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Given the economy in the US is so terrible right now, I can't help feeling a bit frustrated with the shows like Selling New York or London, or Dina , and Million Dollar - Whatevers or Celebrity - Whatevers...Sure it's kind of escapist to see a few here or there - but I would like to see some shows that do a renovation on a lower class family home - even a trailer. Now THAT would be a REAL challenge...redoing a new construction is easy peasy but I'd like to see someone tackle a 1970's nightmare on a budget or shopping for a home on a 70K budget. Also, sometimes I just want to slap the people going at perfectly good "dated" kitchen cabinets with a sledgehammer...those could be donated to Habitat for Humanity if taken out properly - and then replaced with the oh so necessary granite countertops. I am not going to get into a battle of politics or haves vs have not's - just want to see some real situations and solutions for the common folk... | |||
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I hear ya, HQ. Almost all of network TV is full of characters living in extremely nice digs, worrying very little about $. Maybe people don't like seeing themselves reflected on the screen? I've called for a show featuring people who are downsizing out of necessity. Show how they determine what stuff they need to part with, then how to pick homes and (horrors) have children share rooms and step "down" to laminate counter tops, and then how they make the new home nicer on a limited budget. I mean as long as HGTV is into characters these days, why not let us get to know a bit more about people in these circumstances? I'd enjoy seeing the attitude adjustment as well as the transition. There sure are enough people out there for them to film. | |||
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santa_fe, that is an EXCELLENT idea for a show...I hope someone from the network is listening! | ||||
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Love, love, LOVE this idea!  | |||
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So let's give this show a name: * Less IS More * New Normal * Radical Departure | |||
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I like the "New Normal" | ||||
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Here. Here. I agree and I've often thought about this as well. I cringe when they SEEM to throw out old bathtubs that could be repainted or whatever, as well as some appliances and such. | ||||
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I also like "The New Normal" Or, "Delightfully Downsized" "Small & Stylish" "Down But Not Out - Downsizing with Flair" "Small-scale Style" "Let's Talk Small" | |||
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I like "The New Normal" the most, but I like Lavern's "Down But Not Out - Downsizing with Flair". It's long, though. Harder to do clever graphics with for the title (hey, I'm taking this all the way). Borrowing from Mia's suggestion, let's show re-glazing tubs and whatever they do to tile to make it look new again. Feature some of that snazzy laminate flooring that comes in planks and other new products that don't cost a bundle. I'll pitch this to HGTV as a 1-hour show, to incorporate all the phases. | |||
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I absolutely agree with all stated above. Back in the heyday of real estate, when prices were so high, HGTV showed rooms done for $500, Matt & Shari who would show us how to do it ourselves and DOD on $1000. Now that the real estate market and all other markets have hit bottom, what do they show us? Million $ Rooms - how disgusting. And other shows mentioned above The only thing written above that I disagree with is the phrase The New Normal. Normal what? Normal is an adjective, not a noun and it drives me crazy when the yogurt people use it. They think they are cute, but they are simply inaccurate. | ||||
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My dictionary says otherwise. Normal is also a noun. | |||
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OK, So how about "Back to Normal" (Surely those McMansions weren't the "norm?")This message has been edited. Last edited by: lavern2, | |||
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I went on the Chat Line and was told what we already know...that ideas and suggestions for shows has to go through a production company. I asked how we get the names of production companies and it was suggested that I do an online search through Google. Searching under "television production companies" would narrow the search field. I think I might try this and see if there are any results..like maybe an answer or an acknowledgement. I figure it can't hurt to try. I do wonder though if they also have a restriction regarding accepting ideas. | |||
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I agree with some of your ideas.I think HGTV should focus more on 'real people' shows with the focus being on middle class and not the uber rich.I will not watch House Hunters when the people are looking for million dollar homes nor will I watch Million Dollar Listing.I think they are just showing off and I have no need to see people like that. I do not think down sizing or showing people that are struggling is a good idea for a channel like HGTV. HGTV is about improving your life, environment and how you live.It is not about downgrading. Matt and Sheri were great! I wish they would bring their show back. I really miss it. I also miss Decorating Cents. I think budget decorating shows would be a hit! | ||||
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I don't see how making a change in your life based on economic necessity is not an improvement to your life, which, obviously, is not working out if you can't afford it. One can certainly improve their quality of life by downsizing. The focus isn't on struggling, but no longer struggling. Surely that's an improvement. It's also an incentive for others who keep wanting more, more, more to realize that all that stuff isn't necessary. Lavern, Back to Normal is good, too, and it's probably not even taken (The New Normal is).This message has been edited. Last edited by: santa_fe, | |||
