The network?s ?reality? offerings should look more like reality The last episode of the HGTV juggernaut Fixer Upper aired April 3. It followed the usual formula: The Gainses (pragmatic Joanna and goofy, lovable Chip) and their clients (in this case, a Christian rock musician and his wife) pick a house (this part is scripted; the house is already purchased at the time of filming); the Gainses come up with their shiplap-laden rustic modern designs; work begins; something goes wrong (drama!); the thing that goes wrong is fixed; and finally, the house is finished and everybody is happy.
No formal goodbyes were made on air, the sacred formula thus remaining unbroken for five full seasons. Why" Because it works, and HGTV knows it. As the New York Times recently pointed out, 19 of HGTV?s new shows follow the Fixer Upper recipe: renovation dramas hosted by endearing pairs from ?real America.? These shows have been successful for many reasons: They focus on cities, they offer stories of transformation, and they create a narrative of historicity and authenticity that is comforting to viewers in a politically charged America. HGTV has been thriving off of stories of sledgehammer-driven makeovers for quite a while, but these narratives are becoming increasingly worn and complicated amid heated debates about the role of property flipping in urban displacement. And the idea that renovation is necessary for everyone does American homeowners a disservice. So, as a thought exper...