Joey Blogs: Season 2 Finale

June 27, 2009

I am not going to comment so much on this week's show as much as I want to talk about the people on the show and behind the scenes. First, I have to say we had a great production staff, the people who put things together, filmed us, made us sound good and lit us to make everything look great. Thanks to Animal Planet for airing a show like this and the great job on the website.

The groomers were all great, fun people who I will always remember, in a good way. I've said this before but I will say it again, unless you are in front of the camera, no one will ever believe how difficult it was for the groomers and when I read the blogs and see what people are saying, I laugh because you just don't know. I would probably say the same things if I did not know, but trust me it was as heartfelt as all the emotions that you see in the groomers and then some ... only the contestants will ever know.

Now, I will talk about Lisa and Huber. When we judged the finale it was so close ... so close, that it would not make me feel bad if the person I picked didn't win because they both were champions that day. I also have to say to my fellow judges, Jai and Nemo it was a pleasure to work with you guys again and hope to see you all again on season 3. I love this show and everyone I met working on it. If you have not had enough of me come visit me at www.joeyvillani.com or www.nashacademy.com.

THAT IS IT!

Comments

[Abraham]

what can i say about the finale, it was all a set up. Everybody knows that Lisa is alot better than Huber in all the aspects. She is a true professional. Huber is just a student, and Lisa is the teacher. A student is nothing compared to a teacher. THE REAL GROOMER OF THE YEAR IS LISA!!!

[Jean Honsinger]

I beg the differ Lisa is the teacher and Huber may have been the student but it’s every teachers dream for the student to surpass the teacher. That’s where and how the industry and life progresses. This was not rigged get over it.

[Tracy]

Lisa was by far and away the best groomer. Huber makes better TV.
The Bedlington is indeed THE hardest groom in the dog world...and Lisa did a okay job.....but....Huber wouldn't have even begun to know how to groom a Beddy......Beddys separate the top groomers from everyone else!!!
However Huber makes better TV!
Won't watch the show any longer....NOT and honest effort!!!

[Joey Villani]

It was not set up. Groomers have good, bad and ok days and these two groomers put up a good fight.

[Nancy]

This was first season and LOVED the show until tonight. I felt there should have been competition straight up--each doing the same breeds then the blind judging. Lisa was consistently the best overall groomer each week. Am I to believe Lisa lost because she didn't trim the nails?? How lame!

[Mary]

Another reality show that doesn't listen to the audience. Huber only won
because he was on Lisa's team through most of his challenges. You can't judge on just this episode. Judging should be on all twelve weeks.

[Kate & Zena]

While I was disappointed that Lisa didn't win, I'm happy for Huber. I think this is a great show and I truly have to applaud to you judges. It must have been so hard to choose between Lisa and Huber. The three of you are dedicated and bring your expertise to the table. I might have been "Pro-Lisa" but I'm entirely happy with Huber taking home the title. They both are exceptional groomers.

[Rose]

I was dissapointed with last years final.... thought that was just a fluke. But again, what's going on? Lisa should have been, and is, the Groomer of the Year. I'm not going to watch this and waste my time next season as this has got to be a set-up and not reality. Sorry Lisa, you should have won....

[Dalton]

Lisa should have won by far. I think you guys were at fault by noticing who actually won most of the challenges, and who was in best show...What and upset.

Bad move.

Poor Lisa. :(

[jim]

I am a little disappointed in the results, I too felt Lisa should win based on overall performance during the competition, and tonight she had a bad day and most of the empisis seems to have been placed on the last groom.

[Toni]

I am truly surprised. Lisa was consistently the overall best groomer and also a professional with a heart in the best sense. She would have gone forward to share her skills with others, I am 16 year veteran of the cat show circuit and groomed all my own to top wins. I would have no doubt about asking this dog groomer to prepare one of my Maine Coons for show, she is so talented. I think when Xavier said he would want to take her with him on the dog circuit, he said it all. If she lost because of the nails-sorry, watch the tape, the dog was on the edge and she worked well with it.

[Bobbie Lynn]

If I took my dog to a groomer and it came back to me without it's nails trimmed I would be angry. It's the groomers job to do it even if they have to use a muzzle. Lisa was fabulous in all her grooms but in the end she failed.

