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It’s Not Me, It’s You: A Breakup Letter to HGTV

Dear HGTV:

I realize that what I’m about to say is putting my chance* of becoming your next home décor and DIY tv superstar at risk.   (*A .0001% chance that has now been decreased to .00000000000000001%.) But I’m breaking up with you. And it’s not me, it’s you.  Dear HGTV: It's not me, it's you. A breakup letter with the network I once loved.

The time has come for me to lay it all out there. You see (though you might not know it), our love affair began years ago when I, on maternity leave, found myself spending hours on the couch nursing and rocking my newborn baby girl. In my half-alive state at that time, you took me off of that couch (in my spit-up covered shirt, messy ponytail hair, and makeup-less face), and put me in the middle of a world that was colorful, engaging, and exciting.

You put on your finest clothes and wooed me with shows like Curb Appeal, Selling New York, Bang for Your Buck, Design on a Dime, and Sarah’s House. Your hosts’ sparkling personalities and shows’ interesting topics made my long days and nights so much more bearable. The way John Gidding could turn the ugliest front yards into works of art on Curb Appeal was captivating! Suddenly I wanted to re-do my yard, too! And don’t even get me started with the adorable Sarah Richardson and her innate ability to mix pattern and color on Sarah’s House. (Plus, her sidekick, Tommy Smythe, was so cute I could pinch his cheeks.) Those two inspired me to start decorating my new/old home with quirky accents and things I loved.

In those days, you and your shows worked hard to fill me with hope and a desire to make the spaces around me more beautiful, but in an affordable and realistic way. Your programming was diverse and unique, and I was a self-proclaimed HGTV junkie.   I’m sure you even had something to do with me starting this little blog.

But time has a way of changing things, and our relationship has soured. HGTV, you’ve let yourself go. You have lost yourself (or, at the very least, the “G” in HGTV – do you even have a show about gardens or landscaping anymore?). With yesterday’s announcement that you’ve added yet another house flipping show to your lineup (Windy City Flip, with the painfully bland host, Alison Victoria (does she not have a last name?)), I realized you have cheated on me and your other loyal viewers with the devil of cheap and formulaic programming.

By my count, you now have at least NINE house flipping shows that all follow the exact same formula: man and woman buy godforsaken home, gut it, find x amount of “awful problems,” install some cheap finishes, and then sell it two weeks later.  Do you really have that many viewers who are out flipping houses?  I don’t think so!

And don’t get me started on the FOURTEEN versions of House Hunters.  At least with those you’ve tried to fool me into thinking you’re still interesting by giving some of them different names (like Beachfront Bargain Hunt, Caribbean Life, Island Hunters, Mexico Life, and Lakefront Bargain Hunt), and forsaking the trademark doorbell ringing sound in the opening credits.

Now that Chip & JoJo have jumped ship, you have nothing left to offer me. HGTV you are boring and unimaginative, and this is the end. It was good while it lasted, but now you can pack your boxes and exit stage left.  Me – I’ll be fine sitting here on my couch with my messy ponytail and makeup-less face (the babies are grown so no spit-up anymore), watching another network.

-Bre

P.S. to any readers who feel the same way, please share this post on Facebook or Pin it!  Maybe HGTV will see it and get it together!  🙂

Dear HGTV: we are breaking up with you. Here's why.

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Comments

  1. I agree with you 100%. HGTV has gone from my favorite network to never watch it. I’m so disappointed in them. Not everyone wants to flip a house, some of us just want to decorate the one we have. It’s too bad they lost track of that.

    Reply

    • Hahaha – I know! Me too – I’m actually shocked at how many people are feeling the same way. Power to the people – let’s let HGTV know how we feel! 🙂

    • Hi, Brenda! Thanks for your comment! I’m glad there are so many of us that are on the same page. Have a great day!

    • Hi, Maggie! Glad we’re on the same page! I need to actually send them the letter – hahaha! I wrote the post as more of a vent/outlet, but I guess I should send it their way! 🙂

  3. Okay, can I get an AMEN to that! I hear ya loud and clear, this channel lost me a long time ago and even with Fixer Upper I was kinda already getting bored of too. I completely agree, they used to be creative and innovative and that has been lost in translation somehow! Welcome to the club or should I welcome myself onto yours?!! Lol

    Reply

    • HAHAHA ok glad we’re in the same club! 🙂 Yeah, I haven’t watched Fixer Upper for a while, although I do appreciate Chip and JoAnna’s talents! It’s really sad how Scripps is running this network into the ground!

