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I always wondered why they seemed to pick the emptied out house. Now after reading the article about the couple on the show and how they actually have to closed on a house and then tour 2 other houses that they arent even interested in or were not even for sale really makes me mad. I feel stupid for watching it and for DVRing it. I wont watch again and will delte the episodes I havent seen.

Why cant HGTV make a show like this without having to fake it. It is a slap in the face to their fans!

What difference does it make? All of HGTV shows are fake in one aspect or another. We watch it to see the different types of homes and hope th home buyers do not make too many cringe worthy comments.

It makes a difference because you are being presented with the idea that they are considering three different homes. And you perhaps watch it for those reasons but I watched it for the reasons the show was created, getting caught up in the idea of which one they were going to get.

Charming, the point is that they are NOT buyers. They have already bought the house. Now they are actors--not even GOOD actors!

Lousy, fake actors on a cheaply produced drama - obviously HGTV's main cash cow.

JMHO.

From HGTV per AOL News: "We've learned that the pursuit of the perfect home involves big decisions that usually take place over a period of time –more time than we can capture in 30 minutes of television. However, with a series like "House Hunters," HGTV viewers enjoy the vicarious and entertaining experience of choosing a home -- from establishing a budget, to touring properties and weighing the pros and cons of each one. We're making a television show, so we manage certain production and time constraints, while honoring the home buying process. To maximize production time, we seek out families who are pretty far along in the process. Often everything moves much more quickly than we can anticipate, so we go back and revisit some of the homes that the family has already seen and we capture their authentic reactions. Because the stakes in real estate are so high, these homeowners always find themselves RIGHT back in the moment, experiencing the same emotions and reactions to these properties. Showcasing three homes makes it easier for our audience to “play along” and guess which one the family will select. It’s part of the joy of the "House Hunters'" viewing experience. Through the lens of television, we can offer a uniquely satisfying and fun viewing experience that fulfills a universal need to occasionally step into someone else's shoes."

This is old news, I don't care.
Most of TV is "fake", but most already know that.

ITA, Meischa - we all know it but it's still good for the occasional laugh.

KJKC, I love the comment about the HH participants being pretty far along in the process - and how!

hahahahahahaha ...

theres not much on tv thats real anyway is there? or would they actually have to pay writers LMAO

Gotta agree, none of us should be surprise by this whether the other house is a friend's home, maybe a home that just got on the market, etc. I mean all HGTV shows have some type of acting involve in some form.

Just got to know that going in.

I've been watching this show since 2001 and found out it was fake many years ago. I no longer watch because I grew tired of the same 5 annoying comments by EVERY homebuyers and their condescending attitudes. Now I only watch HHI because it's interesting to see homes in other countries. I could care less about the boring, story lines or their decision.

I have to say that once it got to the point where 30% of the "husbands" on the show became obviously um, "very light in the loafers", it told me that some or many of the couples were either fake, or, there were an awful lot of desperate women out there getting married.

But this isn't ground breaking news. It was reported years ago that in many cases, allegedly the couple already has to have closed on a home, and in cases where they couldn't find a couple that qualified that way, they would allegedly use "fake" couples (who they probably could cast a bit more effectively).

I still watch the shows, but only if I'm interested in seeing what a home/condo typically looks like in a particular city or country - not because I think I'm actually watch a "real" couple buy a real home.

I do agree about certain comments and stereotypes about the shows, too: We can be SURE we'll hear a comment about how a walk-in closet just isn't big enough to fit the woman's clothing or shoes in... we can be sure that the lady of the house simply "cannot cook without granite counter tops", and if the show is in Atlanta, there's a 90% chance the couple will be ethnic and the music in the background will have a very slight hip/hop beat to it. (roll eyes). SIGH.

I doubt that none of us are surprise by any of this. We have known all along that many of these programs are just that FAKE TV.
We all watch for different reasons, I watch especially HHI for the entertainment of seeing other homes and their prices in other countries.
Not so much seeing anything on the US.
We have always complained about shows like Property Bros. that also provides very strange results on the properties that they renovate. Reality TV is just that. Fake TV. if you are disapointed, I guess don't watch it, but make sure that your expectations are realistic.

