EDC probably found out too late to re-shoot the end. Maybe it would have been better to just let it stay as was (with Tim winning) and make an announcement a week later. The reason I say this is because it was awkward for us the viewers and (I think) a bit embarassing for Katie the way her win was tagged on.

Carole, Yes, I am hoping that sometime we get clarification regarding that statement.

Folks....remember one of Tim's first design was the civil war field desk and he wasn't taken out then about duplication. Also the producers showed a piece early on to give the designers inspiration. What did Katie do? She made a piece with that design in mind. Katie, to me, may have some unique designs but not functional for the general public. Tim's pieces were truly beautiful and functional. Gaspar and Tim should have been the finalist. Katie should have been gone with the cow table. I believe they kept Katie because she brought animation to the show.

I don't watch the show and have no comment on the outcome.

BUT DID YOU GUYS SEE THE EXPANDING ROUND TABLE ON HIS WEBSITE?? Totally awesome (even if he didn't think up the idea.)

If you see the Simon Schact piece, Google it, it comes right up... Tim's final piece was a knock off. Not original, at all. The result is correct. His work was simply not original...

Louis - It's more about the way the show handled it. Awkard for the viewers who were left with a feeling of, "HUH???". And (I think) embarassing to Katie who was stuck in at the end. They should have reshot the ending and not show us the part where Tim wins - and then - oops - he doesn't. It was unfair to the viewers who've been following the competition.

BTW, the REAL winner here is Simon Schacht. Very few in the States had a clue who he was until now.

As
good a craftsman as Tim is, it's kind of weird that he didn't take that idea
(the stacked lumber) and make a more original piece. Maybe the pressure of 72
hours sent him into, "just get it done" mode.. He's probably kicking himself
now.

I actually watched every episode, and I'm not sure how it could've been done differently. Live, at that time, whenever that was, he won. Then, it was discovered that he copied someone. I think the only thing I would've wanted to see was his reaction, and comments. There is no doubt whatsoever to me that he copied the piece.

bo125, if the results were manipulated to make it more comfortable for the contestants and viewers wouldn't the whole idea of it being a competition be a farce? I think the producers did the right thing.

Look, the viewers were only manipulated by a cheater who simply didn't get caught on the spot. The producers did it right, the only way they could. He did it wrong.

Maddielee-
I see your point, but in my opinion, it wasn't good TV. As a finale, it left me
(and many viewers) hanging. If they're gonna include the "scandal" then let the
audience in on it, instead of dumping it on us as if it was just some minor
detail. In my view, Katie was also cheated out of a celebratory win. Then again, it might have been discovered too late to be more creative with the editing. The piece in question wasn't even that great. I can't understand why Tim wouldn't have just done his own thing or (REALLY) modify it to make it his own.

missed it! durn.

FWIW I was puzzled by Tim's campaign desk, as it was so obviously unoriginal also. Tim's expertise was craftsmanship, but this was a "design" challenge, ostensibly. From that perspective, Katie's ideas were more design-innovative.

ETA: it seems that the point of the last challenge was to do an "original" piece -- is that right? If so, obviously Tim failed that.

Just watched it again. Tim basically admits to copying. In limo ride he says to his carpenter.... "we gotta make it look like my design... Not some guy from another country" which is exactly what he'd did. He copied a European

I too saw the limo dialog, but at the time didn't realize what he meant. By what I saw of him in the other shows, it makes me wonder did he want to NOT win? He gave away wood he "had to have" in an earlier show to the other girl designer. Maybe he realized he already had a well established business so he wanted to help others get started. Just being on the show made much of the whole country see his work so he didn't need the win.

