Reality on Bravo

As part of the NaBloPoMo celebration, I’m posting my list of top 30 Most Fabulous Bravo Personalities. The points of qualification? Only one: be utterly fabulous. “Fabulous can mean intriguing, funny, hot, crazy…or all of the above. Stop back every day during November to see if you favorite star has made the list!

Today’s Fabulous #21 is Goil Amornvivat from Top Design.

Why is Goil fabulous? “Hi I’m Goil! Like gargoyle!” Anyone who introduces himself like that HAS to make my Bravo list. Goil was one of my favorite designers on Top Design, even if he cracked under pressure. His ideas always stuck me as so completely innovative and, for lack of a better word, freakin’ cool.

I’ve also recently spotted Goil on TLC’s Trading Spaces. He really has lasting power in the industry, which I think qualifies him as “fabulous.” I’m not going to lie; if Bravo gave Goil his own show, I would totally watch it.

Check back tomorrow for #20!

Here’s the list of my 30 Fabulous Bravo Personalities so far:

21. Goil
22. Steven Asprinio, Top Chef Season One
23. Andy Cohen, Bravo Exec
24. Marcel Vigneron, Top Chef Season Two
25. Kelly Wearstler, Top Design
26. Chloe Dao, Project Runway Season Two
27. Vicki Gunvalson, The Real Housewives of Orange County
28. Dale Levitski, Top Chef Season Three
29. Carson Kressley, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy
30. Jeff Lewis, Flipping Out

Have someone you’d like to nominate? Feel free to email me at allison.boyer - at - yahoo - dot - com today or leave a comment telling us why your nominee is Bravo-fabulous!

As part of the NaBloPoMo celebration, I’m posting my list of top 30 Most Fabulous Bravo Personalities. The points of qualification? Only one: be utterly fabulous. “Fabulous can mean intriguing, funny, hot, crazy…or all of the above. Stop back every day during November to see if you favorite star has made the list!

Today’s Fabulous #25 is Kelly Wearstler, one of the judges from Top Design.

Why is Kelly Fabulous? I really think that Kelly Wearstler might be nuts. I mean, like cuckooooooooo nuts. I mean, look at that hair. Browse through Bravo’s Top Design website. Walk down memory lane and check out Kelly’s past hair styles and outfits. You’d almost have to be nuts…

But she’s also some kind of genius. Have your ever seen any of her designs? Kelly Wearstler is amazing. Go to her website and click through her recent projects if you don’t believe me. Gorgeous.

And hey, without her kooky fashion choices, I wouldn’t have had anything to blog about during Top Design…

Check back tomorrow for #24!

Here’s the list of my 30 Fabulous Bravo Personalities so far:

25. Kelly Wearstler
26. Chloe Dao
27. Vicki Gunvalson
28. Dale Levitski, Top Chef Season Three
29. Carson Kressley, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy
30. Jeff Lewis, Flipping Out

Have someone you’d like to nominate? Feel free to email me at allison.boyer - at - yahoo - dot - com today or leave a comment telling us why your nominee is Bravo-fabulous!

I turned on TLC today (It’s one of my staple channels when nothing is on - TLC, Food Network, Discovery, and Bravo of course), and the show on was Trading Spaces. I like that show, but it was already 3/4 over, so I wasn’t going to watch it.

But suddenly…SUDDENLY…

GOIL!

The sweetest, funniest designed from Bravo’s Top Design - Goil Amornvivat - seems to be the newest member of TLC’s trading spaces. Maybe he’ll be the new “Vern,” who I haven’t see on the show for ages. They have very similar clean, architectural styles. Oh man, Goil is soooo nice. You can just tell that his team is having the BEST time. On top of that, his room looks awesome.

Congrats, Goil, on your new job! I’ll have to watch trading spaces more often!

