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Archive through September 07, 2004

The TVClubHouse: Other Reality Shows ARCHIVES: Archives for 2004-2: Renovate your Family: Archive through September 07, 2004 users admin

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Texannie
Member

07-16-2001

Thursday, September 02, 2004 - 5:20 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Renovate Your Family debuts tonight.
Dr. Phil's son gets to host his own show starting tonight when FOX debuts Renovate Your Family at 8 p.m. ET. The series makes over everything about the family, from their house to their emotional issues. Because FOX is having trouble finding families to exploit, er, renovate, the first family featured will be familiar; the Biggins previously appeared on FOX's Trading Spouses. A show producer tells USA TODAY that getting on the show "is like winning the lottery. We do everything from the dog to the truck to the husband." Jay McGraw says "You can rebuild a house in seven days, but you can't rebuild a family in seven days. But they try: "We did a show in Chicago, and the day we got there, the father smoked 80 cigarettes. The day we left, he smoked nine. It wasn't just a health issue for him, it was for the entire family." If this sounds appealing and you live in the LA area, FOX is actively seeking another family. Here are the details:

...To be considered, the family must own a free standing home in the area (no townhouses, trailers, condos, mobile homes or apartments) and not have any children under 5 years old. They are currently seeking pack-rats, families with phobias, adoption stories, families looking to reunite with estranged member, returning Iraq solders...any family with a story that can be cured / fixed in 7 days.

Interested families can send their information along to Familycasting@rocketsciencelabs.com or myfamilyisnumber1@hotmail.com to be considered and receive more information. ...

OPEN CASTING CALL FOR FOX TV's "RENOVATE MY FAMILY"
Jillian's located @ Universal Citywalk
Thursday September 2nd, 2004
Time: 12 pm - 6 pm

http://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/archives/reality_tv_shows/2004_Sep_01_renovate_my_family

Texannie
Member

07-16-2001

Thursday, September 02, 2004 - 5:21 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I watched this last night. It's kind of a combo of Extreme Makeover House and Queer Eye.
The Biggins were hysterical! I hope they keep up with the healthy eating programs.

Essence
Member

01-12-2002

Thursday, September 02, 2004 - 6:56 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I enjoyed the show. I've never watched Extreme Makeover House so I couldn't believe all the stuff they got. I love the home, but it seems kind of out of place in their neighborhood. Six tv monitors in the kitchen... dog house air conditioner... they got hooked up. Good for them. I love the Biggins family.

Roxip
Member

01-29-2004

Thursday, September 02, 2004 - 6:59 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I don't know...I felt like the Biggins family came across kind of whiny and uncooperative. They are funny, to be sure, but if I was getting a new home and tons of new stuff I think I would have "gotten with the program" a little more optimistically.

But I thought Anthony came across very well this time - he seemed to really embrace the changes and his love for his wife is truly sweet.

Texannie
Member

07-16-2001

Thursday, September 02, 2004 - 7:18 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I thought it seemed out of place for the neighborhood. I always think of resale, but then again, they really don't need to move now! LOL
I would worry that they are now a target for robbery.
I didn't think the mother was going to survive the front door..even Jay seemed worried.

Jasper
Member

09-14-2000

Thursday, September 02, 2004 - 8:11 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I taped this by accident.

I would like to see a Biggins family now (if this was taped some time ago). I thought Mela was going to have a heart attack.

Do they still live there? (I would imagine there taxes would have gone up substantially) Did Mela go to nursing school? Have they done anything about their health?

Texannie
Member

07-16-2001

Thursday, September 02, 2004 - 8:15 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Did anyone notice that the kids called the parents by their first names? For some reason that really bugged me! LOL

Mamie316
Member

07-08-2003

Thursday, September 02, 2004 - 8:16 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I loved how they called each other Mr. Biggins or Mrs. Biggins.

Sillycalimomma
Member

11-13-2003

Thursday, September 02, 2004 - 8:19 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I watched this and for some reason it sparked so many thoughts into my head. I mean-here we go again-another "renovate an exsisting home" show. How many of these are there on TV these days?! I mean really how much money are these networks and companies shelling out to redo someones home when there are THOUSANDS of people and families right here in America that don't even have a home?
I understand that it is for entertainment purposes, but I think I would want to watch even more for someone to find families who really really could use the help. Millions must of been poured into that one house alone-can you imagine how many "simple" homes could have been built for the homeless? Or families in crisis? Ok-i'll get off my soapbox now

that being said-I enjoyed watching the show-but can someone explain to me why these kids were calling their parents by their first names and not mom/dad? Did anyone else notice that?

