Project Runway vs The Fashion Show. Bravo vs Lifetime

The saga of Project Runway could be a reality TV show itself.

The Weinstein Company owns the hit reality TV series "Project Runway" which has been a--pardon the pun--runaway hit on NBC's Bravo TV network for five seasons. The show was created by and originally produced by Magical Elves.

In April, Weinstein snuck away and negotiated a deal to move "Project Runway" to Lifetime, which has a much larger share of the cable audience than Bravo. (Lifetime is co-owned by The Walt Disney Company and the Hearst Corporation).

The folks at NBC/Bravo sued, saying that they had first right of refusal to match any deal Weinstein may be presented with. NBC won an injunction against the network, keeping the series off Lifetime until the matter has been resolved. In response, Lifetime has sought to have the trial moved to federal court.

For back-up, Bravo has now greenlit a new fashion series called "The Fashion Show" just in case things don't work out with Project Runway.

The premise of the new show is similar to Project Runway, with contestants putting their design skills to the test in a series of challenges. In The Fashion Show, however, the winner will be chosen by America, and will have their clothing sold at a national retailer.

The folks at Magical Elves, will not be involved with the new series, even though the production outfit’s founders inked a development deal with NBC universal after Lifetime announced the pickup of Runway. The show will instead be produced by 3 Ball Productions (Beauty and the Geek, The Biggest Loser).

So what do you think? Will Project Runway go to Lifetime and continue its successful run? Will The Fashion Show fail as a knockoff?