Friday, August 2, 2013

What Is Up With HGTV?

I wanted cable because I wanted to watch HGTV.
It was embarrassing to visit friends who had cable because I didn't want to visit - I just wanted to sit down in front of the tube. 
On vacations I would rather stay in the hotel room instead of sight see. 
We got Chris a Nintendo when he was 7 or 8 because he had the same sort of affliction. 
We finally got satellite and I can watch HGTV all the time but House Hunters is on every time I turn on the T.V.
Is it just me?
Am I the only one over House Hunters?
When I was a kid on any given day we could find an episode of I Love Lucy on some channel.
I counted once and it was on some ridiculous amount. 
Sometimes 5 - 7 times a day. What kid counts T.V. shows?
 I know, I know I was a weird kid.


I was visiting the HGTV website hoping for some new episodes of Sarah's House or Sarah 101.  

No.
Just episode after episode of House Hunters and House Hunters International. 
I will count for you to see how many times it is on.
Hold on a sec, I'll be right back....
tick tock tick tock


Okay, I'm back
11 times
Between 7:00 a.m. this morning and 3:00 a.m. tonight it is on 11 times. 
Argh!
I miss the old HGTV.
I loved Decorating Cents.
Design On A Dime
Even that corny one with the man and the woman.
 How about Christopher Lowell?
What happened to all the Design Star shows?
There are some great shows out there.
Stuff they could show in reruns. Instead they air episode after episode of House Hunters. 
I've heard it's even staged. 
Ai,yi, yi!
It is time to launch a revolt. I am sure it is tempting to just turn on the tele and have House Hunters airing as background noise but we need to turn off our flat screens and send HGTV a message. 
I am more than ready for some new programming HGTV! 
Katie
Thanks for letting me vent.
What do you think? 

Update: Now that Fixer Upper is on and Rehab Addict, HGTV has a little bit more interesting programming but it is nothing like it used to be.   

42 comments :

  1. You aren't alone. Once upon a time, HGTV was my favorite channel, but that all changed when they stopped showing design shows. I don't know what happened. It's truly maddening. I mean, where is everyone?? And yes, House Hunters, and all those shows where people buy houses is staged. The house is already purchased when the show is aired, so they just walk around and act like it's real time. Ugh.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The only part I cared about was seeing how they redecorated it. I don't even think they do that anymore.

      Delete
    2. I TOTALLY agree! I have been searching and searching for any shows with decorating (specifically decorating on a budget) and I can't find any new shows OR reruns of the old shows. If anybody has old copies of Decorating Cents or Design on a Dime to sell, please contact me!! catmarch @ yahoo com.

      Delete
    3. I think HGTV has lost it's direction. It started out as primarily a decorating show and it was interesting and I loved it. Now it is so boring I hardly watch anymore. How many times can you watch House Hunters? What happened to all the great people on the show...David Bromstead, Candace Olsen, Sabrina Soto and the guy who improved neighborhoods with make overs.....and Design on a Dime? Those were great shows and I could watch them for hours. I do like Property Brothers but that is about the only current show that interests me....but lots of luck remodeling those houses for the prices they quote...not very realistic. I know because my husband and I completely remodeled our house and it's largely due to the influence of HGTV. It turned out great but very expensive. I really hope HGTV finds their way again and gets back to decorating. I'll be watching for it.

      Delete
  2. Yes, I agree!! What happened to those good shows? HGTV was once my favorite channel, but the design shows are gone. Why bother watching it now? I also wish they would bring back the good shows, even in reruns. There were so many of them. Where are you Joan Steffend and all of the others? We miss you!!! We can't be the only ones that feel this way. Just wonder what HGTV is thinking.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I do recall Joan Steffend saying her contract wasn't renewed. It was a great show and I bet it was cheap to produce.They got rid of all those just when there was an economic downturn and no one was buying houses really.

      Delete
    2. Totally agree. I don't watch HGTV any more, and it was one of my favorite channels to watch. Sad.

      Delete
  3. I so agree with you. I too loved HGTV and watched it a lot, now I don't. They have stopped all the decorating shows. Its sad as the channel has gone down hill. I wish they would bring back the good shows and enough of Love or List.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don't really care for Love it or List it either. They get on my nerves.

      Delete
  4. Totally agree. We are thinking about cancelling everything but basic. Nothing to watch anyway. I'm tired of House Hunters. Most are repeats and I can't tolerate Love it or List It.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don't care for Love It or List It. I think it is fake too.