Scorpiomoon
Member

06-06-2002

Thursday, September 02, 2004 - 8:45 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I mean really how much money are these networks and companies shelling out to redo someones home when there are THOUSANDS of people and families right here in America that don't even have a home?

Hear, hear!

I agree! The last thing needed is another show like this when so many people have so little.

And Jay hosting the show is, to me, just odd.

Lilfair
Member

07-09-2003

Thursday, September 02, 2004 - 11:25 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Texannie, I notice the first mane thing too and it bugged me as well.

I think I either read or it was mentioned on the Trading Spouses show that the kids aren't all from this marriage???

Roxip
Member

01-29-2004

Thursday, September 02, 2004 - 11:34 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
You know what made me upset...they kept whining about how hot it was - and I live in Dallas and we've only had one day this summer over 100 degrees...the coolest summer we've had in years!

And I thought the home renovation was too close to Extreme Home Makeover and Jay McGraw doesn't have near the charm of Ty Pennington...LOL!

Cathie
Member

08-16-2000

Thursday, September 02, 2004 - 1:10 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Why is FOX recycling the Biggins family for this show? They won $50,000 in the Trading Spouses show (some of which was supposed to be for a downpayment on a new house) and a month later are chosen for this? I'm sure the time frame is different in real life, and there was more than a month inbetween, but why choose them again?

Roxiep, I agree about the temps--it made me wonder if they filmed it last summer instead of this, because we had some really hot days then.

Cathie
Member

08-16-2000

Thursday, September 02, 2004 - 1:19 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Hmmm...I checked the Dallas appraisal district web site and the home they have listed is the old one so the new one must be very recent. Here is the info about their old home:

http://www.dallascad.org/AcctDetailRes.aspx?ID=00000345925000000

Roxip
Member

01-29-2004

Thursday, September 02, 2004 - 1:55 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I read an article in the Dallas Morning News which seemed to show that they did the work on the house this summer. I'll go back and check. I pasted the following article below...sorry its kind of rough but I don't know how to clean up!

Pulling back the scrim on reality TV

Filming in Dallas reveals the behind-the-scenes machinations of creating new 'Family Time'


05:49 PM CDT on Monday, August 16, 2004


By MANUEL MENDOZA / The Dallas Morning News



The grass is greener on the Biggins side of the fence. And not just metaphorically.

The Oak Cliff family won a new house as part of a Fox reality-makeover show, including new sod for the front yard. Then just to make sure it would look all bright and shiny on TV, the production crew spray-painted the grass a deeper shade.To unearth these and other behind-the-scenes details, Reality Bites braved Fox's vigorous security net. It was led by a rent-a-cop so enthusiastic she even corrected our phone manners as we talked an L.A. publicist into letting us onto the outdoor set.

The production company had taken out a permit that turned Inca Drive into a private road for the big reveal: Anthony Biggins, his wife Al-Mela and their three children arriving at their mini-manse for the first time. (The family had already starred in another Fox reality series, Trading Spouses: Meet Your New Mommy.)

Was the network hiding how the sausage is made? Mostly it was trying to preserve the particulars for the Sept. 7 premiere of Family Time, or at least until on-air promotions inevitably give those particulars away.

Secret No. 1 – There's a lot of faked-up stuff going on in reality shows. You may have figured that out by watching. But even the crew on Family Time got confused.

Two weeks ago, as the production prepared for the Bigginses' return, a scrim depicting their old house was erected in front of their new one. After family members arrived in a series of limousines, host Jay McGraw crowed, "OK, guys, take it away!"

And on his cue, production assistants started to remove the billboard-size reproduction.

But Mr. McGraw – son of TV's Dr. Phil McGraw – was only saying the line for the cameras. The director wasn't actually ready for the scrim to be taken away. That was the next scene.

Secret No. 2 – Street crowds that gather for reality shows such as Family Time are directed where to stand and how to express themselves. This creates more filmable moments. Hooting and clapping were welcome, for instance. But kazoos, because they're so loud, were discouraged.

