skai wrote:

Well, if Carisa droped a dog, then her fat a*s needs to go ASAP. And she can take her diet cokes with her!

posted on March 29, 2007 at 1:43 AM

kathy wrote:

This is the best blog on the site. It cracks me up because it's all about the backstage drama and real stuff, with no hi-falutin' designer overtones. Loved the bit about Carissa and the puppy.

posted on March 29, 2007 at 5:55 AM

Shaka wrote:

Before this episode I have found your blogs well thought out, humurous and inciteful. However, this blog you seem like George Bush, completely out of touch.

Let me clue you in on how your blog reads tonight. You seem to be bashing Goil. You do know everyone tunes in [ after michael left ] to see what Goil is going to do next. And, while the other contestants may have dismissed him, no one cared what they designed. Goil has a huge fan base ... yeah don't think there's a Carissa fan club [ unless hate is a club ], everyone hates Andrea's hair [ and her room was completely ... insert incredulous explitive here ] and Matt well ... the jury is out as to if he's realy married to a woman and if the kid came form his genes [ oh and he's boring ].

Goil could scream bloody murder and people would laugh and wait to see how his room looked. He could sob crocodile tears ... and people would cry with him and wonder how his room would look. As far as the show was concerned he was the second coming of Ghandi. And, girls [ and apparently some guys too ] saw him as a bit of a sex symbol. Unlike stretch pants Carisa; Bad hair Andrea; and I-need-braces-Matt.

What added insult to injury is they didn't throw out Andrea. And Matt seriously needs to what Color Splash on HGTV, and Get Color on HGTV.

I seriously came to read your blog hoping you'd be bashing the judges for poor judgement, bad taste, and bad fashion to boot.

I guess you're not immune to the politics of your job and can't give your true opinion.

Oh well.

Well guess there's nothing else to do here. Not gonna watch this show any more. Have fun.

posted on March 29, 2007 at 6:02 AM

JM wrote:

I watched all of this week's episode, and didn't realize how annoying Carisa had become. The fact that she drops puppies really makes me want to punch her in the mouth, even moreso than her fork-scraping-a-dinner-plate voice does (because nails-on-a-chalkboard has also hopped the hammerhead). I still have a ridiculous and unexplainable crush on Andrea, but in a "wish she had been my seventh grade art teacher" kind of way. I couldn't understand half of what Goil was saying last night. Has Matt already been told that he's the winner?

Must go, think I have crazy mouth.

posted on March 29, 2007 at 9:15 AM

Shoperella wrote:

it must have been cold there in the shadows...

posted on March 29, 2007 at 9:21 AM

sarah miller wrote:

Totally agree with your great recap, Andy. It looked like editing was trying to ease us into Goil's departure. It did look like he was in a slow-burn meltdown, but then, you know what editing can do...

Matt's room was truly a knock out. I don't know how the weird proportions on the faux wainscoting worked out...it did really look like a nursery. What did (and didn't) surprise me was the viewer voting, thinking Matt's room was the best (no surprise) and the other three were in a dead tie for second, third and "see ya later decorator." I do think that Goil got a bit gypped, as "fire" was perhaps a bit more difficult than the others.

Show is getting better with fewer contestants--love your blog!

posted on March 29, 2007 at 10:02 AM

Susan wrote:

OK, you're the best Top Design blog. I love your honesty and behind the scenes insight. Losing will be good for Carisa's character, she does seem to suffer from high self esteem, as Jonathan Adler said in his blog. And pet shops are bad because they tend to purchase their puppies from what's called a "puppy mill" where the breeding animals are unloved and untouched and typically live in extremely small unsanitary spaces. Sad.

posted on March 29, 2007 at 10:02 AM

sarah miller wrote:

Why did I call you Andy? Dammit, you look like an Andy. Sorry, I am obviously an idiot.

posted on March 29, 2007 at 10:06 AM

anne wrote:

Well, I'm totally on Team Assistant now.
I had to record the episode last night, haven't watched it yet, but here I am reading the blog.
:-)

posted on March 29, 2007 at 11:29 AM

sal mineo wrote:

ryan, michael, and goil: that would've been MY dream finale.

i have no reason to continue (watching this show).

goodbye.

posted on March 29, 2007 at 1:10 PM

PBJ wrote:

Who is this clown? And I am not just talking about his picture. You would think that if the boy lives in LA, he could at least meet one decent stylist. I digress.

I do have to say the overall theme of the show is disappointing. It is more a decorating show and less of a design show. The judges (and I assume producers due to the disclaimer at the end of each episode) seem to want "pretty rooms". They care very little if not at all about concepts or process or even DESIGNING a space. I do think (gay not gay) Matt had a "pretty room” but it had little or nothing to do with water. It could have easily been air or any other concept. Carisa's room again didn't do too much for me and it could have easily been a display at Ikea. I am surprised she didn’t eat that puppy she dropped. Andrea's room had way too much going on and nothing holding it together. She also needs a stylist. I do think Goil's room could have been better, but come on, he had fire. Goil to his credit has much more of a philosophical and sophisticated approach to design and to the projects on the show. Most of it is lost on mainstream America and even the judges. I do truly believe the drama we witnessed is carefully edited.

