Matt Lorenz earned the top prize during the debut season of Top Design more than a year ago.  Now it was made public that the show featuring aspiring interior designers en route to some cash and a spot in New York Designer showcases didn't do well in the ratings, and Top Design's limited fan base wasn't so sure if it's going to be renewed after its first season.  Despite the reported loss, however, Bravo decided to give it another shot with a few minor changes.

The second season of Top Design premieres tonight at 10pm on Bravo, with renowned designer Todd Oldham “demoted” from being the show's host to the contestants' mentor.  The shift is reportedly part of the strategy to win more viewers considering the show's poor ratings on its maiden run.  Now only time will tell if Oldham is better suited to this role reminiscent of Tim Gunn on Project Runway.  Fashion model India Hicks will take the hosting job from Oldham.

For this season, Top Design gives a chance to 13 interior designers for a chance to go home with $100,000 and a showcase in Elle décor magazine.  The judges will be the same, head judge Jonathan Adler, Kelly Wearstler, and Margaret Russel.  To save the show, Oldham says there were changes intentionally made to make Top Design work this time.

“We have new producers as the helm, Magical Elves, so it will look a bit different.  No one really knew what we were getting ourselves into first time around, but now we have some very TV savvy people joining us.  Also, the challenges are all over the place, and the time frames seem a bit more abbreviated.”

Indeed, aside from the new producers, this new season also boasts of a new high-definition look, plus the new host, Hicks, who is Prince Charles' second cousin and daughter of famed designer David Nightingale Hicks.


-Glenn L. Diaz, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: Boston Herald, Seattle Pi
(Image Courtesy of Boston Herald)