I love Wisit (not his opera singing - but that's all opera for me when it's being sung in a high key). I hope he goes far in the competition.
Mrs. Ricky did the best she probably could with the teammates she had, but leaving the wallpaper and fabrics in front of a sink??!!! Even I know not to do that.
Love, love, love Wisit! I'm about to change my name to lovemesomewisit! Very creative and opera too?! Oh yeah! I'm an opera singer myself, so I'm feeling the Wisit love. He is just so out there and so fun.
And I hate Robert. I knew Serge, that poor boy, was going home, but I wanted it to be Robert. Jerk tried to throw my eye candy under the bus (oh no he didn't!) and acted like he was all large and in charge when he didn't know what the hell he was doing.
And Mrs. Ricky Schroeder is in it to win it. She'll take anyone down who tries to get in ger way. Scary, but in kinda a fun way. Just don't mess with my opera boy or my eye candy, but you can go ahead and mess with anyone else.
I have to say I had a mixed reaction to this new season. I would say the show is a little bit more like Top Chef than PR with the Pop Design Quiz. I found it odd each judge basically got to hand out immunity. I did like Wisit's sketches for his display.
Personally the big thing I found I did not like was the way the final products were shot and edited. The artifical framing they did on the pop quiz output and the rapid cuts did not allow a proper amount of time to process the quality. It would not have killed them to have wider and sustained shots. I have a similar gripes with the finished rooms. The camera work did not fully allow the final design to be fully taken in. bad enough when it happens on PR. really no excuse here on this show.
I too wondered about that editor from martha stewart. I question whether he should have been allowed to compete.
Sadly this show isn't grabbing me enough. Not terrible, certainly better than last year but not requsite watching
I'm just upset that the bitch is married to my husband! I seriously had the bigeest crush on Ricky Shroder when he was on Silver Spoons. And that bitch married him?! Not fair.
Great post, and I will forgive its tardiness if you just skip Tabatha's show and just do Top Design and Mad Men. I haven't been impressed with the hairwitch and now I am completely captivated by Mad Men.
Mrs. Ricky Schroeder is going to be the bitch this season, no doubt. Who the hell brings a photo like that to a friggin reality contest??? And then acting surprised when someone actually recognizes your celebrity husband? AND THEN DOESN'T ADMIT IT!
Wonder how long Jimmy Olsen will be employed at MS Living once his story arc reaches its apex? You just KNOW that train wreck is just around the bend.
I am looking forward to some real designs this season. Thank god they are allowed to think "out of the box"!
Serge was an accident waiting to happen. He looked so very clueless from the get go.
Cousin Toddy (sorry, Nanny reference...had to do it) and the hands were a hoot!
Margaret and a cheeseburger? She needs a few hundred!
Andrea, are you sure you don't like her just because she has a hottie for a husband? But, you're right, she does give off the vibe of a winner.
As much as I like Kerry, he seems a bit flustered and if he doesn't pull it together, he could be an early target. I hope not, but it's quite a possibility.
Nathan has a bit of the bitchitude going on, which I like. Plus he's not bad looking. I know, I know, that has nothing to do with anything. Still...
Eddie, Eddie, Eddie. I dunno about him. I'm reserving judgment for now.
Preston -- now there's some major man cleavage if I ever saw it!
Red Team: LOVED the wallpaper! How did they manage to pull that off with their budget? I mean, it looked so much richer than expected. And that sofa? I mean, really!
Orange Team: nice and rather spartan, almost too much so. Wasn't bad, though. My favorite was the living room.
Blue Team: Oy vey. The only thing that saved them from the bottom of the barrel was the ironwork. I love seeing large pieces like that used effectively and almost unexpectedly.
Green Team: The only redeeming thing was the bedroom and that's not saying much, is it?
Looks to be a fun season. Can't wait until the next ep!
Mrs. Ricky Schroeder, gimme a break. It was the first thing out of her mouth in the interview, then she puts up a picture of her husband, then she pretends it isn't true. Issues, much?
The re-tooling is mostly very helpful, but Todd still talks like a kindergarten teacher. Still love him, tho.
Those bitches out-bitch the hair witch and that's saying something.
(btw, I hate to be another bitch (well, maybe not), but Mad Men! Sal had a giant episode, you boys must weigh in.)
Sometime after the winner is announced there needs to be a contest about Kelli's hair. The previews have already shown that we're in for an amazing ride in her hairstyling department.
As for Tabitha's show: eh, its ok. But each new episode is a rerun of the last. Just how many crud infested, lazy, egomanical boss salon's can there be?
TD is much improved from the disaster that was last season. Todd lost the sing-song voice, the pop design aspect taken from Top Chef spices things up, and India Hicks provides an aristocratic, slightly transgendered vibe I haven't seen before. She's a beautiful woman and incredibly mannish at the same time. And they seem to be doing a lot of male underwear shots a la PR. Something for everybody!
I'm not sure I can take Wisit going the full distance if he keeps demonstrating his talent (presumably Chinese opera from the sounds of it?). It reminds me of that movie, My Concubine I think it was, where we ended up having to fast forward through the singing because it was getting on our last nerve.
other than (terribly) decorating those loft, I don't see any interior design on any of the teams. I mean, there was an architect, and all she did was fix a sofa?!?!?! bitch you don't spend long nights at arch school just to show the world you barely can fix a sofa! I know, budget was short, but still something could have been done other than putting plates, chairs and tables around. After this, no need to say I hated this first episode.
I am so glad you boys are blogging Top Design! I followed the blogs for the last show, and I am much more excited by this season. The changes were well-needed, and I'm very optimistic.
at least this first show was a good start. i wish they would show photos of the spaces when they are judging. do the other designers get to see them each others work?
