I haven't seen tonight's episode yet. But last week she also missed part of it due to filming her own show.

I don't like the new format. Vern is very interactive on his own show, but his scowl on DS feels so put on. How long has he been around? Sure looks a lot older than I remember.

The new format with designers in groups doesn't work for me. I have no clue what each of them are doing and difficult to see how they can shine at their own level. Perhaps this is why we aren't seeing great design skills.

The fire houses were disasters. I would think at least one of the designers would step up and halt the lack of creativity. Maybe they aren't given as much money or time.
Whatever it is, the show is just not the same and I couldn't tell you which one of the designers had the hands up over the others.

I feel your pain! It is awful this year! I think they have designers try to incorporate their silly little things into the design, and they spend way too much time doing that, than actually showing their potential. I can hardly take Vern either. I use to like him, and now they are so condescending (sp?), him, and Genevieve both.

My guess is that they changed the format to virtually all "group" projects so there could be more drama and strife captured by the cameras. It makes for good TV (the reality TV definition of "good TV") but doesn't make for good design. I don't know what the budgets are, but they seem to be low . . . and tied to a sponsor ("Thank you, Sears!").

I do like that they are focusing more on the hosting ability from the get-go. But I think that is a sign of how unsuccessful the whole premise has been so far (except for season one's David Bromstad). The three winners after him fall into the "where are they now" category. So I think the design has become secondary to the hosting/watchability factor. That's fine, but then call it what it is: "Top Host" rather than "Top Design."

I agree with you all . . . it's been a rather poor few years for Design Star. And yes, as Jakabedy mentioned, where ARE the last few former Design Stars now? Antonio might still be around someplace . .. if he hasn't decked half his supporting cast by now ;^D He always seemed so angry to me, and I haven't enjoyed his show. Kim Myles had super hosting skills (she is so darn cute and nice!) but I wasn't very impressed with her design skills. I mean, they were good, but not outstanding enough for a weekly design show, IMHO. Or, perhaps, the premise of her show kept her from shining . . . and successful. The "bag" was cheesy, IMO.
I have no idea what ever happened to Jennifer Bertrand. But, David Bromstead was a HUGE find for HGTV and so was Genevieve Gorder, who was runner-up that same season, I believe.
I agree about Vern Yip. They should let him do his own design show, where he shines as the kind, thoughtful, talented designer. I dislike seeing him as "the heavy" on DS. Or . . . stop making any of the judges be the heavy.
I was really betting on Tom Vecchione winning this season. Of all of them, he seemed the most pulled together+talent+good looks+ good hosting ability. But, he's gone now, too. From the sounds of it, "Design Star", the show, may be gone soon, as well.
Lynn

I do like that they are focusing more on the hosting ability from the get-go.

But only the bottom designers do the hosting segments!

I think that Design Star has gone downhill from season one, and I hate the new Mark Burnett/Apprentice format. Where's Clive when you need to lighten things up? What's with the judges all being mean? Why do they whisper amongst themselves on camera? And I still don't have a clue as to whether any of these designers can design themselves out of a paper bag. I haven't seen last night's episode yet - it's recorded, but definitely not a "must see" show for me.

Genevieve and Vern both started on Trading Spaces (remember that way back when?). She was never a contestant on Design Start.

I agree! W/ everything. I used to watch Design Star becuase I enjoyed seeing what the designers were doing. Tehn after Season 1 it started going downhill. Now I seem to watch just to see how bad it is and make a challenge out of uit to see if I can get through the whole episode w/o just fast forwarding to the end.

Vern is really irritating this season and what is going on w/ these 'designers'? Did any of you look through their submitted pictures on HGTV?

Tom's was the only one that I thought looked like a designer. Magazine worthy even and then I saw his sad little shelf in the episode where he was kicked off I just couldn't understand how he came up w/ that after seeing his portfolio on HGTV.

And then some of the porfolios looked like they were done by 3 star rated 'Rate My Room' submissions.

I do hope this is the last year of Design Star. I've only caught the last few mintues of a couple of shows and both times it made me cringe.

After the first season, it went downhill, getting worse every year. The judges are so mean spirited and it's so unnecessary to be that way to get their point across.

I definitely miss Clive. HGTV cutting another budget. They sure know how to botch up a show don't they?