I may continue to watch the show, but I am getting a bit bored with how to decorate a box with tens of thousands of dollars, which at times seems a bit excessive. Why don’t they go downtown and decorate some section 8 housing. That would be a challenge.

posted on March 29, 2007 at 1:30 PM

elizabeth wrote:

dear assistant,
you are a disgusting and self-absorbed idiot. i quote:

'Nevertheless, we were all deeply concerned about Ed's health. I mean, can you imagine the headlines? A swiveling New York Post: "SEE YA LATER! Top Design Carp Loses Thumb." '

are you for real? you obviously do NOT care about the carpenters or the contestants (see any number of gratuitous slams in your blog) or quality desaign or anything ,really, except hearing or reading your own words.

dear bravo executives,
i have tuned in each week to the show, popped into the blogs and have been a fan of other shows you have presented. but i can only assume that this 'assistant' individual who you dain to feature on your website is a fair represntation of how you treat the people you work with. i will no longer watch this or any of your shows. in fact, i am removing you from my cable package.

posted on March 29, 2007 at 3:19 PM

kimber palmer wrote:

I am a late-comer to the blogs. I have been watching and agonizing over Andrea's hair and I am so glad to learn I am not the only one who HATES looking at it. The funny thing is that I thought-- well maybe she did it in a hurry and doesn't realize it's so awful, but then they had video of her FIXING it deliberately that way. Wow. Anyway-- I saw Andrea on a re-run of HGTV's Designer Challenge the other day-- maybe others did too. I haven't read all the blogs. But she won that one, too, although I have to say I didn't like it, but the homeowners did, so that's what's important.

posted on March 29, 2007 at 4:23 PM

Tilly wrote:

Shaka doesn't know how to spellll! Shaka doesn't know how to spelll!!! "Inciteful" may have been clever if it weren't so obviously an error. lalalaaaaa pffffttt

posted on March 29, 2007 at 4:26 PM

Leigh wrote:

You're the best writer of the bunch! Thanks for taking the time to put your thoughts down. Frankly, it's sometimes far more entertaining that the actual show!

posted on March 29, 2007 at 5:43 PM

joeymichaels wrote:

I've said it before and I'll probably end up saying it again.

The judges agreed that Andrea's design was boring and that she hadn't really succeeded in taking their notes to change things. They also agreed that Goil's room, while not ideal, was very creative and that he'd been taking their notes well.

The message I got was "dull and unwilling to learn is better in the design world than creative and willing to learn."

Help me understand this. Why on Earth would the judges want to keep a designer whose work they find dreary in a contest instead of a designer whose work they find exciting? It makes no sense to me.

posted on March 29, 2007 at 11:01 PM

Liz wrote:

I love your blog for the only reason that you tell it like it is. I'm very happy that Matt won because I understood his ideas about water. I understand it more as I rewatch the episode (as Bravo airs it many times as needed til Wednesday) and I wish I could just go and live in that space.

Okay, enough about Matt. I could lavish out love for him for hours and hours. I really hope that he does win, because he does have very good design ideas.

Carpenter jokes: Ha! You should send one of them into Conan or Leno and see if they'll use it. Also, you might get money out of it. I like the idea and I really did laugh at it. Please keep up with the jokes, as I love them.

As for Carisa, she needs to leave. I hate hate hate her whining! Plus, last week for blaming her carpenter? Unacceptable. I just want to punt her for hurting a puppy! From the mall or not, a puppy will have trust issues and an incident like that could make the dog snap at a later time in life with it's owners. That's just sad and I'm glad to hear the dog is alright. Did the owner send the puppy bills to Carisa to make sure the horror she did to the puppy didn't do lasting damage? I would have. She's just a stupid bint.

My final two would be Matt and Andrea for the only reason that it would be a true toe to toe design match. I hope that happens, even though next week has me on pins and needles!

posted on March 30, 2007 at 4:48 AM

Terry wrote:

You are the bomb. I love you blog. Has anyone told you that you resemble Ugly Betty's former boyfriend Walter?