"I'm going to be taking you where we need the pictures," a crew member told the impromptu extras. "We may ask you to cheer and applaud."

Scores of friends and neighbors happily played along, though a few drifted off as assurances that the Bigginses would be rolling up in five minutes turned out to be wrong by hours.

Secret No. 3 – It's hard to be so secret when your production takes over a neighborhood. The block leading up to the Bigginses' street was lined with vehicles, and nearly every yard on the block was covered in trailers, camera rigs and gawkers. As long as you weren't press, you could come and go as you pleased.

It took all day to set up and shoot the reveal, and some of the production assistants were there just to make sure people stayed comfortable. One woman kept coming around with lemonade and water – the weather was blazing hot – while others attended to suffering crew members under an impromptu first-aid tent.

Secret No. 4 – Reality TV can be surreal even before it's edited into a show.

Among the designers and construction workers waiting to greet the Biggins family were 26-year-old triplets Jaclyn, Erica and Nicole Dahm, famous for posing together in Playboy. They apparently had hammered a few nails.

But seeing three identically tanned, tank-topped, look-alike blondes in a mostly black section of Oak Cliff was a sight gag that will probably look perfectly normal on reality TV.


Texannie
Member

07-16-2001

Thursday, September 02, 2004 - 1:59 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Well, I am down in Houston, and we haven't had many 100 degree days, but we have had few with the heat index well over 100. My dh is in the home building business and would just be soaked.
They sure looked sweaty. Plus being in a no a/c house for hours on in, that's hot.


Were the triplets the girls from that other home remodeling show where they competed as teams????

Scorpiomoon
Member

06-06-2002

Thursday, September 02, 2004 - 2:39 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
But seeing three identically tanned, tank-topped, look-alike blondes in a mostly black section of Oak Cliff was a sight gag that will probably look perfectly normal on reality TV.


I saw the triplets standing in the crowd during the reveal. They looked totally out of place.

Man, trust Fox to take an opportunity to do a reality show and make it as tacky as possible.

Roxip
Member

01-29-2004

Thursday, September 02, 2004 - 2:43 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I agree - it has been hot for a little while this summer (although we don't get as much humidity here as you do in Houston) - but it hasn't been over 100 degrees officially...but that's splitting hairs isn't it, because HOT IS HOT!

Texannie
Member

07-16-2001

Thursday, September 02, 2004 - 3:16 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
The triplets were part of the work crew!!!

Yep, it's been damn hot Roxi! I remember when I lived in Dallas being so stunned by the dry hot wind.

Mssilhouette
Member

07-11-2001

Friday, September 03, 2004 - 1:29 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Um let's be frank about the Triplets. All I saw them do was a "sexy" cement shot. Then one hammering up boards on a wall shot. To be honest they didn't even seem as if they were really doing any work.

C'mon now 3 blond triplets who were in playboy working with guys who have to put up a house in 1 week? Yeah that's really smart, I'm sure lots of work would get done that way.



Mamie316
Member

07-08-2003

Friday, September 03, 2004 - 2:58 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
It might be the only way my husband would build a house.

Hamsterlady
Member

07-03-2003

Monday, September 06, 2004 - 6:01 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Coming on now in the East/Central at it's regular night & time.

Tonight's covers the Rozier's (sp?). They're the family that has a teenage son that was disabled from a snowboarding accident and is in a wheelchair now.

It looks like a good one. :-)

Hamsterlady
Member

07-03-2003

Monday, September 06, 2004 - 7:01 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Oh man! Tonight's show was so great. And it's a 2-parter! Last part of the Rosier's is next week.

I can't wait to see Gary's (the dad) test results back and can't wait to see the son out on the water again.

Tonight's show was tons better than the last one.

Puppylov3
Member

01-26-2004

Monday, September 06, 2004 - 7:12 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
first time i've seen it - but I really liked it!!!

Mssilhouette
Member

07-11-2001

Tuesday, September 07, 2004 - 11:01 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
It's getting better. Like a more indepth version of Extreme home makeover. I thought it might be a little hokey but this family needs the help espcially with the father son relationship.

Looks like Dr Phil JR has a hit on his hands. Okay is it me or does Jay McGraw eyes riviting, they're gorgous!...sometimes i forget to watch anything else. And I'm not really an eye person.