This is just totally a guess as I have no knowledge of the facts of what actually occurred, but I believe they knew all along that Tim's piece was not original. My belief is that they knew from his conversation in the limo that he needed to create a piece that looks like he did it and not like someone in another country. I think they let it happen and then the end result of the show was for drama. How could they NOT know what he was going to do when the camera taped the conversation in the limo? Was it all for play and they paid him extra, or what? I kept trying to figure out how they factored in enough time to include a second ending in the show, without knowing they would need those extra minutes. Did they go back and edit out those needed minutes from the original showing? It is my belief that the whole thing was planned like this for ratings. After all, I am sure they want another season. JMHO.

all her ideas came from inspiration does that mean she copied or was inspired by he copied changhe body of chair to lucite and wala a cheater right

600 × 354 - hacknmod.com

It's not a guess. The pieces are virtually identical. Comes from a guy from another country. And, Tim said... It's gotta look like mine, with my signature... Not some guy from another country "... Please. Yes, he's good, yes, he's handsome and charismatic.... But, yes... He copied that piece.... Outright.

I watched it and was left with a w-t-? feeling. I felt sorry for both Katie and Tim. Katie shouldn't have been there in the first place and the way they handled the ending was just strange. Katie won, but only by default. From taping and editing, the show had to know Tim got his idea from someone else and my guess is there were complaints or threats of a suit from the original designer so they had to make Tim the scapegoat. They could easily have shut him down early in the design.
My biggest disappointment was Ellen making silly jokes out of every situation......she could have handled her scenes much better!
Also, like others have mentioned, I hope they get better judges in the future.

If they do it again, they should have an equal number of male and female judges. If there are to be only 2 permanent judges, then one man and one woman, then alternate the guest judges every other week, so that it comes out even. The men are going to be looking for something entirely different that the women and visa-versa.

When it comes right down to it, you can't make an original piece of furniture. Everything has already been done. All you can hope to do is make subtle changes to an existing design.

To me, Tim is obviously wrong because the designs are way too similar. Besides, as someone already mentioned, Tim was already consciously thinking about the Simon Schacht design at the start of the challenge. He said it had to look like his work, not like someone from another country. That to me proved that he was cheating.

Am I the only one who's like "Hey this is Ellen's Design Challenge, but Ellen herself was on air for probably 10 minutes max for the entire series."???? I enjoyed the show but I'm like "this is more like <Insert Production Company Name>'s Design Challenge with a celebrity who signed up for their name to be used and to agree to be on air for a few minutes.

I found most of her appearances to be awkward, so I'm not sure I wanted to see any more of her than I did!

This was one big ad for Wayfare, a site I hate. Their annoying ads sing about low prices, but they are not low. I have a feeling that Ellen was so embarrassed by this show (and I'm sure it was HGTV's idea and not her's) that we won't see season 2. Thank goodness.

If there is a season two I won't watch it. I like Ellen, but when she came in and handed papers to the two girls and they both got to stay, I should have quit watching.

I think Wayfair came off looking bad. You'd see the winner's piece and the Wayfair's supposed similar pieces that looked like a piece of junk compared to the winner's piece.

I'm pretty sure I've seen a table with a slide-out shelf and stools before...so will Katie get disqualified now too? We don't know the details, so don't put Tim out publicly if you're not putting all the details out publically. Someone at HGTV didn't do their research. Disqualify THAT person - not Tim!

Come on, how can anyone not see the plagiarism? It's maddening to hear the people, like Katie, who didn't plagiarize get dragged through the dirt. As an artist, I would be ready to sue if my piece was copied like that. They had to disqualify him.