Much better competition for the first episode than most of what we saw in TD1. Personalities should be entertaining, but the time constraints that are placed on the designers are really quite tough, aren't they?
Do like the idea of a limited budget, but it's pretty hard to avoid the furnishings looking used, eh?
I only caught the last half of the epi, so how did some of the designers have immunity already?
And since when does being the child of a long-dead society decorator qualify you to be the host of a reality teevee show? They should have asked Laura Bennett; at least she's an architect married to a living interior designer! I can just imagine the "bad Mommy" glare Laura would give when a contestant complained about not having sufficent time or a task being too hard.
i was very encouraged by the changes, though India Hicks kind of gives me the heebie-jeebies. also, just because your dad is an awesome designer, doesn't mean YOU have anything interesting to say about design. just saying.
Aw that Preston!
and i have to say: i thought Shazia was a bigger disaster than Serge (sairjjjjjjjjje) - she never even got her shadowbox on the wall, then soaked the fabrics and papers. not the sharpest knife in the drawer.
dubois is right: bring back those cute cute carpenters!
I'm glad they did a less insanely high-end challenge, and hopefully will do more. last season, giving the designers access to the chi-chi PDC with massive budgets was nice and all, but kind of off-putting to your basic poor student watching at home.
hahaha Wisit was a hoot! It got a bit uncomfortable watching him at first but in the end, he was so obviously THE Queen Mother of Queens, it was fun =) and hilarious.
I agree - bitch 1 and 2 - Andrea and Jimmy.
I loved Big Daddy too. Robert was an anal ass. And throwing pretty boy under the bus really was not a surprise for me, given his anal retentive-ness. Although bitch really didn't contribute all that much other than make lists and not figuring how the sewing machine worked.
Good season this time I think - love the Design Divas, esp Margaret =)
Wasn't surprised that Robert got sent home but Shaz (what's her name?? Overruning the sink gal??) was a total idiot. She should have gone home too.
Wisit's a friggin' countertenor!!! I love countertenors!
Mrs. Ricky annoyed the shit out of me. She left the sink running and it's someone else's fault that it ran over? No, honey, it's your responsibility to keep an eye on what you're doing.
I so agree about Senior Editors from Martha Stewart. Like he needs the $100,000. Just raid the petty cash box! But he has raised my standards. If he can travel with a silver toast rack, then, by god, the next trip I take, I'm packing the 10" high, antique, domed and footed silver butter stand. So there.
Todd seems more comfortable in just the mentor role--glad he's out from under the hosting.
Nice to see them out of the white boxes. Haven't made up my mind about the "pop design" yet.
This show will stand or fall on the quality of the challenges. They still don't seem to get that interior design, to be interesting and look at all finished, takes more time than hair dressing or cooking or even fashion. I'm sure more time contributes to greater production costs, etc., but unless we get to look at cool stuff at the end of a challenges (with a few train wrecks thrown in, but not a majority) it's not going to be satisfying.
Thank goodness that "Top Design" is added to the TLo Blog family Yea! for us. I have got to say love reading this blog and to" lilithcat " and "eric3000" OMG thanks for making my day ! ! !
I do love the changes this season as well, it added something more to the show. Plus Todd seemed to be less creepy in E1 of this season compared to last.
Opps.... forgot it's about the sliver comment in above post but to eric3000 I love everything Todd funny hands and all, and to" hello, I'm Patsy Stone" sorry I forgot to add you to my post.... love the picture love your post... long live abfab...
Wisit! I thought all the castrati were dead!! He's hilarious and those drawings he produced in about 15 mins were great. Rainwood, right on with the Farewell My Concubine reference.
India: I'm sorry but she is 10 kinds of tranny. Was she wearing a sequined cape in the 1st few scenes? I Googled some of her work and seems she's most famous for being in Princess Di's wedding. But I do prefer Todd in the mentor role.
Kelly: they need a whole ep of SG devoted to giving her a decent hairstyle.
I did like the idea of only having $2000 in the budget but that was (for me) sort of a disconnect with having the designers drive around in Range Rovers. C'mon Bravo, how about an eco-friendly Saturn VUE or Mercury Mariner hybrid??
And can Mr. Martha Wannabe go home soon? Along with shifty looking Robert?
Love Wisit! I agree, Mrs. Ricky is NOT going home without a fight, and I think she'll bring the bitchery.
I was *so* relieved that they didn't have to decorate those stupid shoebox roomlets like last year. This was much better. I hope they keep it up with the real rooms.
What do you mean the ship has sailed on Sheer Genius? You can't leave us hanging on all those wigstands! Please, please, please, please go through all the do's. I've been waiting for so long.
Thanks very much, Lilithcat. I was coming here to ask whether Wisit was singing countertenor. My bro-in-law (straight, if anyone's keeping score) has started doing that. I love it when Wisit does it, but when the bro-in-law does it, it sorta freaks me out.
I hope they stay out of the cubicles and in real rooms. And I look forward to Kelly's fashion adventures. Too bad Carrie Bradshaw already did the bird-in-hair look.
Phew! I've been waiting a long time for this! I'm glad they have a new catch phrase. I know you said the ship sailed on SG, but whatever happened with Fan Favorite?! I want to know if Daniel nabbed it.
Love wisit -- too cute...love his voice, although it is very "castrato" -- he will definitly be some of the better entertainment this season.
glad serge is gone -- i watched the little 30 second promos each designer did and was completely annoyed with serge's attitude. he just came off as a real jerk who thinks he's incredibly cool... then to see how clueless he really was...
i have a feeling that his partner shazia (?) will also be gone soon. could two contestants have been any less competant? you've got to hand it to andrea for not being MORE bitchy with them.
