I was a "blue shirt" on the original. We did the Wofford home in Encinitas, CA. As a volunteer, I and others worked 20 hour days on the home during the week of shooting and then came back for 6 months after the cameras were off to fix all the things done quickly/poorly to make the show deadline. Unlike later shows, we did the work *with* the General Contractor and the planners and skilled folks who were part of the show - not just cheering audience in white hats and blue shirts.
The original show had Sears, etc. and the materials weren't cheap (I estimated almost $400K). I get the need to mention sponsors but it can be done more tactfully and less in-your-face.
What's missing? Faith. The original had references to God. We were contacted at a local church to volunteer and we prayed for the family, the workers, the effort. Most of us did not even want to be on camera. On the original crew Ty was young and crazy but *appeared* to have some actual construction skills. Paulie was a real good person who would show up in the middle of the night and thank the folks doing the work. Tracy and others were not fed lines in the intro but were free to react with compassion for the family and you could feel it and be motivated by it. The women on the original team had genuine faith and compassion -- question to HGTV: what did the originals all do so wrong that not one could even be a guest on your version? The original version had a balance where the HGTV version seems too reliant on a star who is missing something. All the actors as overly dramatic designers is kind of overdone in my opinion.
I watched all episodes and see a caffeinated attempt to capture the feel of the original but it comes off flat. I think the host somehow makes it about himself instead of the family, the story and the community.
My wife who also was a blue shirt made immediate observation:
I miss Ty.
My conclusion, "Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it."
p.s. I loved helping but it is heart-breaking to see how the new homes hurt the families who over-leverage their equity and then get foreclosed but better in my opinion to risk doing good than rationalize the potential negative as an excuse to not help. To that end I applaud HGTV for trying to do good and at the end of the day investing in some deserving families. It is tough to again remember how many people are struggling out there.
The original show had Sears, etc. and the materials weren't cheap (I estimated almost $400K). I get the need to mention sponsors but it can be done more tactfully and less in-your-face.
What's missing? Faith. The original had references to God. We were contacted at a local church to volunteer and we prayed for the family, the workers, the effort. Most of us did not even want to be on camera. On the original crew Ty was young and crazy but *appeared* to have some actual construction skills. Paulie was a real good person who would show up in the middle of the night and thank the folks doing the work. Tracy and others were not fed lines in the intro but were free to react with compassion for the family and you could feel it and be motivated by it. The women on the original team had genuine faith and compassion -- question to HGTV: what did the originals all do so wrong that not one could even be a guest on your version? The original version had a balance where the HGTV version seems too reliant on a star who is missing something. All the actors as overly dramatic designers is kind of overdone in my opinion.
I watched all episodes and see a caffeinated attempt to capture the feel of the original but it comes off flat. I think the host somehow makes it about himself instead of the family, the story and the community.
My wife who also was a blue shirt made immediate observation:
I miss Ty.
My conclusion, "Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it."
p.s. I loved helping but it is heart-breaking to see how the new homes hurt the families who over-leverage their equity and then get foreclosed but better in my opinion to risk doing good than rationalize the potential negative as an excuse to not help. To that end I applaud HGTV for trying to do good and at the end of the day investing in some deserving families. It is tough to again remember how many people are struggling out there.