  4. Oh now you’ve done it …. Reminded me of all those wonderful shows that used to be on HGTV. I must have shoved them out of my mind but now I am in mourning for them. I agree there are too many flip shows. Maybe they will listen and bring back the format from the earlier shows. We can only hope.

    Reply

    • HAHAHA I know!! As I was writing this the shows just kept coming to mind – I had forgotten how many good ones they had! It is a shame what they’ve done! Well, who knows, maybe they will improve – you’re right that we can only hope!

    • I’m with you all. I miss David and Vern, etc. Funny how ii came across this article as I was just talking about this to my husband . He have an opinion in the past but now agrees with all of us. PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTER .
      Signed , not q a flipper.

    • Hahaha! I sent my letter, Sue. I think you should send one too! (Have your husband send one as well!)

  6. I agree. I actually still enjoy House Hunters and House Hunters International, if just to see how much money buys what in different areas. But then HGTV did every reiteration of that, which seems to be a pattern once they get a hit show. We see the SAME thing ad nausuem until you can’t watch one more program. I think I would watch HGTV more if there was more variety, I think every new flip looks pretty much the same and while Chip and Joanna are darling together and I do enjoy them, there are other decorating styles out there. Where is the “G”? I would love to see more gardening shows. Floral shows, gardens for growing and eating. I live in an urban area, tell me how to do this in my “H”…
    Thanks for letting me know I’m not alone.

    Reply

    • I’m in an urban area, too, and I love the idea of a show focusing on small space design (indoor and out)! You should pitch the idea to HGTV, Traci! 🙂 Thanks for stopping by and leaving your comment; hopefully HGTV will get its act together soon!

  7. That’s exactly the letter I’ve wanted to write for a very long time. I suspect my memory goes back a bit farther than yours;. Once upon a time they had some really talented and creative arts and crafts people, decorators, and really knowledgeable gardeners. Kind of sad that they threw all that away.

    Reply

    • Carol – I have heard about those types of shows you’re mentioning! I can’t even imagine that type of programming on HGTV these days! It would be amazing!!

  8. YESSSS! And I don’t even have cable anymore…but this is part of the reason why- the lack of imaginative shows and the fact that these channels decided that there was a “Program” for programs…just plug and play hosts and guests in the same shows in different cities, and NO ONE WILL NOTICE!

    Except that we HAVE noticed. And some of us just went full throttle and cut the cable cord altogether. Pretty soon, mTV will run out of cities for The Real World…and they’ll start putting 8 strangers in a Motel 6 near a truck stop on the freeway, because that’s the only town left. HGTV is no different.

    Brava, my friend, brava!

    Reply

    • Sarah you couldn’t have said it better!!! “Plug and play hosts” is exactly what’s happening!!! No creativity, no imagination, nothing. Thanks for your thoughtful comment; we are getting ready to cut the cord of cable when our contract is up!

  9. THANK GOD i thought it was just me. i have long ago quit watching. even fixer upper was boring to me, (farm house is so not my style) if your not buying a house yourself there is only so many times you can watch rich people agonize over the smallest detail of a house on fiji, its fiji for christ sake. take any house you can get your hands on and thank your lucky stars. and as for all those flipping shows. good grief. you put it much nicer than i have in my den at night when i am craving a good craft project and all they got is some blond screaming “gross” over and over. they are boring after the first 2 or 3 dozen. i hope they see your letter and make some much needed changes. you are a brave woman kepp fighting the good fight
    angela bradley

    Reply

    • Hi, Angela! Doesn’t it feel good to know there are so many others out there who feel the same way?!? It’s really disappointing how awful that channel has become! Anyway, thanks for taking the time to leave a comment. Hopefully HGTV will get its act together soon! 🙂

  10. OMG! Yes, I agree with you and I feel the same way. However, I left HGTV about 3 years ago because of their programming. I find more things home decor wise on blogs like this and Pinterest.

    Reply

    • Hi, Tammy! YES! Someone mentioned that on my Facebook page yesterday – blogs and ideas on Pinterest are a great source for originality and creativity. The networks and magazines are all so money focused that they take the cheapest route possible now, but the content is suffering. Anyway, thank you for taking the time to leave a comment. I hope you have a great day!

  11. I couldn’t agree more! There are so many amazing designers who can inspire us their unique styles and give us the opportunity to try something new in our homes…And definitely bring on the garden!!!!!!!

    Reply

    • Amen to that, Sue!! Fingers crossed HGTV starts hearing from enough disgruntled viewers (or ex-viewers) that they make some changes!