Wisit is singing Das Veilchen by Mozart. Considering it's a cappella, I think he did a lovely job. and he seems super sweet! can't wait to see what he does by himself
Boys, thanks for recapping TD. I enjoyed it last year (so shoot me) and look forward to this new season. Can't wait to see Ms. Rick lose her cool (other than in the asides)--should be a highlight. Even tripping in her ultra-high heels would suffice.
The red team had 3 strong designers in Nathan, Ondine, and Wisit. So far they look like the ones to follow. I'm hoping for great stuff from Nathan, besides the Kevin Spacey/Usual Suspects cloning. The other team members seemed to respond to/respect Ondine's take charge organizational skills.
Martha-wannabe (he wants his own mag and media empire too) may be too far outside his comfort zone if they stray from designs where some variant of traditional, old-money style works.
Robert is not likable and didn't show anything to recommend him. When my husband saw Preston he thought the cleavage line looked like an open heart surgery scar! I'm pleased Margaret liked his art because it was the bright spot in that dim design (pun intended). Serge's portfolio mimiced Manhattan style trends from more than 10 years ago and he's not old enough to have been designing then. This was a good advance clue to his immediate demise (might that have caught TLo's eyes?). Shaz is a spazz.
Both this year and last (Goil)the architects obsessed over making fancy dogbeds -- lame-o. I bet Liberace shares Jonathon's bed.
I love Tabatha but no need to waste your precious time writing about her show -- been there, done that. The model, Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares (UK version), is much more entertaining and engaging.
Yes, darling Michael Adams from TD1 looks very much like our dear Ladybird. Ladybird has a far more charming personality.
And did y'all watch the little promo clips they ran during the credits??? Project Runway alums (Santino and Andrae and others?) will make an appearance, AND, EVEN BETTER!
JEFF LEWIS!!!! is guest judging sometime in the future! Jeff! Lewis! who I Love! and i don't understand why TLo don't write about Flipping Out...probably because y'all are so busy with other things, like earning a living and being fabulous, but - come on! flipping out is fantabulous.
Yes, darling Michael Adams from TD1 looks very much like our dear Ladybird. Ladybird has a far more charming personality.
And did y'all watch the little promo clips they ran during the credits??? Project Runway alums (Santino and Andrae and others?) will make an appearance, AND, EVEN BETTER!
JEFF LEWIS!!!! is guest judging sometime in the future! Jeff! Lewis! who I Love! and i don't understand why TLo don't write about Flipping Out...probably because y'all are so busy with other things, like earning a living and being fabulous, but - come on! flipping out is fantabulous.
Oh man - I can tell that Wisit is going to be sanuk mak mak (lots of fun in Thai). I definitely met some guys like him in Bangkok and I can't wait to see how he does.
"Darlings, there's your average queen and then there's The Grand Empress here."
Hilarious! I was waiting for you boys to comment on Wisit. My first thought was "freakshow, he's gone tonight," but his designs were FAB. I want to turn those bitches on his team loose in my new apartment!
When Wisit finished his aria and slowly turned his head away, I thought of that number from Flower Drum Song, "Love, Look Away". I haven't decided if he's a Mei Li or Helen Chao though. He's definitely no Linda Low but is just as entertaining!
I can't wait for an individual challenge so we can see Mrs. Ricky and Robert unfettered by subordinates. And their subordinates unfettered by Mrs. Ricky and Robert! Interesting that Preston's art was the best thing about the room and Robert couldn't see that. Robert is on my Watch List.
India was pretty good, but how sad for her first day on the hosting job to have her inspiration room look like such a hot mess! Almost as bad as the Charlie's Angels challenge in SG.
"Darlings, there's your average queen and then there's The Grand Empress here. If Madame Butterfly doesn't make it all the way to the end, we will consider this season a wash. Pure gay entertainment."
It helps that Wisit has exquisite taste. He'll be hugely fun to follow. That Schroder woman showed her true taste with her shadow boxes: a peace symbol made of cork? She was an alpha bitch who made her two co-designers roll over and expose their soft underbellies. Also, she who leaveth the sink running should be responsible for turning it off. No debate.
Schroeder's cat seems to have failed so far in the "I want my own name in the spotlight" department since no one refers to her actual name, and that incident with the sink had me thinking designer "mole". And, is it me or did Jonathan discover bronzer this year--seems a lot less like a puppet from a Tim Burton nightmare?
I loved Andrea! Anyone else out there Buffy fans? Andrea is Anya - the short tempered wish-granting demon! It made me love her all during the episode, and if anything "strange" had happened to her co-designers I would not have been surprised at all. (And would have been sympathetic; they clearly got the loser edit, but it seemed like they deserved it.)
Pleeeease blog about the Sheer Genius finale! Then I won't complain if you skip over Tabatha's show (but maybe a wrap-up of the entire season would be nice).
I'm curious if Eddie will ever become his own designer or keep ripping off Martha Stewart. You know, I think Martha's style of decorating is pretty hideous myself. I like her mag for cooking and organizing, but not the interiors.
Shazia doesn't seem too bright. It's pretty sad for her to represent brown people.
I dunno about y'all but Big daddy seemed like a sweaty mess. I expect an interior designer to be well put together.
It will be nice to judge them based on the work they do though and less on their personalities.