      Delete
  5. I totally agree! It used to be my favorite channel but then a few years ago it became only about House Hunters, outrageously expensive renovations or house flipping. No room decorating or DIY anymore. I used to love Joan Steffend's show where one segment would be about re-doing a room without spending any money. They would just shop the house and move the furniture around. I check HGTV every once in a while to see if they've caught on, but I'm always disappointed. I even went to the website once to see if I could email a complaint but there wasn't anywhere (that I could see) to do that

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think I tried to complain too. I hope they find this blog post. Of course they will yank my pictures of Joan Steffand.

      Delete
    2. Find out the name of the CEO and the head of Scheduling. Send a letter to the CEO and cc the head of Scheduling. I can tell you from experience this would not get ignored, and if it does, they are really out of touch with their viewers!

      Delete
  6. i completely agree. I personally do not like House Hunters International. why do i want to see some person buying a vacation home for 2-3 million dollars? No thank you! Also House Hunters USED to be just about a couple looking at houses, finding a house and then we get to see it three months later after they've moved in. Now it's about two people complaining about everything, the realitor complaining about the couple, sometimes there's an inlaw or two to cause some trouble as well and then when they choose a house they show them "moved in" after a week or so and there's boxes everywhere. I find the House Hunters of the past was replaced with a "reality TV version" and what is reality tv without conflict? Plus remember how Suzanne Whang used to host? Now it's just a voiceover. Not the same at all. I find myself watching the DIY network more than HGTV.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know. I love Rehab Addict on DIY! The fake drama on HH gets to me too.

      Delete
  7. In this case, I can give you my professional thoughts, since I spent the last 30+ years scheduling TV shows on a major TV network. I, too, miss the old HGTV, with a variety of shows to watch in prime time. I went from watching always, to watching almost never, thanks to House Hunters. I always joked around that if I ever went to work at HGTV as their head of Scheduling, the first thing I'd look into is what their reason is for airing House Hunters non-stop. I can guess that, A) it's their highest rated show; B)it must be cheaper to produce than other shows; or C) it has something to do with their advertisers for that show. Still, I have to imagine that there's a tradeoff: how many HGTV viewers are they turning away (like you, me and your other commenters, above, for instance-- We can't be the only ones!), vs. how much broader their audience would be if they offered variety? Where's their Research department??? Just look at the blogging community which is full of decor and DIY lovers. There IS an audience out there. It's one thing to do marathons of a single show every once in awhile, but another to make it your one and only scheduling strategy. It doesn't make any sense to me. Maybe they'll hire me and I'll fix it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don't get it either. I get all the above reasons but 11 times a day? It's cheap and people watch it. I just think people have it on during dinner or something because it is not all that interesting. Thanks for leaving a comment. You scared me for a moment... I thought you were going to say you worked for that network. hahaha.

      Delete
    2. No, not that network ;) I think you touched a nerve here, given all the responses you got with people who feel the same way! Maybe you should start a petition!

      Delete
  8. I totally agree! At one time, I watched HGTV all the time. No more. It is very seldom on at my house. Wish it was the way it once was!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Me too. I would turn it on in the morning and just let it run while I cleaned house. Not any more.

      Delete
  9. I love HGTV but like you I've had enough of House Hunters, I like the Crasher series , I like to see them redo something ,I really want them to show me how to remodel on a budget . I hope someone from there is reading these comments !

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I like bath crashers but not the others as much. They need more variety I think.

      Delete
  10. I used to love HGTV, but agree all they seem to show is House Hunters. I loved Design on a Dime, Candace Olsen, Decorating Sense, etc. There are a couple of new shows I like, Rehab Addict and Flea Market Flip, but they have very few episodes. House Hunters episodes are never ending. Carol

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Is Candace Olsen still on? I liked that show too. But haven't seen it in a while. I liked all the Rehab Addicts on DIY. They show the new ones. HGTV shows her reruns. I'll look for Flea Market Flip. Thanks for the tip. :)

      Delete
  11. I totally agree. We got cable when I was a new mom so I could watch HGTV. Now I'm missing those shows you named and am so over House Hunters. I'm glad to know I'm not alone.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Clearly we are not alone in how we feel about it. Thanks for entering the conversation.

      Delete
  12. I know what you mean. I miss my old shows. I did stop watching finally a couple months ago and wrote to the HGTV web sight.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Did you get a response, Pamela? I tried leaving a comment the other night and couldn't find a place to do it.

      Delete
  13. I feel the same way, Katie. I miss the shows you mentioned, they always gave such great DIY & decorating ideas. Have you watched Amy Matthew's show, Renovation Raiders, or Brother vs Brother? They're pretty good.

    Smiles,
    Carol

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I will check out Amy Matthew's new show. I like her from the DIY Network. I never seem to catch anything good those shows are on so infrequently.