I saw this article yesterday on Yahoo (no, not my news source, just an e-mail acct) and I thought, "we've known that for years!" It's even posted on this board under "be on tv" or something like that. They can't possibly pay for a crew to tag along for months on end. It's just entertainment, sort of. I'm sorry some people are disappointed, but they didn't take your money, or ridicule you in public (the viewers, not the hunters), so nobody has to know.

But are they saying some of the couples were "fake"? That wouldn't surprise me, but that would really be stretching it, if it's true.

Okay, let me get this straight. HH and HHI are fake?

What about professional wrestling?

No, don't tell me.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: santa_fe,

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Kaiwyn:
I always wondered why they seemed to pick the emptied out house. Now after reading the article about the couple on the show and how they actually have to closed on a house and then tour 2 other houses that they arent even interested in or were not even for sale really makes me mad. /QUOTE]

I hadn't noticed that they usually pick the empty house.

When I saw the article, I thought, "Well, this makes sense." Obviously they see more than three houses, but I figured the show focused on the top three.

Initially I started watching it because we plan to sell our house in three years, and I thought it would be good to pick up tips on what to look for (last house bought in 1974). What I learned is what people are looking for in a house. I hope when we start looking I don't get so picky!

quote:

Originally posted by Aleta_fansince2001:
I no longer watch because I grew tired of the same 5 annoying comments by EVERY homebuyers and their condescending attitudes.

What drives me nuts is that instead of saying, "I don't like..." or "I prefer..." they say "I'm not a fan of..."

quote:

Originally posted by SoCalAngie:

quote:

Originally posted by Aleta_fansince2001:
I no longer watch because I grew tired of the same 5 annoying comments by EVERY homebuyers and their condescending attitudes.

What drives me nuts is that instead of saying, "I don't like..." or "I prefer..." they say "I'm not a fan of..."

Ding ding ding.

That one annoys me, too. Also, "I'm not sure I like..."

Maybe now they will cut back on the number of House Hunters episodes. I have pretty much quit watching HGTV at night and don't record nearly as much during the day.
House Hunters just goes on and on and on. Enough please!

Was anyone reallyyyyyyyyy surprised??? We still enjoy it other than the same lame remarks about double sinks so they won't 'fight', and the stainless/granite 'musts', and the have-2-have 'ballpark-sized' walk-n closets!!!

The granite must have's, especially on a tight budget, is my pet peeve. My son lives in a major metropolitan area and he and wife just purchased a beautiful new home but chose a less expensive counter top, since they were able to pick a few of the finishes. The counter tops resemble granite, but I don't remember the composition. They also saved money by having carpet in the family room and den, which is more comfortable than hardwood when you have children.

The kid's bedrooms are not huge, but adequate, because there is a great laundry room upstairs. My son and dil preferred that option for convenience. On house hunting shows, buyers are always degrading bedrooms - too small, tight, only good for an office. Sometimes you can't afford it all!! I don't care for my kitchen laundry area but not planning to move because of one factor.

I honestly thought the show was real. It wasn't until a post on this board mentioned that the show was fake that I went looking for more information which confirmed it. I used to watch the show but I quit as soon as I found out it was all staged. Interestingly enough, just this past week on WCVB Boston they had a story on the 5pm news about House Hunters being fake and how one family that appeared on the show didn't even look at homes on the market. They had already purchased their new home and the 2 other 'options' were actually family members and friends homes that weren't even on the market but they needed to get houses to pretend to be looking at for the show. HGTV/Producers of the show were well aware of everything and still went along with it. They actually had someone from HGTV on WCVB defending it and saying how people should still watch the show because you are still seeing the home owners buy their dream home. I have no interest in the show anymore.

quote:

Originally posted by Greg 30127:
I have to say that once it got to the point where 30% of the "husbands" on the show became obviously um, "very light in the loafers", it told me that some or many of the couples were either fake, or, there were an awful lot of desperate women out there getting married.

------
and if the show is in Atlanta, there's a 90% chance the couple will be ethnic and the music in the background will have a very slight hip/hop beat to it. (roll eyes). SIGH.

Wow. A h*m*phobia and r*cism double play. Well done, Greg 30127.

I read through all the posts and one of the recurring posts peeked my intrest. The "duh we know its fake, its tv you should expect it to be fake" But really should we be ok with this? I don't think so. My biggest pet peeve is "reality tv" with staged actors or staged events.

