Ask the Producer: Design Star Finale and Meg’s New Show!
Each week, Design Star producer Loren Ruch gives us the inside scoop on the show. After this week’s finale, he discusses the panel’s final deliberation. Plus, what you can expect from Meg’s new show HGTV’s Great Rooms.
It must have been hard for the design panel to choose between these two talented designers! What made them ultimately choose Meg as the winner?
It was an extremely tough decision because our design panel liked both Meg and Karl so much. In fact, the deliberation took nearly four hours! They reviewed all of the camera challenges and design challenges, and ultimately selected Meg as the winner. Meg and Karl had each won two challenges throughout the season, and then split the win in the tiny houses episode, so it was a very, very even competition all the way around.
What was it like for Meg to meet so many of the HGTV talent right after the win?
Meeting our HGTV talent was a huge moment for Meg. When she said “Oh my God, you’re all real,” it was a true ‘light bulb’ moment. She told me it was in that moment she realized winning Design Star was a life-changing event!
The original concept for the Meg’s series was Design Crimes. How did that idea evolve into HGTV’s Great Rooms?
If I’m going to be completely honest, HGTV’s Great Rooms is the same show as Design Crimes. Meg uses her criminology background to investigate the crimes in her fellow Chicagoans homes, and then redesign the spaces to be more beautiful. This may sound crazy, but I believe that there’s power in words, so instead of focusing on something negative (like the word “crimes”) I’d rather we focus on the positive (like “great”), which is why we changed it to HGTV’s Great Rooms. “Great” is a double entendre in the show, because not all of the rooms are true great rooms, but they are all GREAT!
When did Meg’s show begin filming?
Meg’s show started to shoot about three weeks after we completed production of Design Star. She needed to get working on her designs immediately following our finale. Honestly, she hasn’t slept much since we started shooting Design Star back in March!
Can you give us any clues about what we can expect from Meg’s new show? What did you think were the best on-set moments?
I can say this with 100 percent sincerity – I think that Meg’s makeovers in HGTV’s Great Rooms are some of the biggest and best makeovers that I’ve ever seen on our air. I truly believe that our viewers will be blown away by the level of talent she displays in this show. By the way, HGTV’s Great Rooms debuts Saturday at 6pm ET/PT – so set your DVR’s!! Learn more about Meg’s new show >>
Note: The picture is one of our entire crew – look at how many people it takes to get a show like this on the air! I want to take this opportunity to thank the best crew in the business, and the best viewers in the world…we love our HGTV fans!
Meg has 8% fan vote……way to go hgtv Karl is undoubtly the best designer since season Nashville. HIs backsplash is now in my kitchen, the window arch enhancements, his tiny house,,,omg he is so original and I hate hate hate I will not see him with his own show. Another network should hire him,,,Mark is weird and Cathy has no originality I am sick of HGTV
To all those who think the producer will be answering your individual questions in this blog: FORGET IT. He already responded to 5 questions in the article above (that were likely posed by HGTV staff anyway). Those are the only questions and responses they will be acknowledging here.
This was in NO WAY a very, very even competition between Karl and Meg. Not by a long shot! And if the judges thought so and had to spend 4 hours deliberating, they are obviously in the wrong position and need to be booted from next season's show.
the tiny house was a split between Karl and Amy say the producer…who watched the high school…her chairs were yard sale rejects..no storage no loft originality…her green paint was too harsh and she cannot even paint without getting on the walls…her foyers in the one house challenge I bet have been redone by the owners,,who wants a cheap bunch of lanterns hanging crooked in their beautiful home ew judges we need new judges
This was the first season of Design Star that I watched so, speaking as a newbie, I really liked the show. I liked Mark, Kark, and Meg. It was a tough decision (Mark was always running into time problems) between the last two designers. I was kinda hoping they would "pull a first" and select both to work as a team.
I hate that bloggers here are dissing Meg for her weight – how about posting a real picture of yourselves so we can pass judgement on your abs?
I agree that weight comments are hurtful and beside the point, but we viewers aren't trying to be TV stars so what do our abs matter?
It was great to watch & I agree I would have enjoyed either Mark or Meg winning or even Kellie. Wis h bloggers would leave Meg's weight alone!
It's useless HGTVfan…These people are probably the same people who consider themselves to be Christians…They sound to me like the Candidate in the GOP debate who basically said we should let those die that can't afford health insurance, and the idiot followers applauded.
