Parents' Guide to

Ellen's Next Great Designer

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 11+

Fun furniture design contest has talent, swearing.

TV Max Reality TV 2021
Ellen's Next Great Designer Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

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age 12+

Based on 1 parent review

kska
kska Adult
May 14, 2021
age 12+

Whine, Whine and more Whine

Like most American "reality" shows, the contestants complain, whine, whine, whine and most of them do not even build their own furniture - a builder does. Watch England's Great Pottery Throwdown - HBOmax. Creative and the contestants do their own work and absolutely no whining - very positive role models unlike American whine-fest "reality" shows.
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

In ELLEN'S NEXT GREAT DESIGNER, seven of the United States' top up-and-coming furniture designers compete to create unique pieces in hopes of winning a $100,000 prize. From Los Angeles, Ellen DeGeneres sends the contestants furniture design-and-build challenges and materials to be used in each project. With a helper of their choosing, designers must complete the challenge within the specified timeframe in their home workshops. Host Scott Foley visits the designers at their workshops as they work. After each challenge, the contestants take their finished pieces to Los Angeles, where Foley and judges Fernando Mastrangelo and interior designer Brigette Romanek decide which ones make the cut and which ones are going to send the designer home. The winner gets the cash -- and the kudos.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (1):
Kids say: Not yet rated

This upbeat series showcases some of furniture design's up-and-coming talent, as well as the kind of unique, high-end furniture that you'd expect to see in galleries. Each challenge requires the designers to find inspiration from different sources, work with different materials, and tell stories with their designs. As they discuss their work, the designers also reveal how they go from a concept to creating an actual piece.

Throughout it all, DeGeneres makes remote appearances and pops up in the studio from time to time. But while she inserts some of her occasional trademark humor, she clearly takes the challenges -- and the designers' work -- seriously. Meanwhile, the judges are careful to offer honest, polite criticism, and they consistently note each contestant's talent. Ellen'' Next Great Designer is worth checking out for anyone interested in furniture or interior design.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about furniture design and designers. The contestants in Ellen's Next Great Designer come from different educational backgrounds and lived experiences. How does the furniture that they design and create represent who they are?

  • This show is unconventional because designers complete challenges in their hometowns and only come together for judging in Los Angeles. Why do you think it was set up this way? Is it possible that what audiences see is different from what actually happened during production?

  • How do the contestants demonstrate perseverance and teamwork? Why are those important character strengths?

TV Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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