It was really hard for me when HGTV decided to do a reality competition show last year. I kind of hate reality TV and competitions make me horribly anxious, and yet, if you don’t count my Xena: Warrior Princess DVDs, HGTV is pretty much the only reason I have a television. In fact, the first blog post I did here was all about my big gay home decorating network.
I got over my internal conflict and watched the first season of Design Star. And I loved it, because it was backstage drama-lite and design-heavy, and of course, it brought the world David Bromstad as the first out gay design star. And when I heard there were actually two out gay contestants on this season’s show, I was bouncing up and down going “Me! Me! Pick me!” when AfterElton.com was looking for someone to interview them. When I turned in the interview, I said to Michael in a really offhand way that if he’d like someone to recap the show I might possibly be willing to consider it.
The original Design Star was set in New York, a place actually famous for design, art, and culture. The current season is set in Las Vegas, which I find somewhat terrifying as a design concept, but so far hasn’t impinged noticeably on the content of the show. (Next week it probably will, as they’re designing wedding chapels.)
The first season was also less about the drama and more about the design, a ratio that’s been a bit altered this season, and not for the better. I may be in the minority, but I don’t actually like seeing all the behind-the-scenes stuff, and I could live the rest of my life happily without ever again seeing a designer shed tears or indicate in a quavering voice that they have failed to do their best.
This season’s designers are an eclectic bunch: Kim Myles, a hairdresser from Queens; Scott Corridan, an event planner from California (at left); Josh Johnson, a singer/model/designer from Tennessee; Todd Davis, a surfer dude/landscape architect from San Francisco; Adriana Nussbaumer, a designer from Orange County, CA; Christina Ray, who describes herself as a “stay at home mom;” Josh Foss, a specialist in “green” design from Minneapolis; Palm Springs photo stylist Neeraja Lockart; punky Pennsylvania restaurant designer Lisa Millard; and Charlotte, NC, designer Will Smith.
Oh wait, I forgot someone. And yes, it was definitely Freudian, because this guy is the essence of why I hate reality competition shows: He’s nasty and irritating and you just know someone is sitting there going wow, this is good TV, let’s not vote him out yet. He’s Robb Mariani, a “graphic design specialist” with a background in video games from Orlando.
He totally blew the first challenge and all he got was a stern lecture. The judges instead sent home punky little Lisa, who admittedly did a crappy job. The next week, Neeraja deservedly washed out, and so did Josh Foss, who I kind of liked for his shy smile and environmentally friendly ways, but who unfortunately lost total control of his kitchen makeover team to the loathsome Robb. (Apparently only guys named Josh or whose names end in repeated consonants could be on the show.)
The two gay contestants, Josh Johnson, nicknamed “Sparkle” to distinguish him from “Organic” Josh Foss, and Scott, an event planner from Santa Barbara, managed to stay alive for the first two challenges, and went into this week’s competition with bright prospects.
Each designer was given what was essentially a small cubicle to transform, and told the project should focus on design rather than function. Call me insane, but doesn’t that mean it’s art instead of design?
This was the first time we’ve seen any of them do a space entirely on their own, so it was a genuine showcase of their … well, I’d say talent if the other thing I hate about competitions didn’t kick in: The artificial budget constraint. Each designer got only $399 to spend, and they had to spend it all at the 99 Cent Store. I don’t even know what a 99 Cent Store is; I live in San Francisco and that won’t even buy you five minutes’ parking. But apparently it’s a place where all they sell are plastic laundry baskets, dried beans, and mirror tiles.
Will did a pretty sharp job, using bold splashes of black and green to create what he called “Zestful Zen.” (Check it out below.) Kim did a cocoa and rose-toned room with a coffee table so entirely fabulous I was momentarily distracted from the paper plate ginkgo leaves she’d stuck to the walls. Robb did a space I loathed even beyond how much I loathe him, a nightmarish combination of aqua and lime green all converging in a cross pattern on the center back wall. It made my head ache, and the fact that the judges liked it made me want to cry.
Todd, our surfer dude, whose first project was a skateboard ramp in the living room of the penthouse where the designers are staying, decided to take the “design not function” mandate literally and did an art installation instead of a room. He painted a huge cartoon wave crashing over the walls and sofa, and demolished the rest of the room’s furniture. The designers were wowed. Me, not so much.