I'm an atheist. So I'm a realist. Meg IS fat. And totally devoid of any design talent.
eric, although i can relate to your intense dislike of meg and what she represents, i think your focus on her weight detracts from your (and the rest of our) credibility when we comment on her lack of talent, bc the two unrelated opinions (weight and talent) get lumped together, and thus dismissed altogether as an unjustified opinion.
it's like when atheists make hateful anti christian remarks that are irrelevant to the many important issues that atheists try to promote (real science in classes, eg) and just turn people away from understanding the real issues.
Meg's weight seems irrelevant. Kim Myles was a good designer, despite being plump. She always put herself together in an attractive, flattering way. Meg does need some personal style advice, which might distract people such as you from focusing upon her weight. I agree with you about Meg's lack of design sense, but I cannot condone attacking someone because you think she's overweight.
Wow, you are attacking my Christianity? I'm not a Meg fan at all, but I've been against the personal attacks on her weight and voice, so I've "disliked" anything commented on her that's a personal attack. I can't believe you've brought politics and religion into this.
Mark, you seem to me to be like the political party that wants an idiot to run for president (anyone remember george W?). meg is an idiot in terms of her design sense. very FEW have commented on her weight, and the 'followers' of this blog have given negative ratings to those who have, NOT applauded. so think before you give a knee jerk respons
Hey newbie! I'm a newbie too! Although I enjoyed the challenges, I don't think the contest was fair if it's based on design. I do think Karl got robbed personally IMHO. I don't know why anyone has to be mean that's just uncalled for. Anyway, I learned something new from Karl a few times this season but can't say the same for any of the other designers. Didn't realize this was a reality show. Probably won't be watching next year. I haven't really been watching HGTV that much but there doesn't to be much on of interest. Thought it was a place I can go and get some useful tips and inspiration for my home and office. Not really impressed. Really.
Good points, Savanah. HGTV has become increasingly unwatchable. Aside from the Novogratz show, Candice's shows and House Hunters, which also can be annoying, the network really has lost its way. All too many of these designers spout the same tired ideas: everything has to be neutral (meaning some form of beige, chocolate, Exorcist green or blue); every countertop should be granite; all appliances must be stainless steel; nothing too personal; blah, blah, blah. Shouldn't design be intriguing, innovative, varied? We're far better "designers" than most of these so-called experts, as we follow our own tastes and needs.
i've only seen one derogatory weight comment on this particular blot so far, so great stiring up an issue that doesn't really exist. prob 95% of these complaints are justifiably about her lack of talent, 4% about her annoying way of speaking, and 1% her weight
Just wanted to agree with someone for a change: Thus I agree with 90% of the above comments (lol).
To all my fellow long time viewers of DS…remember "Sparkle Josh" ? Is his spirit alive and well in " Debbie "blings" Dallas??? Seems odd that Karl was given an "aside" to personally comment to the camera in every episode….was his comment that "everyone loves meg" prophetic..was the show a way to showcase your already matured professionalism. Was the final challenge of street graffitti meets tuscan fair to anyone??? The truth is "out there" & the best designers are not always on TV !
This is to the producer of the show .I would like to no how come We can never get make over here in the St Louis Mo area.I saw you show where someone was buying a homes on the show.Why is it so hard for you to help people here is the st Louis area.I need your help really really bad.I watch your show everyday for hour's.My basement is in a disaster.I'm so embarrassed that I can even have company down there.I don't have no job I can't work due to my illness my husband is working and don't have money or the time.I really need help Meg won and I was so happy she good to she in Chicago and that's only 4hrs away is there any way at all that you can share some of you helping hands for this Holiday seasons.It's very depressing I have no place to put nothing it's a bungalow and back in those day's they didn't have much closet space.I have been trying since 08 to get a make over and I don't no what it is that people do to get the help but everybody doesn't
live in nyc.You did do a segment on house hunter a couple looking for a house in kirkwood I saw it again today .Can you show some love to St.Louis and help me and my family .
I would like to ask Loren if, in hindsight, they have ever regretted their choice of Design Star. Obviously, identities would have to be protected, but there is such a wide divide this season between who should have won (or at the very least, who should have stayed longer) according to the fans, and who the judges ended up choosing!
