Gunn 'Makes It Work' for Abrams
by Rachel Deahl -- Publishers Weekly, 2/5/2007
After three much-watched seasons as Heidi Klum's sage sidekick on Bravo TV's hit Project Runway, Tim Gunn is getting his moment in the limelight. The Parsons New School of Design department head will headline the cable net's upcoming series Tim Gunn's Guide to Style, thanks in large part to the forthcoming Abrams Image book Tim Gunn: A Guide to Quality, Taste & Style.
The May hardcover, which co-editor Susan Van Metre described as a chapter-by-chapter breakdown on how to reinvent your style, wound up being the development spark in the creation of the series. According to Van Metre, Gunn mentioned the book (which Abrams signed in December) to Bravo execs while discussing plans for a Runway spinoff. "The executives thought [the book] was an ideal basis for a show he's the center of," Van Metre said. The result was a quick fee for Abrams—Bravo paid an undisclosed sum for the option—and the possibility of future tie-in promotions. Currently it's not known how the book will play into the show, which is scheduled for summer. A rep from Bravo said the program will be "built around principles outlined in the book" but couldn't confirm whether it would ever be plugged on-air.
The book, which Abrams was able to sign due to a fluke in-house connection to Gunn—co-editor Tamar Brazis went to college with Gunn's assistant (and co-writer) Kate Maloney—is the kind of project that publicist Jason Wells said will "be a harbinger of things to come" from the imprint. "We want to do more titles like this that have wide appeal and tie-in to a television or cultural phenomenon."
Publicity plans for A Guide to Quality, Taste & Style, which, Van Metre said, will have a similar trim size to a Zagat guide, will look to take advantage of Gunn's ongoing involvement with Runway. Gunn will tour for the title in June, around the same time the fourth season of Runway is set to bow. While A Guide won't get any mentions on the show, Van Metre said Gunn will likely cite the book in promotional talks about the new season.