  12. You are so right! HGTV GET IT TOGETHER. What has happened to the craft shows, knitting, crocheting ,jewelry making?
    Please stop the house flipping shows, SOS! I am so happy that I’m not the only one to feel this way, please HGTV, remember the good old days when you had really talented crafty people.

    Reply

    • Hi, Sally! Yes, others have mentioned that HGTV used to have crafty-type shows, too! I never saw any of those so it sounds like their steep decline began long ago! Anyway, hopefully they’ll get it together soon! Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment. Have a great day!

  13. Very well said. I’m glad to see I am not the only one who has lost interest. Thanks for taking time to share your thoughts. Like so many things , HGTV may have a hard time finding it’s way back, even if they wanted to. I hope that this small group are not the only ones that feel this way, and others join to voice their concerns.

    Reply

  14. I also agree will your letter and all the comments. Have you seen their Magazine ? Don’t waist your money.. My parents sent me a year subscription … I wish they could get their money back…

    Reply

    • Hi, Julie! Ugh, yes, I have a subscription!! I got it for Christmas last year. At least it’s not JUST about house flipping though – hahaha! Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment! Have a great day. 🙂

  15. I’ve been feeling the same way for a few years, even with Chip and Jo. It was the only reason I stayed. I call HGTV “The Real Estate Channel.” If it isn’t boring flipping, or the scam House Hunters, um, how can they be called house HUNTERS when they’ve already purchased their home of choice? Ditto for Fixer Upper? Why do we have to sit through Chip’s antics for THREE houses when the clients have already PURCHASED their fixer? If they edited that part out we could have seen more the décor! I was a rabid Joan Steffen fan, remember Decorating Cents? And what happened to Kitty Bartholomew with You’re Home? Room by Room with Matt and Sherri? Annnd I LOVE Sarah and Tommie! There is no No Gardening by the Yard, no City Gardens, no turning of the soil, except for the DIY channel with the worst yards in America getting done in a day. House Hunters is boring. The flip shows are formulaic.. Do we really need another one? I do enjoy Good Bones and the Renovation series, but most of those are on DIY. Restoring Charleston, Flipping Nashville, etc ….Home Town series looks promising BUT I want to see Trash to Treasure again, Or the show where they come and redesign a room without buying anything new! Did you actually send your letter??? I’m sending one for sure! OK, rant over. Thanks

    Reply

    • Oh my gosh – I forgot about Trash to Treasure! YES – bring it back!!! I don’t have DIY Network anymore (changed to a cheaper cable package), so I don’t get some of the good stuff they have on there. I’m just stuck with flipping and hunting. 😉 Anyway, send your letter! Let’s make them change!

    • Oh h Crystal, I thought I was the only one who remembered those shows! Even further back than Sarah Richardson.
      I recently changed cable providers, it gave me HGTV but no DIY. But I prefer DIY more. I really don’t care about Chip & Joann. They made their fame off us. But didn’t change with the times.
      I’ve just stopped watching. HGTV bring the ” G ” back.

  17. They should just change their name to the Real Estate Channel. There’s no real decorating anymore, no personal touches. No Candice. NO Designer Guys, No Kitty Bartholomew, Designing for the sexes. When Trading Spaces became popular on another network, HGTV went all copycat, everything had to be done in two days, faster than paint could dry… then they went all real estate, then flipping. It’s not fun to watch any more. It’s not inspiring. It is – a shame.

    Reply

    • I agree Rose! I just looked up Carol Duval, I loved her shows. Well she does have shows and is with HGTV, but it looks like they are streamed shows. Why don’t they have a regular tv show with Candice, Kitty and Carol. It must not be cost effective. Come on HGTV, we miss the old you!

  18. I agree! I saw this on Facebook and came to your blog to read. I wish HGTV would see this and listen to their used-to-be fans.

    Reply

  19. I completely agree! My husband and I were just talking about where all the landscaping shows have gone! All it is now is the flipper shows with mostly annoying people or the house hunting shows, which we are not interested in. I used to love Sarah’s house too and Curp Appel-The Block! I wish they would bring some of those shows back!

    Reply

  20. Thank you for posting this, I think you’ll find that most everyone agrees. I can’t watch one more House Hunters episode. It seems HGTV is going after all the shows they can produce that don’t require them to pay a host. Thus all the house flipper shows. And how many times can they reinvent Property Brothers?