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There was show on another channel about a family downdgrading,downsizing because the father lost his job.It was a very depressing show an the family was miserable.I would not watch a show like that. | ||||
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For the same reason the HGTV Dream House is not a trailer home, a show on downsizing would be a non-starter, IMO. That said, in the interest of sharing information, here is an official FAQ and answer from HGTV's corporate website on program proposals: "May I submit program ideas? Proposals for series and specials may be submitted by television production companies with national or major market production credentials. If you represent a national or major market production company, submit proposals by calling (865) 694-2700, ext. 2951." | |||
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Might be so. I'm someone who doesn't watch Dream House as the premise doesn't interest me. Who knows? Maybe there are more people who want to see something more realistic. | |||
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Oh, I don't know. HGTV made quite a fuss when that poor Spelling woman had to downsize. Seriously, though, I do think that it would be possible to do a program about downsizing that could put a positive spin on things. After all, a lot of people are interested in things like the small house and living simply movements from an ecological standpoint rather than financial necessity. ------------------------------------------------ I've been around...well, all right, I might not have been around, but I've been....nearby. -from "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" | |||
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Good point, MsW. The simplicity movement. There's a group that this show would appeal to. So the show could also feature people involved in voluntary simplicity. And let's not forget the empty nesters. Many of the same elements would apply: what to get rid of, how much money is saved, attitudes about the change, etc. I like this even more! | |||
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I don't understand why a show about downsizing would be depressing - Now something like THAT would be what I call "reality tv." It's interesting that we're discussing this, because one of my closest friends and her hubby just "downsized." They are NOT in foreclosure, nor have they lost jobs... ...They just realized that they simply don't need their 2100 S.F house - since they're empty-nesters now, and that the hubby is having some problems with his knees and his back, and they wanted a smaller ranch home. Hubby and I visited them just this week for dinner at their *new* place and it was lovely. Yes, it's considerably smaller, and they don't have the 2-car garage, the game room, the den, and the half bath... ...But, they LOVE it - and isn't that what matters the most? I think a program that focuses on purging and de-cluttering the "old" place, while organizing and decorating the "new" smaller place would work and be inspirational for others. | |||
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Good suggestions, people. About the only realistic shows on now are Shop That Room, Meg's show, Income Property, Brothers on Call. and Elbow Room. I have had enough of these 20 somethings that can't live in a neighborhood where you can see the neighbors, have to have granite and stainless steel, don't even want to paint, don't like the current owners furniture (duh - they are moving and taking it with them) and want the seller to pay all of the closing costs - if you don't have the closing fees, buy a cheaper house. I do like to watch Selling New York - it is fun to see how the other half lives. I am done with the shows that have to take a sledge hammer to everything - it is not amusing anymore. Need Sarah, Pierce, and the gal that did Pure Design. Bring back the reruns if you have to. As for any gardening shows on HGTV - I have given up. | ||||
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Kinda sad that watching people change their lives for the better would be considered "depressing". | |||
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I would love to see an informative show about organizing, downsizing and simplifying, but you know what would happen to the idea on today's HGTV. They would turn it into some TLC-type fake drama show. HGTV seems to have lost the ability to produce a show that isn't, as they term it, character-driven. | ||||
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They use to have shows for the "lesser" people like Decorating Cents, This Small Space, Sell my Place, etc. You know how the rich are, they want to show shows that "their kind" watch....I am so mad at the giveaways. Another rich person wins a home and 100K...I was hoping to win and move out of my car! | ||||
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Sigh. So true, so true. | |||
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Life IS sometimes truly depressing and if we're doing "reality" shows like the ones that are out of most people's income range why not a little dose of reality showing folks who are doing badly and trying to make a go of it with less but still keeping some style - which isn't quite THAT depressing - they're getting through it. I just think that almost EVERY show right now deals with budgets that are out of the range of most of the average folks I know (guess I & the company I keep are low rent LOL)... I like all of the input and suggestions that everyone's made. Good to get opinions out there... | ||||
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I agree with most of the posts on here. Some of us out here with not huge budgets also would like to upgrade and modernize our homes, so it would be great to watch a show that we can actually relate to. I don't find that depressing at all. What I find depressing are the people living in million dollar homes, and some of the spoiled young couples who want their dream home immediately. Also, I'd like to see some older people going to "over 55" communities and see how that is. | ||||
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