Mondo MAC!

First, Top Design…

Okay, I hate both season’s You’re Gone catch phrases. And is it me, or does India Hicks, who I otherwise like, have the most pretentious British accent evah? The queen is like, what? Lady Di is no longer with us. Come on. All that said, however, I really liked this episode.

After doing a whole loft in two days last time, the designers get a small space to work this time….very small…and have to work with a partner.

It was nice to see Andrea, who I’m mostly liking (but spent the whole time dissing her partners last time, which, she got stuck with Shazia the Useless and the Outside the Box guy, so who wouldn’t) talk about how she was hoping to learn something from her partner, Eddie (chief designer for Martha Stewart Magazine), this go around. I’m also impressed with the level of skill and the current positions in the industry these guys have. Must still be tough if they’re taking time off to be on reality tv.

So, the task is to create a functional home fallout shelter. I watched this episode on 9/11. Something just too wrong with that. And Natalie, yes, darlin’, we want something comfy and cute so our surroundings don’t harsh our buzz while the bombs are falling. My. Goodness.

Okay, last week they got 2K to design and furnish an entire loft. This time? 6K for a fallout shelter that is a fraction of the space. But, you know, it’s important that the design aethestic is Just So in a space you might be forced to live in for a long time. Yeah, they should have aired this one just about at any other time, I think. But, putting that aside, let’s talk about team dynamics.

Eddie/Andrea seem a good match. I like that they’re going for nature colors.

Then you have Earth Girl Ondine and Cute Boy Preston Lee, who go for sky colors, but decide to split the room so it’s part for her (so she can… write her novel?) and part for him (to design things…for post apocalyptic world?) I think the challenge was to design a functional space that reflected the aesthetic of both designers, not an actual living space for the actual designers. But. Whatever.

Then we have, wow, Care Bear Kerry and Shazia the Wonder…Not. I like him, but he’s so nice and I’m not sure he’ll put his foot down and make Shazia, you know, design stuff.

But, even more entertaining (if you’re in a dark comedy mood) is Architect Girl Jennifer (who has never designed anything, except, you know, exteriors, and…was possibly a man in a former life. Just sayin.) and Pissy Robert, who is still Very Unhappy from working with Preston in the last challenge and has no patience for Never-Designed-Nuthin Jen. I’m not sure he has patience or the ego to work with anyone. Good times.

And, the icing? Whimsical Wisit and Horseman of the Apocalypse Nathan. Who immediately bond and design their royal bomb shelter palace. I know. Sweet, isn’t it?

Natalie (of the buzz harshing) wants glamour in her shelter, yo. She dreams up this whole scenario about who is bombing them and why (something about transformers, the Chinese, and Hiroshima…. Um. Nope. I got nothin.) Teresa is happy she has a partner who is so entertaining. Yes, Teresa, but don’t you, you know, want to win?

End of Night One

… Surprising (to me) is that Natalie/Teresa’s bunker, which is crammed full of stuff, actually looks really wonderful, with lots of depth to the room, and texture that really beckons me in. Not sure how well I’d like it for months on end, but it has a very oasis feel to it. Much like by me.

Eddie/Jennifer is far more minimialistic, and while I like it, especially the tree painted on the wall, I think I’d go all sanitarium after a short while. (And note to the producers: We get it. Her husband is Rick Schroeder. Stop making her mention it while talking about how she wants to build her own name. LET. HER.)

Jennifer/Robert…well, they look like they just got started and it’s just junk piled up and white walls and, Jen is understandably concerned that Robert has his own vision which we’re not sure he’s actually shared with Jennifer, and she’s all “the rules say it has to be cohesive” and he’s all “that doesn’t mean matchy matchy” and I’m all, “Yeah, but it does mean you have to WORK WITH SOMEONE, ROBERT” but he blithely continues despite my yelling. I’m sure they’ll Make It Work, but….wait, no I’m not.

Wisit/Nathan are behind as well, but I like the ceiling draping…so far.

Kerry/Shazia…see initial description of team dynamics. Rinse, lather, repeat. Poor Kerry.

Preston/Ondine opt to bring personal items into the bunker to make it look as if they literally moved in. We didn’t get to see Day One of their bunker, so that makes me think either top two or bottom two for them.

Finale Day….

Mentor Todd makes his rounds.

I’m happy to see Eddie/Andrea’s space look a lot more homey now with the addition of more accents. I like it much, much better. Todd - thumbs up.

Jennifer/Robert….not much improved and Todd immediately calls them out on “sad dorm room” diversity, which, uh, yeah. Todd - thumbs down.

Shazia/Care Bear - Todd likes, but we see very little.

Ondine/Preston - Todd’s liking but from what little I can see, it looks really clinical and cold. Very hospital shelter. With designer furnishings. Sorry, guys. I like you. But mmm. No.

Nathan/Wisit - he’s liking, but again we see little and what we do see looks terribly unfinished.

Natalie/Teresa’s - still my fave (I know! Though Eddie/Andrea’s now is a very close second, maybe tied as I keep seeing it updated…) and Todd likey likey’s too, but tells them to edit, which, yes, there is a lot of stuff in there. I agree. Still, me likey. I’d give it top two.

Okay, let’s see the final rooms and how much my mind changes when they actually show us the whole space for the first time….

