Dooce’s Recap: Does Anyone Have a Tomato I Can Throw?
We’re down to the final three: Casey, Michael and Emily. The contestants walk out to Foley Square to greet the judges in front of three giant glass structures. Please let this mean they get to design their own spaces. Please? Design Star, I’ll give you a shoulder rub.
Genevieve reminds them not many people get to be in their shoes right now, and then she introduces last season’s winner, Antonio Ballatore, someone who knows exactly how they are feeling. Oh, and before I go any further, is Michael wearing suspenders? COULD HE BE MORE ENDEARING? I mean, Larry King is retiring, so someone has to take up that post. Who better for the job, am I right?
Antonio advises the final three to be themselves and go big, and then Vern asks the designers to create sunrooms that reflect their individual styles. YAY! YAY! YAY! YAY! What we’ve been waiting for all season! Except maybe for a giant squiggly mural to fall and crush a wall of faux finish. Or is that just me?
In addition, each designer must use their own show idea as inspiration for the room. Michael’s concept is to help recent graduates repurpose dorm room furnishings and flea market finds to make a space that inspires them to achieve their dreams. Casey wants to help people achieve a designer look on a budget through items they already own, plus a few new pieces. Emily would like to take a client’s personal fashion style and transpose it into the room so that their home looks like them. I like all three ideas almost as much as I want to snap Michael’s suspenders. That is not a euphemism, by the way.
The designers get to work, picking out floors and shopping, shopping, shopping. Emily starts lining one wall of glass with beautiful fabric. And then there’s Casey who has no idea what she’s doing, trying to drill a wall of wood into her room. Michael is starting on something much simpler: a cocktail table made out of a tire rim. Then he makes the obvious joke about the whole challenge: “People who design in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.”
Does anyone have a tomato I can throw?
The second day rolls around and the designers are feeling the crush of working alone. Then Vern shows up. Emily expresses what I’m feeling: uh oh. Vern showing up is never a good thing, right? He’s going to throw something awful out into the mix, like, didn’t we mention? You have to design these rooms while riding on the back of a lion! It’ll be fun!
Except this time he has good news: the designers get help in the form of their closest friends. Even though they are all on the verge of tears getting to see a familiar face in the midst of all that stress, they hop back into their sunrooms and get to work. You’ve got Emily going totally bohemian, Casey going a bit vintage with frames and spray paint, and Michael trying to build a Murphy bed. And it doesn’t sound good since you hear him stripping screws as he tries to assemble it. I HATE THAT NOISE.
Antonio shows up to Emily’s room and they commiserate about losing their voices during taping. While Casey adds sheers to the top of her room to make it feel like a tent, Antonio stops by and compliments the bold color she’s chosen and reminds her that her show idea needs to come through. And when Antonio sees the task Michael has taken on, he’s like, I don’t know, man. Are you insane? He thinks you shouldn’t get too crazy on technical stuff that could potentially blow up in your face.
As they add finishing touches to their rooms, I love what I’m seeing. Casey has such a sophisticated sense of design, especially considering how many second-hand pieces she’s repurposing. Michael is actually really whimsical, and that’s a side of him I don’t think we got to see much of this season. And Emily really is just so Bohemian, combining so many different styles expertly, so that it doesn’t look like a furniture store threw up.
The judges show up for their walkthrough and go through Casey’s space first. We see a combination of older items, some which have been altered, some key newer items set against a vibrant coral wall. Michael’s room looks very young and hip with a cool yellow couch and a functioning Murphy bed. He did it! Emily’s room is a Bohemian paradise, with different textures and colors juxtaposed elegantly. My favorite? Emily’s. I just love the combination of all that “stuff” and the fact that she pulled it off.
Now for hosting presentations. This should be interesting since both girls are on the verge of losing their voices. Casey is nice, casual and easy as she takes us through various vignettes in the room, describing an old lamp, the frames and a chair she painted bright yellow. The judges like her movement through the space, but want her to be more engaging, and Candice doesn’t seem to understand her show concept.
Michael is just as playful in his presentation as he is in his design, discussing the cocktail table, couch and bed. The judges think it’s a vast improvement and they can feel his passion, although they think he lacked a crazy, bold Michael statement piece.
And then Emily, who basically only did one take, starts off with a bang, and then you can see her struggle with her voice. Vern agrees, says she started by sitting on the sofa but he wanted her to get deeper into the design aspect of things. Genevieve says the room looks rich, which is exactly how I felt about it.
It’s final judgment time and Vern expresses just how difficult the decision is. Michael is given the immediate green light to take a deep breath — he’s on his way to the final two. And then it’s down to the two adorable blondes… nail biting… nail biting… and Emily makes it through!
I think some people are going to be upset by this, especially since she was one of the first two people in the bottom two, and let’s face it, Casey doesn’t lack for male fans. But I think it’s a good choice. Emily’s design sense is truly unique, wild and playful. Hopefully, Casey can get some much-needed rest and some cough drops. She’s going to go far no matter what.
I think you made a big mistake eliminating Casey. I would have watched her but I won't ever watch the remaining two.
