Shear Genius

"This was your final cut" is a far better bon-voyage catch phrase than the one used on Top Design, no doubt, but after having seen the first two episodes of Shear Genius, I don't think the show itself is that much better. In fact, I think Top Design might be a superior show, over all, in the long run. I'm only making this comparison - and if you are a reader of my reviews here at the site, you will see I rarely do this - because this show was created to take the place of Top Design once their season was over last week.

It seems everything I had imagined would be cool about Shear Genius isn't, beginning with the choice of Jaclyn Smith as the host. She's beautiful, sure, but her voice is really annoying and her attitude towards her fellow "judges" and the contestants seems to be vaguely condescending. Then there's the show's concept, which, for all intensive purposes, is a good one: instead of making clothes, preparing food or designing rooms, the contestants do hair. Great idea. But the first 2 episodes weren't really fun, and in my opinion, both episodes ended with the wrong person being eliminated. There's an over all off-putting tone to the show, as well - everyone seems to be taking it just a tad too seriously or something; it's not very joyful or even creative, the atmosphere. I would say at this point they have a long way to go if they expect to be back for a second season.

4/25 ~Just watched the third episode, and it looks like everyone's lightened up a little bit, especially Jaclyn, who was smiling more and her tone wasn't as haughty throughout the show, which made a huge difference. I hope it continues this way.

5/10 ~ So it is continuing in a good way - up'd it to a 5, in fact.

5/31 ~ The finale was last night, and it was a really decent show. Vidal Sassoon was the guest judge, the best one the entire season. He came off wonderfully - very caring and supportive, and of course his suggestions and comments were spot on. I think the right person won, too - Anthony, who has the most experience and has always done a great job, took home the title of Shear Genius and the one hundred grand. And Smith, as the host, has gotten more and more relaxed each week, much better than when the show first began. I'm actually hoping it's renewed.

The idea behind "Shear Genius" isn't bad at all, for it is noble to have hair stylists compete against each other to be the best. What disappoints me about this program is that you've seen the format before many times...over..and over...and over again. By now, it's very boring. Which makes THIS show - very boring.

You do want to watch this for the budding hair stylists and their creative creations that are judged by those in the field, and also let me add, by those who's hair is important to what they do.

For example, many people are voicing views that Jacklyn Smith is not the appropriate host for this - maybe so - but again -- the IDEA behind choosing someone like Jacklyn Smith is what could make this show pop. She and her fellow "Charlies Angels" cast members in the 70's had the most innovative and creative hairstyles of that day and this trend led many a woman to go into their salon and "demand" that style. That is, ahem, 'shear genius'. It's not just Jacklyn, but there are many actresses before her and after her, who's hair put focus on many hairstylists careers. so the idea of her as host, isn't a bad one.

But again, the idea. On screen, it doesn't work because of the cookie cutter reality show format makes it boring of it all. This show needs to "shake it up" a bit to be more interesting and take it out of that reality show cookie cutter format. This is hair - and hair IS fashion and can set trends. Which is why I am disappointed in how this show is being shown.

It would be nice if they did something unique...such as... pick six stylists that they would visit each week, in their own backyards. How about..getting stylists from all over the world?? Give them each the same challenge -- but none of them can see what the other HAD done and what it takes to get it done. Let the stylists work where they ARE most comfortable with their signature work - instead of this cattle call - in studio - bull-crap. And, at the end of each show, the judges would review these stylist in action, critique it and via internet conference let each them know their thoughts and why and choose the rest to go on. At the shows' finale, take the last two, bring them in for a live 2 hour creative show down of 'gigantic proportions', invite the TOP 2 stylists and TOP 2 fashion auteurs to give their opinions on the work, and let the home viewers choose the winner.

And one more thing that I found interesting about this show - what type of stylist is this for -- the unknown stylist trying to break in? Any stylist? Be more clear. Recently I was watching an episode where a "professional-award winning" stylist was placed in the group who had NO business being there with the other stylists. And it's just my point of view, they "punished" him for being there. They should be punished for adding him in. He had NO business being thereat all. That space should have been given to another amateur. This seems to be a show for amateurs who WANT to make it -- not for those who HAD. It wasn't fair to any of the stylists all around.

A good idea that needs a 'fresh cut', innovative idea and out of the box thinking to make it stand out amongst the rest of the reality show pack.