      Delete
  14. I feel the same way, I never have HGTV on because your right House Hunters is always on! I loved Decorating Cents too!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I would happily watch Decorating Cents in Reruns.

      Delete
  15. My favorites are the make something from nothing like Pickers, Cash & Cari and the like. Sometimes I do watch Love or List it but fast forward through the details and see what they come up with. To think it all started with Trading Spaces years ago.
    Ann

    ReplyDelete
  16. I agree with all the posts: The 'old' HGTV was great with all the design shows, how to, fixing up rooms on a budget, etc. Now it's just 14 hrs straight of HH or Love It... I don't either bother to LOOK at what's on HGTV anymore when flicking through channels and I used to watch HGTV almost exclusively.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Totally agree!! I was thinking about getting cable for the first time, mainly to watch HGTV. But I'm visiting my sister and realize that HGTV is mainly a real estate channel now. Not worth the monthly fee for me! Someone should create a new channel that is all about design, renovation, DIY, how-to tips, etc. That I would buy cable for!

    ReplyDelete
  18. HGTV was my favorite channel. What is going on? Seriously,House Hunters, Property Bros and the ANNOYING Love it or List It have got to go!!!. ENOUGH ALREADY!!! They use to have the most awesome shows, I Miss the HGTV that had such awesome shows!!!! HGTV might as well go away. Makes me SAD!!!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Couldn't agree with you more. I LOVED Decorating Cents, and Candace Olsen, and all of Sara's different decorating shows (I think there was 3 or 4 of them), and let's don't forget Curb Appeal. I could stay home all day and watch the decorating shows on HGTV. Now, every once in a while I check out what is on HGTV, and sure enough, HOUSE HUNTERS or HOUSE HUNTERS INTERNATIONAL, which by the way, was introduced to us during the Great Recession, when most people couldn't afford their home here in the States, much less a second home in Italy. Now HGTV sucks in my opinion.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Ditto....same shows all day. Show us something the average person can do...on a dime!! I miss all the old stuff too.

    ReplyDelete
  21. I agree. Hgtv sucks. Who has $800,000.00 to budget to buy A new house because they need more bathrooms and bedrooms for tens to hang out in. The spoiled people should buying so much stuff. I am sick of stainless steel appliances being the reason you re do a kitchen. What! No granite countertop! How can one survive! The cousins and the twins brothers and the texans tear out perfectly good kitchens, and use up the entire "budget" . Then they install the furniture that all looks alike, whit couches, whit chairs, dining room benches open kitchen shelving ugh.
    They never mention the taxes, operational costs, or city that the houses are in. Do we live in Canada? Do canadians have such large salaries? Both my hubby and I work full time and are saving part of our salaries for retirement
    Nt these folks just seem to consume mass amounts of their income on housing? What if one looses their job or gets sick. They seem to be living on borrowed money.

    ReplyDelete
  22. The worst House Hunters show 2 guys buy a beautiful Victorian single house in Buffalo NY, that was tagged a historically significant house, and they did a re do of horrendous ridiculous trendy Interior ugly designs. They actually hired a designer to translate their taste into visual nightmare. They had 3 or 4 or 5 different color tiles installed happenstance on the floor, and the designer luckily talked them out of putting the nightmare tile on the ceiling of the dining/living room. They destroyed an intact Victorian home into a loud funky vertigo nightmare. Yes, one guy actually said he was an historical architect! Then they went nuts with reclaimed barnwood on the walls in the kitchen/dining and then turned the charming bathroom into what looked like an outhouse in the woods. I
    Was shocked. This was the mother of bad taste.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Bring back some realistic design shows. We don't all have $800,000.00 to put in a strangers hand to spend on renovating. How about the concept of making what you own a little brighter, a little better organized, like the former shows. The visual treatment of watching a woman or a man slam a sledgehammer into a wall or kitchen cabinet does become a boring, stupid shot. Don't let me get started about Chip the Texan throwing his entire body through a wall or eating a bug,.......that is real TV bugaboo, sorry! When is a sledgehammer a character on a show, when cousins, brothers, and texans are let loose in front of a production crew. Why would any homeowner put $18,000.00 before the house was put up for sale? Remember the show about sell this house? I would not buy new furniture for the house. The buyers are not buying your furniture. Love it or list it is so fake and overblown, and check out their lawsuit. House hunters is real estate without substance. Fixer upper Chip needs to hold back his yahoo gene, stop the childish actions on camera do that at home, eating bugs and tossing himself thru walls. Bring back curb appeal. I want to learn something when I watch hgtv, but it is all snap, flash and trends.

    ReplyDelete