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Gap Inc. (NYSE: GPS) announced today that Todd Oldham will team with Old Navy to serve as the brand’s design creative director, effective Oct. 1. Mr. Oldham will divide his time between New York City and San Francisco and play a key role in developing and implementing the merchandise creative direction at Old Navy.

Todd plans to also develop and launch a line of merchandise under the Todd Oldham name to be sold exclusively at Old Navy stores in the future.

“Todd’s successful career in fashion and design has distinguished him as an innovative creative thinker who also understands how to appeal to a broad audience,” said Dawn Robertson, president, Old Navy. “He understands and appreciates Old Navy’s new positioning and fashion potential and will help elevate and evolve Old Navy.”

(more…)

Are you pining for Work Out? Do you feel empty inside without Queer Eye for the Straight Guy? Are you counting the days until The Real Housewives of Orange County, Season 3?

If you miss these old Bravo shows as much as me, never fear–I had some pictures of your favorite stars out and about in Hollywood, New York City, and so on. Bravo is introducing a bunch of new shows this summer (Hey Paula was just the first), so it may be some time before we get to see these smiling faces on our tv screen again!

Work Out’s Andre Riley at Fashion LA Magazine’s Premier Issue Launch Party in June.

Slade Smiley (Real Housewives) and Adrianne Curry (his hot date?) at the Light Nightclub Party at Bellagio Hotel and Casino Resort, hosted by Giantto and Von Dutch Watches

Queer Eye’s Jai Rodriguez shown with Keith Collins at “Styleyes Miami” (which they hosted), held at the Boulevard Lounge on July 2

Jonathan Adler, a judge on Top Design, at the “Poiret: King of Fashion” Costume Institute Gala, held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Heidi Klum, the host of Project Runway (with a new season premiering in November!), with her husband, Seal, at the Lorraine Schwartz launch of the Diamond Monkey Collection at Monkey Bar

Heidi Klum, Seal, Project Runway, Jonathan Adler, Top Design, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, Queer Eye, Jai Rodriguez, Keith Collins, Slade Smiley, Real Housewives, Real Housewives Slade, Real Housewives of Orange County, Work Out, Bravo, reality television

To those who are subscribed to the RoB newsletter, this is old news, but it’s time to share the interview with the rest of you! Felicia, one of the contestants from Top Design, took a moment out of her busy day to talk about her life since the show and share advice and secrets to success with us:

RoB: Hi Felicia! Thanks for sitting down for a chat. What have you been up to since leaving Top Design?
Felicia Bushman: I have been non-stop with tons of business. It’s amazing how much publicity had been generated and the new clients that just keep on coming.

RoB: So the show has been good for business?
Felicia: I’ve had to hire a couple more staff members to help me out

RoB: What made you decide to get involved with a Bravo reality show like Top Design in the first place?
Felicia: I love what I do and saw the opportunity to show the masses what I do best!

RoB: But was it difficult having the cameras follow you around all the time?
Felicia: It was a bit odd at first, but I was surprised by how quickly I got used to it. Once I was busy creating the task at hand, I forgot they were there.

RoB: Do you keep in touch with anyone from the show?
Felicia: Yes, I am in touch with Andrew, Erik, Goil, Elizabeth, and Michael mostly. I thought I would lose interest after I was gone, but since the remaining people were all my friends now, I was just as interested in watching.

RoB: You made some really creative decisions on the show. What inspires you most when designing a room?
Felicia: It’s always something different, but usually stems from one item, be it a rug, a single piece of furniture, a wallpaper, or even a color. If you look at one item closely enough, it will tell you a story (or perhaps I just create them in my head). From that story, the room evolves.

RoB: Sounds like designing is in your heart. When did you decide to go into the industry?
Felicia: It was sometime during jr. high school, probably 7th grade. We were discussing careers in school and I had always had an affinity for spaces, fabrics, pattern, and color, so it seemed natural for me to go into interior design.

