'Love It Or List It': I Have a Bone to Pick With You
I’m a big fan of HGTV. To be honest, I feel like their probably one of the few cable specialty channels, that hasn’t given into reality TV. Yeah, I’m talking to you, Discovery, Animal Planet, Nat Geo, Travel Channel etc. What happened to you guys? I guess, HGTV was always some sort of reality TV, so there was no need to rebrand, but whatever the case, I commend you. Having said that, I have a few bones to pick with the show, Love It or List It.
I’m not quite sure why they feel the need to script a show like this, but they do, and it makes it feel manufactured and stiff. David and Hillary are experts, and anyone tuning in to HGTV is more interested in the final product than anything, so as far as I’m concerned they're pretend rivalry is unnecessary. And don’t think that the audience hasn’t figured out your formula, David. Show the clients a bunch of sub par homes and until they completely lose faith (or at least they try to act like it) and then wow them in the end with a perfect replica of just about everything they wanted. Personally, I would rather just see a bunch of perfect homes like the last one. And Hillary, do you not check anything before giving a quote? I understand a few things are impossible to determine until you’ve started work, but most people can guess a supporting wall just from glancing at it. It takes insulting the audience to a whole new level.
Yet, I could manage to overlook all of Hillary’s manufactured drama if the finished product reflected the promise she made. I’m still trying to figure out why everyone is supposed to have faith in her, when I’ve only seen one remodel fulfill all of the couple’s requests, and that was only because their budget was so large. The truth is, I want to believe in you, Hillary, but when the list of must-haves starts with 4 bedrooms that need to be remodeled, and I spend an hour watching it dwindle down to a very nice kitchen because the giant supporting wall was somehow overlooked in the design stage, I can’t help but feel frustrated. Which brings me to my next point.
I completely understand the frustration the clients feel on this show. I just spent the entire last paragraph venting about Hillary’s shortcomings and it’s not even my money being spent. However, these clients are so rude it’s hard for me to root for them. Am I wrong or is it safe to assume these people have seen the show? They should have some idea of what they’re getting into. And you know what? I’m not even going to pretend I don’t know their lack of respect isn’t scripted. Sometimes they’re comments are so gag-worthy; they could’ve only come from spoon-feeding. But it doesn’t matter because by the end of the episode, I don’t even want them to get the home of their dreams, anyway. Sometimes I wish Hillary would just storm out and leave them with a pile of wood and half a kitchen sink. But then, I guess that’s why I’m not an interior designer. But I digress. I just wish the producers wouldn’t spend so much time trying to create a hostile environment for most of the show, and spent more time figuring out how Hillary can complete the job she set out to do.
At the end of the day, the clients always appear satisfied with the final product, even if it is just a freshly stained garage floor, and David’s final home is always leaps and bounds above the rest, so the ends justify the means to an extent. My solution. I like to fast-forward to the end when I can. Thank you, DVR.
I’m not quite sure why they feel the need to script a show like this, but they do, and it makes it feel manufactured and stiff. David and Hillary are experts, and anyone tuning in to HGTV is more interested in the final product than anything, so as far as I’m concerned they're pretend rivalry is unnecessary. And don’t think that the audience hasn’t figured out your formula, David. Show the clients a bunch of sub par homes and until they completely lose faith (or at least they try to act like it) and then wow them in the end with a perfect replica of just about everything they wanted. Personally, I would rather just see a bunch of perfect homes like the last one. And Hillary, do you not check anything before giving a quote? I understand a few things are impossible to determine until you’ve started work, but most people can guess a supporting wall just from glancing at it. It takes insulting the audience to a whole new level.
Yet, I could manage to overlook all of Hillary’s manufactured drama if the finished product reflected the promise she made. I’m still trying to figure out why everyone is supposed to have faith in her, when I’ve only seen one remodel fulfill all of the couple’s requests, and that was only because their budget was so large. The truth is, I want to believe in you, Hillary, but when the list of must-haves starts with 4 bedrooms that need to be remodeled, and I spend an hour watching it dwindle down to a very nice kitchen because the giant supporting wall was somehow overlooked in the design stage, I can’t help but feel frustrated. Which brings me to my next point.
I completely understand the frustration the clients feel on this show. I just spent the entire last paragraph venting about Hillary’s shortcomings and it’s not even my money being spent. However, these clients are so rude it’s hard for me to root for them. Am I wrong or is it safe to assume these people have seen the show? They should have some idea of what they’re getting into. And you know what? I’m not even going to pretend I don’t know their lack of respect isn’t scripted. Sometimes they’re comments are so gag-worthy; they could’ve only come from spoon-feeding. But it doesn’t matter because by the end of the episode, I don’t even want them to get the home of their dreams, anyway. Sometimes I wish Hillary would just storm out and leave them with a pile of wood and half a kitchen sink. But then, I guess that’s why I’m not an interior designer. But I digress. I just wish the producers wouldn’t spend so much time trying to create a hostile environment for most of the show, and spent more time figuring out how Hillary can complete the job she set out to do.
At the end of the day, the clients always appear satisfied with the final product, even if it is just a freshly stained garage floor, and David’s final home is always leaps and bounds above the rest, so the ends justify the means to an extent. My solution. I like to fast-forward to the end when I can. Thank you, DVR.