[Leesa G.]

Come on ya'll. When it comes down to the 2 best, the only way to judge them is to be extra nitpicky and judge who made the fewest mistakes! I've cheered Lisa all season! Last night it was Huber's night! He made the fewest mistakes overall.

I'm finding it really strange how all of the people where just blasting Lisa all season long and now are mad that she didn't win!All I can say is I wouldn't have wanted to have to judge last night! I think they both are great in their own way and I truely wish ALL of the competitors the BEST of luck in the future!

[Rich]

Sad. Lisa was by far the best. I will not watch next year.

[Molly]

I beg the differ Lisa is the teacher and Huber the student. Huber has more experience and anyway the show was so not rigged so get over it.

[Emma]

I must say Lisa knew EVERYTHING there was to know. She was in charge, if they ever gave a challenge she said that she had been doing it all her life. She can do cats to mobile grooming. Sure she had a bad night and I can see where the judges where going with that, but look at her in the long run. Lisa is the better groomer, and would have won had it not been for the leg up. Huber can't hide behind a leg up any more. But I don't think you should just give up on the show. Mabey it will be better next year. Poor Lisa, this ment everything to her.

[Robbin]

I feel like the finale was a joke. Can anyone tell me why when there were 3 groomers left there was no "leg up" for Danielle because they wanted an even playing field since there was only three? But in the finale Huber got a leg up & as far as I could tell that did not play into the judges decision but it should have. Last year when Artiste won, I think it was because he grew so much as a groomer. This year Lisa was definitely the best but it looks to be judged on personality this time. I hope everyone saw the web vote with Lisa winning with 65%.

[MNB]

I understand groomers have good days, bad days, and ok days; but this show is Groomer of the Year and not Groomer of the Day. The complete talent of each groomer should have been considered and was not. This is consistent with the judging las year when the charismatic (and marketable) groomer with less skill won. It really makes a third season predictable and pointless.

I'd really be interested to hear if any of the judges would be willing to support their decision by saying they would rather have Huber groom their dogs over Lisa.

[Jo]

I do not think the "playing field"
was level. With so much being at
stake, both groomers should have had
the same breeds of dogs to groom
and the groomer who did the best job
would have won...or all six dog
breeds tags should have been placed in a hat and each groomer alternately
would pull a tag from the hat and it
would be the "luck of the draw"
instead of one of the groomers having
the option of selecting which three
breeds he desires to groom...not
fair. Also, the runner up should
have won the Subaru Forester instead
of the winner getting "three" prizes.
Don't believe we'll watch again next
year......Jo

[Rita]

I have watched both seasons and I am sorry Lisa did not win but Huber had a better night! It was a competition and every single groom counted no matter whether it was a dog or a pig! I am sure Lisa is upset with herself and not Huber! I am sure both will go on to teach, groom and learn to the best of their ability.

[amy]

How did Huber wash and dry the corded poodle in 2 hours? Did the dog not get bathed or did he wash it first and let it dry while the other two dogs got done?
I've never seen a Bedlington ever as we just don't have any around here, but the coat seemed hard to work with and on the thin side.
The Irish had some nail issues. How bad I can't say since everything is edited and they can't show the whole groom. I'd have left them until last, muzzled the dog and tried whole heartedly unless the dog was willing to harm himself over it. Some dogs take two, or more, people to do the nails safely. That can be a tough call. Force it on the dog and look horrible and incompetent if he thrashes, bucks, lunges and hangs himself from the loop to avoid it or leave it and look like you didn't try. However it's never worth getting a serious bite over. Not when you earn your living with your hands. I didn't watch last season but had heard a groomer was given a hard time over using a muzzle. Sometimes it makes the dog worse. If he struggled and she quicked him how would that have panned out?
Overall I think Lisa is a far superior groomer.

[maryrose]

It's amazing, the difference between the emphasis on the first season and that of this season. Artist knew nothing of breed grooming and won. This year was all about grooming to breed standards and the final contestants EVEN HAD TO GROOM AND BE JUDGED ON THE RAREST OF BREEDS! Isn't that incredible? Artist probably wouldn't have made it to the second episode this year. Perhaps it was last year's outcry from people like me who questioned how a top groomer could not even know breed standards. It's been a 180 degree turn for the better. Both these finalists were real professionals.