RoB: What advice do you have for teens and young adults interested in getting started in the design business?
Felicia: I always tell them to work for a design firm WHILE they are going to design school. Learning interior design is 50% technical and 50% application. One really learns from the actual hands on experience, taking a project from beginning to end. As far as starting their own business, when they get to that point, I think the best advise I can give them is to never ever leave a project with unfinished cycles, never leave your client having to deal with the pesky little items that need to be done to finish up. This leaves them completely hassle free and makes them so happy to refer you to others and to call you back when the next project comes up!

Felicia’s Five Favorites:

Book: The Scientology Handbook by L. Ron Hubbard, it gives me practical tools that I can use every day for every day life problems

Movie/TV show: Moulin Rouge, and TOP DESIGN, of course!! Ok, second choice is 24, go JACK!

Food/Drink: Sushi & Sake! Katsuya in Brentwood has the best sake martinis made with fresh cucumber juice, I feel like I’m at the spa!

Ways to Relax: Hiking and yoga…and, of course, going to the spa…

Holidays: Thanksgiving, it’s all about friends and family and getting together and eating lots of great food! And best of all we don’t have to stress about gifts!

Bravo, Top Design, reality tv, reality television, decorating, interior design, Felicia Bushman

In a recent interview with TV Guide Matt, the winner of Top Design, talked about his life since winning and what it was like being on the show.

Being a contestant and winning Bravo’s Top Design was “life-changing,” he says. “I view things completely differently now. Working around a group of people, having these professionals critiquing [your work]… I really consider it a condensed course for a master’s degree. Having gotten through this and impressed them, I realize that I can do anything. It’s a complete boost for my career and my self-image. READ MORE

Of course Matt won. Of course. Not that I didn’t like a few of Carisa’s innovation, but c’mon, people. Even better, though, was the fact that Matt’s carpenter, Ed, also won $10,000, and seriously, he really deserved it. I mean, the guy almost cut off a finger for this show. He never complained, never argued, and never did less than his best.

And it’s a good thing Matt won too, because, as Carisa said in her exit interview, he would have been DEVASTATED if he would have lost. I think the guy would have needed to be on suicide watch! It was a good choice to pick Matt as the winner. Yes, I’m actually agreeing with the judges for once! Let’s look at their lofts side-by-side to see why Matt had the Top Design (more…)

Remember Felicia from Top Design? Well, Reality on Bravo has an exclusive interview with her to found all about what it was like to be on the show and much much more. Want to read it now? There’s a catch–you have to sign up for the Reality on Bravo newsletter! Click here to get special access to this interview first!

Top Design, Felicia Bushman, Bravo, reality television

Buddy Tv recently interviewed Goil “the gargoyle” on his exit from top design:

Did you feel like the way you were edited was fair and true to your real life persona?

There was a lot of footage - cameras rolling all the time for weeks and months - they have a lot of power. Mostly I am grateful for the ways I was portrayed: as a real person. I went through my entire emotional range on the show, and the camera caught them: the ups and the downs. Of course I feel like we all have more depth than what can be seen in a one hour television program. I hope things like this interview can render me in a more complete way…Read More

Goil, Top Design, Bravo

Tonight’s Top Design left me saying “What just happened here?” Sorry fans of the show–but this is just an awful series. If it comes back for another season, there’s a good chance that I just will not watch it.

In any case, here’s what happened:

“I’m like one of the Charlie’s Angels. But with a wife and kids.”

“Haha, I’m from LA, so I know the best places to shop.”

“Bitch, bitch, bitch, bitch, bitch, bitch…I’m not a fan of 45 degree angles….bitch, bitch, bitch”

“Hello, my name is Todd Oldham and I’m an excellent cue-card reader.”

“Haha, I think I just heard Carl beat Carisa to death with a two by four.”

“Matt, I can help you fix your fabric. Let me just check with the scriptwriters first to see how I should say it on camera!”

