Some industry purists are loath to admit it, but the filming of “Project Runway’s” season finale under the Bryant Park tents was the hottest ticket in town.

It was such a big deal that Bravo network reps waited until days before to send out invitations. And just having the precious cobalt-blue card trimmed with yellow stitching didn’t guarantee you’d get in. The clipboard-wielding women in black who greeted audience members with stern faces and “the lists” had the final say on who, as “Runway” host Heidi Klum might put it, would be “in” and who would be “out.”

“Runway’s” runway show was so popular this Spring 2007 Fashion Week — drawing crowds the way shows presented by hip-hop moguls Sean “Diddy” Combs and Kimora Lee Simmons do — that Fashion Week’s sponsor, Olympus, and event organizer IMG Fashion were forced to beef up security and alter schedules to accommodate star-gazing fans and television cameras.

Even fashion-design icons took notice.

For years, Ralph Lauren hosted a 9 a.m. show at his downtown studio as part of Fashion Week’s grand-finale events. But back in February, at 9 a.m. on the final Friday of Winter 2006 Fashion Week, the media were gathered at the “Project Runway” show.

This time around, Lauren had no 9 a.m. show. “Runway” owned the hour.

Now in its third season, “Project Runway” draws 3.9 million viewers, according to Nielsen’s prime-time cable ratings, tying with “The Closer” and “Saved” as the ninth most-watched show.

“Runway” is a hit with fashion-industry insiders because it aims the spotlight on the design process, bringing both designer angst and
beautiful clothing into America’s living rooms.

Industry experts and the show’s producers point to the high-powered designers who have served as judges: Diane von Furstenberg, Francisco Costa, Catherine Malandrino, Zac Posen and, of course, a weekly dose of Michael Kors.

Plus there are the new stars. Before becoming fixtures on Wednesday-night TV, neither Nina Garcia, Elle magazine fashion director, nor Tim Gunn, chairman of the fashion-design department at Parsons the New School of Design, were known on sight beyond the world of hard-core fashionistas.

Now both are immediately recognized and escorted to the front of long lines, where they snag front-row seats.

“When we first showed at the tents, we got a very clear message that we were well-received,” Gunn said. “It’s important that we are here, and I’m glad that we’ve been welcomed so.”

Who Lost on Reality TV News

Who Lost on Reality TV