With the 5th Season of "Project Runway" well underway, we're starting to wonder if the show can ever top the wackiness of Season 2 or the "fierceness" of Season 4. This season has no shortage of high-profile guest stars, as we've already seen Brooke Shields and Olympic speedskater Apolo Ohno, while prominent designers Cynthia Rowley and Diane Von Furstenberg, and rapper LL Cool J are on tap for future episodes. But, where are the larger than life characters? Where are the Santinos and the Christians? The famous guest stars are supposed to be just gravy. So far, this season has left us wondering - if we may borrow an old phrase - where's the beef?

Season 1
In its first season, "Project Runway" was just trying to position itself within the vast reality TV landscape, while attempting to whet our appetites for more. Perhaps not the most exciting season, it still created a great template for future seasons to draw from and build upon. The personalities were certainly there, including O.V. (original villain) Wendy Pepper, goody-goody Kara Saun, flamboyant fancy-pants Austin Scarlett, and outspoken, wannabe cowboy Jay McCarroll who, after winning top prize, was the subject of Bravo's documentary special, "Project Jay."

We'll always remember the first season most for the very first episode, which featured the "Innovation" challenge. The designers, limited to items that they bought in a NYC grocery store, fashioned looks made out of everything from crawfish to candy and aluminum foil to flat bread. The creativity and originality of "Project Runway" from day one destined it to become one of the most beloved reality TV shows ever, winning over fashionistas and regular Joes alike.

Season 2
Taking lessons from their predecessors, the designers of Season 2 really kicked it up a notch in the personality department. Winner Chloe Dao was the cuddly girl-next-door, Diana Eng was the oddball, and Andrae Gonzalo was every bit the drama queen. Zulema Griffin, knowing that every reality show needs one, tried her best to win the "villain" role when she not only switched models before the "Photo Inspiration" challenge, but forced three of them to do a "walk-off" for her.

However bitchy that may have been, Zulema could never match the evil genius of Santino Rice. Although Daniel Vosovic was the sweetheart who we thought deserved to win (at least until we saw his disjointed, boring final collection), everyone was secretly (or not-so-secretly) rooting for Santino. He positively lit up the screen every time he was on it and, whether you loved him or hated him, he made the show deliciously fun to watch. It's hard to pick Santino's best moment because there were so many - backsassing Nina Garcia, turning the workroom into a musical theater, driving the judges mad with over-the-top designs, and doing spot-on impressions of Michael Kors and guru Tim Gunn. It was that imitation of Gunn, complete with a fictional storyline about Tim and Andrae having romantic dinners at Red Lobster that fans really loved. Tim himself even had a great sense of humor about it, as evidenced in this clip where he confronts an embarrassed Santino.

We'd also like to remember the Daniel Franco song, a Santino and Nick Verreos original, which paid tribute to the Season 1 designer, who returned and was soon auf'd again in Season 2.

Season 3
Memorable designers from Runway's 3rd season include fan favorite Mychael Knight, German-born beach babe Uli Herzner, and Malan Breton, who hid a sweet nature behind his creepy vampire laugh.

New Yorker Keith Michael earned a place in history by becoming the first person to be disqualified from the competition when pattern-making books were found in his room. Later, on the reunion show, Keith suggested that he had been "framed," a weak claim that was quickly dismissed by all.

One claim that was taken very seriously was the ever-pregnant Laura Bennett's accusation that bad boy Jeffrey Sebelia had violated show rules by outsourcing sewing work. The designers were two of the four (joining Mychael and Uli) to make it to the finale at Olympus Fashion Week, and when Laura took a gander at Jeffrey's impeccably made collection, she didn't believe that he had finished it all by himself. After an investigation, Jeffrey was let off the hook and went on to win the grand prize.

Of course, Jeffrey will always be remembered as the rude dude who made Angela Keslar's mother cry after she expressed some distaste for the dress - er, purple pup tent - that he designed for her. As you can see in this interview clip, Jeffrey now says that the mean guy on TV wasn't really him, but a "character" he purposely created for the show. Believe him or not…

Season 4
Last season was arguably the most entertaining of all, thanks to great guest judges like Sarah Jessica Parker and Victoria Beckham, and crazy challenges that had the contestants designing everything from prom gowns to female wrestling costumes. However, it was the designers themselves who really won us over. They included cool and calm Rami Kashou, who never met a fabric he didn't want to drape, soft-spoken Jillian Lewis, who could've used some time management classes, hat-loving Ricky Lizalde, who never ran out of tears, and artsy-fartsy Elisa Jimenez, who came from a planet where designers spit-mark their fabric.

Two early fan favorites were buff ex-model Jack Mackenroth and cherubic funnyman Chris March. The early elimination of Chris in the 4th episode was a huge shock. Then, in episode 5, Jack voluntarily left to receive medical treatment for a staph infection. Although it was sad to see Jack go, we were very happy with his replacement - none other than Chris!

While all of Season 4's designers brought something special to the work table, the breakout star was the ultimate winner, the "ferosh" Christian Siriano. It's so hard to pick Christian's best moment, because every minute he was onscreen was just pure reality TV gold. At first, his arrogance and prima donna attitude made him the designer we loved to hate, but his hilarious antics soon made him the one we just plain loved! Just remember, the next time someone calls you a hot tranny mess, you have Christian to thank. His catch-phrases were FIERCE!

This brings us up to Season 5, from which a true "star" has yet to emerge. Terri Stevens is sassy, but she's far from villainous. The creative and edgy Kelli Martin seemed like one to root for, but she was auf'd last week instead of Blayne Walsh. We think Kelli probably should have stayed, but that "tanorexic" Blayne was kept around for pure entertainment value. Problem is, he's not really that entertaining! He'd better pump up the fierceness level if he hopes to even come close to being the next Christian.

Right now, leather lady Stella Zotis from Queens is proving to be the most fun to watch. Following in the footsteps of Jeffrey Sebelia and Kit Pistol (Season 4) as the token "rock 'n' roller," we hope that she'll avoid uninspired garbage like her trash bag dress from the first episode and continue with the momentum from her 2nd place finish (with team leader Jerell Scott) in last week's challenge. If she insists on making everything out of black leather (or pleather, or vinyl), she won't be around much longer.

What are your favorite moments from past seasons of "Project Runway?" What do you think of Season 5 so far? Tell us what you think!

Story by Becky Broderick

Starpulse contributing writer