Best. Gay. Week. Ever. (July 27, 2007)

DESIGN STAR BETS THE HOUSE
Hi-ho — Brian the Associate Editor here, taking over for the duration of the column after Michael's scooperific update from the TCA conference.

On Wednesday night I played roving reporter and popped over to the premiere party for HGTV's new season of Design Star, the reality competition that pits a group of designsketeers against one another for the prize of scoring their own HGTV show. As the show is set in Las Vegas, the party's theme was the same, with showgirls and betting tables and blue drinks that matched the show's signature color (someone involved in this show must really have an eye!).

While I was there, I got the chance to chat with last year's winner, David Bromstad, as well as this season's two out contestants, Scott Corridan and Josh Johnson. (pictured above with a fellow contestant)

David (whom our intrepid and HGTV-obsessed writer Christie Keith interviewed a few months back about his runaway success Color Splash) was just as adorable and lively in real life as he is on the show. He confirmed that Color Splash has been picked up for an additional two seasons (for a total of four, at this point) and said that in addition to the Design Star casting special that aired last week, he will pop in again to help the new batch of contestants along.

I asked David if he'd ever return to judge Design Star and he said that he'd do it in a heartbeat, but he thinks the judges they have already are great -- and he's not sure if he wants people to see his "mean side." He also didn't want to take his jacket off because he was only wearing a tank-top underneath (even though it was warm at the party), and I noted that basically everyone in NYC has seen him in a tank-top already, considering his bare-shouldered picture was on every bus and billboard for like four months last year.

I then nabbed Josh "Sparkle" Johnson for a word, and found out the origins of his curious nickname. Actually, the nickname itself isn't curious if you've seen the guy: he's like a ball of glitter wrapped in satin, blow-dried to perfection and presented on a bed of organza. Seriously, there's nothing dull about Josh either in appearance or in personality.

Josh seemed suitably wowed by the party and hoopla, but he comes across as grounded, humble, and with the right sense of humor to make it through. I asked him where the nickname came from and he stressed that it started on the show, not before: he's not generally known as "sparkle" to anyone else.

There were actually two Joshes in the competition, so host Clive Pearse dubbed this fella "Sparkle" to distinguish him from the other Josh, and a legend was born. I noted that in school I was always "gay Brian" to distinguish me from other Brians in my circle of friends, and Josh laughed, "Yeah -- and I was always 'straight Josh!'"

Scott Corridan is much less flashy but just as chatty. He noted that much of his day-to-day work is event-based, and much of that work is weddings. He helped me out with a wedding question I've been trying to figure out (apparently, as I'm technically the Maid of Honor for my good friend Lauren's wedding, I'm the "Bridesman") and talked a bit about his approach (natural, rough materials -- very California desert) and how well the cast got along, even though they were fighting for a prize.

The screening was fun -- Clive introduced all the designers and had to come up with one word to describe each. When they introduced Scott ("denimy") and he stood up, we heard breaking glass (martini down!), which was good for a laugh. When Josh stood up, he reminded Clive, "Drag queen is two words!" The editors apparently notice Josh's way with words early on, as he gets all the best lines in the show (when painting a taupe wall he quips, "this is the exact color of spray-on tan. Trust me, I know!"). I sat right behind Vern Yip and apparently between two other HGTV stars, cute fellas I didn't recognize.

In all it was a fun night and the show looks like it could be another hit for the network. Oh -- and one last thing, guys? If you're looking for a job filled with cute gay men, lob in a resume to HGTV, stat. They've got wheelbarrows full of 'em.