Ask the Producer: Dream Kitchen Challenge
Each week, we ask Design Star producer Loren Ruch your most-asked behind-the-scenes questions. This week, Loren shares the funniest moments from the shoot with guest judge Paula Deen. Plus, what really happens during the judges’ deliberation process?
What was it like being on set with Paula Deen? What was the funniest moment of the shoot?
Being on the set with Paula made me wonder, “Is it really fair to call this ‘work’? I’m having far too much fun to consider this part of my job!” She was a bundle of fun energy and kept the entire crew laughing from start to finish, especially during moments when she’d say things like “Cat Fight!” during a tense moment in evaluation. However, my favorite moment with Paula happened behind the scenes when I saw her looking very ‘seriously’ at her iPad. I thought that something important must have been happening to her at that moment, and I asked “Are you okay? You look concerned. Do you need anything?” She replied, “Darlin’, I’m not concerned about anything…I’m in the middle of a tense game of Angry Birds!” I started to crack up…and so did she. She’s a burst of fun, positive and insightful energy!
How long is the actual time the designers wait for the decisions and how much of their conversation while waiting is edited out? Have the judges ever been deadlocked about who to send home?
Excellent question! Deliberation can run anywhere from 45 minutes to two hours or more. During that time the Design Panel talks through the camera challenges, design challenges and any thoughts they have — and eventually come to a conclusion on their own. There have been disagreements on a particular decision from time to time, but they have never ultimately been deadlocked.
What happened to the kitchens after the challenge?
In a challenge like this (which took place in a studio rather than a real home) the items are either returned or donated. However, if we were doing a challenge at a real home, the homeowners get to keep all of the furnishings that were part of their makeovers.
With the next kitchen challenge, next time, could you do a challenge using a small kitchen done efficiently, incorporating lighting new counters ,eco-flooring and material choices and types so we can learn from the kitchen designs?
We’re in the very early stages of discussing challenges for next year, so I will definitely add this to our suggestion box. I think that it’s a wonderful, relatable and interesting idea!
Do you have a question for Loren about the inner-workings of Design Star? Ask in the comments below and he may just answer you next week.
Loren, I hope what I'm reading is not true in regards to Cathy having a show in Canada. I thought Design Star was to find the next Design Star, not someone who already has an existing show and has a lot of on-camera experience. If I were one of her fellow contestants, I would feel totally betrayed and pissed off. What gives?
I am new to this blog, and I notice that there are no replies from Loren. Why not? Good questions are asked and deserve a reply, like Lonni's.
this show was taped in the spring, i believe. so everytime we whine and complain about cathy, it falls on deaf ears.that means the winner has been chosen. am i right?:(
Yeah, you're right they filmed in late March/April. So it's done. I think people are venting because they can't believe a network would sabotage a sucessful show. But what do we know, we're only sheep, right?
Baaa-aaAAHHHHH… LOL!
she could still get the online show though:'(
Not a sheep here. As a consumer, I will make educated choices as many or most here. Sponsors, too, will make decisions, too. This show is evolving into Dramaville and Van Shopping. Glad early shows were good and produced David and others. I hope Candice and Gen and Vern disassociate themselves from this poor programming.
This just seems like the last season for D.S.or something. Why would they follow up last years fiasco with this Cathy Hobbs hoodwink? If she is so great, just promo her Canadian feature on Top Ten without resorting to the ruin of D.S.
Well, in our coporately structured business world, I believe most major changes are influenced through a top down structure. So really, the leadership of this show (who I presume is or are the producer/s) drive what would be the direction. So if the producer/s are the same from last year and this year then I would say it's possible this won't be the last year. They will just pump it up with more silcone based reality TV stuff and hope they draw a new crowd of viewers who will be entertained watching DS. But who knows? Just shooting darts in the dark here.
Last years producer was Mark Burnett of Survivor fame, this year the producer is Loren Rusch so they did make an attempt to change it up. Cathy Hobbs being so heavily promoted prior to the final chalenge,and the additions of Donna Decorates Dallas and Dina's Party all point at some sort of major directional changes. As you stated the fish stinks from the head,but maybe the new direction goes higher up than the individual producers.
Agreed! It just stinks period. LOL! Lysol anyone? How about some Glade? Or actually a garbage disposal might be better to just get rid of it.
Genevieve and Vern are delights…..hopefully as the challenge gets down to the designers that possess the most charisma and real talent, the new designers will compliment your wonderful design hosts!
P.S. I would like to see more positive critiquing instead of nitpicking.