“…bitch, bitch, bitch, bitch, bitch…”

“See, it’s not just the hair. I have bad taste in earrings too!”

“I need to exit the white room before I punch Carisa in the face.”

“Well, Todd, ya win some your lose some. But hey, at least 70% of America voted for Carisa to leave in less than a half hour. This is definitely the right decisions that I go home. I love the judges.”

This show needs to be over. The judging decisions suck. Todd Oldham’s scripted appearances suck. Carisa in the finals sucks. The only thing that doesn’t suck about this show is…wait…I couldn’t think of anything.

Top Design, Todd Oldham, Bravo

Top Design last night was full of drama, tears, complains, and bad hair, as usual. Here’s a recap of the show, through pictures.

“I am so distressed about absolutely everything regarding this show. I want to cry.”

“I will be your guest judge. I was Fred Flintstone’s wife in a past life. You will now all make rooms according to the four elements.”

“I got the PERFECT element for me, because it matches my sign! And I have a wife and kids.”

“Insert bitchy comments here, while I smile and pretend I love everyone and am NOT a bitch.”

“AHHHHH! I may spontaneously combust at ANY moment. Which would be perfect for my room of fire!”

“If I hear Andrea whine one more time about getting “earth” as her element, I’m going to cut off my ears. Or my thumb.”

“Stupid Matt with his stupid easy element. Stupid element of earth. Stupid.”

“Everyone stands between me and prize. I will kill them all one by one.”

“Oh God, I just looked in the mirror.”

“Yay, I finally won an individual challenge. And I have a wife and kids.”

“But I put my heart into every room! Oh well, at least Todd loves me.”

Top Design, Goil, Bravo

On Last night’s episode of Top Design, Michael was the latered decorator, which I kind of expected. I like the kid, but he and Carisa are definitely the weakest links at this point.

The designers were asked to create a chef’s table for Tom Colicchio, the head judge of Top Chef. The results were varied, but in the end, Andrea cam out on tip. Matt was definitely a surprise. Actually, he’s been doing well, but for some reason I keep forgetting about how sheek his rooms always look. No matter what Carisa says, I do feel like his vision came through most in the Bacardi Limon challenge, and he deserved that win.

Does anyone else think that Goil is beginning to get a little scary? He needs to take some calming pills I think! However, I do believe, like the judges, that he has that awesome room inside of him somewhere. If only he would paint the walls a solid color and just make something original–every single room he does, you walk into it and say “Oh, this is Goil.” It’s good to have an impressive print on a room, but I’m sick of the white and funky.

Top Design, Michael Midgly, Goil, Bravo, reality, Jonathan Adler, decorating, designing, Tom Colicchio

I like Top Design and all, but I think most people hear me when I say “I miss Top Chef!” It’s just not the same.

Well, this week, we get a little taste of our good ol’ TC–Chef Tom Colicchio is acting as Top Design’s guest judge. He makes the show on Top Chef if you ask me, so I’m glad he’d coming on Top Design to liven things up a bit. Maybe he can teach the judges how to hold an interesting and non-whiney judges table?

Top Design, Top Chef, Tom Colicchio

I know I promise you all a Top Design recap/review on Friday, but I snowed myself in at a friend’s place and had limited net access!

The episode centered on Goil…a lot. I know, I know, there’s like, a cult fan following for the kid, but my goodness! Can we say drama queen!?!? I agree that no one was listening to his ideas and I will even go so far as to say that Andrea and Erik did not show him much respect. However, he didn’t fight to make his voice heard and he focus so much on the team that he didn’t set himself out as anything but a follower. I truly believe that Goil should have gone home. I thought he was going when that team lost. The kid is a sweetheart, but he needs to stop being a doormat and a perfectionist.

In other news, Carisa is still around. Ugh. Once again, this episode would have been better without her in it. Good lord. I can’t believe she took entire credit for that design. If she would have won, I think Michael would have spontaneously combusted!