Seekingideas2, you read my mind. I've been reading comments just to see if I was alone in my thinking. if Tim were some wickedly devious, blu print swiping, cheater and master trickster, so egomaniacal he believed he would cheat the show and dupe the American viewer, as gullible as we have a tendency to be, why would he openly discuss his master plan with someone he's known for mere weeks in front of a rolling camera that he is fully aware will be broadcast world wide and risk his plan being foiled by Scooby and the gang? Granted there was that time when those select FEW openly committed abhorrent acts in Abu Ghraib in front of cameras, but those hillbillies (don't get upset, I'm one too!) couldn't think outside the next five minutes. Tim, as adorably country as he is, was certainly briefed in writing as well as verbally, most likely with his signature for proof, to ensure he and the other contestants couldn't whine, "But no one told me I couldnt plagiarize foreign designers!" and then sue the crap out of HGtV and Ellen for defamation of character. It all just seems underhanded and trashy and I feel bad for every one of the contestants for being manipulated (although money usually makes it easier--not judging, most of us like to eat-- into thinking this was a legitimate reality show (you know, Judge Judy, WWF, Gerry Springer), then have their characters exploited for higher ratings because Ellen likes to make her own rules. Stay tuned for Season 2 of EDC when Kim Kard. and Kayne literally beat up the competition and flash their genitals while handling a chainsaw during the finale twist of Ellen's Celebrity Design Challenge. What happened Dory? I always took you for one of the few good guys. I initially LOVED the show as did my two children but the finale made me feel embarrassed for all parties, including myself for buying into the hype.

Realistically all the pieces were 'inspired' by something. I am so disappointed with the finale and Ellen for the way she and her production company handled the finale. They could have re-taped the show without causing embarrassment to anyone.... it obviously wasn't live. I really feel they always wanted Katie to win and this was just a BIG publicity stunt to bump ratings and get a second season for the show. I lost a lot of respect for her, her team and by default wayfair.I will not get sucked into the show again.

Coming up with a totally creative, totally brand-new piece of art of any kind is even more difficult these days with the internet available, and it is becoming more and more problematic to try to do so knowingly. It's quite different from a news anchor claiming he was present at and participating in certain real events. If that is not cheating, I don't know what is.

Hey I was thinking about making a table out of PVC pipe from Home Depot. Maybe these pretentious judges will think I'm a prodigy too. {rolls eyes}. Oh and by the way was I the only one who noticed those red stools would be wayyy to short for the table?

Katie hating is so unproductive. If they had wanted her to win all along why not just give the prize to her? And while I would never accuse Tim of being devious, I remember hearing his comment to Chip and not really getting what he was talking about. I have a feeling Ellen was duped along with everyone else. HGTV has a whole lot of explaining to do, and they have been incredibly silent throughout this fiasco.

Exactly my thoughts, Carole!! Let's say KS was eliminated after the cow table. Tim still rips off a design. Tim still can't manage to actually DESIGN on his own when the pressure hits big time. Tim is still disqualified and perhaps loses to Gaspar. Does everyone feel better???

What is stunning to me is how many people have said HGTV should have lied to them about the whole thing (retape a nicer finale) instead of telling the truth! REALLY?Then they'd complain about being lied to!!! I guess it is the times we live in. Everyone is a winner. No one gets their feelings hurt.

Are we so accustomed to being lied to, that now we are asking for it?

If Tim had made significant changes to the table he would have had a case. But he didn't and he tried to get by with it. Simon Schact deserves the DESIGN credit, not Tim

I thought it was weird that they dq'd him and didn't reshoot the show...

I also wonder about the 'copying' thing... if one person was able to think of something, how is it that someone can't think of sortof the same concept?? a desk/table with an opening top and sliding ends doesn't seem that unusual...?? I think about fashion designers too-- often there are strong similarities between fashions...what is created without being influenced by other pieces and where does the line get drawn?

Does anyone remember the two dining tables that Tim and that other girl made that were similar in that they both used live edge lumber?
Oh and if you want the latest, make sure to check out Ellen's talk show Thursday March 5th when Tim appears as a guest.

You might also find THIS interesting.

I don't have it out for Katie. She's a bit quirky and her style isn't my favorite, I just thought her being described as a prodigy was a little over the top. She seems bright and I wish her the best...In any case my beef is more about the unanswered questions we all have, and the fact that Ellen was barely on show with her name all over it.

Justgotabme, thanks for the link. I look forward to watching the show tomorrow!

