en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/1485222 Comments by GeorgiaMtnMutts http://blog.foodnetwork.com/star-talk/2010/07/24/jumping-into-the-fray/#IDComment88839422 There are a lot more food-sensitive people out here than you'd imagine... not just from allergies, but because of multiple reasons, like yeast sensitivity, low blood sugar, migraine inducing foods, plus other reasons, like vegans who just don't want to eat the meat. Having 3-4 really unusual alternatives to ingredients will really make a lot of show recipes practical, and I don't see that ever being addressed. It'd even be great to introduce on TNFNS challenge. Thanks! Mon, 26 Jul 2010 06:47:09 +0000 http://blog.foodnetwork.com/star-talk/2010/07/24/jumping-into-the-fray/#IDComment88839422 http://blog.foodnetwork.com/star-talk/2010/07/24/jumping-into-the-fray/#IDComment88839414 Hi Bob - I've really gotten hooked on TNFNS show since Guy won a few years ago. That got me hooked on watching many of your shows, (especially Challenge - which is the BEST!) And I'm not even a big fan of cooking. Paula Deen & the Neely's are just plain fun, and I love Melissa's Ten Dollar Dinner shows, for her great tips of cooking both fast and cheap. I cook out of necessity because I have food allergies/sensitivities, and wanted to sugggest the idea of having some of your current shows - or future ones - address allergy and food sensitivities more, by offering alternative ingredients for recipes. E.G., I can figure out to use yogurt for sour cream, but I might not know that I could use applesauce or hummus instead. Yes, I'm totally making that up - which is why a show giving us alternatives would be great! (con't. in reply) Mon, 26 Jul 2010 06:47:01 +0000 http://blog.foodnetwork.com/star-talk/2010/07/24/jumping-into-the-fray/#IDComment88839414 http://blog.hgtv.com/design-star/2010/07/25/dooces-recap-design-star-have-you-ever-seen-a-souvenir/#IDComment88835919 I agree --- the 'winning' designs this year are not really winners, but just not as bad as the worst design.... Not something to actually call good! This year has really been a big yawn so far. I would stop watching but keep hoping it's going to turn around. Hopefully it will, or I won't be watching next year - IF there is a next year, after this one. They brought the big bucks in with Mark Burnett producing, I guess, but he forgot it is a design show. Mon, 26 Jul 2010 06:13:42 +0000 http://blog.hgtv.com/design-star/2010/07/25/dooces-recap-design-star-have-you-ever-seen-a-souvenir/#IDComment88835919 http://blog.hgtv.com/design-star/2010/07/25/dooces-recap-design-star-have-you-ever-seen-a-souvenir/#IDComment88835515 Completely agree! You think Trump and even Donald Jr. and Courtland both said it... Luxery. Tell me what is luxurious about canvas curtains??? Sheesh! Mon, 26 Jul 2010 06:09:50 +0000 http://blog.hgtv.com/design-star/2010/07/25/dooces-recap-design-star-have-you-ever-seen-a-souvenir/#IDComment88835515 http://blog.hgtv.com/design-star/2010/07/25/dooces-recap-design-star-have-you-ever-seen-a-souvenir/#IDComment88835379 I kind of like the random sources of inspiration. If they were good designers, they could've come up with some very creative things. Just don't think we're seeing very much creativity or any thinking outside the box this year. Their inspiration sources remind me of what they do on Project Runway, and those fashion designers come up with great stuff. It just hasn't happened in this show yet. Mon, 26 Jul 2010 06:08:39 +0000 http://blog.hgtv.com/design-star/2010/07/25/dooces-recap-design-star-have-you-ever-seen-a-souvenir/#IDComment88835379 http://blog.hgtv.com/design-star/2010/07/25/dooces-recap-design-star-have-you-ever-seen-a-souvenir/#IDComment88835160 Boy, SweetLesa, I think you summed it up well! (and much more succinctly than I did in my comments!) Think your comments on right on the money, and speak for how a lot of us feel about this season. Mon, 26 Jul 2010 06:06:16 +0000 http://blog.hgtv.com/design-star/2010/07/25/dooces-recap-design-star-have-you-ever-seen-a-souvenir/#IDComment88835160 http://blog.hgtv.com/design-star/2010/07/25/dooces-recap-design-star-have-you-ever-seen-a-souvenir/#IDComment88834827 Having your own crew 'do the work' doesn't mean you didn't design it. Candace, Vern & Genevieve are all amazingly talented, and if you've watched their shows over the years, you've seen them (esp. on Divine Design) lay out their plans. Not carrying the sofa up the stairs doesn't mean you didn't choose it for your design, (not to mention customizing fabric, style, etc.). I don't get your comment on these designers. I do agree that Color Splash was better before it went to Miami. I know that's where David is from and can understand he wanted to go back there, but miss the comraderie of Ian and Danielle and even Claire. Think they've got a long way to go with this new crew. It's just not fun to watch yet. Mon, 26 Jul 2010 06:02:59 +0000 http://blog.hgtv.com/design-star/2010/07/25/dooces-recap-design-star-have-you-ever-seen-a-souvenir/#IDComment88834827 http://blog.hgtv.com/design-star/2010/07/25/dooces-recap-design-star-have-you-ever-seen-a-souvenir/#IDComment88833964 (last comment... for now...) Please, Mark Burnett and producers, go back and look at Seasons 1-4 of Design Star. Love your Celebrity Apprentice show and know you are trying to bring that drama to this show, but