Jessica Simpson: Project Runway Finale Judge Filed under ( Heidi Klum, Jessica Simpson, Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, Michael Kors, Nina Garcia, Project Runway )

Who can remember that Jessica Simpson used to sing? In recent years, the buxom blonde has been riding high thanks to her booming fashion brand and on Thursday, she took that industry expertise to the front row of the Project Runway fashion show.

Simpson, sitting next to the show’s judges Nina Garcia, Michael Kors, and Heidi Klum, served as a guest judge on the reality competition’s finale episode during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York.

Simpson, in a glittering black mini dress and sky-high heels, was spotted giggling with Garcia before the show began.

On Tuesday, Simpson was up front and center at her own show. She premiered her first collection of denim in a casual presentation at her midtown showroom as run-up to Fashion Week. Her sister Ashlee, along with some choice friends, helped model some of the new duds and Ashlee’s rocker husband Pete Wentz served as DJ.

Also on hand: Simpson’s mom Tina and Simpson’s boyfriend Eric Johnson.

Credit: Radar Online

Tim Gunn's Style Tips Filed under ( Project Runway, Tim Gunn )

Project Runway's host Tim Gunn recently released his new book, A Guide to Quality, Taste and Style, telling everyone exactly how to "make it work." Courtesy of US magazine, the 53-year-old former design school chairman gave a sneak peek:

What's an essential for every woman?
A basic black dress. It's appropriate for any high-end occasion. Get a white shirt too.

Name a big fashion misconception.
You don't have to be a size 4! Know who you are and how you want to be perceived.

You're also against baggy clothes.
I tell women who are size 12, 14, 16, 18, "If the clothes fit you, you're going to look much more attractive."

The newest season of Project Runway will be back this summer.

Newsstand Friday: People Magazine Filed under ( Alec Baldwin, Angelina Jolie, Blake Shelton, High School Musical 2, Kim Basinger, Mark Burnett, Prince Harry, Project Runway, Rachael Ray, Regis Philbin, Roma Downey, Tim Gunn, Tom Poston )

Treat Mom to the hottest books, DVDs, CDs and gadgets in our Mother's Day Gift Guide

Amid rumors that their marriage is troubled, Tom and Katie step out in Las Vegas – and friends say the couple are just fine

Queen Elizabeth sits for an unlikely portrait by photographer Annie Leibovitz

Shrek the Third has a big surprise in store for Shrek and Fiona: triplets!

Beth Belle and Leesa Philippon were total strangers when their sons both died in battle on Mother's Day 2005. Now they're best friends

Big news at The View: Rosie O'Donnell announces that she's leaving, and Elisabeth Hasselbeck reveals she's expecting her second child

White House rep Tony Snow returns to work while undergoing chemo

On another whirlwind tour, Angelina Jolie lobbies in D.C. and hits Manhattan

Newhart's Tom Poston – who married onetime costar Suzanne Pleshette four decades after they met – dies at 85

Regis Philbin talks about returning to TV six weeks after heart surgery

Touched by an Angel star Roma Downey weds Survivor creator Mark Burnett

Tim Gunn talks about life since Runway

Cover
Rachael Ray dishes about everything from her marriage to dieting to the secrets behind her cooking and entertainment empire

Prince Harry says "bye" to his pals as he gets ready to ship off to Iraq

Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger's nasty custody battle feels familiar to many kids rocked by divorce

Sheila Holt-Orsted claims Tennessee officials knew her water was poisoned but failed to warn her

H. Beatty Chadwick has been jailed 12 years over a divorce dispute

PEOPLE goes on the set to catch an early peek at High School Musical 2

Singer Anastacia has her dream wedding

Adrian Grenier talks about reconnecting with his estranged father

Fun-loving country singer Blake Shelton kicks back in Oklahoma

Chinese burn victim Zhou Lin needed a new pair of legs. Brecken Chinn Swartz always wanted a daughter. Now both have their dream

Move over, little dogs: Tiny Dancer is the smallest of them all

Newsstand Friday: Entertainment Weekly Filed under ( Avril Lavigne, Dancing with the Stars, Don Cheadle, Eddie Murphy, Entourage, Ian Ziering, Justin Timberlake, Law and Order, Project Runway, The Sopranos, Tina Fey, Vince Vaughn, Will Ferrell )

Cover

On the set of "The Sopranos" finale
The cast of the HBO hit talks about the show's run and the prospect of moving it onto the big screen

Movie News

At the Nickelodeon Kid's Choice Awards -- A roundup of the 20th anniversary show hosted by Justin Timberlake