Ask all you want but I'm afraid you won't be getting an answer from them.
Not all fans post online… Hard to believe but most people only blog when they are upset not all the happy HGTV watchers who love HGTV & the choices they have made. No, they don't regret their choice. Meg will truly be a HGTV success!
haha You got a little snippet of information and wanna broadcast it like that's all there is.
Truth is Margaret, it doesn't matter that people got on here because they are disgruntled.
They still represent a demographic and yes, HGTV will see a dramatic decline unless people get amnesia by next season or by a miracle there is some new hotness everyone wants to see on DS.
HGTV has been steadily losing fans for awhile because apparently no one over their knows how to keep their viewers happy. As you can see written from many on this blog.
Lisa, it's true that most people blog when they're upset. But look at the blogs after episode 9, when both Karl and Meg were still in the running. You will see that, while a lot of bloggers were upset about Mark being eliminated, as expected, the comments regarding Karl and Meg favored Karl by a huge majority. And, unlike Mark, people didn't like Karl for his looks. Overwhelmingly, people thought he was more talented than Meg. So I think it's true that this year there was a genuine disconnect between the judges and the viewers.
Nope, I believe I am not alone in blogging when I'm happy for my choices too. I would have been on here celebrating if any of my 4 favs would have won. I'd a been all "yay Karl!" or "yay Mark!" or "yay Tyler!" or "yay Leslie!"
I'm glad to see she does have some fans, I just disagree that she's the better designer.
Margaret, Your question is very endearing. Why? Because it exudes 'Naïveté'. A Mega Conglomerate such as HGTV will NEVER admit to an error! They just move on to something or someone else. Now, if the underlying question is; would you also hire one of the other losing contestants? The answer is very simple. Yes, only if there is something in it for THEM! Case in Point; Sparkle Josh is now on HGTV in “Debbie ‘Blings’ Dallas. Did HGTV hire Josh because they are admitting he should have been the ‘Design Star Winner’? Absolutely NOT!!!!! Did they see a potential there for MONEY? The answer is Definitely YES!!!!! It's the way they operate in the Cut-Throat Corporate World. And that, my dear Margaret is true "Reality"!!!!!!
Marilyn! I love reading your posts! So dramatic. Such flair with words! It's great.
I am taking the one from monday night…"Beam me up Scottie…there's no sign of intelligent life down here.." I know it's not originally your line per se but that encapsulates the situation oh so well!
I think they added Josh because he adds another type of 'demographic' plus can you imagine Debbie I mean Donna…carrying a show on her own? This is the woman know on DS for spending all her time between napping in vans to go shopping and shopping then ordering people around… LOL!
The whole thing just cracks me up. But not enough to watch her show! Oh also sparkle josh is there for additional entertainment and drama just in case Debbie oh I mean Donna… just doesn't do it for ya on the big screen
Hemingway, Thanks for the compliment. I must admit my writing does have a flair for drama. It’s my approach to injustice. “Beam-me-up-Scotty” is sometimes THE perfect solution when accosted by ignorance! I highly recommend this method. Just say it and walk away!!!!
Oh! Well, ‘Debbie…..Donna’ same difference!!!! Anyhow, Josh and Donna is a “Marriage Made in Heaven!” That Décor ‘style just ….’Hurts my eyes’! I’d rather have a ‘Frontal Lobotomy’ than to watch “Donna Decorates Dallas” (sounds like the title of a Porn Movie!) Oh! And before I get insulted Bloggers for that remark all I’m saying is….”To each their Own”!!!!
Ps One of my most favorite quotes from Hemingway is; “The world breaks everyone and afterwards, some are stronger in the broken places.” (“A Farewell to Arms”)
Oh Marilyn………………….not as "naivete" as you might think! I asked the question as a "thought provoking" question, never expecting an actual response (imagine the answer to my question being "yes"………………every DS winner would be left wondering if they were the "regret"!). And I appreciate that HGTV has to think "MONEY"…………..after all, they are a business. So wouldn't you think that they would try to get it right the first time? Unsuccessful shows can't be good for business!
There was last year too…I don't think too many people were happy with Emily being in the finals…Many thought she should have been the first to go with her jail like atmosphere and poorly done string art…I think a lot of people wanted Casey, and I believe that's why she was given the Design on a Dime show this year.
Personally I think Casey applied for the job just like everyone else and got the part.
