‘Runway’ offers alternative to ‘Apprentice’

Fans of Donald Trump’s show who have been bored by this season’s relentless product placements, corporate promotions and lack of character-driven fireworks should sample the wares on “Project Runway” (10 p.m., Bravo).
An “Apprentice” clone set in the high-strung world of “America’s Next Top Model,” this engaging, task-oriented reality contest gives a dozen aspiring designers a chance to break into the fashion world.
To its credit, “Runway” wastes little time with “Real World” drama and gets right down to business. After each designer chooses his own personal model to show off inventions, they all are marched to a secret location to gather materials for the first competition.
In a shocking twist, the gang is taken to a large supermarket and given an hour to find everything they need for their outfits. The resulting “fashions” are unorthodox, to say the least.
The fragile and sensitive Austin Scarlett of Manhattan emerges as the most compelling contestant of the first episode. While his fellow would-be designers gather shower curtains, butcher paper, placemats and tin foil for their outfits, Austin heads straight for the produce department.
He later fashions a gown out of cornhusks. The results are stunning even if they do require refrigeration.
Host Heidi Klum adds little besides her beauty and celebrity to the proceedings. Donald Trump and Tyra Banks are more obvious choices to helm their respective series. It would have made more sense to assign a real designer or garment industry executive to “Runway.”
But the show more than makes up for this minor flaw by focusing on the ingenuity and infectious creative energy of its participants.
The holiday season begins in earnest as CBS celebrates the 40th-anniversary broadcast of the 1964 special “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” (8 p.m., CBS). It’s required viewing for misfits of all ages.
If you haven’t seen “Rudolph” in some time, it more than holds up. This “Animagic” feature was digitally remastered in 1998, when two musical numbers (“We’re a Couple of Misfits” and “We Are Santa’s Elves”) were restored to their original length after being cut down over the decades.
“Rudolph” is now available on a new DVD that includes additional material such as an interactive trivia game, an extensive interview with producer Arthur Rankin and a Spanish-language version of “Rudolph.”
Ashlee Simpson performs on her sister and brother-in-law’s holiday special, “Nick & Jessica’s Family Christmas” (9 p.m., ABC). Members of Nick Lachey’s band 98 Degrees will perform, as well as Brian McKnight. The “Newlyweds” stars will sing holiday classics and engage in sketch “comedy” that seems dim and dated even by “Hee Haw” standards.
Other highlights
The Donald glances back on previously aired clips of “The Apprentice” (8 p.m., NBC).
Clare has terrible premonitions about her soon-to-be-born child on “Lost” (8 p.m., ABC).
Linda Ellerbee hosts “Living with AIDS: A Story of Three Kids” (8:30 p.m., Nickelodeon), a documentary about three children born with the disease and their efforts to live normal lives.
Faced with a mortifying faux pas, Doug fakes a heart attack on “King of Queens” (9 p.m., CBS).
A diplomatic gesture angers China on “The West Wing” (9 p.m., NBC).
An equestrian cop takes a bullet on “CSI: NY” (10 p.m., CBS).
The Afghan drug wars hit close to home on “Law & Order” (10 p.m., NBC).
Two husbands change households on “Wife Swap” (10 p.m., ABC).
Series notes
Hyde helps his new sister on “That ‘70s Show” (8 p.m., Fox) … Eliminations continue on “America’s Next Top Model” (8 p.m., UPN) … Lex poisons the town on “Smallville” (8 p.m., WB) … Parker has competition on “Quintuplets” (8:30 p.m., Fox).
Kids in crisis on “Nanny 911” (9 p.m., Fox) … George needs help on “Kevin Hill” (9 p.m., UPN) … Jack mulls intimacy on “Jack & Bobby” (9 p.m., WB) … Romance blooms for Lily on “Center of the Universe” (9:30 p.m., CBS).