Do you love reality TV? The newest shows take place in homes rather than the jungle. What are they? Why it's reality TV for home decorating of course! Find out more about the most popular shows on TV.
ABC's "EXTREME MAKEOVER: HOME EDITION" really is extreme! Applicants tell their family story and are selected by need, sincerity, and appeal. The first family of five was sent on their first-time-ever family vacation in the Bahamas while carpenters, landscapers, architects, decorators, painters, tilers, flooring experts and neighbors did a 4-month renovation in 7 days. Tears of joy were on everyone’s face, homeowners and workers alike, when they returned home for the unveiling.
"WHILE YOU WERE OUT" on Discovery, chooses a homeowner who arranges to send his or her partner out of town for a few days. This gives the show’s talented designers time to create a new look for the home. In the meantime, the absent party is surreptitiously videotaped during their getaway, providing information for a pop-quiz during the show. Once the getaway is over, the unsuspecting spouse returns home to find a room transformed. Will they like it? Stay tuned!
On "TRADING SPACES," neighbors, once friendly, exchange house keys in order to transform one room in the other person’s home. In just two days, designers and carpenters assist the teams as they work their magic before the cameras. When the clock runs out, it is time for the BIG REVEAL. Not all homeowners are thrilled, but they are always surprised
Husbands are pitted against wives, roommates against one another, and girlfriends against boyfriends when they’re put through a complete organizational makeover on The Discovery Channel’s "CLEAN SWEEP." A team of designers, organizational experts, do-it-yourself gurus, and neat-freaks bring about dramatic room transformations and try to change the psychology of the clutter offenders. A yard sale of both prized possessions and a lot of junk brings in a little pocket money.
What to do when newlyweds have to decide which of their personal possessions goes into the new household? "MERGE" on Lifetime TV helps them separate the trash from the treasure. Each spouse is allowed to “protect” a favorite item, but the rest is merged into the new space, ground up in a wood chipper, or hauled away to charity. What's our favorite part? Feeding junk into the wood chipper and seeing the newlyweds watch a video of it.
A new entry is "HOUSE RULES" which debuted on Reality World. Three teams of amateur home remodelers are pitted against one another. Only one team will win the deed to the house they’ve renovated. To determine which team works on which house, the teams must find their welcome mats, deeds and keys during a timed obstacle course. The final episode will announce a winner chosen by audience vote. What a Christmas present for one lucky family!
