CLARK: Local looks to be a 'Fashion Star'

Well, there go my Friday nights.

It's not like I was out hitting the clubs or anything, but it was the one night with nothing taping on the DVR. (Yes, we lead a very exciting life at Casa Clark). But it was a catch-up night, a chance to watch TV shows that had piled up on the receiver over the course of the week. Or month. Or months.

But another former Modestan is about to debut on another competition/reality show — and that means timely tuning in is in order.

JesseRay Vasquez, originally from Modesto and who, according to a modbee.com Facebook post, attended Modesto Junior College, will work with his design partner Garrett Gerson on the NBC design competition show "Fashion Star."

According to the NBC Web site, the two Malibu-based designers formed Sjobeck, a contemporary women's wear brand.

Full disclosure: I wasn't a fan of "Fashion Star" when it debuted last year, but maybe a second attempt at watching — especially with an ex-Modestan in the mix — will prove my initial reaction wrong. In the meantime, we'll try to get more on Vasquez and his Modesto ties.

His "Fashion Star" moment means there are two former Modestans — both living in Southern California — currently competing on network TV. Meghan Camarena continues to wage battle on ABC's "The Amazing Race."

Season two of "Fashion Star" debuts tonight on NBC and will air Fridays.

Speaking of reality/competition shows, the new season of "Celebrity Apprentice" debuted Sunday night — a guilty pleasure, to be sure; emphasis on guilty.

Nevertheless, it's must-see TV in our house. This season, Donald Trump has gathered up a set of all-star stars, celebrities who have competed on the show before, vying for money for their chosen charities. Among them is Bret Michaels, who won the "Apprentice" title in 2010.

Michaels holds a special place in a lot of hearts around the Modesto region, among those who recall his tear-inspiring act of kindness during an appearance last year at the Stanislaus County Fair.

The rocker and former frontman of '80s hair-metal band Poison participated in a meet-and-greet with certain ticketholders at the Turlock fairgrounds. Among them was a mom whose autistic son had become a fan of Michaels via the popular "Guitar Hero" video game. After bonding with the mom, Danielle Friedberg, over tattoos, Michaels learned of her then-5-year-old son Brandon's autism and invited them to his next concert in Concord.

Before the Concord show, Michaels spent time with Brandon, taking him onto his tour bus for a private chat and to keep the socially anxious child away from the crowds.

"He got to put on the little Poison bandanna," Friedberg told The Bee last year. "It was really awesome. (Michaels) is a really sweet, down-to-earth guy."

Michaels told The Bee that he always tries to take the time to talk with people who come backstage to meet him at his appearances. He said many of the conversations center around music, but sometimes they go a little deeper, which happened with Friedberg.

"It was a really, really beautiful story," he said.

He also mentioned in that story that he'd be returning to "Celebrity Apprentice" for the all-star version to raise even more money for his Bret Michaels Life Rocks Foundation, which helps children with cancer and diabetes, the Wounded Warriors program and no-kill shelters.

But the kind-hearted rocker's stint on the Trump-lead show was painfully short — he went home in the debut episode Sunday — a thorn in his charitable rose, to be sure.

Michaels was the only past winner to compete this season, with other victors now taking seats beside Trump on the judging side of the table. Trump made it clear he wasn't impressed with Michael's decision, feeling the rocker and former hair-metal band Poison frontman should have gone out a winner, and not risked going out a loser with a second go.

But Michaels simply wanted to keep his charity's profile up and to raise more money for the work it does. What's so wrong about that?

Seeing Michaels go Sunday night was a drag, even more so since people around here know his charitable nature is more that just a celebrity thing — it really does come from his heart.