Everyday there was a show just as good as the day before. OH! I miss those days!!
What happened? I can't turn on the channel anymore. I am always looking for new design shows but all I ever find is property shows.
That is why I was so excited when Layla and Kevin from The Lettered Cottage did a pilot for HGTV. I did a post on it here. Then I got discouraged when I found out they did not accept it. COME ON HGTV!!! You need them! The production company is going to send it to other networks to see if they will pick it up.
I have been watching more of the DIY Network lately. At least when I get the chance to sit down and watch a little TV. The surprise....there are design shows on DIY Network. Imagine that. Is HGTV trying to push us to that network. I know they are related so maybe that is what they are trying to do. I don't get it.
So I ask you.......DIY Network or HGTV? Which one do you prefer?
Maybe the pilot will go on to the DIY Network
15 comments:
I am enjoying watching Matt and Shari again (of "Room by Room" fame on their great new show "Around the House" on PBS. I haven't seen all the episodes yet, but it reminds me so much of the old HGTV that I used to love.
I remember those days too! I first started using gesso bc of Christopher Lowell. I will say some of the property shows give me good ideas. I used to like Lynette Jennings too. Some of the best shows seemed to have come from Canada.
Lorraine
Ah Christopher Lowell. Hey I met Matt and Shari at a gas station once here in the Cleveland area, where they are from. I was so star struck, lol. I didn't really like their show though. Shhh. We don't get DIY, but I've been thinking of paying the extra fee to get it as we are tackling more projects around the home. I agree, every time I turn on HGTV its a property show. I enjoy This Old House on PBS too.
Well, having worked for both, I can shed a little light on your quandry. HGTV and the DIY Network are both owned by Scripps Network. So is Fine Living - remember when they had all the best designers on their channel......before they became all about food? Ugh, miss that line up.
HGTV entered the realm of "reality shows" with drama, which thrive on every other network. They tested out a few of the realtor shows, complete with all the drama, and the focus groups went gaga over them. So, they introduced more. Ratings went up. Again, they produced more and more because viewers couldn't get enough of the drama. Good design shows were going by the wayside very quick. They thrive on the drama of shows like Design Star too. They love that viewers lash out at each other because it creates hype, which in turn creates more viewers. I raised the question about how so many on the HGTV message boards - their OWN boards mind you - were expressing so much disappointment in the new line up, and how so many people wanted the old type of line up back. Their response? "That message board represents less than 1% of our viewership so we don't give any credibility to the posts on it." (Well ok then.) Ratings are the number one decision maker in a network's lineup, because like it or not, majority rules. I guess all of us who want great programming back are in the minority.
At this point, several of the design shows went over to the DIY Network, or went into "te vault" (which incidentally is where all pilots that aren't picked up end up, and all the remaining episodes of a fledgiling show that got canceled.) The DIY Network is still about how-to shows and less about drama. They will take more risks on shows than HGTV because shows are produced cheaper for DIY, even though they are both owned by the same company.
I do know the producer of the show for Layla and Kevin is a very good one, and HGTV listens to him. He's one of their finest, and they trust his judgement. (He's the same producer that produced 2 of the shows I was a designer on, and I got to work with him for over a year.) However, he (or any other producer) can take them the best show anyone could put together, and the development team could still say no. Every programming decision lies in the hands of the development team until they get out of their "maiden period". (I know, I was put through 4 makeovers before they would allow me to be filmed for anything other than a test show!)
It's all about what brings in the money - period.
The sad thing is that we will never see the great design programs of yesteryear on HGTV any more. At one time I seemt o recall them talking about doing an online series of shows for the shows that didn't make it to air, but I never heard anything beyond just talk of it. I wish they would do that because then it might show them how popular those shows would be again. Till then, my choice is the DIY Network. :)
that's "tHe vault" not "te vault". I wouldn't want you trying to figure out a french interpretation for "te vault". lol
I used to be the same way. I loved HGTV and all of the old designers. Christopher was on the Discovery Chanel and I just couldn't get enough of watching him. Also, I loved Kitty Barthalomew.
Now, I never watch HGTV. It's just the same old boring sell this house, etc. Blah!
I'm not sure who they are directing their programming to.
It's really sad.
hugs
Sissie
Truth? I don't watch either of them. lol They bore me now.
I thought I was the only one who was fed up with HGTV programming! The only thing I ever seem to find on that channel lately is Mike Holmes. I used to like his show but finally reached my limit. Now I turn to my favorite bloggers for design inspiration :D
Thank God for bloggers! You are right, the blogs are the best. I do like to watch some TV though and be entertained with design.
Oh I used to LOVE HGTV! I barely watch it now because I can't stand all the drama with the reality type shows they have now. I seem to get most of my inspiration from blogs these days!
-Shelley
I still watch a few shows on HGTV and DIY, mostly re-runs of older shows. I really like the Canadian shows with Candace Olsen and Sarah Richardson, but Sarah doesn't have a show right now. I watch some of the real estate shows, mainly those showing remodeling and redesign. Like most of you, I get my design inspiration now from the wonderful design blogs out there. I salute all of you great women....keep up the good work! HGTV, your're being replaced!
Jackie
Candice is my favorite! Jackie I think it is wonderful that we have a place like the blogs to ignite our creativity. I'll keep hoping that HGTV will get it right again!
I agree with you. I was an avid fan of HGTV early on....now I barely watch. The older programs were the best. My husband used to tease me about "watching the paint dry!" but I loved it. Matt and Shari. I also used to watch Carol Duval, but don't know where she is anymore.
Wish they would change back to the old format and then I would watch.
Happy Easter.
Peace and Blessings,
Nancy
Every time I prepare to paint a piece I hear Christopher in my head saying "just because it's wood, doens't mean it's good".
Love Christopher!!!
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