Case in point….the stools that Kevin found for the kitchen he and Meg designed has great flair…..too bad that wasn't pointed out. Instead, something as trivial as the height was….something I'm SURE would have been addressed if time and reality permitted.
On the other hand, it should have been pointed out that it wasn't just the volume of the accessories Cathy used that was excessive….the scale of the elements was just horrendous. That is something the viewers could actually learn from and one of the elements that keeps people watching. We don't view this show as a weekly contest as much as we watch it for inspiration. Don't lose sight of that aspect, please.
I agree contestant's good design choices should be recognized by the judges.
However, a good designer takes into account beauty as well as function.
Personally, there's nothing that bothers me more than a chair/stool that is at the wrong height for what I am using it for. (ie – desk for working – wrong height is distracting and uncomfortable for concentration. dining table – wrong height chairs either make you work harder to get to your food or too close to it that you become a slob trying to aim food in your mouth)
Yes, inspiration is a key factor here. However, inspiration should not be void of intelligent design. I think truly inspirational design fulfills both distinctive beauty/style as well as function. I respect what you are saying though.
This is just my take on it.
"We don't view this show as a weekly contest as much as we watch it for inspiration. Don't lose sight of that aspect, please. " totally agree Ruthann. I would loooooove more actual design concepts instead of minutia. Maybe they can make the show longer and add in some deeper design critique.
I agree. Inspiration is what we watch it for. But what might be inspiration for one might not be for another. There is some variation to what people are moved by and I respect that. For me, creative design includes beauty and function. That's what inspires me
When were these episodes filmed? How much lag time is there between the episodes and their airing? Were you surprised by all the negative comments here? Are you trying to turn Design Star into a reality show that is about personalities instead of a design show about design? Why is Vern Yip giving bad advice to the designers about stuff he knows nothing about (like telling Carl to fight with his co-designer for his vision)? Do the judges (like Vern Yip) get to see what is going on behind the scenes before they make their comments or are they shooting in the dark based on just the surface appearances? And like everyone else, I want to know why are Cathy and Kevin still in the running and how could you let them axe Tyler when, despite his poor camera challenge, he's far more likeable and has more interesting design elements than either Cathy or Kevin? Sheesh…Design Star is turning into a big turn-off with the emphasis on personalities rather than design. ____
Well not to burst your bubble, but I have seen a few places in the media that have officially called DS a reality show. So no surprise there. (at least for me) But still this is HGTV doggonit! I expect better from them..oh so disppointed. Woe is me. LOL.
I refuse to continue watching design star when the judges cut someone as good as Tyler and keep someone like Kathy who only has her condescending, abrasive attitude and ability to gab before the camera. Thank goodness there are a number of other great programs that deserve viewer loyalty. The program is definitely losing momentum. Nothing can compare with season 1 of design star when David Bromstad took the contest by storm. And, that's not what programming is all about. Food Network Star surpasses Design Star in the ability to weed out the chafe.
We are waisting time here everyone, the winner has chosen. As peg5 said : our comments fall on deaf ears
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Love Paula Dean, but her obvious intentional usage of "yall was annoying. I am from the south and use the word "yall" but that was soooo excessive.
Yes, I agree. That was so annoying. What was that all about?
I can't believe that Cathy is still going strong and I must admit I am very disappointed in HGTV for allowing it. She may be great on Camera for one minute but as a person, team player, designer she is over bearing, lazy, rude, and untalented. The only memorable impression she leaves is not because of her design but an ill feeling with viewers and other contestants. She is as fake as the smile she wears not the type of person I would want to know let alone watch in her own show. I am tired of watching her slip by and continue by rolling over people and blaming others. Are the judges afraid of her, being paid to keep her or what? Please tell me why she is still on the show.
I am so disappointed in the choices the judges have made. Please get Cathy off the show.
I can't stand watching the program with an agruementative and negative person. The purpose of the show is to Watch people who have a great personality and can design. Case in point "David B". It just seems you are keeping people in the show for the wrong reasons. One subjective paint choice shouldn't make the judges think people like Tyler aren't great designers. I can see that he was a person who had a heart and soul. Please take into account what viewers are saying. Also please put back shows that are based on DESIGN and not all about realestate. That' why it's called HGTV. Right? Pleae keep in mind why we started watching the network to begin with. Great personalites,designs that are translatable to our own homes,and inspiration. Don't let this network fall apart by so many bad choices. Maybe you can have some of your viewers decide with your panel of judges who they like? Since we are the ones watching and love the previous shows you have aired in the past. Think and respond to what your viewers are saying Please!