I agree!!!! Love Casey and Emily. Michael is rude and arrogant. I would never ever watch that jerk.
Maybe that's the idea. The judges have their own shows and don't want any real competition. Casey definitely would have been watchable competition. The format this season was poorly done – finding inspiration from non-design items and then having the contestants work in teams so that individual talents were hidden until the next to last show. No one designs that way. Casey had the least practice hosting because she kept winning the competitions. I really resent that the judges took away our vote for the final Design Star. After David Bromstad, the winners have definitely gone downhill
I totally agree….neither Michael or Emily have an ounce of professionalism in them…would never follow their adive or ideas or couldn't stand to watch just them for 30 mins!…very disappointed…
Sawwy! I disagree!!! Casey is a great designer, but doesn't have enough personality for television. To present a TV show you have to be animated (at least enough that your personality can transmit through the screen) and she's more like a corpse.
Finally a good show. Michael's hosting was not that impressive but I really liked his room. I was sort of mad with him with how condescending he was with Alex but think I will forgive and forget. I thought both Emily and Casey had nice rooms too. Casey did not have any energy in her hosting and of course Emily's voice was shot. I think I liked Emily's room better, could not get into the coral wall of frames. Hopefully there finally will not be so many folks focusing on the negative aspects of this season in their comments. Again, great show tonight, finally.
I was enjoying tonight' show incredibly much. Until about one or two minutes to 11…. that's when it went down the tubes.
Yeah. When the one you felt did the best is eliminated it has that effect. I think many will differ tonight on who they thought did best. I liked some elements in Casey's room but not that coral wall with empty frames.
That was so 70's! Saw it in a Barbra Streisand movie, chocolate brown wall with white frames!
The show STINKS!
Everyone is free to have an opinion, I liked tonight's show and thought it was engaging and the rooms decent. I agree this season has been on the whole horrible but comment after comment about that is just boring. I was just hoping the majority of comments did not focus on the bad season but discussed calmly tonight's decision,
When you are lying on a bed of nails, what are you supposed to say, that is nice about it?: "The one nail sticking me in the left cheek of my butt, doesn't seem as sharp as the others?" The show STINKS! That is the fact. Take it off the air. Let HGTV sell real estate, and stop pretending to be a "design" channel.
haha, i was thinking the same thing as you about michael being nasty to alex…..my two girls really liked michael's room and i really liked emily's…..i think casey is beautiful but her design is like a lot of others and seems a bit boring….but i am sure she will do fine(doesnt she have her own business??? it will just get better)….i, too, enjoyed this show…for once we got to see what the designers could do on their own…..i was really impressed that michael made the murphy bed and like his show idea of decorating for a recent grad….i dont think they have a show like that on….emily's room felt warm and cozy and i would feel very comfortable reading a book or two in that room.
Michael has been a condescending whining queen with whomever he has worked with and just about anything in general. Why should he win a show because he is a gay drama queen???
You hit the nail on the head for me,especially where Michael is concerned. People think he's being set up to win. I actually think eliminating Casey gives Emily more of a shot that Michael. The judges seem to know what's going on behind the scenes (so do the producers for the show) and I highly doubt they want a jack@$$ for a co-worker. He's just not a likeable character and he seems to be fake, phony, and obnoxious to everyone. I caught his sly comment during the glass house competition stating how much better he was then the other girls. Even if you think it, keep it to yourself and let your designing abilities do the talking for you. We're all watching. I would be extremely suprised if he won. Emily can always take speech lessons
but you can't teach someone to be likeable, especially when they've already exposed themselves on a reality tv show for all the world to see.
All Emily does is stare!! She should have been eliminated on the first round. I Can't Believe it!! Maybe it depends on WHO you know. Who Does she know?
Very disappointed in the decision. Won't watch the final. The worst two made the final – ugh. Definitely will not watch either Michael or Emily. Boo HGTV.
Extremely dissapointed that they let Casey go. She was the best!!!! As for Micheal, his gay side shows up too much and not enough of a designer coming out. Emily did better this week, but I felt like she was just an air head most of the time. Bring Casey Back!!!!!! I am not sure if I want to watch this show anymore.
I totally agree-I will not watch the finale or the winner! There were way too many group challenges and Emily was a train wreck on day one! Michael is very egotistical and who puts a murphy bed in a day room??
The only designer I really watch is David B. !! Antonio is so-so….not a favorite. I actually forgot all about him until he came back last night. I am very disappointed. These shows are going down the tubes…..from AI, to Hell's kitchen, Project Runway is not so great anymore either..maybe Top Chef will still shine through……………
Fun show tonight and I think it was a TOUGH decision for the judges. All three did a really nice job to various degrees.
As far as an overall winning design, hands down Emily wins-from concept to a gorgeous room.
Emily so far is the only one of the three who brings herself to her hosting presentations and I agree with the judges that she now needs to incorporate the 'how-to' element.
I liked Casey and her design, but as a host she really needs work…..and that's where the marriage comes together-designer+host.
Michael's room had some nice whimsy and his concept definitely showed. Much better too with his hosting but I agree with the judges that we aren't seeing the REAL Michael in his room presentation yet.