You're welcome Peter. I set it to record. Though I did have Ellen set to record all the time, I soon got tired of the repetitive nature of her show. She's cute and I adore her humor, but the show itself was not to my liking on a daily basis.
I don't have it out for Katie either, though it seemed very much to me that "they" wanted her to stay in the competition. The only design of hers I liked was the huge armoire. That was really neat looking and functional too boot.
I missed the first show, so I have no clue if what she, or anyone else did for that matter. I just plain don't think she has what it takes to make it as a designer. But at my age, I may just not "get" her designs. I prefer stained wood and comfort from furniture I set on. I also expect function, like being able to see over the top of the table when sitting on a stool. I'm not sure I would have been able to with her last design. Great design idea, but I don't think she pulled it off. And definitely wouldn't have used PVC legs on some thing I was hoping to win big money with.

I do have to admit, her voice literally drove me to the point I had to mute my TV whenever she spoke.

Watching Tim on the Ellen show right now. He says the design must have been lodged in his head somewhere, but never would have knowingly outwardly copied it. He seems real sincere, and Ellen was very sympethetic.

I was impressed with how it was handled on the Ellen Show. You could tell they were both very nervous, as I'm sure anyone would be in a situation like this.
They did not mention the limo conversation so it makes me wonder if my original thought as I watched it was correct in that after the judges visit and he first said he was going to come up with something different, that he realized it was a good idea and he was going to make it anyway and that it was just a huge coincidence that it wound up being like a desk designed by someone from Europe.

Yes, I know that sounds like a stretch, but just talking things out and trying to make sense of what will probably never make sense because there may very well be "more to the story" that we will never be told.

I was disappointed by the judges more than by anything else - too bad they could not have gotten better ones, and having an equal number of male and female judges will help, as men and women perceive furniture differently but use it equally. A dining chair or sofa must be as comfortable to men as it is to women, and the rest of the furniture should take into account the tastes of both genders. I know plenty of women, however, who think that their husbands should have no say in what furniture goes into their houses, whereas I always try to offer compromises that will please both.

Lars

I just wanted to say, this was the first Ellen's show I have ever watched. I have concluded to Never watch her again! I was very disappointed! I think many things on the show passed that had similarities of other designs and designers, I also believe they should not say a person won and then deny them later unless it is written in the rules when they sign up that they have the right to research the ideas later and deny you(which is utterly ridiculous, they let similarities past all the time, they couldn't even make a show at all if there were no similarities allowed) and to top it off , I do not think Katie acted surprised at all when she was called for the win, she probably had someone hired to set him up. She knows how hard the challenge was and I think the right thing to do would be to at least try to stick up for him( which she did not do) She acted way to happy, I kind of liked her a little until I saw her true colors and now I think she is an awful person. Tim says he did not know the designer and yet still says maybe perhaps subconsciously maybe, very sweet and humble. Still says Katie should have it, perfectly willing to risk his reputation for her. Tim is the winner and always will be no matter what anyone says!

There's a youtube video of Tim explaining on Ellen;

http://www.thewrap.com/disqualified-ellens-design-challenge-contestant-denies-he-committed-plagiary-video/

Talented guy but I don't believe he did not use the original as inspiration in some way.

I watched the interview. I believe him. Besides if he had really decided to copy that design dont you think he would have added some changes so that it didnt exactly look the same.

I may be wrong but I have to wonder if Katie was the anonymous source. When Ellen told her that Tim was disqualified she didnt look very surprised and she never asked why. I found it very odd.

Why would Katie know the piece was a copy anymore than anyone else? Why would you blame her when she isn't the one who ripped off a design? That is odd if you ask me.

I dont believe he ripped off the design. If he did he would have been smart enough to make some changes so it didnt look the same. He has the skills.

As I said I may be wrong. I just found it very odd that she wasnt surprised at all and she never asked why.

