‘Project Jay’ proves too much for one sitting

It’s not bad in small doses. Bravo’s new “Project Jay,” a spinoff of “Project Runway,” isn’t quite what I expected, but I should know better than to try and expect anything with unpredictable designer Jay McCarroll.

His family describes him as a country boy from Pennsylvania, but I’m not so sure this designer has much country in him. As the winner of season one of “Project Runway,” hosted by Heidi Klum, the show follows Jay as he struggles to make it as a designer in New York City.

He turned down the cash prize from winning “Project Runway” that was supposed to help him further his fashion career in hopes of landing an exclusive deal with a licensing company.

Making it in the city is tougher than Jay originally thought.

“There’s no handbook for fame,” he says, admitting that although he’s famous, he’s still broke. In New York, Jay camps out on a friend’s futon while renting commercial space to try and pull his new line together.

Things get interesting when Heidi Klum asks Jay to design her dress for the Emmy Awards. I don’t want to spoil it, but hours before the awards show, Heidi makes a decision that leaves Jay crying in his poncho.

The show is all Jay – foul mouth, cigarettes and all. It wasn’t the worst reality I’ve seen – Paris Hilton may have captured that – but I could only take so much before having to turn off the preview DVD.

Tune in to see the new line that mixes traditional English culture with Indian design at 10 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 22.

For you card playing Vegas die-hards, SpikeTV is bringing the world of blackjack, poker, roulette, craps and more to the reality world with its new “King of Vegas.”

The winner will walk away with $1 million, but first has to prove that they’re the master when it comes to gambling.

The show premiered Jan. 17, but can be found on SpikeTV at 10 p.m. Tuesdays.

I also have good news for fans of “Rock Star: INXS.” CBS has renewed the show for 2006, but the format is uncertain. Producers guarantee it will be about finding a new rock star, but that could mean another lead singer or an entire band. Let’s hope it doesn’t follow in the footsteps of MTV’s “Making the Band.”