So far, I like what I see, with one caveat. I hate, hate, hate when budget decorating shows (or decorating competitions, etc.) expect folks to buy decent, usable upholstered pieces secondhand. Such finds are rare, and you should count yourself extremely lucky if you get one. 99 times out of 100, it's ugly, worn, stained, dated shit. I firmly believe that high style can be had secondhand in almost any other type of piece, but used upholstery is almost always bottom of the barrel dreck. Give them low budgets, yes. Confine them to thrift and junk stores for the rest of their finds, yes. But give them new upholstered pieces to start with. Make them identical - plain and neutral - to create an even playing field, and let them showcase their creativity with slipcovering, pillows, etc. But don't expect them to clean 20 years of someone else's grime off the cushions and then berate them when it's still a dirty, fugly couch.
Chris said... "FYI, Kerry isn't gay. He has a wife and kids." -- since when does that mean anything? my first serious boyfriend from college went through 2 marriages and had 3 kids before, at the age of 45, he finally realized (accepted)that he was gay. my reaction when he wrote to me about his new discovery? "it's about time you figured it out!"
Bookworm said... Phew! I've been waiting a long time for this! I'm glad they have a new catch phrase. I know you said the ship sailed on SG, but whatever happened with Fan Favorite?! I want to know if Daniel nabbed it.
September 8, 2008 5:09 PM
Yes Ladybird nabbed the Fan Favorite award. I imagine by a MILE!!!
Just goes to show that being nice and knowing what you are goes a LONG way with American viewers.
Until Jonathan Adler is removed from this show--along with all his cutesie-NOT faux French phrases ("I j'adore"....oh, PLEASE!), this will remain the most unwatchable competition program on TV.
The other judges are horrible too, but Adler is the WORST.
The show is just too boring for me. I continually change the channel when I am "watching" the show. I keep hoping that it gets better. The host, judges, and little Todd are so stiff, rehearsed, and just generally tight assed. The challenges are pretty dull too.
I adore Wisit and how cute was he with Nathan in the bunker challenge?
I'm really liking this season so far. I was not happy with Sheer Genius this time around so Top Design has been a happy surprise. I think they made the right choice going with India as a host and having Jonathon Adler be less hands on.
9/8/08, 12:46 PM
I always travel with all my silver!
9/8/08, 12:52 PM
I love Wisit (not his opera singing - but that's all opera for me when it's being sung in a high key). I hope he goes far in the competition.
Mrs. Ricky did the best she probably could with the teammates she had, but leaving the wallpaper and fabrics in front of a sink??!!! Even I know not to do that.
9/8/08, 12:55 PM
Forgot to mention - so far it is a vast improvement over last season - but I do hope they bring back the cute carpenters.
9/8/08, 12:59 PM
Love, love, love Wisit! I'm about to change my name to lovemesomewisit! Very creative and opera too?! Oh yeah! I'm an opera singer myself, so I'm feeling the Wisit love. He is just so out there and so fun.
And I hate Robert. I knew Serge, that poor boy, was going home, but I wanted it to be Robert. Jerk tried to throw my eye candy under the bus (oh no he didn't!) and acted like he was all large and in charge when he didn't know what the hell he was doing.
And Mrs. Ricky Schroeder is in it to win it. She'll take anyone down who tries to get in ger way. Scary, but in kinda a fun way. Just don't mess with my opera boy or my eye candy, but you can go ahead and mess with anyone else.
9/8/08, 1:02 PM
Ha! Madame Butterfly. As soon as I saw him I was eagerly awaiting your judgment. I'm excited to see what else this season has in store for us.
9/8/08, 1:03 PM
I have to say I had a mixed reaction to this new season. I would say the show is a little bit more like Top Chef than PR with the Pop Design Quiz. I found it odd each judge basically got to hand out immunity. I did like Wisit's sketches for his display.
Personally the big thing I found I did not like was the way the final products were shot and edited. The artifical framing they did on the pop quiz output and the rapid cuts did not allow a proper amount of time to process the quality. It would not have killed them to have wider and sustained shots. I have a similar gripes with the finished rooms. The camera work did not fully allow the final design to be fully taken in. bad enough when it happens on PR. really no excuse here on this show.
I too wondered about that editor from martha stewart. I question whether he should have been allowed to compete.
Sadly this show isn't grabbing me enough. Not terrible, certainly better than last year but not requsite watching
oh well
Frank
9/8/08, 1:04 PM
I'm just upset that the bitch is married to my husband! I seriously had the bigeest crush on Ricky Shroder when he was on Silver Spoons. And that bitch married him?! Not fair.
Wisit is my favorite too.
--beth
9/8/08, 1:04 PM
It was worth waiting for!
9/8/08, 1:06 PM
Great post, and I will forgive its tardiness if you just skip Tabatha's show and just do Top Design and Mad Men. I haven't been impressed with the hairwitch and now I am completely captivated by Mad Men.
Mrs. Ricky Schroeder is going to be the bitch this season, no doubt. Who the hell brings a photo like that to a friggin reality contest??? And then acting surprised when someone actually recognizes your celebrity husband? AND THEN DOESN'T ADMIT IT!
Wonder how long Jimmy Olsen will be employed at MS Living once his story arc reaches its apex? You just KNOW that train wreck is just around the bend.
I am looking forward to some real designs this season. Thank god they are allowed to think "out of the box"!
9/8/08, 1:07 PM
p.s. I didn't think it would be possible to find a host with a more annoying voice than Todd Oldham but somehow they managed.
9/8/08, 1:08 PM
Serge was an accident waiting to happen. He looked so very clueless from the get go.
Cousin Toddy (sorry, Nanny reference...had to do it) and the hands were a hoot!
Margaret and a cheeseburger? She needs a few hundred!
Andrea, are you sure you don't like her just because she has a hottie for a husband? But, you're right, she does give off the vibe of a winner.