The judges go into each space and YES folks, Wearstler is back with the crazy hair n’ hats. Worth the price of admission for that alone. I wish she was my Crazy Aunt Kelli.

First up…Care Bear and Shaz. Looks inexpensive and very all purpose room. It does look open and airy, as they hoped, but it’s too family rec room for me.

Nathan/Wisit is next. I like it better than the last one. Still, it’s too minimal and pale pinky for me. Very attic bedroom. In my aunt’s house. Crossing fingers things improve as we move to the next one.

It’s Natalie/Teresa and it’s more lime-y looking this go around for me, and still cluttered. That first shot, way back on Day One, was still the best look. I’m not as enthused, which harshes my mellow, but it’s still my fave thus far. I love the depth and textures. It appeals on a more sensory level to me than the other colder decor rooms. And yes, Natalie, you could chillax in there. (Sigh.) Still, though I think Eddie/Andrea might edge them out with me, I am impressed.

Robert/Jenn - still too Diverse Dorm, and Jen does throw him under the bus, but I’m completely okay with that. He’s an ass. (Why mince words.)

Eddie/Andrea are next, and yeah, definitely my other top two. I really like the space. Again, it’s warm, inviting, and has sensory-appeal. You need that kind of depth and texture if you’re going to be stuck in an otherwise sensory deprived location. It’s what I don’t like about the cool, airy, open, minimal look. In the end, that’s too cold. I want to be embraced. This one does that. However, to be perfectly honest, I’d be chillaxing with Natalie worrying about the Chinese transformers…. I know!

Preston/Ondine bring up the rear, and it’s less clinical, but the above still applies, and their space comes up lacking there. I liked their design aesthetic better than the other “cold” rooms, though. The ceiling cover is way too busy, but otherwise, there is a blend of the serene and the warm. Just not enough for me. I think they confuse serene, spa, airy, calm with cold, blue, silver, minimal. I think warm colors, rich textures are far more inviting, and, hence, serenity inducing, especially long term, than such cold colors could ever be.

Bottom two for me - Jenn/Robert, easily. And Kerry/Shazia. Sorry, Care Bear. But no worries - it’s gonna be Jenn or Robert. I’m not a Jen fan, but Bobby needs to fly.

Top Two - Natalie/Teresa and Eddie/Andrea. I’d be happy with either team winning.

What do the judges think?

Thumbs up

= Nathan/Wisit, who ranked 4th out of 6 for me were Top 2 for them. Go figure.

Thumbs up w/ enthusiasm

= Eddie/Andrea. Yay! Who go on to win and I’m good with that.

Thumbs middle

= Teresa/Natalie, (the verdict was love but too over accessorized) they were third

Thumbs middle

= Care Bear/Shazia, okay but too boring. (Way, but they were 5th for me, 4th here.)

Thumbs down

= Preston/Ondine, who were 3 for me and bottom 2 for them. Hunh. Too sporadic and dormy they say. So the flip was them and Nathan/Wisit, but otherwise we were pretty much on track.

Thumbs down

= Robert/Jenn. Total buzzkill was the verdict. Uh, yeah. No surprises here. Total agreement.

Who goes? Should have been Robert, but they weren’t privvy to his pissy ways, so Jen goes. Which, she was out shortly anyway. So, okay. Except Robert nodding in approval as they named her, all I’m so much better than you. But then, THEN! HA HA! They say he was also to blame, and whoomp, there it is. He’s out, too. Very. Satisfying. Thank you judges for letting him have his smug moment, so it was all the more gratifying to boot him out. Buh Bye, Bobby. (And you know he’d hate being called Bobby. Bobby, Bobby, Bobby.)

Next week? Yay, hybrid show crossover! Woo hoo! Former Project Runway contestants (I spot Sweet Pea, Andrae (!!!) and Santino…there are five total) are the clients for this challenge. Can’t wait. Bring the Pop Design back, too!

Okay, so on the Penultimate Big Brother (Sunday’s upcoming rehash doesn’t count) we get the HoH competition and the winner booting out the number three, to give us our final two. Dan wins Part 1 of the challenge while spending a lot of time being faux-mad at Memphis for tossing Keesha, to throw Jerry off track. Part two, which is mental/speed oriented, goes to Memphis. And producers, we could do without ever, EVER, seeing Jerry in his tighty-whities again. Keesha goes to the jury house to be with the Mean Girls & Renny. And you can pick a Fave Juror to win 25K. Wow. Renny or Keesh. I wouldn’t give the others 25 cents. Final HoH battle between Dan and Memphis - doesn’t matter who wins, they will go to the finals. But xxx wins. Jerry is out. Renegades make it to the end, but Dan is totally the most deserving winner. We’ll see next Tuesday!

Now, finally, FINALLY, the winner of this week’s SHaQ Attack contest. I asked you to name two heroes with accents (other than Scots) and almost all of you came up with Brit Dominic Colbourne, (Bad Boys, On Board), and Aussie Devin Archer (The Royal Hunter.) There were others, but these two definitely qualify. Only one can win, and that Blog Babe is? Susan C!! Woo hoo, Susan!!

Tune in Monday for another scavenger hunt contest and more MAC. Only one more week and our shows are back, our shows are back! Have a great weekend!

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