Helen Mirren's next role
The Academy Award winner will play Nicholas Cage's mother in the "National Treasure" sequel

Talking to Kevin Spacey
The actor discusses living in London, sharing the screen with Vince Vaughan, and returning to Broadway

Who Tracie Thoms Is Dying to Work
The "Cold Case" star has the hots for Don Cheadle

Can Will Ferrell be stopped? -- How the "Blades of Glory" star always ices the box office

The Reigning Kings of Comedy
Eddie Murphy and Vince Vaughn are some of the funny guys who rule the box office

Music News

Album preview: Wilco's new record -- We give you the rundown on "Sky Blue Sky"

The cover art of Modest Mouse -- Frontman Isaac Brock explains the band's unconventional aesthetic

Master Shake's all-time worst tacks -- The "Aqua Teen Hunger Force" character tells us what songs drive him crazy

What's "The Best Damn Thing" for Avril Lavigne? Will taking charge of her new CD prove to be "The Best Damn Thing" for the petulant pop-punk singer's career?

Television Commentary

Rating Bravo’s reality shows
We give our take on "Manhunt," "Project Runway," and others

"Dancing With the Stars"
Tim Stack and Whitney Pastorek mouth off about "Dancing With the Stars"

Television News

"Law & Order" faces an uncertain future -- The popular crime series and spin-offs suffer falling ratings

The next batch of TV comedies -- We look at shows in development for the fall season from the major networks

An "Entourage" fashion special -- How to dress like Vince, Turtle, Eric, and Ari

Who I Was Then: Ian Ziering
The "90210" hunk talks about life before "Dancing With the Stars"

What's on Ira Glass's mind
The host of "This American Life" discusses the show's transition from public radio to Showtime

Tina Fey on "30 Rock"'s renewal
The "SNL" vet transformed "30 Rock" from a so-so sitcom into the funniest show on TV, thanks to sleep deprivation, baby vomit, and Alec Baldwin

The Final Cut

Thoughts on the end of Tony Soprano and Harry Potter
In his Final Cut column, Mark Harris wonders what David Chase and J.K. Rowling have in store for their immensely popular characters

The Way We Were
Essay: For the love of "Porky's"...
On the 25th anniversary of "Porky's," EW's Chris Nashawaty recalls his own age of innocence [MDASH] and the explosion of teen sex comedies that helped him survive it. Forget school. All you really needed was a private tutor.

Take a Sigh of Relief, Tim Will Be Back Filed under ( Michael Kors, Nina Garcia, Project Runway, Tim Gunn )

You can stop holding your breath now - Tim Gunn will be back on the next season of Project Runway.

E! Online reports that the "make it work" mentor said: "I am thrilled to make it official that I will be back in the workroom for season four of Project Runway," Gunn said, according to E! online. "We are in the midst of casting the designers now, and I can already see that it will be another amazing season." Heidi Klum, Michael Kors and Elle fashion editor Nina Garcia will also return.

Now, recall that our concern was well-founded. Tim gave up his job at Parsons to be the chief creative editor at Liz Claiborne, then got his own series on Bravo called Tim Gunn's Guide to Style. He was also a guest star on Ugly Betty. We all hoped Tim wouldn't forget what got him all this success!

But Gunn's importance to the series wasn't lost on producer Harvey Weinstein, who credited the fashion guru's "passion, creativity and dedication" to making the show "such a commercial and critical success."

The newest season of Project Runway starts this summer and casting has already begun in Los Angeles and will head off to New York, Miami and Chicago.

Photo from E! Online.

It's Official: Project Runway's Nina Garcia is a New Mom Filed under ( David Conrod, Elle magazine, Nina Garcia, Project Runway )

Project Runway judge Nina Garcia and her husband, financier David Conrod, have welcomed their first child into the family. Nina gave birth to a bouncing baby boy, Lucas Alexander, on March 24th.

Besides her role on the Emmy-nominated series Project Runway, Nina heads up the Fashion department of ELLE magazine.

Photo from Yahoo TV.

Read Much? Filed under ( Dancing with the Stars, Nina Garcia, Project Runway )

Your favorite reality television shows can soon be seen in print. Yeah, I thought that was odd too, but you gotta strike while the iron's hot, right? How would Dancing with the Stars translate into a book? Well, soon you'll have your chance to find out. This fall, a DWTS book will appear featuring contestants' weight loss tips, healthy recipes and even dance move instructions.

Want more? Project Runway's judge Nina Garcia has her own tome coming out as well, offering advice on how to look good. The Little Black Book of Style is due out on May 1 from Collins.

Photo of Dancing with the Stars judges from ABC.