As much as I like Kerry, he seems a bit flustered and if he doesn't pull it together, he could be an early target. I hope not, but it's quite a possibility.
Nathan has a bit of the bitchitude going on, which I like. Plus he's not bad looking. I know, I know, that has nothing to do with anything. Still...
Eddie, Eddie, Eddie. I dunno about him. I'm reserving judgment for now.
Preston -- now there's some major man cleavage if I ever saw it!
Red Team: LOVED the wallpaper! How did they manage to pull that off with their budget? I mean, it looked so much richer than expected. And that sofa? I mean, really!
Orange Team: nice and rather spartan, almost too much so. Wasn't bad, though. My favorite was the living room.
Blue Team: Oy vey. The only thing that saved them from the bottom of the barrel was the ironwork. I love seeing large pieces like that used effectively and almost unexpectedly.
Green Team: The only redeeming thing was the bedroom and that's not saying much, is it?
Looks to be a fun season. Can't wait until the next ep!
9/8/08, 1:10 PM
I've been waiting to hear your thoughts on this new season. Sounds like it's worth taking a peek at; off to Yidio to look for online eps!
9/8/08, 1:12 PM
OMG, Wisit is reality show gold. Love him!
Mrs. Ricky Schroeder, gimme a break. It was the first thing out of her mouth in the interview, then she puts up a picture of her husband, then she pretends it isn't true. Issues, much?
The re-tooling is mostly very helpful, but Todd still talks like a kindergarten teacher. Still love him, tho.
Those bitches out-bitch the hair witch and that's saying something.
(btw, I hate to be another bitch (well, maybe not), but Mad Men! Sal had a giant episode, you boys must weigh in.)
9/8/08, 1:13 PM
Sometime after the winner is announced there needs to be a contest about Kelli's hair. The previews have already shown that we're in for an amazing ride in her hairstyling department.
As for Tabitha's show: eh, its ok. But each new episode is a rerun of the last. Just how many crud infested, lazy, egomanical boss salon's can there be?
9/8/08, 1:15 PM
TD is much improved from the disaster that was last season. Todd lost the sing-song voice, the pop design aspect taken from Top Chef spices things up, and India Hicks provides an aristocratic, slightly transgendered vibe I haven't seen before. She's a beautiful woman and incredibly mannish at the same time. And they seem to be doing a lot of male underwear shots a la PR. Something for everybody!
I'm not sure I can take Wisit going the full distance if he keeps demonstrating his talent (presumably Chinese opera from the sounds of it?). It reminds me of that movie, My Concubine I think it was, where we ended up having to fast forward through the singing because it was getting on our last nerve.
9/8/08, 1:16 PM
Forgot to say I agree that something is up with Oldham's hands. All that gyrating and gesturing was really annoying.
And joanie, man cleavage indeed! Ah, Preston . . .
9/8/08, 1:23 PM
other than (terribly) decorating those loft, I don't see any interior design on any of the teams. I mean, there was an architect, and all she did was fix a sofa?!?!?! bitch you don't spend long nights at arch school just to show the world you barely can fix a sofa! I know, budget was short, but still something could have been done other than putting plates, chairs and tables around. After this, no need to say I hated this first episode.
9/8/08, 1:28 PM
Wisit...its a name and a sound!! The singing was just the cherry on top.
And Mrs. Ricky!! She admitted that she would do whatever she needed to not being a bitch which means...she'll be a bitch! LOL!!
9/8/08, 1:35 PM
I am so glad you boys are blogging Top Design! I followed the blogs for the last show, and I am much more excited by this season. The changes were well-needed, and I'm very optimistic.
9/8/08, 1:40 PM
LMFAO! you 2 are always worth the wait!
at least this first show was a good start. i wish they would show photos of the spaces when they are judging. do the other designers get to see them each others work?
love big daddy!
as for wisit..LOL
9/8/08, 1:51 PM
Eric3000 - TSA must love you!
Much better competition for the first episode than most of what we saw in TD1. Personalities should be entertaining, but the time constraints that are placed on the designers are really quite tough, aren't they?
Do like the idea of a limited budget, but it's pretty hard to avoid the furnishings looking used, eh?
All the best,
NDC
9/8/08, 2:00 PM
I only caught the last half of the epi, so how did some of the designers have immunity already?
And since when does being the child of a long-dead society decorator qualify you to be the host of a reality teevee show? They should have asked Laura Bennett; at least she's an architect married to a living interior designer! I can just imagine the "bad Mommy" glare Laura would give when a contestant complained about not having sufficent time or a task being too hard.
9/8/08, 2:04 PM
i was very encouraged by the changes, though India Hicks kind of gives me the heebie-jeebies. also, just because your dad is an awesome designer, doesn't mean YOU have anything interesting to say about design. just saying.
Aw that Preston!
and i have to say: i thought Shazia was a bigger disaster than Serge (sairjjjjjjjjje) - she never even got her shadowbox on the wall, then soaked the fabrics and papers. not the sharpest knife in the drawer.
dubois is right: bring back those cute cute carpenters!
I'm glad they did a less insanely high-end challenge, and hopefully will do more. last season, giving the designers access to the chi-chi PDC with massive budgets was nice and all, but kind of off-putting to your basic poor student watching at home.
i'm so glad you're doing this show! yay!
9/8/08, 2:06 PM
I'm with TLo 100% on Mrs. Schroeder being this season's be-yotch. You can sense it through the television screen....
9/8/08, 2:10 PM
You know Mrs. Ricky wanted everyone to know who she was even though she didn't act like it. Insecure with your own identity much?
9/8/08, 2:14 PM
Thank you so much for taking on Mad Men, Tabitha and TD2. I live for your critiques and thoughts of my must see shows.
muchas smooches!
