Well, we saw. Suddenly "Top Design" got a good review for an episode that frankly was not very interesting. Of course, they had to snark about Kelly Wearstler latest hair-and-fashion cry for a 48 hour stay under clinical observation. But really, who could avoid it? What's next week? Baby Jane ringlets coupled with a tube top and skort? Bride of Frankenstein 'do with pasties and a bustle? Culottes, peasant top and a pink Afro?

Really, isn't there some point where a contestant is just going to tell this woman that when she looks like one of the ghouls in "Carnival of Souls" (albeit tanned) that maybe her design ideas are kindsa suspect?

Naaaaah!

Well, "Work Out" is back, so that's something...

Whither Bravo?

It has been announced that one of my favorite websites, Television Without Pity has been acquired by Bravo. Whether this will cause TWoP to suddenly decide that Top Design is suddenly not sliding into an unwatchable snooze, we'll just have to see. But the picture of the Bravo Pres says more "Diss my shows and I will eat your dog" than it does "Welcome to the Family"

Is it me, or do these shows become more and more silly as time goes on? Top Design so far is the worst: you thought those chefs were megalomaniacs? Take a gander at some of the venal pinheads on this show. Goil has been vaguely human, and even he is skating close to the edge. Judges? Oy. Do they make their judgements using tea leaves or just rely on a Magic 8 Ball?

Worse yet, Bravo seems to think that once they have one of these series, they must repeat it endlessly: I never bother to stay up and watch the first showing of anything on that network. I know that merely channel surfing I will be seeing Goil a'weeping away for like the next three months. Perhaps years if there is a sophmore season.

Of course, Bravo knows a good thing when they see it. They seize the opprortunity. What's sad is that they not only seize it, they strangle it, truss it up, cook it and force you to eat the leftovers. Forrever. Next up is something called Shear Genius, which seems like a less interesting mix of the usual formula of Top Whatever and Oxygens surprisingly watchable and peppy Tease. This looks interesting only because A) Jaclyn Smith has made a deal with the devil (I've seen her at my local Coffee Bean and she looks 35 tops) and B) they did not involve either unbearbly grating Jonathon Antin or the obnoxious dude he fired in the first season of his show.

I like Bravo, I really do. I've watched it since it only had reruns and James Lipton. I seriously want to marry Tim Gunn, or failing that have him adopt me, a la "Auntie Mame". but really guys, stop it. Before there's "Top Poodle Groomer" or "Top Grocery Bagger"

Bravo's newest show is "Top Designer". I am so far not being sucked in as much as with Top Chef, but that still might happen. Top likes? Goil, who is as cute as a button. Top dislikes? Hate to say it, but Todd Oldham's spray-tan and his line readings: his interactions with people are fine, but his reading of the scripted lines is oddly sing-song.

Oh, and I am sorry but Kelly Wearstler can no longer judge anybody. Not with that hellish crimped 'do she showed up in for episode four. Kelly, sweetie, Heart lost that look in the 80's, k?