Being an avid crafter I was actually looking forward to watching Craft Wars, a new TLC show hosted by Tori Spelling. But, after the first episode aired on June 26th I had my doubts. I decided to give it another try with this past week's episode, but, my initial sentiments hold true... It's boring. Tori is a self-professed crafter so I was hoping that she would show a little more enthusiasm during the show. I think maybe she's trying too hard to be serious since it is a competition but it would be much better if she were her usual bubbly self as she is on her Oxygen show "Home Sweet Hollywood."
The concept is as follows... Three crafters go head-to-head in a round one challenge - the Pop Craft Challenge - where three experts (Stephen Brown, Erica Domesek and Jo Pearson) decide who will be eliminated from the competition and not move on to the second round - the Master Craft Challenge. Whoever wins the Master Craft Challenge will be awarded $10,000. Doesn't this concept sound awfully familiar? I feel like its being used in every competition show nowadays. Chopped & Cupcake Wars on Food Network come to mind.
Tori's tag line for the show is, "Fire up your glue guns," but it seems that every time one of the contestants uses their glue guns to hold their projects together they are being chastised by the judges for not creating something that's durable. Personally when I think of crafting I think of simple projects created by using things you can buy at your local craft store... hence Michael's being a sponsor of the show. But, the projects that are being created during the second round of competition are not your typical craft. In the first week the contestants needed to create a playhouse using leftover school supplies and in this week's episode the two finalists had to create patio furniture using beach items. Granted the ideas are great, but, I just think it's a little over the top for your typical crafter.
The contestants thus far have run the gamut from an art teacher, to a DIY decorator to a welder. Maybe part of the problem thus far has been that each of the contestants haven't been on a level playing field in terms of their expertise. While this should make for an interesting show in terms of people's different backgrounds it only goes to show the inadequacy of some of the contestants.
So, maybe I was expecting a little more from the show or maybe I need to expand my idea of what crafting is either way I will more than likely continue to tune in if not for nothing but background noise and maybe I'll pick up an idea or two along the way.