9/8/08, 2:31 PM
Love this blog!
My husband and I have been waiting for your nickname for "Jimmy Olsen".
We've been calling him "Alfred E. Neuman."
Did anyone else think Todd Oldham looked a little like a deranged Howdy Doody Puppet?
9/8/08, 3:10 PM
Shoo...shoo...that's all of my Limoges
9/8/08, 3:21 PM
Is this the same India Hicks who was Princess Di's flower girl?
9/8/08, 3:24 PM
Yes, it is the same India Hicks as Princess Di's flower girl.
9/8/08, 3:25 PM
hahaha Wisit was a hoot! It got a bit uncomfortable watching him at first but in the end, he was so obviously THE Queen Mother of Queens, it was fun =) and hilarious.
I agree - bitch 1 and 2 - Andrea and Jimmy.
I loved Big Daddy too. Robert was an anal ass. And throwing pretty boy under the bus really was not a surprise for me, given his anal retentive-ness. Although bitch really didn't contribute all that much other than make lists and not figuring how the sewing machine worked.
Good season this time I think - love the Design Divas, esp Margaret =)
Wasn't surprised that Robert got sent home but Shaz (what's her name?? Overruning the sink gal??) was a total idiot. She should have gone home too.
9/8/08, 3:25 PM
shoot, sorry, didn't mean to write Robert - I meant Serge.
Must have been my sub conscious wish taking over =)
9/8/08, 3:27 PM
Wisit's a friggin' countertenor!!! I love countertenors!
Mrs. Ricky annoyed the shit out of me. She left the sink running and it's someone else's fault that it ran over? No, honey, it's your responsibility to keep an eye on what you're doing.
I so agree about Senior Editors from Martha Stewart. Like he needs the $100,000. Just raid the petty cash box! But he has raised my standards. If he can travel with a silver toast rack, then, by god, the next trip I take, I'm packing the 10" high, antique, domed and footed silver butter stand. So there.
9/8/08, 3:40 PM
I love Wisit! He's all about the beauty of life.
Can anyone else picture this......Wisit and Malan as a couple?! TLo-how about adding matchmaker to your resume!!!
9/8/08, 3:40 PM
macasism said, but Mad Men! Sal had a giant episode, you boys must weigh in.
Ack! I haven't seen it yet. I was out last night listening to jazz. Thank GOD for On Demand! I can catch it when I get home from class tonight.
~runs off with fingers in ears so as not to hear any spoilers~
9/8/08, 3:48 PM
Cautious optimism.
Todd seems more comfortable in just the mentor role--glad he's out from under the hosting.
Nice to see them out of the white boxes. Haven't made up my mind about the "pop design" yet.
This show will stand or fall on the quality of the challenges. They still don't seem to get that interior design, to be interesting and look at all finished, takes more time than hair dressing or cooking or even fashion. I'm sure more time contributes to greater production costs, etc., but unless we get to look at cool stuff at the end of a challenges (with a few train wrecks thrown in, but not a majority) it's not going to be satisfying.
9/8/08, 3:53 PM
I'm so glad you guys are blogging Top Design. I will continue to watch since you're blogging about it. :)
9/8/08, 4:21 PM
Thank goodness that "Top Design" is added to the TLo Blog family Yea! for us.
I have got to say love reading this blog and to" lilithcat " and "eric3000" OMG thanks for making my day ! ! !
9/8/08, 4:21 PM
It's better than last year but it had nowhere to go but up.
Something oily about Nathan. I expect him to do something crummy to one of the other designers.
Gotta agree with Rainwood about the mannish, tranny-ish Ms. Hicks. No idea why she's there and I was underwhelmed by her.
I want to go shopping with Maragaret Russell and rip everything and everyone we see. I have such a crush.
9/8/08, 4:24 PM
Madam Butterfly! I love it.
I do love the changes this season as well, it added something more to the show. Plus Todd seemed to be less creepy in E1 of this season compared to last.
9/8/08, 4:29 PM
Opps.... forgot it's about the sliver comment in above post but to eric3000 I love everything Todd funny hands and all, and to" hello, I'm Patsy Stone" sorry I forgot to add you to my post.... love the picture love your post... long live abfab...
9/8/08, 4:39 PM
Finally watch the ep:
Wisit! I thought all the castrati were dead!! He's hilarious and those drawings he produced in about 15 mins were great. Rainwood, right on with the Farewell My Concubine reference.
India: I'm sorry but she is 10 kinds of tranny. Was she wearing a sequined cape in the 1st few scenes? I Googled some of her work and seems she's most famous for being in Princess Di's wedding. But I do prefer Todd in the mentor role.
Kelly: they need a whole ep of SG devoted to giving her a decent hairstyle.
I did like the idea of only having $2000 in the budget but that was (for me) sort of a disconnect with having the designers drive around in Range Rovers. C'mon Bravo, how about an eco-friendly Saturn VUE or Mercury Mariner hybrid??
And can Mr. Martha Wannabe go home soon? Along with shifty looking Robert?
9/8/08, 4:41 PM
Love Wisit! I agree, Mrs. Ricky is NOT going home without a fight, and I think she'll bring the bitchery.
I was *so* relieved that they didn't have to decorate those stupid shoebox roomlets like last year. This was much better. I hope they keep it up with the real rooms.
9/8/08, 4:52 PM
"The Grand Empress/Madame Butterfly"...lolol.
The Red Team definitely deserved the win. Loved.It.
I love this show. I'm glad you boys are back posting about it. Yay!
