Flashback Friday- Tiny House Hunters (2014-Present)

It has been said that bigger is not always better.

Tiny House Hunters has aired on HGTV since 2014.

The premise of the show is as follows: a home owner looking to downsize to a much smaller home, known as tiny homes. The subject(s) of the episode are shown three potential options. At the end of the episode, one home is chosen.

What I like about this show is that it proves that one does not need a huge home to be happy. Sometimes a smaller home is best.

I recommend it.

Throwback Thursday-Meet the Barkers (2005-2006)

Part of being a celebrity is constantly being in the spotlight. There is no better way to stay in the spotlight than a reality show.

Meet the Barkers aired on MTV from 2005-2006. Starring Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker and his then-wife Shanna Moakler, the show took viewers into the private lives of the program’s subjects.

The problem with the sub-genre of the private lives of celebrities within the umbrella of “reality shows” is that they have been done to death. If a program wanted to last, it needed to stand out in some way. Meet the Barkers did not, which is why it only lasted two seasons.

Do I recommend it? Not really.

Flashback Friday-Beachfront Bargain Hunt (2013)

For some of us, the dream is own a house on the beach. Waking up to the rising sun and walking into the sand just steps from your front door is the vision of the perfect day.

Beachfront Bargain Hunt has aired on HGTV since 2013. The structure of each episode is the same as any other house hunting program on the channel. The subjects are looking for a new home. The difference is that they are looking for houses on or near the beach and they are on a limited budget. After being shown three different homes, a decision is made as to which house to purchase.

I don’t watch this show very often. But when I do, I feel like I am watching it as wish fulfillment. For me, it’s almost a what if scenario. What if I was able to purchase one of these homes? Where would I purchase it and which house would I choose?

Do I recommend it? I am leaning toward yes.

Throwback Thursday-Fear Factor (2001-2006)

If there is one thing that holds us back, it is what we fear.

Fear Factor originally aired on NBC from 2001-2006. Hosted by Joe Rogan, the premise of the show is that contestants attempt to complete physically or emotionally daunting extreme challenges. If they fail to complete the challenge or their fear gets in the way, they are eliminated. At the end of each episode, the winner walked away with $50,000.

We all have to face our fears at some point. However, doing so for the chance to be on TV and win $50,000 cheapens that challenge of facing our fears. I would rather face my fears because I need to, rather than doing so for a potential payday or 15 minutes of fame.

Do I recommend it? Absolutely Not.

Flashback Friday-Joan & Melissa: Joan Knows Best? (2011-2014)

Mothers and daughters, if we are lucky, have a rock solid relationship.

Joan & Melissa: Joan Knows Best? aired from 2011-2014. This reality show took the viewer in the lives and careers of the late Joan Rivers and her daughter Melissa.

It was a standard reality show whose focus is the private lives of celebrities. What made it slightly stand out was it’s stars. There was only one Joan Rivers, which helped in a genre that is mostly brain dead.

Do I recommend it? Maybe.

Throwback Thursday-Marriage Boot Camp (2013-Present)

Relationships, especially marriage is not easy. It requires communication, patience and understanding.

Marriage Boot Camp has aired on WEtv since 2013. The premise of the show is as follows: five couples whose marriage is on the rocks move into a house together. The purpose of this temporary move is to determine if their relationship is worth saving. While living in the house, they go through a series of exercises with marriage counselors to determine if they will stay together or call it a day.

In most cases, the decision to end your relationship is complicated, messy, private and emotional. It’s not exactly something that I would flaunt for the whole world to see. That is the essence of this show. In the few moments of this program that I have watched, I have to wonder if the couples are really having issues or are they in it for the money and the fame that goes with being on TV?

Do I recommend it? Absolutely not.

Flashback Friday- The Hills (2006-2010)

We all know that so-called “reality shows” are not real. The question is, is the show “real” enough to bring in viewers?

The Hills aired on MTV from 2006-2010. A spin-off of Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County, the show followed the lives and careers of four young women living in Los Angeles.

The only good thing about this show was that the song sung over the opening credits is sung by Natasha Bedingfield. I watched enough of this show to know that it was as fake as fake could be. Some critics accused the show of being a nighttime drama labelled as a reality show. Frankly, I could not agree more.

Do I recommend it? Not really.

Throwback Thursday- Property Brothers: Buying + Selling (2012 to Present)

The process of preparing your home to be sold so you can buy another requires that the homeowner put their best home foot forward.

Property Brothers: Buying+ Selling has aired on HGTV since 2012. The premise of the program is that brothers Drew and Jonathan Scott step in to help the subject of each episode with the home buying process. But before the house can be sold, it requires some sort of renovation. While this renovation is being done, the homeowners are looking at potential new homes. At the end of each episode, the homeowner’s current home (post renovation) is sold and they will be moving into a new home.

Anyone who has read this blog knows that I have mixed feelings about the reality genre in general. This show, however, I like. It has enough of a high stakes drama to it, but it is not so derogatory that I feel my brain cells dying while I am watching it.

I recommend it.

Flashback Friday-Insane Pools (2015-Present)

For some, having your standard square shaped pool on their property is just fine. But for others, they want a little more when it comes to their pool. That is where Lucas Lagoons comes in.

Since 2015, the crew at Lucas Lagoons has been creating fantastic pools for their clients on the Animal Planet show Insane Pools. This reality program follows Lucas Congdon and his staff as they meet with clients and create the pools of their client’s dreams.

This show is an interesting one for me. As a writer and a human being, I’ve always been curious about the creative process for any artist. Creating these pools requires a certain amount of artistry and talent. It’s not just digging a hole in the ground, filling it with cement and then filling it with water. It takes a creative mind to create the kinds of pools that will wow clients and keep them swimming in their pools for years to come.

I recommend it.

Flashback Friday-Kids Baking Championship (2015-Present)

Excellence in a specific area in adulthood requires years of hard work and study. Excellence in this same area as a child is something to cherish.

Kids Baking Championship has aired on Food Network since 2015. Hosted and judged by Duff Goldman and Valerie Bertinelli, this competition reality show puts its young contestants through their paces. Judged on their dishes based on presentation, taste, and quality, at the end of the season, one contestant is named the winner.

I don’t watch this show very often, but when I do, I am impressed. The level of skill, passion, and talent that these kids have is impressive. I also appreciate that because of the age of the contestants, there is a gentler approach to the competition.

Do I recommend it? Yes.