    And don’t even get me started on the ridiculously low budgets they quote for making over a house. I saw one episode of Flip or Flop Atlanta where they claimed the renovation costs of a gigantic kitchen, bathroom and a bunch of other stuff was only around $50k. Maybe that’s just the materials cost…. and it’s not just that show.

    They even have the very talented David Bromstad helping millionaires shop for a new home?!?!? What the what? What a waste, I liked it when he first started out and created beautiful interiors in his original Color Splash show. Then they moved it to Miami and it got crazy expensive, over the top design that’s just not realistic for most people. We need more affordable color inspiration shows on TV because we’re not all rustic, farmhouse decorators.

    Wake up HGTV, your viewers are not happy and leaving you in droves.

    Reply

  21. I wholeheartedly agree! I rarely watch HGTV anymore, with the exception of Sarah Richardson’s new show (we are in Canada)! Our programming is very similar to that in the US but it has a couple of Canadian shows thrown in, all which reflect what you have talked about today. I would love to see the return of some gardening content too!

    Reply

    • You are so lucky you get Sarah Richardson’s shows in Canada! I can’t understand why they won’t air them here in the US! She is the best. 🙂

  22. Instead of watching life on tv, I prefer to engage with life. If given a choice between doing my own DIY project or watching others do it, the choice is clear. Live your own HGTV show.

    Reply

  23. I’ve been writing a letter to HGTV in my head for years and now I’m going to put it on paper and actually mail it. You should definitely send your letter. We should all send letters! Let’s get back the old HGTV that we all remember and loved!

    Reply

  24. Yep! HGTV has gone the same way as the Food Network. Same shows-same hosts 24/7. How about something fresh and original. Nope, don’t see that happening.

    Reply

    • Yeah it’s too easy for them to keep doing formulaic junk programming! No creativity needed and little $$ spent. So frustrating!

  25. I agree with your letter also. A few weeks ago I told my husband I was getting so sick and tired of all the house flipping shows on TV and wish they would bring back some of the arts and crafts shows. There were so many ideas and they described in detail how to make them. I would write down the materials needed along with the directions (pre-computer and had to use paper and pencil).

    Reply

    • That was dedication! I can’t even imagine them having a show like that these days! Thanks for your comment! 🙂

  26. You said it exactly!!! I loved Sarah’s House, too, and some of the old shows. The only thing I watch anymore is “Chip and Jo”. When that is gone, so am I.

    Reply

    • I can’t even imagine what they’re going to do when this last season of Fixer Upper is done! I bet their ratings are going to TANK!

  27. Bre, so glad you did this post! HGTV has gone from being my favorite channel to being my biggest yawn! I quickly got bored with the house flipping shows – I’ve never flipped a house and probably never will, those shows just aren’t relevant to me. The “Flip” shows just look to me like a vehicle for a few people to get very rich very quick. I’ve even gotten tired of House Hunters, I maybe watch once every other week. All the wonderful shows HGTV had when I first started watching – Designed To Sell (with hosts Lisa LaPorta and Clive, loved them, they were so fun to watch, I mean, those two had real Personality-) the craft and decor shows and gardening/landscaping shows with interesting hosts and great, usually affordable ideas, they are long gone and the current crop of shows just leaves me cold. I never cared for Fixer Upper , Chip and Joanna are sweethearts, but I’m not into the Farmhouse Style and I frankly don’t want to see only the one style week after week (and anyway, I heard that the furniture and decor items are NOT included with the “Fixer Upper” price, but the homeowners may purchase them after the show if they desire, otherwise all the decor is removed and taken back to wherever the show brought it in from). Just seems to me that the viewers are are getting short shrift all the way around. So, HGTV, get your act together or you will disappear from my house entirely, you are only hanging on by your fingertips at present; very sad when you used to be my favorite channel but now I prefer Pinterest to you……

    Reply

  28. I actually got tired of watching the repeats of repeats of repeats……and all about houses most people will never have. I went to Roundtop, TX a few weeks ago for the Antiques Festival I heard about on Fixer Upper and was so disappointed. Let’s just say Joanna can afford it. I wish they had more shows that “real people” can relate to. Things that we can actually do. What’s the one that had so many years ago that you fixed up your neighbors house? They definitely need more variety.