- edina -
9/8/08, 4:54 PM
What do you mean the ship has sailed on Sheer Genius? You can't leave us hanging on all those wigstands! Please, please, please, please go through all the do's. I've been waiting for so long.
9/8/08, 4:57 PM
Thanks very much, Lilithcat. I was coming here to ask whether Wisit was singing countertenor. My bro-in-law (straight, if anyone's keeping score) has started doing that. I love it when Wisit does it, but when the bro-in-law does it, it sorta freaks me out.
I hope they stay out of the cubicles and in real rooms. And I look forward to Kelly's fashion adventures. Too bad Carrie Bradshaw already did the bird-in-hair look.
9/8/08, 5:09 PM
Phew! I've been waiting a long time for this! I'm glad they have a new catch phrase.
I know you said the ship sailed on SG, but whatever happened with Fan Favorite?! I want to know if Daniel nabbed it.
9/8/08, 5:35 PM
Love wisit -- too cute...love his voice, although it is very "castrato" -- he will definitly be some of the better entertainment this season.
glad serge is gone -- i watched the little 30 second promos each designer did and was completely annoyed with serge's attitude. he just came off as a real jerk who thinks he's incredibly cool... then to see how clueless he really was...
i have a feeling that his partner shazia (?) will also be gone soon. could two contestants have been any less competant? you've got to hand it to andrea for not being MORE bitchy with them.
9/8/08, 7:10 PM
I watched the Season 1 marathon last week and there was a designer in Season 1 that looks an awful lot like Lady Bird!
9/8/08, 7:10 PM
FYI, Kerry isn't gay. He has a wife and kids.
9/8/08, 8:11 PM
Wisit is singing Das Veilchen by Mozart. Considering it's a cappella, I think he did a lovely job. and he seems super sweet! can't wait to see what he does by himself
9/8/08, 9:13 PM
Boys, thanks for recapping TD. I enjoyed it last year (so shoot me) and look forward to this new season. Can't wait to see Ms. Rick lose her cool (other than in the asides)--should be a highlight. Even tripping in her ultra-high heels would suffice.
The red team had 3 strong designers in Nathan, Ondine, and Wisit. So far they look like the ones to follow. I'm hoping for great stuff from Nathan, besides the Kevin Spacey/Usual Suspects cloning. The other team members seemed to respond to/respect Ondine's take charge organizational skills.
Martha-wannabe (he wants his own mag and media empire too) may be too far outside his comfort zone if they stray from designs where some variant of traditional, old-money style works.
Robert is not likable and didn't show anything to recommend him. When my husband saw Preston he thought the cleavage line looked like an open heart surgery scar! I'm pleased Margaret liked his art because it was the bright spot in that dim design (pun intended). Serge's portfolio mimiced Manhattan style trends from more than 10 years ago and he's not old enough to have been designing then. This was a good advance clue to his immediate demise (might that have caught TLo's eyes?). Shaz is a spazz.
Both this year and last (Goil)the architects obsessed over making fancy dogbeds -- lame-o. I bet Liberace shares Jonathon's bed.
I love Tabatha but no need to waste your precious time writing about her show -- been there, done that. The model, Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares (UK version), is much more entertaining and engaging.
9/8/08, 9:15 PM
I keep expecting India Hicks to refer to herself as Injah in that clipped aristocratic accent. Annoying.
Wisit could play M. Butterfly in a revival.
9/8/08, 9:22 PM
Yes, darling Michael Adams from TD1 looks very much like our dear Ladybird. Ladybird has a far more charming personality.
And did y'all watch the little promo clips they ran during the credits??? Project Runway alums (Santino and Andrae and others?) will make an appearance, AND, EVEN BETTER!
JEFF LEWIS!!!! is guest judging sometime in the future! Jeff! Lewis! who I Love! and i don't understand why TLo don't write about Flipping Out...probably because y'all are so busy with other things, like earning a living and being fabulous, but - come on! flipping out is fantabulous.
9/8/08, 9:22 PM
Yes, darling Michael Adams from TD1 looks very much like our dear Ladybird. Ladybird has a far more charming personality.
And did y'all watch the little promo clips they ran during the credits??? Project Runway alums (Santino and Andrae and others?) will make an appearance, AND, EVEN BETTER!
JEFF LEWIS!!!! is guest judging sometime in the future! Jeff! Lewis! who I Love! and i don't understand why TLo don't write about Flipping Out...probably because y'all are so busy with other things, like earning a living and being fabulous, but - come on! flipping out is fantabulous.
9/8/08, 9:43 PM
Does this mean that you're not even going to cover the Shear Genius finale?!?! I was so looking forward to you covering it.
9/8/08, 10:09 PM
Oh man - I can tell that Wisit is going to be sanuk mak mak (lots of fun in Thai). I definitely met some guys like him in Bangkok and I can't wait to see how he does.
9/8/08, 10:45 PM
"Darlings, there's your average queen and then there's The Grand Empress here."
Hilarious! I was waiting for you boys to comment on Wisit. My first thought was "freakshow, he's gone tonight," but his designs were FAB. I want to turn those bitches on his team loose in my new apartment!
9/9/08, 12:17 AM
When Wisit finished his aria and slowly turned his head away, I thought of that number from Flower Drum Song, "Love, Look Away". I haven't decided if he's a Mei Li or Helen Chao though. He's definitely no Linda Low but is just as entertaining!
I can't wait for an individual challenge so we can see Mrs. Ricky and Robert unfettered by subordinates. And their subordinates unfettered by Mrs. Ricky and Robert! Interesting that Preston's art was the best thing about the room and Robert couldn't see that. Robert is on my Watch List.
India was pretty good, but how sad for her first day on the hosting job to have her inspiration room look like such a hot mess! Almost as bad as the Charlie's Angels challenge in SG.