BTW, for anyone interested, Shari and Matt from Room by Room are starting filming of their new show "Shari and Matt Around the House" and it will air on PBS channels nationwide starting in December. Will be nice to see some common sense decorating advice for a change.

Lynn, I thought the same thing about Tom. That said, his last project was questionable enough.

I do like that they are focusing more on the hosting ability from the get-go.

But only the bottom designers do the hosting segments!

Exactly Terriks - everything about this format is backwards; a couple of weeks ago I caught Vern actually mention something about how "design by committee doesn't work"! Yeah, so that's why you're requiring them to do that very thing week after week? Makes absolutely no sense!

Yep, and Clive *sigh*

And I agree with what jakabedy said re: $$.

GG looks like she's got "I'm so done after this season" written all over her face.

And I bet CO will be back, at least before the end.

To a certain extent, I don't blame Vern for being nasty: a) the Simon Cowell effect works, Vern just doesn't wear it well and b) these designers are... well, I'll quote someone from the DS facebook page today: "ca ca"!

I agree with you all. I thought Tom would have nailed it. Very disappointed in him.

This is the worst show I have ever watched and I watched them all. It's boring and it shouldn't be. It's in NY for crying out loud.

To a certain extent, I don't blame Vern for being nasty: a) the Simon Cowell effect works, Vern just doesn't wear it well and b) these designers are... well, I'll quote someone from the DS facebook page today: "ca ca"!

You can't take someone like Vern and tell him to be Simon Cowell or Donald Trump. It just doesn't work, and it makes me much less likely to want to watch "Deserving Design", where Vern is supposed to be Mr. Nice Guy.

I finally got to a point this morning where I couldn't bear watching an entire episode. I've finally begun fastforwarding to the end.

Did anyone watch the finale? Emily won. She will have her own show called *Secrets From A Stylist*.

Candice was on the episode which aired this past Sunday afternoon. She is probably one of the worst dressed women on HGTV. Dark sleevless dress and dark hose, in the summer? Where is the stylist?

Also, I've only watched a couple of the episodes, but have to agree that this is one of the worst series I've seen on HGTV. Very contrived and over the top with the "cliff hanger" type moments before commercials. Not a show I'd carve out time to watch.

Just my $.02.

I quit watching this, but my DVR recorded the last episode, so I skimmed through it to see who won. I couldn't believe that the judges actually "deliberated" in front of the audience!! And other than the fire houses, I don't think that they ever actually designed for any real clients.

I didn't watch that last episode either. Who knows, perhaps Emily does have some real talent that wasn't ever allowed to show due to the lame premise of each episode, but this season has felt so contrived and so lacking in imagination and real talent, that I just couldn't see wasting my time once again.
The sad thing is, the REAL premise for "Design Star" is a great one. It was a crime that the writers and producers screwed it up so terribly. Sadly, there possibly could have been some real talent shown with this latest batch of would-be designers, if they'd been allowed to actually show their individual talents in realistic situations.

As pitiful as some of HGTV's latest show ideas have been, I do hope they don't give up on "Design Star" . . . just fire the writers and producers from this past season ;^D
Lynn

Contrived certainly describes this show: pick a fruit and let it inspire you, pick a musical note and let it inspire you. And then Verne, "How is your cauliflower reflected in this room?" I also wanted to see the designers' styles. I was really excited at the thought of the 2nd runner up's show idea, designing around what the owner already has, not so much with the 1st runner up's show idea, designing for the first apartment. Enough already of the 20-something design shows!
Dee

The season did seem to be more 'corny' than other seasons~~design around a musical instrument, a vegetable, and flowers? I don't think a *real* designer would find anything 'inspiring' about any one of those items. A whole new team of writers, etc. is needed to pick up the slack, and give the show a little substance.

On the other hand, I liked Emily from the get-go. All the other contestants seemed over-confident and conceited, whereas she came off as being much more humble and reserved about her talents, and I liked that. Once she got going, I knew she had it in the bag. She needs a little bit of 'personal' sprucing up, but I like her down-to-earth attitude. I'm hoping her show is a big success~~Candice has gotten a little 'uppity', and little competition wouldn't hurt her. ;o)

HGTV is only half as interesting or informative without Candice Olson. She has a flair for design and THAT is what I need to view, not cutesy talking heads!