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.
Do the judges see the show the way we see it? I'm just wondering if they are aware that Cathy cannot work with anyone who whom she has been teamed and that she steamrolls everyone who disagrees with her and tries to make the others do all the work? Anyway, it might be useful for the judges to see what is going on during the work as well as the finished product. And I really wish there was a way for us to see more of the rooms. A few pictures aren't good enough – is there any way to create a panoramic or 360 degree view? There are tools available now that can take a series of sequential pictures so you can view a room/view/whatever as if you were in the center and turning to view it from all directions.
On the fan vote, why is Cathy in second place?? No one seems to like her! She isn't a person I would ever want to watch on TV. By the way, if she already has her own show on HGTV Canada, then why is she in the competition? Isn't that against the "rules" or something? Seriously Judges! AND…….. WHY DID TYLER HAVE TO GO HOME?? Send Kevin away!!!!!!!!!!!! He has raw talent, but he is just awkward on TV. He jiggles way too much. Tyler only messed up once! That was the first time he had been on the bottom and the third time for Kevin. If you watch the clip when they said Tyler was going home, even Kevin looks surprised about the judges decision! Come on HGTV!! Bring back the real Design Star style.
Cathy is in second place because she has enough family members and friends willing to enter votes 10 times a day every day to skew the results. The fan vote is, in my opinion, totally meaningless.
Anyone else think that when Cathy was explaining her (Oh-so-cluttered) kitchen it sounded like she was reporting the weather? I know she was a newscaster, but I don't ever want to watch a design show that sounds like the eleven o'clock news.
Do you think that for a little twist in the show they will bring back a designer? That would be new!:)
My daughters used to tease me because the only TV I watched was HGTV. Whenever they came over they knew the TV would be on the HGTV channel. I was such a 24×7 one-channel fan that I even asked COX cable if I could order just the HGTV channel because I didn't watch anything else. And when COX moved HGTV to a higher tier, I paid the extra $ to continue getting HGTV. BUT… you are blowing it big time with this season's Design Star. I don't watch HGTV to get a drama fix. Don't need a reality show fix either. Don't WANT to watch arrogant jerks like Cathy Hobbs whose attitude not only turns me off but actually infuriates me. Whether she is talented or not is not even material. Who cares? I won't watch her. Period. And you will not entertain or convince me that shows like Donna Does Dallas or Dina's Party with their over the top, crass, 'bling' is tasteful design either. HELLO! I've watched HGTV 24×7 for years because of hosts like Joan Steffen and Clive and designers like Candice Olsen and David Bromstead to name a few, who are charming, classy, talented and true team players. Think about it.
Totally agree. HGTV has "jumped the shark" and is now waay below my first choice of network.
QUESTION: How are the designers paired for each challenge?
The judges choose the designer who will most make Cathy look good, so they don't have to send her home. This way they can create a plausable buzz in order to generate interest, either positive or negative with the American public who might not see her on Canadian HGTV's Top Ten
Here's A Headline for Reporter Omarosa to Read:
HGTV Loses Even More Credibility With Producer's Blog Post.
"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?"
Q1: What was it like being on set with Paula Deen? What was the funniest moment of the shoot?
Q2: 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?
Q3: What happened to the kitchens after the challenge?
Q4: 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?
REALLY?!?! These were the Most Asked Questions? I saw TWO of those questions, each asked ONCE. HGTV Doesn't deserve to have ANY viewers if THIS is the BS you're going to provide us.
SHAME ON YOU HGTV!! You LOST me as a viewer. Not JUST for any Omarosa show, and not just for DESIGN STAR. Your NETWORK Lost A Viewer.
It's just like the phoney promo, I was never able to find the post that is quoted on the commercial.
Yup, kinda picks uninteresting stuff to answer. Never the meaty questions that we have.
I Like cathy. She rocks.Whats wrong with standing up for yourself if you believe in your design. I would watch Cathy show anytime.
I do not agree. She designs like a cave woman. She is pushy, domineering and that kitchen mess said it all. If she has been selected as I am reading in-between the lines from all oF these posts, rest assured they lost a long term viewer.
Kick Cathy out, good Lord she is horrid.
I must agree with previous posters – HGTV has lost a lot…Too much apartment hunting, not enough real design. I used to watch HGTV all the time – now I do not. I prefer reruns of "Bones" and "NCIS". I also believe that a person who already has her own show, should not be competing. I really can't stand Cathy – her lying, condescending attitute. I, too, wonder why she is #2 on the list of favorites. This makes me believe that the list is rigged and input from the viewing audience is neglibible. She may be attractive and composed in front of the camera, but I've seen little design star quality in her work. She should be voted off. Unless, of course, the whole thing is rigged.