Perhaps they should show us real life people getting helped with design and home search and let us decide if we find it intresting ot boring. HGTV or any other network doesnt need to assume they need to spoon feed the public.

quote:

Originally posted by Kaiwyn:
I read through all the posts and one of the recurring posts peeked my intrest. The "duh we know its fake, its tv you should expect it to be fake" But really should we be ok with this? I don't think so. My biggest pet peeve is "reality tv" with staged actors or staged events.

Perhaps they should show us real life people getting helped with design and home search and let us decide if we find it intresting ot boring. HGTV or any other network doesnt need to assume they need to spoon feed the public.

Years ago HGTV explained the show's use of alternative properties. The primary problems were because homes the buyers did look at and did not select were no longer available or the listing agent did not want to tie up a property for an extended period of time for filming.

Viewers of the show have to remember that the 5 minute segment you see probably took the better part of a day to set up and film. Also in a hot market like the one when the show was first aired - most of the properties they did not choose were no longer on the market.

I think there is probably resistance from listing agents and home owners to have the film crew come in and shoot their property as an also ran. Not something I would want for a property I've listed.

Except for what a couple of posters who really dislike the show has written about the people purchasing -the people are real and have gone through the process.

There have been a couple of episodes filmed in my area and articles written about them and their home search. Much of it is quite real.

For myself - I would much rather watch HH and HHI than episodes of the competition shows, anything with Real at the beginning and much other so called reality television.

I first figured out it was fake when there were some pieces of furntiure that were to be picked up by the seller (the agent mentioned it) that were still there when they showed the family had moved in and had been in their old home- a couple of pieces were in the exact same place.

There is only one person who wites HHI- every single episode somebody says "ticks all the boxes". And the agent always says if they find something they must jump on it. I ahev found that housing prices are very inflated on most HHI episodes.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: professorc,

Ahhhhh! I didn't know this! I won't ever watch this show again...my pet peeve comment is "it's a little small" that they say 5 times an episode.

quote:

Originally posted by MsWildhack:

Wow. A h*m*phobia and r*cism double play. Well done, Greg 30127.

____________________________________________

MsWildhack, I happen to BE g*y and hence, how could I be "h*m*phobic"? Likewise, my partner is mixed r*ce, so how could I be "r*cist" as well?

Please think before you assume. My observations of that show were based on simply being observant with my eyes and ears - not being prejud*ce in any way. Please.

WHY DOES ANYONE EXPECT THESE TV SHOWS TO BE 'REAL"??
They are not documentaries; they are entertainment. They have to set up shots and move on; can't follow people around for weeks or months while they look at homes. And what difference does it make anyway? You can still watch and wonder which one they picked. Or not watch at all, which is what I have chosen to do.

I still enjoy HHI because I like to see inside houses in other countries. I don't care which one they pick or how much they pay. I just like seeing behind the curtains.

Don't feel cheated because HH is "fake". It's not fake, it is what it is. A TV show. I mean, do you think the actors on GLEE are really high schoolers?

Soosie: YOU GET IT!

quote:

Originally posted by Greg 30127:

quote:

Originally posted by MsWildhack:

Wow. A h*m*phobia and r*cism double play. Well done, Greg 30127.

____________________________________________

MsWildhack, I happen to BE g*y and hence, how could I be "h*m*phobic"? Likewise, my partner is mixed r*ce, so how could I be "r*cist" as well?

Please think before you assume. My observations of that show were based on simply being observant with my eyes and ears - not being prejud*ce in any way. Please.

So you said in the PM that I chose to ignore.

Catty remarks about husbands being "light in the loafers" and complaints about show participants from Atlanta all being black reveal a very ugly attitude that is all the sadder if what you now claim is true.

No apologies from me.

Ya think? for real?
lets face it what is real? the CSI's ? Survivor?
Bones? Etc....etc...etc...?
its called entertainment, living anothers life or fanasty or what ever LOL

without entertainment,are lives would be kinda boring,and the tv screen would be blank
ya think???

quote:

Originally posted by MsWildhack:

quote:

Originally posted by Greg 30127:

quote:

Originally posted by MsWildhack:

Wow. A h*m*phobia and r*cism double play. Well done, Greg 30127.