[Alyssa]

You're right Amy - a very similar groomer, Kathleen was nearly clipped for using a muzzle on a dog because the dog got stressed. The same thing would have happened to Lisa.
Lisa was overall the best groomer. Huber was good, but Lisa pushed past expectations that I had for her.
MNB - That was groomer of the day, NOT groomer of the year.

[Dianne]

While I was pretty much rooting for Lisa to win over the past few weeks, I was glad Huber was the one that won. Both Lisa and Huber were excellent groomers. Between the two, Lisa probably had a little bit of an edge over Huber in grooming skills. But I feel that Huber had the edge over Lisa in compassion. At times Lisa seemed a little frustrated with the dog she was grooming (even though I understand it was when the dog was a little temperamental). But Huber seemed to have a natural connection with the animals, and I think that put whatever dog he was grooming at ease. If I were to take my dog to a groomer, I would feel comfortable taking it to either Lisa or Huber, but I would rather have a groomer that had a special rapport with my pet even if their grooming skills weren't at 110%. The welfare and treatment of a pet to me is more important than how good the pet looks.

[Leesa G.]

I agree with you MARYRORE and DIANNE! Both were knowledgeable in their profession and all in all it came out to who had a better night. While I didn't agree with a leg-up for the finals (at that point, you should have proven yourself to compete on a level playing field), the judges judged the dogs before they knew who groomed it. Didn't anyone hear Doc's surprise that Lisa groomed the Bedlington?

This contest was judged on who did best nightly, not who was best for the whole season. If that were the case, why send ANYONE home? We may have had a different winner if everybody stayed for the whole series. HMMM

I just want to say I'm looking forward to next season whether I'm on it or watching from home! And again, congratulaions to Huber, Lisa and everyone else that competed!

[Joey Villani]

Well I wish to say thank you for all the comments. But I must clear up a few things. The judges do not make the rules, this show has rules that all judges and contestants know. The challenges are based on today, just like the playoffs in football and it does not matter what you did yesterday. Survival of the fittest. This is no different than a groomer that goes to a grooming compettion and wins most classes but looses in best in show. Everyone who watched GHI knows this is how the show works. I think Lisa is a wonderful groomer along with Huber. You only get to see one hour of this show, but this one hour show takes two full days to film, that being said there was a lot more that went into making this decision than you could know.
Thanks again and I hoped I was able to clear a few things.

[Leesa G.]

Thank you Joey. I hope people understand what you said and take it to heart! Everyone's taking so much away from Huber's win! Makes me sad! I still feel Lisa overall was the better groomer but it was Huber's night! Congrats to him!!! He seems to be a wonderful groomer as well as a wonderful man and if I were to pick anyone to win over Lisa it would have been him. And Joey's right ya'll, there's alot we can't see on tv. Just like watching Westminster, we don't have our hands on the dogs and we only get the camera's veiw.

[Rena]

I had picked out both Lisa and Huber from the second episode as the final two and that this would be a very difficult contest. I leaned toward Lisa but knew that Huber had talent as well. It is a tough competition. Only one winner is allowed. I would like to see the runner up get something, and maybe next year they can adopt that. I will most definitely watch next year!

[Marie]

Last year Artist had such an amazing learning curve and is such a natural and is so good at using every one of his senses all the time to get the job done and he brought it every week.

I liked how the judges seemed this year to see something similar in Cassandra, but she wasnt quite up to snuff. Artist is an amazing young man. I dont think he was an emotional pick, espec not after seeing BHG.

[Linda]

First of all, I am disappointed that Lisa didn't win - scratching my head over it. Second, I am curious about the nail comment on Lisa. I am mobile and NEVER get into a struggle with a dog on anything - mostly nails - sorry - call me a bad groomer. I send customer and dog to the vet.