And actually, I like Todd, although he seems to take every single opportunity to remove his shirt, making me wonder if he figures that since he couldn’t be gay like last year’s design star, he’d be a shirtless hunk like last year’s design star. The problem is, David Bromstad didn’t win because he’s gay or because he looks good with his shirt off (something even my lesbian eyes can see), but because he’s a brilliant designer. Just a hint, guys.
Anyway, when the whistle was blown on the competition, everyone had finished his or her space (unlike last week, when one team left the kitchen half-tiled). The judges – Vern Yip from Trading Spaces, In Style editor Martha McCully, and fashion designer Cynthia Rowley — didn’t share my antipathy for the cartoon tsunami or lime and aqua cross pattern, but did agree with me about the fabulousness of Kim’s coffee table. They gently lectured everyone else about something, and I had a bad, bad feeling for our gay boys this week — and rightly so, because both of them ended up in the group of three being considered for elimination, along with the very sweet but somewhat teary-eyed Adrianna.
And two of those three were going to go.
I won’t keep you in suspense: Scott’s show was canceled, along with Adrianna’s. Here's Scott's room:
Our boy Josh is alive for another week, and he was admonished to “Sparkle, Neely, Sparkle” from now on, advice I hope he takes, because I totally adore his glammed-out Barbie doll esthetic and gentle manner.
Next week, we’re goin’ to the chapel and two more designers will get the axe. Oh Josh! Shine on you crazy diamond!
New episodes of Design Star air on HGTV on Sunday nights at 9 ET/PT, and are repeated frequently throughout the week. You can also watch the previous week’s episode on the Design Star website, where you’ll also find backstage footage and exit interviews, and can rate the designs yourself.
How Did Todd Manage to Keep His Shirt On in the .99 Cent Store?
Good recap. Like you, several things disappointed me about last night's show. First, I don't get why they're rushing through the contestants so crazily, with two eliminations each week. If the rush was making it more exciting it would be one thing, but it feels like it's just making the eliminations more arbitrary. Oops, you have to go-- but not because of promise or merit-- just because we have to get rid of one extra person!
This caused them to have to eliminate one of their best and most creative designers-- Adrianna, who did incredible work last week and had a lot of interesting ideas this week, even if they didn't gel absolutely perfectly-- merely because just about everyone hit his or her high point this week. One contestant elimination was enough here. While I was sorry to see Scott go, I couldn't help but think that he recognized the weakness in his room while he still had a day to go on the challenge, and he obviously didn't correct the problem. The room still was cluttered with way too many items, and he knew it. I just didn't get how he could have let that go, and had to ultimately agree with the judges on his "cancellation." But why must every episode get rid of two people? I'm getting whiplash! "Design Star" was reportedly a hit for the network, and they've obviously poured more money into it this season, so you'd think they'd want to slow down a little and milk the competition for all it's worth.
Second, I thought this show was about liveable interior design, not college art project or "Cartoon Stunt Design." Todd's "crashing wave" room wasn't designed for anyone to actually live there. Maybe I misunderstood the rules or the premise of the show. All of Todd's designs so far seem to be about himself-- and not in a good way. He built himself a skating ramp in the first challenge. He doodled his own cartoon in this one. And let's not ignore that this guy would take his shirt off if the contestants were designing the interior of a walk-in freezer at the North Pole. When David Bromstad took off his shirt a few times last season, it was sexy and made sense for where he was working. Todd is playing up his shirtlessness so much and so obviously, it's gotten to be about as sexy as vericose veins. But, hey, the judges loved his room. Note to contestants: next time, don't worry about constructing a liveable room; just paint an optical illusion on the wall and you'll have the judges eating out of your hand.
Last, I'm glad you call the fact that Robb is still in this competition as just the judge's need for drama. Since the final vote on "Design Star" is made by the viewers, Robb has zero chance of winning, even if he makes the final two. Playing the "villain" role may work on "Project Runway" or "Top Chef" where the judges make the final decision, but Robb has been such a complete jerk, it's hard to see what his strategy is. Who would vote for this guy? His room last night was good, but he's been pretty much a disaster on every other challenge. Why is he still cluttering up the competition, when other talented designers with an actual shot at winning have to go?