Goil drove me nuts the last few episodes, "I felt like Jan Brady, I do not want to be Jan Brady," "You are the first person I wanted to work with, and it was terrible, or something like that." "I am a bowl of noodles kind of guy," and the opposite of Sally Fields, "You really don't like me, you really don't like me."

posted on March 30, 2007 at 4:58 AM

trixie wrote:

I find your snarky gossip about people on the show to be one of the things that sucks the life out of it, at least this post of yours might do some good if it will get that puppy some better care.
Almost all puppies have to be dewormed, the problem with puppies from the mall is that they come from puppy mills and supporting this industry is supporting the worst form of animal cruelty.
Also, so-called "designer breeds" like like puggles are a marketing hoax (see the New York Times Magazine cover story from a couple of months ago). Mixed breeds are wonderful dogs -- but get one from the pound and save a dog's life rather than supporting an industry that kills.
Passing around the puppy suspended in air is terrifying for the poor creature -- and puppies are squirmy so I'd guess Carisa wasn't the first -- and won't be the last -- to drop it. Let it be on the ground where it wants to be and get down and play with the puppy on its own level where it feels safe.
That sounds like the kind of situation where the dog ends up at the pound because the owner didn't realize what they were doing when they purchased the dog. I hope that isn't true but the owner sounds like they need to get better informed and more responsible and fast.
Yeah. People do get all uber-judgey when it comes to things like taking care of a living creature. Some of us are funny about stuff like that.

posted on March 30, 2007 at 1:12 PM

juni wrote:

Funny about Matt's gravely voice--I thought the sound on my TV was malfunctioning. When he speaks, he generates natural static. I am not feeling Andrea--too restrained and not enough of the "Wow' factor. Sorry to see Goil go--I liked his products. Carissa is bossy and it was funny to read about her demands for Diet Coke.

posted on March 30, 2007 at 4:32 PM

heynow wrote:

my god, my god...not Goil.

posted on March 30, 2007 at 7:41 PM

John wrote:

Carisa Perez-Fuentes:

-Interior Decorator
-PETA spokesperson
-Jersey Girl
-Life Coach

posted on April 2, 2007 at 10:15 AM

LISN wrote:

Hello Mr. Assistant!

Do you have a name that you wish to divulge to the blogging public? Your comments are a wonderful parody of a meaningful message! The only thing that matches its meritlessness, is its length. Thanks so much for taking up space and wasting my time. btw: you definitely need a better mug shot that enhances your appearance...

posted on April 3, 2007 at 8:10 AM

sarah wrote:

I'm DYING right now. You're blog is so funny....

posted on April 3, 2007 at 9:19 PM

Patricia wrote:

Goil was my favorite on all the episodes. He's quirky, nice, pretty, funny, et cetera, et cetera. I feel Matt will be the winner except he needs to come out of his comfort zone and try something new. I already knew Carissa was a whining b*&#@ and Michael seemed to be the only one who could stand up to her and push her buttons but that doesn't mean I don't like her...haha. Andrea seems very talented but she needs to work on her hair. Maybe she should be a hair model on Shear Genius which I am definitely watching after this. I'd like to know what Goil is up to now and in the future...

posted on April 3, 2007 at 11:11 PM

Paul wrote:

You're such a racist.

posted on April 4, 2007 at 12:51 AM

JM wrote:

People, if he had a better mug shot, he wouldn't be The Assistant. And if this blog sucks the life out of the show for you, then not reading this blog anymore is probably a good idea. Even though you know you will.

And for what it's worth, there's nothing inherently wrong with lifting a puppy off of the ground. It's when you treat the animal with the same casual disdain that you treat people and objects in everyday life because that's the kind of person you (in general) really are that bad things can happen.

posted on April 4, 2007 at 8:25 AM

michael wrote:

I love Carisa. I have a crush on her. It's hard to blame her for the puppy thing as the owner should've kept it like a baby, in hand at all tiimes.

The 'stigma' with mall puppies is not their health, but that they are bred by unreputable breeders, like you see in those awful documentaries about hundreds of dogs beaten and kept in crap filled cages. The more expensive dogs are bred by people who only give out dogs to people who they PERSONALLY feel would be able to adopt one of their puppies.

Back to the show, it was sad to see Goil go, but he and Andrea (very angry hidden underneath) needed to go. I think the showdown between matt and carisa makes sense.

posted on April 6, 2007 at 8:46 PM

edward b. wrote:

I agree Goil needed to go. He was really annoying and his fire room required an arsonist. All that energy he wasted to create a seventies disco drug den. I like this show but if there's a Season Two, they need to stop decorating boxes and do some 'design' for real spaces. It is called TOP DESIGN not AMERICAN DECORATOR isn't it???

posted on April 6, 2007 at 11:52 PM

steve wrote:

but so many of us love goil.
he's lovable
he's talented
he would get stressed out
so?
that's what makes the show interesting
goil is a good soul
i'm waiting for the
goil show
also lets not forget about goils
product placement at the end
of the fire segment -
the air freshener stuff -
the carpenter said
goil how many do we need?
the whole box the whole box!
even on his last segment
this nice guy comes through
for top design -
because goil has a certain magic
with a little bit of midwestern heart
thrown in -
i predict we will see more of goil on bravo -
that makes me happy

posted on April 8, 2007 at 6:13 AM

nad wrote:

i'd rather watch reruns of project runway. top design is totally bottom drawer.

posted on April 8, 2007 at 2:51 PM

amanda wrote:

i loved carisa's finale bed and i was wondering how it was made/built.

posted on April 11, 2007 at 11:28 PM