[dog lover]

hey joey i was so glad when huber won i knew from the very begining that he would win he just had such great talent for it and passion and a whole lot of heart. he is truely a great groomer i think he is is just my opinion that he reminds me of artist the former groomer of the year they both have a passion for what they do there not just in it to win the moeny and the title. there in it to win with pride and make a difference. when i wathced him groom he made the dogs feel so relaxed i do think in some spots he does need work but lisa didnt have that pizazz that huber has or the passion that he has as well. he knows every thng or almost everything and he loves what he does which i think is most important to love what you do. GO HUBER!!! ps can't wait for next years new groomers!! :) :)

[Stefanie]

I LUV groomer has it!i luv artist huber and cassandra!they are my favorite!

[Lola's Dad]

I just had to post this message. Long before Groomer Has It Huber was (and is) my dog's groomer. Every bit of talent and passion you saw on screen is the same as the man without the cameras. "Charlie" was almost 18 yrs old went I had to put him to sleep last January -- he was a 5 lb toy poodle that I inherited from my Mother when she passed away. Charlie and my Mom even had the same birthday! He was very special to me. Surprising since while my Mom was alive Charlie "hated" me and would have nothing to do with me when I visited. I was the interloper, invading his space and daring to hug his mistress, at which point he would bite me. From the moment my Mom died he was by my side and devoted to me as I was to him. So like I said he was very special to me. Mostly blind and hard of hearing towards the end, Huber took such wonderful care of him. He would take 2 hrs to bath this little 5 lb dog so as not to stress him out. Once because of the fact that he wasn't exactly thrilled with the idea of a grooming and was difficult Huber slightly and when I say slightly I mean slightly nicked Charlie. Huber was so concerned, Charlie wasn't fazed at all. If Huber hadn't told me I wouldn't have known and Charlie wasn't bothered at all. Huber was practically in tears. Two weeks after Charlie died I went to the shop because Huber had been so wonderful I didn't want to drop off the face of the earth and I wanted to tell him. It was difficult on both of us -- but Huber comforted me and told me when and if I was ready he would help me find a new dog to be part of me life. I took him up on that a few weeks later after exhausting shelters and rescues -- and as a result I have the most wonderful miniture poodle, with special thanks to Bill too. Now let me tell you about Lola and how she feels about Huber -- Perhaps I should just ask you a guestion -- When your dog goes to the groomer does he or she run to the shop's door, paw the door to get in? Does she run up to the groomer and cover him or her with kisses? So Lola knows Huber was groomer of the year and I already knew it -- All of you should be so fortunate to have a "Huber" in your life. I know I am.

[K9 Care]

Hey Joey, Congrats on season 2, another great show for all of us. I taped the final episode and was eager to watch it, but sad at the same time, knowing that it was the final show for this year.

As for the complainers out there, if you think you have what it takes, get off your butt and try to earn a spot in next year's competition!!! Go to a grooming competition in your local area and watch the tension & pressure that the groomers are under. You just may change your attitude. I can only imagine what the pressure is like when Joey or Xavier do their walkthroughs. EVERYBODY was sweating bullets!! The judges are there to make the contestants THINK about what they are doing!! They are making the groomers doubt themselves and their techniques for a reason! Are they doing the very best that they can? THAT is why these judges are so good at what they do!!!! Every groomer needs to ask themselves," Have I done the very best that I can for my customers and their owners? Can I improve on anything that I do and how can I advance my skills to better this profession?" That is what Huber & Lisa showed us all every week, and that is why they both are so good at what they do. Congratulations to our new Groomer Of The Year and Lisa, you made us all Very proud! What a finale to your career! You can say that you have competed at EVERY level. Best wishes always, Carol.

[Renee]

I'm a new fan of this show and came along starting w/episode #2. I love the show! I felt that Huber was the better choice and that the judges got it right. When it comes to matters of the heart; Huber showed so much compassion, love & integrity for the animals and his fellow opponents; that it seemed so refreshing to watch. I could feel the passion coming from him and I will watch this show again, & again & again. Congratulations to Lisa & Huber & all the other contestants. And a big Hello to ARTIST who was last seasons Groomer of the Year. I am now watching his show. The bottom line: This show ROCKS!

[Andrea]

Congrats to the new groomer of the year Huber! Great job! I love this show and great job to all the people who were in it! You are all great groomers! :D

[hailey]

hi my name is hailey i love to watch this show i maybe what to try to become groomer of the year email me