Stuff on TV
-
Any of you ever watch the home improvement shows?
What I want to know is.....why do so many the home improvement TV channels have gay hosts, assistants, and designers? And who really believes you can re-fabricate and flip a house in 14 days or less and have anything worth a damn.
There was one good show where a guy (Barry Woods)with a notebook and some fancy software and his pretty hostess architect'd houses for makeovers for potential buyers. Anyone know what software they did that with?Edit: Changed the title; Didn't want to mess with Tom's thread.
-
Are you serious. Bob Villa, and Norm Abrams are gay.
trs -
Oh my gosh trs, you got me on that one
-
You Know I'm not talking about Norm. Norm is in a class all his own. Don't care for Villa at all, didnt even know he was on TV anymore.
-
Ya, you can still find Villa occasionally. It's been my experience that the gay guys are interior decorators, which I consider a different breed of cat than designers. With decorating apparently more flame is better.
As for the 14 day turn around, well with enough resources and 24 hours a day, a lot can be accomplished. Think about it, how many out there have gone from drywall to finished in a week. Around here we call it the "parade of homes". Just don't look to close.
trs -
I feel the need to apologize for my last post. It would be easy to read into it a great deal of things that I didn't intend. I mean't no disrespect to any one in the design field. If I offend anyone, please except my appology.
trs -
they usually don't mind.... i have been under the impression marketability means the males have to be the flippy wrist kind. I know and have worked with my share.
The shock factor has nothing to do with quality, the quality of the work on these shows is not anything a self preserving, self respecting craftsman would spend a minute considering. Budgets are always in danger of getting busted, and I watch some of the shows to see how many workers might be there from other countries.
The real eye-roller is clients pick up on TV faux pas, and bring them into the project as if they were proven methods. They then have to be rebutted strongly so they understand not to bring up the TV mentality again.
I would really like to see TV emphasize the work of master builders, and architects who orchestrated their projects from conception to finish. The ones who weren't subject to the design / build mentality. I know that sounds like I just contradicted myself, but by design build I refer to characteristics of a project that is neither fully designed, detailed nor planned, where the fine points of the project are left to be decided by the trades, and are rarely questioned.
There should be more Norms' on TV. -
You guys are really "tiptoeing thru the tulips" here...LOL!
-
wait till I git my cowboy boots on!
-
Has the series 'Grand Designs' migrated to the US? That seems to (usually) feature genuine architects, adventurous clients, and long-term projects, rather than quick turnaround interior design paintjobs. Of course, it always goes wrong, but that's what makes it good TV.
I'm not a fan of any 'makeover' shows, especially since they seem to make people think that all they need to be an interior designer is to have watched a couple of series' worth, and buy some MDF. Bizarrely, though, the biggest camp culprit in the UK (Laurence L. Bowen) isn't actually gay, despite what the dress sense would have you believe - he's married with a couple of kids!
I do have to say that 'extreme makeover' is quite entertaining, though. I have no idea what the budget is (it must be pretty large), but there is something so big, brash, and AMERICAN about it that it's pretty good fun.
-
I dont watch much TV, so there are probably several shows I dont know about and I havent heard of 'Grand Designs', but I will be looking for it.
Alex your second point is exactly right, there are plenty of extraordinary designers who are not playing for the other team. being my career is designing buildings I try to keep up with all the construction orientated media. SO instead of the idle tv time being sensational news or MTV I try to introduce my kids to HGTV or The other home improvement channel. My kids are influenced by (they like seeing things built) my program choice and their responses to the featured TV personalities are the catalyst for my query. Even they see home development/improvement stations are full of this.
Good day! -
There's a show on HGTV called "Dream House" or something similar (I think). They follow a custom home from concept to completion, and tend to do a good job showing some of the pitfalls and how they're overcome. My gripe is with Landscaper's Challenge- "Bob and Jill want a pool, patio, bbq island, fireplace, and a levitating marble cabana. They have a budget of $30,000 for labor and materials." And they never say the final real budget, OR what actual "retail" is for those projects! Cut my throat why don't you, HGTV!
-
Dream House was/is a great show. I haven't caught a version since the architect built his hillside contemporary near Boulder. I like that show. Defiantly "reality TV'
There was another show a couple years back, was all about the landscaping, the host ran around with a shovel and drew arcs in the dirt; twas a good program.
There is a architect designed, new house build show that was aired lately, where the project water system is very intense, the gray water, roof and ground runoff are all collected for irrigation, the project is eligible for or is qualified with LEED credits. The project seemed well coordinated and helps the public see the dynamic of better construction incorporated with green features. the reality of wish list and budget was also addressed. I could appreciate more of this type of professionalism exposed to the masses. -
@rhankc said:
...There was another show a couple years back, was all about the landscaping, the host ran around with a shovel and drew arcs in the dirt; twas a good program...
I remember that show. I really liked it. He was in Florida, I just cannot remember the name.
I always like to watch Gardening By the Yard with Paul James. Otherwise I am off to The Deadliest Catch and Dirty Jobs.
-
Paul James is good if a little corny. There was a really good show a while back called the City Gardener and it starred a British LD named Matt James. He did some great stuff, but when the network dragged him to America and shot a season here the show took a dive.
Getting back to one of the original thoughts in this thread, about interior designers and sexuality- I spent two years studying interior design. If you're single, male and straight, I HIGHLY recommend majoring in interior design. Just saying, is all.
Dave
Advertisement