On TV last night: 'Project Runway'

“Project Runway” finally made it work.

After being shelved for what felt like eons, the show’s sixth season — delayed by a dispute between former network Bravo and current network Lifetime — finally premiered last night.

While the network and location (New York was traded in for L.A.) have changed, everything else you love about “Runway” remains the same.

Heidi is as gorgeous as ever (I totally want that dress she wore to the rooftop party), while fellow judges Nina Garcia and Michael Kors are as critical (Nina) and funny (Michael) as ever.

And Tim Gunn, well, he’s still the best, whether doling out advice or acting as a calming presence in the face of designer meltdowns.

In the premiere, one came from former meth addict Johnny, who freaked out and wanted to quit within the first few hours. But Tim talked him down from the proverbial ledge, and he went on to design a bright red frock the judges loved.

Other contestants that stood out to me included Malvin, a self-described androgynous fella whose combination of poufy bangs and rat tails certainly earns him the title for craziest personal style; Ari Fish, who eerily resembled guest judge Lindsey Lohan’s on-again/off-again girlfriend Samantha Ronson; Epperson, the oldest contestant at 49 years old; Nicolas, who calls himself the “Feather Prince” of New York (huh?); Christopher, who didn’t let the fact that he skipped design school deter him from making the episode’s standout dress, which Michael Kors called cute and edgy; and Carol Hannah, who introduced herself by saying something about woodland fairies wearing her dresses.

With the new Los Angeles location comes a new workroom, set up in the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising.

Appropriately enough, the first challenge had the designers creating a red carpet look.

My favorite designs included Christopher’s previously mentioned dress, a short black and pink number that stole the show; Ra’mon’s one-shouldered purple gown; Shirin’s homage to old Hollywood; and Epperson’s bordering-on avante garde piece.

(I should also note that the Feather Prince didn’t live up to his moniker; his short dress lacked any of the promised pizzazz.)

The night’s two ugliest designs belonged to Ari and Mitchell.

Ari said her silver, hooded ensemble — which Michael Kors hilariously referred to as a “disco soccer ball” — was designed for someone who was attending MTV’s Video Music Awards and accepting the Nobel Peace Prize on the same night. Umm, OK.

Mitchell’s frock started off matronly, with a Victorian-inspired collar, then turned risqué as he adjusted it to fit his model. The cobbled-together product was completely see-through and pretty hideous, so I was surprised when Nina said there was an attitude about it that she liked.

Still, I thought Mitchell was the goner. Ari was just too out-there to be eliminated first, right?

Wrong. Judges gave her the heave-ho, and Mitchell and his Victorian nightmare lived on to design another day.