Design Star:

I think Kim was the clear winner tonight. Todd - whew. Could he BE any more grating?

I don't know. . . I mean, to me there was no surprise in either room. They both used color palettes they've used before, Todd did another ocean themed room and I just felt bored with them both. I think that I wouldn't necessarily watch a show with either. I will say that I think Kim is more to the taste of most people and Todd is more original in the way he uses space. Neither of those things are new observations either.

Did you guys watch Vern's show afterwards?

I'm kind of watching - mostly I want to see the reveal.

I mean, to me there was no surprise in either room.

This comes back to my complaint about this season. I saw a lot of decorating but not much in the way of design. So they can paint and buy stuff. There wasn't any innovation.

Though maybe rolling out of bed into your kitchen will be the hot new trend of 2008.

I do prefer Kim's hosting style. Todd just jumps up and down on my very last nerve. Dude.

ETA: Thanks, sumi! I'd forgotten that Vern's new show was on. I've scheduled the 2 am repeat on my DVR.

The thing that Food Network Star was so much better at was making them articulate what their show actually would be, and how their challenge entries fit with that. Even though a lot of it was just smoke, it really gave you a better idea what they were thinking. I don't know what a Kim or a Todd show would be.

brenda, I totally agree. But, we didn't know what last year's winner's show would be either.

I wonder how many takes Todd & Kim had of doing the presentation of the room?

Kim's room looked looked like a hotel room to me. Todd's room looked like a kid's room. Way too kitschy in my opinion, for what's supposed to be an upscale hotel.

I still wonder if Todd is going to win, since voters will decide, and he is the cute guy who takes his shirt off all the time.

When Todd did this room for that space which was supposed to show their personality I was fine with it. . . but apparently, unless he is given a particular direction by a client - this is what he does ALL the time.

Of course, in the real world of design - you always have a client.

Kim uses the same colors for mellow earthy as she does for tropical punch. But her hosting style is very good.

BTW, she has some sort of connection to InStyle magazine -- over at TWOP they are smelling conspiracy. However, I've head the same thing (that HGTV wants him so he wins) about Todd. Two, two conspiracies for one.

Top Chef: opening of this week's episode. - Not even the QF - although, I think we can imagine what it might be.

Honestly, I have been reading about Kim's Instyle connections and I don't think she should have been cast on the show. But I can't stand Todd and would never ever watch his show.