"Top names" in the fashion industry will be judging the results of each of the challenges. We see Nina Garcia, the fashion director at Elle, tell someone that his or her work looks "unfinished." We see Michael Kors, who could use a break from the sun or his bronzer or mud -- whatever it is he is putting on his face. He tells someone, "I look at the fur, and right away, I'm like...I'm in Prada Land." He says this with a sour look on his face, but you know he'd love a fashion amusement park.

Each week, the loser of the challenge will be eliminated from the show. The three remaining designers will present their collections at Olympus Fashion Week. Okay, I'd already be annoyed with the product placement if Heidi hadn't said the thing about cash being so important. It's a necessary evil -- not only for the TV show, but also for the designer to get his or her start.

One winner will be chosen from the three presented collections. The winner will receive a fashion spread in Elle, a mentorship with Banana Republic, and $100,000 to start his or her own fashion line. That's hardcore. I'm a little unclear on what the "mentorship" might include, but maybe they'll clear that up later. Starting credits roll. They mention Olympus Fashion Week again. Two and a half minutes -- three mentions. Okay, folks, let's ration.

After the credits, we see Mario Cadenas arriving at LaGuardia Airport. He's twenty-three years old and from Miami. "I never compromise my art," he tells us. It's a good thing he is whoring his uncompromised art on a subsidiary of NBC. They never compromise art. Just witness Joey for confirmation. We see a sketch of one of his creations. It's a Cruella DeVil-style evening gown. An odd touch to the sketch is the long mane of red hair covering a good third of the neckline of the gown. Wait, this is a paper doll! There are tabs and the face is cut out. Does Mario make paper dolls? They then show another gown on an actual person. It's a black halter-style gown with slits up both thighs. The girl wearing it in the picture is impossibly thin, and the gown kind of hangs off her, so I can't really tell what the silhouette is supposed to be. As well, she's standing in a thatched hut and has flowers in her hair and I'm confused by the art direction. Not a good first impression.