|
||||||||
| Written By Rick
Ellis, Friday, March 14th, 2008 Q&A: Kim Myles If you watched HGTV for any amount of time, you've already realized that it's not easy finding someone who is both a talented designer and a solid television personality. For many potential TV stars, the temptation is to over-respond in every scene. Each design challenge is difficult, every situation is stressful. The jokes are funnier, the clients are stranger, every single scene of the design show is an exercise in overcompensation. I won't embarrass anyone in particular with this criticism, but this certainly was one of the things that worried me as I approached the first episode of the new HGTV series "Myles Of Style." While I really wanted it to be good, there were a lot of potential problems in the making. The star of the show is Kim Myles, the winner of "HGTV Design Star 2," and despite her success with that show, there was no guarantee she would be worth watching week after week. And at the end of the day, the premise of "Myles Of Style" is not that much different from a half dozen other current HGTV shows. For the series to work, audiences would have to really connect with the new host. The good news is that--at least from what I judge with episode one--"Myles Of Style" has the potential to be the hottest new show on HGTV. The series is distinctive and charming, and host Myles brings a fresh new spin to her role as host and designer. In the premiere episode, Myles takes on the challenge of bringing a new look to a room that is both long and somewhat oddly shaped. It has an unusual large, curved ceiling, and a fireplace that isn't exactly a great focal point for the room. The details of the episode don't matter much. As you might expect, Myles shakes up the look of the room, and it's the type of look you would expect to see from her, if you watched any of her "Design Star" experiences. But what ultimately makes the show work is Myles, who comes across on camera as self-assured and much more confident than you might expect from someone who's starring in her first TV series. Part of that comfort might be due to her acting training, but it's also a reflection of her overall confidence about her abilities. She spent years working on her own house, changing things up every few months as an experiment. As a result, I think she feels more connected to the challenges faced by many homeowners than many designers. And that connection definitely comes across to the viewers. There still a few awkward points in the show. Producers still haven't found the right mix between Myles and her primary carpenter. And for all of her charm, there are still times when Myles seems to be trying a bit too hard to be personable. But those slight qualms aren't enough to really matter. "Myles Of Style" is a great addition to the HGTV lineup, and it deserves its sneak preview timeslot directly following the HGTV Dream House giveaway on Sunday. "Myles Of Style" premieres on Sunday, March 16th, 2008. |
||||||||
