Watching for Stars

Last night, I watched two shows intended to find stars. They also illustrate the differences between judge and fan decided contests.

"Nashville Star" on NBC and "Design Star" on HGTV have some things in common. There is one producer, Sally Ann Salsano, who is associated with both shows. Both take place in Nashville this year and in this week's episode of "Design Star" the contestants worked in teams to create a suite at the Gaylord Opryland Resort. This is also where "Nashville Star" and CMT's "Can You Duet" are based.

One other thing both contests involve is the need for personality. Mentors on "Nashville Star" give their teams hints on how to win the crowd over. Last night, my favorite, Gabe Garcia, took Jewel's suggestions to heart and connected with the audience more than he had in the past. The contestants on last night's "Design Star" had to tape introductions to the evening's design projects. Again, they had to sell themselves to the audience.

There are as many differences as similarities, though. On "Nashville Star" the judges serve as mentors for their team of singers. The judges critique performances, but the selection of who goes on is left to the viewers. On "Design Star" the judges just judge. Contestants are not mentored, other than tips from the judges when their work is reviewed before the panel decides who to send home.

"Nashville Star" awards a recording contract to the winner. (And, this year, a chance to perform at the Olympics.) The "Design Star" winner will have their own show on HGTV. There are no guarantees their show will be renewed, just as winning "Nashville Star" doesn't guarantee a successful music career. The winners of the first two seasons of "Design Star" still have their shows going strong, though.

Though the fates of the "Nashville Star" winners have been more varied, there is a lot greater chance that non-winners will also have music careers. There is less chance that a "Design Star" loser will find a tv career. One thing is sure, though. Despite the differences in how winners are chosen, there is a guarantee that on each show, a star will be found.