He didn't rip off the design anymore than someone rips off the design of a table when they put a top and four legs on it. I bet if you searched real hard, there is a "twin" to every piece of furniture ever built. Also, I don't think Ellen would have said how she believed he didn't do anything deliberately and that she wanted to work with him in the future if there were any reason to believe he is lying. It seemed like she feels really guilty about how it was handled but wasn't sure what to do. Personally, I'll be looking at Tim's website when I'm in the market for a beautifully made piece of furniture.

IMO, Katie had absolutely no talent. I have seen multiple times, everything that she designed as an "original." I could not understand why she kept staying in the show.

hfte

Its been a few days since I first commented and after reading all of the subsequent remarks and watching Tim's short interview with Ellen I've made the following observations: 1. Tim appears to have made an honest and sincere effort in the competition to design and create a truly original piece of furniture - not withstanding that it appeared very similar to that of European designer Simon Schacht. 2. He continues to present as a humble compassionate and positive human being, ( as he presented throughout the whole competition in sharp contrast to some of the other competitors ), while also coming off as very competent and confident ( without an ounce of pretension or "cockiness"). He therefore comes off looking very much like the real winner anyway no matter if he did not get the actual prize itself. He also demonstrated a considerable level of skill most of us can only dream of possessing in furniture design and build. He truly was and probably is in a "league of his own".

3. Now some people are pilling on Katie for various reasons the primary one being she won after Tim was disqualified. Someone even suggested that she or a friend of hers made the anonymous call that "outed" Tim's piece as a counterfeit. Her pieces are also being criticized as not being functional enough and her use of some unusual materials, ( for furniture that is ), such as PVC pipe in her last piece. At this point it is completely unfair to cast any blame on Katie for Tim's disqualification or choices made by the judges and Ellen. Unless it does come out that the "information" that lead to Tim losing the winning title came directly or even indirectly from her then we should not take shots at her. Personally on a purely aesthetic level I thoroughly enjoyed most of her work and the fact that they were also quite functional. Unfortunately for Katie her "plastic marble" table turned into an ungainly "cow table" that would only fit in a children's arts and crafts room. I also believe Katie's second weakest piece, ( the first weakest being the cow ), was her last piece, the table with the Purple Heat wood "pull - out chairs". Now while there where a lot of individual aesthetically beautiful components to the table I really did not see anyone of these individual parts draw the "whole" together. My second major concern with this table "and chairs" is its' functionality. Those beautiful purple heart wood with zebra wood joiners would not survive any adult sitting on them for long. The structure couldn't begin to hold anyone 100pounds and over. And as mentioned by another writer they are also too low. Unfortunately the best that one could say about that last and now also ironically wining piece is that other then that its' constituent parts are well built it is in that euphemistically way of speaking "Interesting". Now were I to pick a clear winner from Katie's more worthy contributions it would have to be the armoire with its hidden storage and bold modern look.

4. So far I have not read anyone commenting on the rather outsized roles the carpenter assistants that were provided to the contests may or may not have played. It certainly was apparent the explicit conflict between the contestant who built the losing baby diaper change table and carpenter was a significant factor in her loss. With regards however to Tim and Katie both had competent assistants. With that being said though Chip would on occasion take Tim's design in a conflicting direction and Tim had to forcefully pull him back into his direction.

In contrast Katie and her assistant appeared ( at least on camera ) to have no conflict at all. (I don't recall his name) I have seen this particular carpenter before on either D.I.Y. or HGTV and remember being very impressed with both his ideas and implementation of them. In one instance he appeared on a show (where various TV show hosts from the American version of the above two networks shows were building a dream cottage or cabin). In the episode he took it upon himself to build multiple hidden storage spots throughout the house. His skill and execution was impressive. I'd hazard a guess that there is no way Katie would have made it to the finale. Together they made a great team, however it was surely his knowledge of multiple materials, what tools to use to work these materials, and of course how best to use these tools to obtain the desired effect.

Spot on hfte