    Reply

    • Susan, I agree with you and I also want to say I am jealous you got to go to Roundtop!!! I want to go there! 🙂

  29. Thanks so much for expressing your opinion, which so many share. We don’t get DIY with our cable package either, sadly. I loved watching Chip and Joanna’s process of remodeling a house, but week after week of the Farmhouse look got old. I agree that the House Hunters became “same old same old” also.Honestly, I got so tired of one person always whining about a particular thing (but it doesn’t have a “bathtub, balcony”, etc. The International version is interesting to see how homes differ in other countries, but that’s about it. I will not watch yet another house flipping program, for all of the reasons that others have mentioned above.
    As for the magazine, I also got it as a gift and it will not be renewed. I am not a fan of Mid Century Modern, and that is just about all that they feature. Enough already! I guess I must be in the wrong demographic for their editors.The exception would be exteriors shown on The All time favorite Houses section, which are nearly all more traditional styles. They do not feature the interiors, though. Big mistake
    I do love “Flea Market Flip”, and I think that program is one that lots would appeal to lots of people.
    I do hope that you do send your letter, Bre.

    Reply

    • Hi, Diane! I sent it!! You should send one, too! 🙂 And re: HGTV magazine, I also enjoy that exteriors section, but the rest of it is a little blah (but I like the paint colors in the back). At least the magazine is colorful and fun to flip through once in a while. The channel just makes me fall asleep. hahaha!

  30. Ditto! I really miss craft shows too. Lots of us are artists. Mixed Media, Paper Crafts, Painting, Sewing, Embroidery, and on and on. There are so many home entrepreneurs with what they can do with vinyl! PLEASE HGTV! Enough with the home shows. Go back to your roots!

    Reply

  31. YES!! The only thing I think you forgot is, in addition to bland hosts, the participants are usually HORRIBLE!!! It is beyond me at this point how they could NOT expect expensive problems to come up when they buy such dilapidated houses!

    I miss Genevieve, Color Splash and Design Star. The only thing that comes close anymore is Flea Market Flip.

    Reply

    • OH those are some good ones! I love Flea Market Flip but I only catch that at weird times. I want to be on Flea Market Flip – hahaha!

  32. You said it! Had been thinking the same thing but just didn’t put it into words. I find myself watching less and less HGTV. Will probably say good bye too when Chip and Joanna say goodbye. Wish they would bring back some of the shows previously mentioned. Thanks for putting our feelings into words!

    Reply

    • TJ I sure hope they do! I can’t imagine that they’re not getting a lot of feedback. Enough is enough!

  33. Your blog and all these comments were a wake up call!! I’ve been watching HGTV out of habit, I guess. I don’t really enjoy any of the shows anymore. You’ve reminded me of a much better time- HGTV of the past. I remember how sad I was when they cancelled Decorating Cents. Joan Stephan inspired me to make small, affordable changes in my own home, that had big impact. What fun! The garden shows gave me usable tips and ideas to make my yard more beautiful and functional. One by one, the crafty shows disappeared and we’re left with flippers or whiny house hunters. I’m not looking for a house, I don’t have a crew to gut and redo my house, nor do I have hundreds of thousands of dollars to do so. I really can’t relate to any of these shows. You’ve changed, HGTV. The change was gradual, but now that I see it clearly, I just don’t want to waste time with you anymore. Good bye HGTV.

    Reply

    • Kime, it’s so crazy, isn’t it?!? There used to be such a variety of programming! You’re so right that it’s just flippers and whiny house hunters. b-o-r-i-n-g! Anyway, thanks for your comment! Fingers crossed HGTV gets its act together!

  34. Agree! Bring back Candace and Carol and yard shows please. I also remember Simply Quilts but that’s long gone. One more flip show and I’ll flip my wig.

    Reply

    • HAHAHA – I love it! Yes . . . too many flip shows. I have to say – I honestly haven’t watched HGTV since I wrote this post, and I haven’t missed it one bit!

  35. What I became bothered by is the hours and hours of the same show, which actually may be a cable provider issue (I haven’t been able to figure that out). So even if I was a fan of Fixer Upper or House Hunters or tolerated Rehab Addict (during its brief stint on HGTV), the fact that any show is on for hours on end meant that I would eventually tire of it. Even the beloved Sarah, Candace, and older shows everyone has mentioned. I like variety. If I dislike a show (Love It or List It, or those shows about the private lives of the Property Brothers) then I don’t watch HGTV – for hours and hours. Skip a day (especially since I work). I’m not a marathon-watcher anyway but if it’s pouring buckets outside on a Sunday afternoon, I used to enjoy having HGTV on while I did “x” around the house.

    Reply

    • Ugh, no – sadly I think it’s the network’s issue! You’re totally right that it’s back to back to back of the same thing. B-O-R-I-N-G!

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