By Michael Fitzgerald Troy

Once upon a time, Jessica Simpson and Nicole Richie were tabloid cover darlings, notoriously gracing the gossip pages. Nicole for her thinness and Jessica for…for…well, whatever in the hell she was on the covers for. Now, they are two of the “mentors” on NBC’s 5-years-later answer to Project Runway.

Elle McPhereson is Heidi Kluhm, except you can understand her. Nicole Richie is Nina Garcia, except she’s funny. John Varvatos is NOT Michael Kors. And, Jessica Simpson is, oh…sweet, simple Jessica Simpson. Competitors pitch their looks to retailers Macy’s, H & M, and Saks Fifth Avenue; if they are made an offer, they are saved from elimination and their looks are available online the next day. A fun concept, dare I admit.

I simply must mention I adore Nicole Richie and ambushed her at the Beverly Center a few years ago, shamelessly telling her how much I loved her and even audaciously asking for a hug. To her credit, she gave me the hug and didn’t even file a restraining order.

So, Fashion Star is kinda Project Runway meets The Voice meets Dancing with the Stars meets The Dukes of Hazzard? Why not? Count me in.

Fashion Star airs Tuesdays on NBC. (Still proud as a peacock!)

Michael Troy is a deeply superficial person. Born in the midwest in the ’70s, Michael came to Los Angeles to pursue his bi-polar career path as an actor and artist. 2005 saw the release of Michael’s first published book, Homo-Hero’s Big Book of Fun and Adventure (www.greencandypress.com). Michael has contributed to the Lady Gaga comic book from Bluewater Productions and has his hand in various other upcoming projects. Michael has performed stand-up comedy at all of the major comedy clubs in Los Angeles and is making his triumphant return to the main stage of The Comedy Store in September. Michael offers an off-beat sense of humor as the star of such youtube cult classics As The Gays on Film (www.youtube.com/fullfrontaltv), A Minute With Margot, a loving tribute to Superman legend Margot Kidder (http://www.youtube.com/user/rktcommander), and currently hosts a vlog style series Lethally Blonde over at www.monsterburg.com. Sitting alongside industry heavyweight Phil Jimenez at the “Divas and Lassoes” panel for the 2010 San Diego comic-con, Michael maintains and cherishes his “underground” status. A staunch believer in Blonde Ambition, Michael hopes his new comic about shallow blonde super heroes in Los Angeles, The Blonde Squad, will set the world on fire (or at least brighten it a bit). Check out Michael Troy and Lethally Blonde updates here!!!