I can't wait to see what happens next week!
Well stated and so true. I thought I liked Michael's design best but actually, Emily's was the best I do say now.
Tony, I think you are paid by DS. Emily's room had a lot of junk in it that didn;t go together. Come on, a spool of rope on the book case! What was that for to roll out while you hang your clothes to dry or to make into a belt to wear! In the previous show the judges said she had too much stuff and this time it was good? Michael's room was full of junk. Yeah, we all have to live with that stuff at some point until we look for quality items and pull ourselves together. Emily was always in the bottom two and how she got this far is beyond me. She should have been the first to go!
hey Seaside, I already mentioned this in another post, but designers are artists as well as business people. They very rarely get to push the envelope with clients ( especially Americans who are too scared to be too different) If in order to keep a composition tight, balanced and proportionate, you need a rough,brown sphere ( or any very specific shape) in this context it wouldn't matter if it was rope or an antique cog from a mill, a old leather ball, etc. Emily has an artists eye, whether you like her So Cal, laid back, tie dyed point of view, it doesn't matter.
I think that Casey's wins hurt her in the long run. When you lost you had to put together a hosting video, so since Casey won she didn't have as much practice and critiques as Michael. I think that she probably lost it on the strength (or lack there of) of her hosting video. So what it comes down to is…when you lose you have a better shot of winning.
Sigh……Just when I think this show couldn't sink any lower, they prove me wrong. Nothing these 2 finalists could do would be of interest to me. Including the season finale. I've just been eliminated, & am leaving the studio. Michael is way too swishy, & Emily couldn't host if her life depended on it. Whoever wins will promptly disappear. My hope is that the show will as well, if this is the best they have to offer.
I love the three judges but what are they thinking? Casey's was the best, Emily's not great but Michael's was just bad. Given they had sunrooms to design, Michael's looked like a dorm room or a college students apartment. I don't about everywhere but where I'm from, the South, you don't have a "bed" in a sunroom. To me the concept was lost. If I paid a designer to design a sunroom and they did this I'd be furious.
I SO agree! These were sunrooms, people, NOT living rooms or bedrooms. Why did the judges miss this point. The designers sure did.
Um….I really think the two of you are missing the point of the challenge. The judges never said that they had to treat it as if it were a sunroom that someone who add to their house – they just told them that it was a room that they could design however they wanted and just consider the transparency of the glass house. You're free to have your problems with the show and the decision the judges made, but I really think you've mistaken the challenge for something else.
Really! Look at the glass rooms….common sense ……"A SUNROOM". They've had other challenges for livingrooms, bedrooms,etc. This was a sunroom. Shop aroung and see for yourself what these glass rooms are……again, SUNROOMS.
Obvious is sometimes safe. David B did a bedroom in the glass house challenge. Rocked it I may add. The anonymous person is right. It wasn't to be taken literally. Look what happened before when inspirations were taken literally… people went home.
I agree with Anonymous. Anyone who thought that the glass room (by the way, I believe the BRAND of the glass room was Sunroom, which is probably why it was continually called a "sunroom") was to be decorated as a sunroom did miss the point. Good for the designers for not taking the challenge literally and for "thinking outside the [glass] box".
Michael's room was ugly and plain. Emily's room did look "rich" but her hosting is like a six year old. Casey was the best all around. I would watch her show. What is it with DS?
So Michael's show would cater to recent college grads, Emily's to people who always dress the same way and want to design their house around it (???).
Casey had the best idea and would interest the most people.
Big mistake again this year DS! You won't sucker me into watching this again.
And Emily's idea is a rehash of Thom Filicia's "Dress My Nest" (which seems to be off the air now) — I did like her room though.
Who in their right mind, wants to dress their room like the clothes they are wearing? I think Casey has alot of class and I loved her idea of updating the things you already have in your room, I would watch that show. Michael's room looked like a dorm room, nothing special, and of course HGTV doesn't need another gay guy. Then there is Emily, her room was cute, but since I'm a woman, I don't want my couch to match the dress I am wearing, that's ridiculous. I said from the beginning for some reason the judges wants Emily to win it all, so I will not be surprised next week , when she wins. Emily is a good stager, but not a creative designer that they need on HGTV. Her show would be very boring, so I won't watch it.
This year is almost over – thank goodness. Why did I watch tonight????? Maybe to see if the "bombshell" was kicked off. Emily may make a good DS. She is probably the only one of the 12 who did not critisize her fellow contestants. Cortland had to be the worst at that. He thought he was so great. Nena was not much better. Okay, now next year – please no Gen G. I think HGTV is losing viewers because of shows like hers.
I was very disappointed to see Casey leave…definitly don't want to watch Emily or Michael win. I would probably never watch either one of their shows to be honest. So pretty much the judges made a huge mistake thats gonna cost them
Right on! Casey had all the real talent. Her hosting skills would have improved too. Genevie, who I love normally, seemed mean and cold on theis show. So see. developing as a host is possible. Look what has happened to David B.all it seems he does now is design and paint a picture then gets excited when other are doing everything else.
Has there been an episode when Genevieve hasn't seemed cold and mean?