If there's one reality show genre that never seems to get old, it's the makeover. There's no shortage of bad taste or bad choices, so there are no shortage of rooms or wardrobes in need of salvation.
And so "On the Road with Austin & Santino" (Lifetime, 10:30 p.m.) works; it takes the makeover show complete with the Cinderella triumph aspect and adds the fun of fish out of water hijinks, bromance, travelogue, Americana and custom fashion. I mean, could you ask for anything more?
Austin Scarlett was on the first season of "Runway," making the legendary corn husk dress. He came in fourth and now is the creative director for Amsale, the luxury bridal collection. Santino Rice was on season two; he finished third and did a near-perfect Tim Gunn impersonation (The content is obscene). He's also a judge on "RuPaul's Drag Race."
On the show, the two get sent to small towns to make dresses for women with special occasions. In the first episode, they head to Texas to make a dress for a teen rodeo trick-rider going to the Cowgirl ball.
Part of the fun is watching the town folks' reaction to the two, particularly Scarlett, who looks like a blonde Peter Pan and is the type to wear jodphurs as his rodeo wear. The designers must collaborate and they also have to make the dresses using available materials. There aren't always a lot of options at the general store.
I don't have any doubts that these two will always create something fabulous, say witty things, and make women who would have no chance to wear one-of-a-kind pieces very happy.
The only question is: would a journalist in Raleigh going to a mother-son night make the cut?
Assistant Features Editor Adrienne Johnson Martin would like to have her life turned into an animated cartoon.