Is ANYONE out there watching Design Star?

[missypie]

I loved the series when it started. Now it's TERRIBLE. They've totally ruined it...the other night we watched it and were just laughing ourselves silly.

Is anyone else watching?

 

[freckles and boo]

I missed the previous two seasons and just tuned back in for this season. Ugg. I am not seeing any blazing talent. Too many group challenges are snuffing all the creativity out of the process. The judges, and Vern in particular, are really snarky. Where is Clive? I read that it is now being run by the producer of Survivor which explains the nastiness. I am already sucked in but I doubt I will watch the next season if they don't bring it back to its roots.

 

[missypie]

I've seen no hint of talent, but I honestly don't know how anyone could show talent while in a group project that incorporates everyone's flower inspiration.

Seems like they've cut their budget 99%. Before, a "team challenge" would be to redo someone's entire kitchen. Now the "team" is to redo a small room or patio. And they've gotten rid of anyone who can really build anything...heaven forbid this crew should have to install appliances or kitchen cabinets.

 

[freckles and boo]

I've seen no hint of talent, but I honestly don't know how anyone could show talent while in a group project that incorporates everyone's flower inspiration.

Exactly. This is just ridiculous. I work in a creative field and try to think through what I might do if presented with the specific parameters of the challenge, the group dynamic, the time restraints, and trying to please the judges. It is a recipe for failure for even the most talented of people. My big problem with ALL these shows is that good design isn't always a sprint to the finish line. That is why you start seeing people like Nina pulling a mural out of her butt every episode.

 

[J Le]

I've been watching it on-demand so I can fast forward through the snark and boredom. I much rather watch Color Splash!

 

[missypie]

The silliest part is that only the bottom two now get to show their hosting to the judges. So if a designer is never in the bottom two, the judges will never see his hosting until the very end.

It would be so funny if they got to the final two and both of them were stammering, sweating messes in front of the camera!

 

[anna_chronistic]

I missed the most recent episode, but it's no longer must-see TV for me, sadly. It definitely has gone downhill, and I miss Clive, too! I was irked when they got rid of ... was it Dan? ... in the flower episode. He did most of the work!

BTW, whatever happened to the great shows like "Free Style" and "Design on a Dime"? I feel like HGTV shows episode after episode (after episode, ad nauseum) of House Hunters and House Hunters International, and not nearly as much "design" as it used to. I have to stay up late if I want to catch an old epi of the shows I like ... or maybe they only show them during the day? I'll check the website, I guess.

Another reason I need DVR.

 

[missypie]

House Hunters and House Hunters International

I think that those shows cost almost nothing to produce. I used to watch so much HGTV...Designer's Challenge, Landscapers' Challenge, that little gay man who would try to reconcile what the husband and the wife wanted. Now, almost every time I flip it on it's one of the House Hunters and I turn it off. (I still like Curb Appeal and Designed to Sell, however.)

 

[wdwfan16]

I have been watching and what horrible tasks and unfair teams. Not to mention the sucky participants!!! Nina should have been gone some time ago.

 

[missypie]

I have been watching and what horrible tasks and unfair teams.

Right. They used to at least pretend the team assignments were random, or else they chose like in gym class. Now the judges/producers put together the teams.

 

[Robinrs]

Ever since they let Mark Burnett took over it's been HGTV Celebrity Apprentice...

This used to be my must see show, now it's become so contrived and ridiculous I tape it and watch it later. It's become the NINA show and she gets on my last nerve.

 

[KristaTX]

I'm watching, but I agree about the team competitions. That's gotten really old. I haven't even watched this week's episode yet. Isn't this the same show that Antonio won? I liked that season way better.

A couple of years ago I watched a show called "Top Design" on some other network (Bravo, maybe?). I don't know if it was just on one season or what. But it was way better. Jonathan Adler was one of the judges. I remember that Ricky Schroeder's wife was one of the contestants, although she didn't let everyone know right off that he was her husband.

I have to say, though, that another HGTV show from a few months ago - the one where several teams of 2 people (spouses, friends, sisters) - was even worse than this show. I can't even remember the name of it. The competition was okay, but the editing was awful. I watched it through to the end, but I can't remember the details about it. I think maybe they were remodeling their own houses and they all lived in the same neighborhood? It was a decent concept, but I just didn't like how it was shot and put together. But there are several HGTV shows that I can't stand the editing of, loud music, etc.

 

[Daisy&Max]

I'm another one who thinks this show stinks to high heaven. They spend more time whining about what they are doing than actually doing it. I watch because others in my house enjoy it, but I get so frustrated listening to the whining that I keep wishing they would all be voted off.

I hope it doesn't ever come back!

Daisy

 

[luvmy3]

This season stinks.

 

[Daisy&Max]

I'm watching, but I agree about the team competitions. That's gotten really old. I haven't even watched this week's episode yet. Isn't this the same show that Antonio won? I liked that season way better.

A couple of years ago I watched a show called "Top Design" on some other network (Bravo, maybe?). I don't know if it was just on one season or what. But it was way better. Jonathan Adler was one of the judges. I remember that Ricky Schroeder's wife was one of the contestants, although she didn't let everyone know right off that he was her husband.

I have to say, though, that another HGTV show from a few months ago - the one where several teams of 2 people (spouses, friends, sisters) - was even worse than this show. I can't even remember the name of it. The competition was okay, but the editing was awful. I watched it through to the end, but I can't remember the details about it. I think maybe they were remodeling their own houses and they all lived in the same neighborhood? It was a decent concept, but I just didn't like how it was shot and put together. But there are several HGTV shows that I can't stand the editing of, loud music, etc.

It was called Battle on the Block with Genevieve Gorder.

Daisy

 

[Kae]

YEs where the Heck is Clive!!! This show stinks with out him. I really like all of the 3 Designer that Judge. but Clive had a way with the contestants & stopped by. Vern has gotten a bit cold. Last weeks show was bad the room that lost was Bad.

I enjoyed top Design too.



Kae

 

[missypie]

Last weeks show was bad the room that lost was Bad.

I grew up in Illinois, kinda lower middle class. Almost everyone's house had a "family room" in the basement - dark, with wood paneling and cast off furniture. That's exactly what the losing room reminded me of.

 

[Kae]

I grew up in Illinois, kinda lower middle class. Almost everyone's house had a "family room" in the basement - dark, with wood paneling and cast off furniture. That's exactly what the losing room reminded me of.

We did too, but even our our was better that. When they first showed the after pics I thought it was the before pics. I hit rewind.

Kae

 

[missypie]

And the thing is, they had the architecturally interesting room...I really didn't think it was fair that their room had a high tin ceiling and cool molding and old windows and the other room was just a vanilla box. But the team managed to make the cool room look like a basement family room.

 

[KristaTX]

Here's the even worse show I was thinking of http://www.hgtv.com/hgtvs-250000-challenge/show/index.html . "HGTV's $250,000 Challenge".