apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Aaron - that does sound slightly masochistic (watching Episode 1 again, that is). I wanted to like the show as I was so excited about it, but everything about it was horrendous. Maybe I will give it one more chance and watch Episode 2.

I watched the first episode again as well. I hope that the show is better once we see the designers do their own thing.Being paired up is not good if you both have very diffrent styles. I hope the show does well I like it but it could be better.

I really hope the second episode is better. The show seemed to have so much potential, but after watching the first episode, I'm not so sure. I'll probably end up watching the whole season regardless of how good or bad it is though.

I like Todd Olham, but I have to say, his abilities as a host (or lack thereof) are really not a surprise. Does anyone else remember him from House of Style? He was stiff and awkward back then too.

Michael and John's room is the only one that doesn't look completely cheap. The rest look like they'd be compeletely dated in...oh, 5 minutes.

I hope so. It would be horrible to think that the "design" reality show would become the laughing stock of all the Bravo programming. I mean, even "Real Desperate Housewives" is better.

As for Todd, he seems completely out of his league. I can still remember when he was a HUGE media darling in the mid-90's. Can't believe how fast that went away. Think Issac M. is a great example of designer as personality. Just don't think Todd has it in him. Nice man, just not a big enough personality to grab our attention.

Top Design, you are dead to me.

I use to work on House of Style in the early 90's. God, how long ago that was. What a bitch the executive Producer (Alisa Belletini for those who want to know) was. I digress. Anyway, Todd is a sweet man. Unfortunately, he's not a personality. His sweetness got him where he is. That isn't going to translate into being in commander of a program. Just not going to happen.

Sasha— be sure to check out the video of Todd's reactions to episode 1...he talks exclusively about John and Michael's design. Also, the video shows Todd is more personable than the first episode portrayed.

I love Todd Oldham as a designer, but not as a TV host. He voice is a litte too breathy almost creepy. And for crying out loud, those teeth! What's up with that? The hairpiece? I could go on.

The show is just so boring and lacks a whole lot of something--energy.

While the show is not dead to me yet, I can see the end coming.

Thanks Aaron! I'll have to check that out.

I really feel bad because Todd really seems like such a nice guy, but I have to say it was painful watching him at times. There was one point where his voice would get higher and he'd be emphasizing all the wrong syllables and stuff.

And as for the designers, they better get it together. I just couldn't get over how none of them (with the exception of that one group that took things way too literally) actually took the client's pieces into consideration while designing the room. Plus, I have a feeling a lot of the competitions are going to be done in groups of two just because of space constraints, but I could be wrong.

Aaron, don't get me wrong... I'm loving all the new "Blogging ____" features on AT: your Blogging Top Design posts; Heather's Blogging ReadyMade post on Chicago site; and Richele's Blogging Dwell post on LA site... I just don't like the show. ;b

Let's just say that Todd Oldham has clearly had some work done.

I found the first episode to be a real turn-off, and a direct rip-off of HGTV's Design Star and totally lacking in any designers of talent.

i won't watch until Maxwell is Top Dog

Well, I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it. It was rather beige, done in tasteful neutrals.

I did feel the right team was eliminated. I would have liked more on the design process and less on the interpersonal issues of people who don't exactly have appealing personalities. Also five miscellaneous objects selected by a client does not replace a proper client brief.

i had taken it off my tivo list after that terrible first episode but perhaps i will watch just one more and give it another shot. it was just so unenjoyable!

Top Design is like that perfect resume your internal recruiter sends you or that 'perfect' acquaintance that your friend is always trying to hook you up with.

On paper, they seem like exactly what you want, but when you go meet/interview them, they have halitosis, a lazy eye, brown shoes and a black belt.

Episode one was torturous at best. Poor Todd seems really sweet, but a tv host he's not. I have to say that I hope the designs get better and I hope Michael gets his whiny, diva ass thrown off the show post haste. And I won't *even* comment on Alexis Arquette.
~Monica

Thomas -- I think I've been fixed up with that very guy! No wonder Top Design seemed so depressingly familiar.

If anyone missed the first episode and wants to see it (even after we've raked if over the coals) you can download it for free from iTunes.
Regarding the show, It seems like there would be enough viewers interested in the actual design projects for the producers to make that the focus of the show, rather than "Apprentice"-style personality conflicts and catfights (which seem sort of faked).
And, am I the only dork who didn't know who that "celebrity" guest was?

T.P. : Isaac Mizrahi is a 'great example of designer as personality'? You left out "obnoxious" before "personality".

i too watched episode 1 again, just to see the judging portion, and margaret's reaction when kelly contradicted her assessment of the zen garden in the winning room, priceless.
about todd, please everyone be kind, todd is a talented and positive person. he was on martha last week and was great; at ease and leading martha through a project. His spray on tan from hollywood was gone and he looked like his old self.

Rob,
Me neither. Here's what Wikipedia has to say about the "celebrity":
Alexis Arquette (born Robert Arquette on July 28, 1969 in Los Angeles, California) is a transgendered American actress, musician, L.A. area underground cartoonist, and drag performer who is part of a family of actors including siblings Patricia, David, Richmond, and Rosanna Arquette, her father Lewis Arquette and her grandfather Cliff Arquette.

Actually, a lot of people have trouble placing exactly who alexis arquette is, including the resident homophobe -- john? -- of the show itself.

Animatronic Todd Oldham aside (really - it's like they Stepfordized him) I think that the show has potential. I agree that the first episode wasn't very good, but I think that the judges seem promising as do some of the designers. Hopefully they'll stop designing "safe" though and show us some amazing (or at least interesting!) things.

i might be getting my characters mixed up, but i think it was goil... anyhow, goil arrived at the guys' dorm/house first and immediately started rearranging the furniture. i thought that was really cute.

there was something about todd oldham that kept reminding me of kenneth brown (redesign), until he started talking. i think kenneth brown would have made a great host and mentor for the show---v. stylish, natural, and likeable.

patrick, you are so right. Margaret and her decision that everything is "tasteful". Watching the thinly veiled look on her face when kelly praised the originality of the room. aaaaaaaahahaha I wish I could see it now!

I think she quivered!

I watched it a second time this evening. It was lackluster, to be kind. But I will watch the second episode for shits and giggles.