person informs Julie that one of the current season's duds, Marla, is a local and had been spotted in the Student Union buying coffee and around campus walking her dog. Julie and friend visit Marla's store in Bethlehem and chat it up. Julie was not in a state to process information, so she regrettably can not share any of the gossip that she learned, as she forgets it.
4/06: Julie writes an article for the Muhlenberg Advocate dissecting the show's appeal and equating the characters to those found in Muhlenberg's theatre department.
4/06: Julie attends talk given by Marla meant for business students, and Marla points her out to the audience as someone who has visited her store. Shame and embarrassment ensue. Superfandom has peaked.
--Short Hiatus--
7/06- 3rd season begins, albeit a little prematurely.
9/06- Julie notices that "Project Runway!!!!" is beginning to appear every Wednesday in away messages of friends who formerly declared show "boring." Signifies demise. How much of what we believe we like is constructed by societal trends?
?? - 10/06: Julie finds that it's a little too hard to follow the program what with Muhlenberg's poor Bravo reception and the lack of a far off-campus taper.
Which brings us to present day. I now have terrific Bravo reception and a surplus of time to dedicate to Project Runway. Hello, Season 4.
