Dear HGTV: Stop the oversharing madness
I like many HGTV show hosts: Mina and Karen of Good Bones; Erin and Ben of Home Town; Jon and Mary of the new Two Steps Home. I enjoy seeing their interactions as they renovate homes. What I don’t like — actually, I despise — is the TMI home life scenes. No, I don’t think seeing your toddler crack an egg is cute. And I for sure don’t want to go behind the scenes of your IVF cycles. If I want drama I’ll watch daytime soaps.
Who cares where twice-divorced Christina Haack (an appropriate last name, TBH) went to college, or that she likes to job on the beach? (Note: not where she graduated. Where she went. Apparently to be near the beach.)
It seems like the slice-of-family-life scenes started with Chip and Joanna Gaines and Fixer Upper. The irony there is they supposedly quit their popular show to spend more time with their kids. Now, Joanna oversees multiple shows, a restaurant, and the Magnolia network. 🙄
While I’m on the subject of HGTV shows, who on earth comes up with the treacly background music between scenes, with what have to be the most banal lyrics ever written? I appreciate keeping some studio musicians employed, but really? Try some instrumental music. It’ll save my enamel.
I don’t recall any of this nonsense in the days of Small Spaces, Big Style or Designing Cents (I miss them!). Is this the influence of social media? If so, it’s an unfortunate one.
Get back to the design.
