A Design Star Dream Deferred (Mine)

Something went seriously off the rails during TV time last night.  I'm not referring to Kanye's ego finally obliterating what little was left of his mind.  Rather I mean the outcome of a less-watched but equally dubious manipulation of the medium: the reveal of HGTV's Design Star of the year.

From the start the competition seemed to be Dan Vickery's (pictured above) to lose.  But I doubt many would have guessed he'd actually lose.  Dear reader, he did.

I have watched all four seasons of Design Star, having found it to be one of the least annoying talent competition shows.  But one thing that disappointed me during the previous three seasons: I didn't care much about who won.  By the time the show had whittled its way to a final twosome, I had always found them both deserving and ably talented.  However, I also knew I would not be watching the winner's show.  None of the previous six finalists were able to break through the blandness that inevitably settled in as we spent more time with each.  Thus I liked the show, but didn't care about the outcome.

That changed this year.  Neither Dan nor his co-finalist, Antonio, were blah.  But, to my mind, only one was deserving of the crown.  Dan's design skill and know-how trumped his competitors' efforts week to week.  Antonio served up a big, disaffected personality alongside relatively minor innovation and ingenuity.  The choice was clear.  Until logic went on a ski vacation with reason and Antonio was named the victor.

The whole megillah would have been easier to take, frankly, if there existed some transparency per the judges' decision.  In fact, this has been a major flaw since the show's inception.  The deliberations of the judges are rendered coy and inscrutable through the use of fast-cutting and never allowing any comment to be directly addressed to any contestant.  It comes across as a bunch of random ideas that shed little to no light on the final decision.  With this year being the first that the judges, rather than the home audience, pick the winner--that flaw has been rendered fatal.

For comparison picture a Project Runway where the contestant who showcases an ill-fitting skirt with a raw, unfinished hem is named the winner without any accompanying explanation.  It would be irritating, and could you still have faith in Michael Kors' design instincts?

The HGTV site has been inundated with angry responders.  So many, in fact, that the first batch of comments has been mysteriously removed and replaced by a more even-keeled selection.  As usual it's still descending into chaos, with Dan supporters railing against Antonio by calling him dirty (because of his tattoos) and talentless.  And people on the other side suggesting that Antonio is a better choice because he's not "so feminine."  Way to take the high road, people.

It's disappointing when something so right goes all wrong.  I don't watch any other programs on the HGTV network, but I was going to make time to give Mr. Vickery's show my attention.  Now I regret that I won't be able to do that and likely won't be watching Design Star again either.  I imagine the higher-ups won't feel too bad about the loss of another viewer--they're certainly not bemoaning their whole channel's loss of integrity.