Is Bravo the Next HGTV?

Filed under: Famous Homes, Design, etc, News & Trends, Celebrity Homes

Martha's network is a flop. So is Oprah's. And Bravo seems poised to win with a new crop of lifestyle programming. We assess the current roster of home shows -- and offer some makeover advice of our own.

Bravo recently announced that fast-talking house-flipper Jeff Lewis is getting a new reality show, and this time he's playing shrink. (At least he knows a great couch when he sees one!) In "Interior Therapy With Jeff Lewis," the design star will move into a stranger's home, diagnose their design problems, and help them redecorate, all while pointing out their bad habits. And in typical Lewis fashion, he'll probably cross the line more than once.

This is a feather in the cap of Bravo who continues to make a push for style and home-related programming. And with the popularity of "Million Dollar Listing" and previous seasons of "Top Design" and "9 By Design," they've got another show to add to the home line-up: "Million Dollar Decorators," which will premiere in early summer. The show will feature celeb designers like Martyn Lawrence-Bullard and Kathryn Ireland as "they navigate the high-pressured design industry for their wealthy, famous and extremely demanding clients," says a Bravo press release.

Hearing the news inspired us to assess the other home shows on TV, other than the regulars on HGTV. Here's a guide to which shows are winning, which are losing -- and which ones are in need of a makeover.



1. Martha Stewart Network
When Martha Stewart moved her show over to the Hallmark Channel, we assumed her audience would follow. Well, they didn't. Apparently, the network is failing to attract a regular audience. It may be because the channel runs more chick flicks than they do quality programs. In October, it was reported that Hallmark cut back MSLO's 10am to 6pm program block.

Will Stewart's daughter save the day? Hallmark recently announced that Alexis Stewart, who just gave birth to a baby girl, will host two new shows on the channel: the first is a continuation of "Whatever, Martha," a show where she critiques old Martha shows, and the second is "Whatever, You're Wrong," a show that will pair her up with Jennifer Koppelman Hutt to discuss parenting. (Who comes up with these names?)

What the network needs: More lifestyle shows! While Bravo is experimenting with home decorating and personal beauty programming, Hallmark is relying on tear-jerker films and "Little House on the Prarie" to boost ratings. Give us a new reason to visit the network!



2. "The Nate Berkus Show"
The design world went abuzz when this Oprah darling left to start his own show. Nate Berkus is gorgeous. He's got great style. He's got a great personality. So why is his show so boring?

I think it's the format: Sometimes he plays Oprah interviewing celebrity guests, sometimes he plays decorator. But he doesn't move seamlessly between the two roles. He was so fun on Oprah because he was dishing out his creative advice. Now he's interviewing other people for theirs, and he's not a strong interviewer.

What the show needs: To commit to being a design show. If a celebrity comes on, they should decorate with him, the way that Martha has her guests talk to her as she cooks. Sometimes there's so much going on in the Nate Berkus Show that it feels like a circus. Nate: It's time to simplify.



3. Gwyneth Paltrow. The celebrity world was abuzz this week with rumors that Gwyneth was getting her own food magazine. Whether it's true or not, it got us thinking about the Hollywood starlet. Since Oprah's network is struggling, here's an idea for a turnaround: Hey, Oprah, let's help Gwyneth transform GOOP into a lifestyle talk show for OWN. Imagine if Gwyneth had a show with segments about home decorating, beauty and fashion? Now that's a show I would watch. Say what you will about GOOP, but Gwyneth understands the power of branding -- and a television show is a natural next step.

Brooke Lea Foster is an editor at ShelterPop. Get more Brooke at MommyMoi!

For more great ShelterPop stories, don't miss:
Cheap Chic Ideas From Gwyneth's Bedroom
Moving In Together: My Girlfriend Took Over My Apartment

 

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