Bravo has announced that Todd Oldham will host Top Design, the network's new Project Runway and Top Chef-like interior design reality competition series.
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Originally a New York fashion designer, Oldham has previously hosted "Todd Time" on MTV's House of Style and Hand Made Modern, a series of HGTV specials. Todd's career has since evolved to include numerous areas of design, including his own line of dorm room furnishings for Target and a line of furniture and accessories for La-Z-Boy.
Similar to Top Chef, Top Design -- previously titled Top Designer and originally announced as Top Decorator -- will also feature a three member judging panel. Interior designer Jonathan Adler will serve as the panel's lead judge, with Elle Decor magazine Editor in Chief Margaret Russell and interior designer Kelly Wearstler serving as the other two members of the panel.
"Todd Oldham is a perfect fit as host for Bravo's newest show about creativity and competition," Bravo president Lauren Zalaznick stated in the network's announcement. "And to be able to call these three industry-leading design professionals our series judges provides the highest level of credibility to this new series."
Similar to Project Runway and Top Chef, the ten-episode Top Design will feature twelve aspiring interior designers competing in weekly challenges. The winner will receive "a spot in one of New York's finest designer showcases" and an undisclosed cash prize intended to help them start up their own interior design firm.
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Unlike Project Runway and Top Chef reality series, Top Designer will not be produced by Project Runway's producers. Instead, Top Designer will be produced by Stone & Company Entertainment, the folks responsible Oxygen's Ivana Young Man and American Dream Derby. Prior to founding Stone & Company, Scott A. Stone also co-founded of Stone Stanley Entertainment, where he created and produced numerous reality projects including ABC's The Mole, The WB's Popstars, and Spike TV's The Joe Schmo Show.
Production of the new HGTV Design Star-like Bravo series is expected to begin later this month in Los Angeles, with Top Design scheduled to premiere sometime in early 2007. "This highly anticipated new series puts the spotlight on interior design," Bravo executive Frances Berwick stated. "Los Angeles is an exciting and colorful backdrop that will give our competing interior designers the chance to utilize all the city has to offer, while giving viewers a peek inside their creative and challenging world."
About The Author: Steven Rogers