I've always thought of Todd as a gay John Boy.
BrianB
9/9/08, 12:51 AM
"Darlings, there's your average queen and then there's The Grand Empress here. If Madame Butterfly doesn't make it all the way to the end, we will consider this season a wash. Pure gay entertainment."
ROFL. I LOVE HER!!
9/9/08, 7:22 AM
It helps that Wisit has exquisite taste. He'll be hugely fun to follow. That Schroder woman showed her true taste with her shadow boxes: a peace symbol made of cork? She was an alpha bitch who made her two co-designers roll over and expose their soft underbellies. Also, she who leaveth the sink running should be responsible for turning it off. No debate.
9/9/08, 7:59 AM
Schroeder's cat seems to have failed so far in the "I want my own name in the spotlight" department since no one refers to her actual name, and that incident with the sink had me thinking designer "mole". And, is it me or did Jonathan discover bronzer this year--seems a lot less like a puppet from a Tim Burton nightmare?
9/9/08, 8:01 AM
I loved Andrea! Anyone else out there Buffy fans? Andrea is Anya - the short tempered wish-granting demon! It made me love her all during the episode, and if anything "strange" had happened to her co-designers I would not have been surprised at all. (And would have been sympathetic; they clearly got the loser edit, but it seemed like they deserved it.)
9/9/08, 8:55 AM
Pleeeease blog about the Sheer Genius finale! Then I won't complain if you skip over Tabatha's show (but maybe a wrap-up of the entire season would be nice).
9/9/08, 9:00 AM
does anyone know where i can watch the episodes online? thanks!
9/9/08, 9:31 AM
Waited for "See ya later, decorator." Thank gawd it wasn't uttered. I thing you should totally take credit for that!
9/9/08, 10:04 AM
Aw, I kind of liked Adler and his dopey line.
Oh, don't insult Anya with Andrea!
9/9/08, 10:44 AM
So glad you're blogging about this! It looks MUCH better than S1 - I like the changes.
Love, love, love Wisit!
9/9/08, 12:21 PM
Wisit..Goil. Same thing.
9/9/08, 1:54 PM
I'm curious if Eddie will ever become his own designer or keep ripping off Martha Stewart. You know, I think Martha's style of decorating is pretty hideous myself. I like her mag for cooking and organizing, but not the interiors.
Shazia doesn't seem too bright. It's pretty sad for her to represent brown people.
I dunno about y'all but Big daddy seemed like a sweaty mess. I expect an interior designer to be well put together.
It will be nice to judge them based on the work they do though and less on their personalities.
9/9/08, 3:34 PM
So far, I like what I see, with one caveat. I hate, hate, hate when budget decorating shows (or decorating competitions, etc.) expect folks to buy decent, usable upholstered pieces secondhand. Such finds are rare, and you should count yourself extremely lucky if you get one. 99 times out of 100, it's ugly, worn, stained, dated shit. I firmly believe that high style can be had secondhand in almost any other type of piece, but used upholstery is almost always bottom of the barrel dreck. Give them low budgets, yes. Confine them to thrift and junk stores for the rest of their finds, yes. But give them new upholstered pieces to start with. Make them identical - plain and neutral - to create an even playing field, and let them showcase their creativity with slipcovering, pillows, etc. But don't expect them to clean 20 years of someone else's grime off the cushions and then berate them when it's still a dirty, fugly couch.
9/9/08, 6:04 PM
Chris said...
"FYI, Kerry isn't gay. He has a wife and kids." -- since when does that mean anything? my first serious boyfriend from college went through 2 marriages and had 3 kids before, at the age of 45, he finally realized (accepted)that he was gay. my reaction when he wrote to me about his new discovery? "it's about time you figured it out!"
9/9/08, 6:40 PM
Mrs Ricky didn't know the difference between a mercedes logo and a peace sign.
9/10/08, 8:58 AM
Bookworm said...
Phew! I've been waiting a long time for this! I'm glad they have a new catch phrase.
I know you said the ship sailed on SG, but whatever happened with Fan Favorite?! I want to know if Daniel nabbed it.
September 8, 2008 5:09 PM
Yes Ladybird nabbed the Fan Favorite award. I imagine by a MILE!!!
Just goes to show that being nice and knowing what you are goes a LONG way with American viewers.
9/10/08, 11:52 AM
Could she possibly have squeezed in one more mention of Ricky Schroeder? and Madame Butterfly - perfect!
9/10/08, 11:55 AM
And wasn't India Hicks one of Princess Di's flower girls?
9/11/08, 3:22 PM
Until Jonathan Adler is removed from this show--along with all his cutesie-NOT faux French phrases ("I j'adore"....oh, PLEASE!), this will remain the most unwatchable competition program on TV.
The other judges are horrible too, but Adler is the WORST.
9/11/08, 4:15 PM
"Can't get a handle on Nathan at all. He actually had some funny lines, but he's...we don't know, weird. We'll see."
Nathan has a bit of a Kevin Spacey thing going on there, don't you think?
-gg
9/13/08, 1:16 PM
The show is just too boring for me. I continually change the channel when I am "watching" the show. I keep hoping that it gets better. The host, judges, and little Todd are so stiff, rehearsed, and just generally tight assed. The challenges are pretty dull too.
9/14/08, 7:21 PM
I adore Wisit and how cute was he with Nathan in the bunker challenge?
I'm really liking this season so far. I was not happy with Sheer Genius this time around so Top Design has been a happy surprise. I think they made the right choice going with India as a host and having Jonathon Adler be less hands on.
And Andrea is so the bitch! Good call as usual
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