with all this supposed suspense and team challenges - (I know - supposed to lead to good tv because of fighting between the contestants... better let Courtland and some of the real designers in on that secret) - you have lost the real essence of the show, which is DESIGN. This is HGTV; I think you're getting your demographics mixed up. We actually CARE about the end design, and not just the drama you think you might create, which I might add, hasn't even really happened yet this year. Mon, 26 Jul 2010 05:53:33 +0000 http://blog.hgtv.com/design-star/2010/07/25/dooces-recap-design-star-have-you-ever-seen-a-souvenir/#IDComment88833964 http://blog.hgtv.com/design-star/2010/07/25/dooces-recap-design-star-have-you-ever-seen-a-souvenir/#IDComment88833932 (think 2 more will do it...) Courtland seems to have a great design sense, but hasn't really shown it well yet. Michael seems to have wonderful taste, but nothing outstanding yet. In this Design Star season, I was looking for wow and pop and zing. I'm an over 40-something gal who has a definite design sense, but wants to learn what's new and fresh and bold. So far, this season is really, really chalk bland. (I'm still spitting out the dust from this evening's show, it was so boring and design absent). Hope the challenges improve to let the individual designers show what they can really do. And I agree with another comment that they should tell how much money they are allowed to work with, and give better parameters. Mon, 26 Jul 2010 05:53:11 +0000 http://blog.hgtv.com/design-star/2010/07/25/dooces-recap-design-star-have-you-ever-seen-a-souvenir/#IDComment88833932 http://blog.hgtv.com/design-star/2010/07/25/dooces-recap-design-star-have-you-ever-seen-a-souvenir/#IDComment88833878 (still going...) And this team challenge format is not giving them much room to shine, either, though they could be more forceful with their voice, instead of complaining to no result, like Courtland did tonight. If I had been him, I would've stayed up all night and gone back, painted over that bathroom, added stripes or other artwork to the wall, and stood up for myself against Tom the next day in the studio. Tom would've been furious but Courtland - having the correct idea for design - would've stood by his design and won the judges over. Gee, a fight, good design and a dramatic finish... Now that could've been great tv! Mon, 26 Jul 2010 05:52:38 +0000 http://blog.hgtv.com/design-star/2010/07/25/dooces-recap-design-star-have-you-ever-seen-a-souvenir/#IDComment88833878 http://blog.hgtv.com/design-star/2010/07/25/dooces-recap-design-star-have-you-ever-seen-a-souvenir/#IDComment88833822 (more to get off my chest...) I'm sorry; I'm a huge Design Star fan. I love watching it and putting it on pause as soon as they give the challenge, just to think what I would do. (Yes, I would've applied, but know they would've turned me down for health reasons). I could, in 30 seconds, think of better options than all of them did tonight, and for most challenges, actually. I want to look at a designer and say "Wow! That's cool!" Or "I would not have thought of that!" What about Sparkle Josh? Maybe we didn't love everything he did, but he was creative! I've yet to be even remotely inspired by anything done yet this season. Mon, 26 Jul 2010 05:52:03 +0000 http://blog.hgtv.com/design-star/2010/07/25/dooces-recap-design-star-have-you-ever-seen-a-souvenir/#IDComment88833822 http://blog.hgtv.com/design-star/2010/07/25/dooces-recap-design-star-have-you-ever-seen-a-souvenir/#IDComment88833757 (con't. with my rant...) At least they called out Stacey for her painter's canvas drapes and domed taxicab, but no one else did much, either. Michael made an effort with the lamp, but the rest were not only predictable, but elementary craft project-ish. Where's the talent of David Bromsted, Kim Miles, or even Jennifer Won-Season-3-But-We've-Yet-To-See-Her-Show? (and no, those 2 special presentations or test pilot shows don't count). What about runner-up Matt from that season, or #2 Dan from last year? They could both plow down any creativity we've seen here yet, and I think Antonio would just have to smack some people. Mon, 26 Jul 2010 05:51:13 +0000 http://blog.hgtv.com/design-star/2010/07/25/dooces-recap-design-star-have-you-ever-seen-a-souvenir/#IDComment88833757 http://blog.hgtv.com/design-star/2010/07/25/dooces-recap-design-star-have-you-ever-seen-a-souvenir/#IDComment88833688 What is with Design Star this year? I've watched it since its inception and either the talent is missing this year, or they are not showcasing it on TV. Candace, Genevieve and Vern are my 3 favorite designers and their talent is off the charts, but the designers are being given stupid tasks to showcase themselves, and I can't imagine how infuriating it has to be for these top quality designers. They are totally reaching to even find things on which to comment positively! How could the designers be 'inspired' by Alex's little pillow? Granted, they weren't given much to work with, considering the tacky New York tourist bags, but I thought that therein was the challenge. A tiny little pillow that wasn't really functional, and didn't even match the design aspect of the room could hardly be considered 'inspiring'. Mon, 26 Jul 2010 05:50:16 +0000 http://blog.hgtv.com/design-star/2010/07/25/dooces-recap-design-star-have-you-ever-seen-a-souvenir/#IDComment88833688