They change the host for that show every couple of years it seems.
HGTV probably is losing money and that's why they keep trying to ramp up their shows.
If not, they are greedy glamor seeking mofos but I'd like to think that's not the case.
OK, I've looked at the rooms again, and Meg had nice furniture in the space, but as Vern chastised someone last season, ANYONE CAN BUY NICE FURNITURE…Once you look past the furniture, the room was basically the same room, and it was not as Architecturally interesting as Karl turned his into…In fact Karl took a very plain room, which was a mess, and lacked style to begin with, and improved it immensely with his choice of color and use of molding…Unlike Meg who just painted it a different color, and then reused a lot of the accessories that were already present in the room…I personally wasn't thrilled with some of the accessories that were in Karl's room and I hated (yes hated) that painted Armoire…It made the room look cheap, like a Trading Spaces space…So my questions are: Did Meg pick the furniture, or the did the other two Women?…Did Karl paint the Armoire or did Mark, because it sure didn't measure up to Karl's past painting projects…Also if the other designers picked out something that the two finalist didn't like, were the finalist given time to swap them for something else?
firstly, i applaud your willingness to take an objective and critical perspective.
if you look carefully at meg's solo challenges, you can clearly see that the other two women had a HUGE influence on meg's final challenge. it was a nicely designed and decorated room, therefore it was NOT meg's doing. it is so obvious.
karl's painting was supposed to mimick grafitti (street) art, not the kind of art in his past projects
I can say this with 100 percent sincerity – I think that Meg’s makeovers in HGTV’s Great Rooms are some of the biggest and best makeovers that I’ve ever seen on our air. I truly believe that our viewers will be blown away by the level of talent she displays in this show.
Better than Kenneth Brown?…Better than Candace Olson?…Better than Sarah Richardson?…Somehow I don't think so, but I for one will give her show a chance, unlike numerous others who vow never to watch her.
hahaha. You're funny. Not what you said but how you said it.
I think all the contestants worked damn hard on DS and for the judges to unfairly 'give'
a show to someone who is clearly not the best designer is a big slap in their face.
I can't imagine what it would be like to have someone treat me and my dreams that way.
It's just a TV show to us but not for those who become contestants.
So I'm not watching Meg's show or any show on HGTV.
HGTV is like a big bully who refuses to listen to anyone.
Unless you hold your ground like you mean it, they will keep behaving the same way.
I'm not an ignorant human being who will be herded around like sheep. bye HGTV!
I'm just one person and they won't miss me and that's fine.
But if maybe all the disgruntled viewers actually stopped watching HGTV/
or DS, they might actually listen. Who knows? Anything could happen
btw – it was leslie and kellie who picked out meg's furniture.
if only there were a way for us disgruntled viewers to join forces and create our own network, with truly inspired shows. wouldn't that be utopia?
The minute they announced the 'winner', I switched channels to one that was in no way affiliated with HGTV or it's parent company. I refuse to tune in to watch ANY of their shows. This, in response to the scary outcome of Design 'Star'.
why not let the viewers vote for the winner next year? a lot of people are disappointed with judges decision.Most of your viewers are women.I for one would rather watch a great designer who is very cute like david than watch a girl next door do less than adequate work. Bring on Karl or Mark.
Why not have a "viewer's contest" and put the winner (or winners) on the panel of judges along with the current panel? That would be one way to incorporate a "lay person's" point of view and could really engage the fans. Allowing the fans to vote creates "vote fests" by the same groups of fans and doesn't always reflect design talent, but rather popularity.
Or…………………………have the runner-up on the judges' panel for the following season!
I love Candice Olson's work. And I think she is a fair judge. Gen is a bit "smarmy" and Vern gets downright nasty. I agree that a new panel might be in order. As to the winner, I really was not overly impressed with either one of the finalists. Perhaps Meg will just fade away like several other past winners have. The only one who has done really well, is David. Now we have to put up with shows like Donna does Dallas and the other ridiculous show with a New Jersey Housewife planning outlandish parties. Not exactly what I want to see on this network. Who the heck REALLY does that stuff??
Thanks for voicing our disgust, Karen. It's bad enough those so-called Ho[usewive]s dominate other networks, but now HGTV has to give them space, too? I will never watch either of those shows. Just the ads make my skin crawl. What do stupid parties have to do with home design? Not much.