____________________________________________

MsWildhack, I happen to BE g*y and hence, how could I be "h*m*phobic"? Likewise, my partner is mixed r*ce, so how could I be "r*cist" as well?

Please think before you assume. My observations of that show were based on simply being observant with my eyes and ears - not being prejud*ce in any way. Please.

So you said in the PM that I chose to ignore.

Catty remarks about husbands being "light in the loafers" and complaints about show participants from Atlanta all being black reveal a very ugly attitude that is all the sadder if what you now claim is true.

No apologies from me.

I read Greg's initial post to mean that he felt the producers were playing to stereotypes, not that he was complaining about the participants in the show.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: 40kpaintchips,

quote:

Originally posted by Greg 30127:
MsWildhack, I happen to BE g*y and hence, how could I be "h*m*phobic"? Likewise, my partner is mixed r*ce, so how could I be "r*cist" as well?

Well, Mr. "LITL", sounds like you have some 'splainin' to do! (Joking, I'm joking...)

MsWildhack, though I enjoyed the verbiage of your response, I didn't agree with the sentiment. Merely pointing out characteristics of people doesn't necessarily make one a hater.

They seem to show this show all day all night, take it off pull out the old shows make over a room for $500.00 up date that show design on a dime designing for the sexies you have plenty of shows HGTV DO YOU READ YOUR MESSAGE BOARD, MUST NOT

The funny think about reality tv is that not one bit of it is reality!!! When I first heard that the homeowners had to have already purchased the house to be on this show..it really made me laugh. I still watch because I like the houses and I just like to laugh at the stupid comments these people make! My favorite is.." I don't like the color of the paint!" Seriously?? Buy a can of paint and paint it!! I have never moved to an apartment where I didn't repaint!! lol

I never really paid much attention to the whether the houses were empty or furnished. On the few times I watched the show -- even after finding out the entire search is fake -- I looked at bones.

Then someone pointed out that -- duh --- 90 percent of the time the house they 'choose' will be one that's empty.

Sure enough, every time I've remembered to notice that -- one that's already empty is the one they 'pick.'

quote:

Often everything moves much more quickly than we can anticipate, so we go back and revisit some of the homes that the family has already seen and we capture their authentic reactions.

::snort:: Yes- authentic. sounds legit.

msn said that the so called buyers were paid to fake house hunting $500.00 a piece or together? what a racket LOL

quote:

Originally posted by CC-IMO:
msn said that the so called buyers were paid to fake house hunting $500.00 a piece or together? what a racket LOL

I didn't read that article, but they might be given a stipend for participating. We have had a least 2 HH filmed here and both were very real buyers.

I love House Hunters and House Hunters International.I really do not care if they are fake or not.I tune in too check out the decorating done in the homes.

this is what I found hope it works

http://hookedonhouses.net/2010...use-hunters-on-hgtv/

http://voices.yahoo.com/the-to...v-shows-2138300.html

http://voices.yahoo.com/house-...t-1528131.html?cat=3

http://voices.yahoo.com/why-wa...rs-88945.html?cat=41

This message has been edited. Last edited by: CC-IMO,

I aafraid that I don't understand your post. All the links that you posted with the exception of the first one are articles on these programs that apparently were written to enhance and promote these programs.
I will agree that if you watch any of those programs you do it for different reasons, I watch HHI do see how much does a house cost in another country. that is my sole motivation. I really don't care about anything else.

these were posted for informational purposes only

what some one does with the info is up to them

I don't have a problem with HH's being staged in advance. They would be foolish to do it any other way. As most of you know, the real estate market can change dramatically from day to day, from moment to moment. Bottom line is, this is television, and most shows on HGTV and every other network have some aspect of "staging" or "fake" involved. I can think of a few very popular shows on other networks that give the appearance of being candid, what-you-see-is-what-you-get "reality TV" but in reality they are anything but.

reality stinks sometimes

but I am NOT giving up HHI, the scenery is what keeps me watching and some of those fabolous house LOL

This message has been edited. Last edited by: CC-IMO,

I really like HHI because it reminds me especially in Europe, how lucky we all are with our homes in the US. and the small prices that we pay for them.

For those of you who were aghast and upset at the fact that this show is not real, let's have a conversation about Santa Claus.