I hate to be disappointed, but I'm starting to get the impression that some of DIY's shows are acted out by actors/actresses and aren't really real. I watched a Yard Crashers show in which a black woman with short dreadlocks in her hair got a backyard makeover. DIY even uses her in their advertisement of the show... "He swooped in like a Backyard Batman", I believe she says. Well I later saw the same lady in an airline commercial on another channel. This is the 2nd time that's happened since I've been faithfully watching the DIY & HGTV network for the last 5 years. Truly disappointing. I mean if the shows are fake & acted out that's fine, just don't pretend like these are real homeowners. And I'm sure DIY has covered their butts for the most part & that they do have real homeowners that they've done work for, but clearly some of them (and who knows, it could be 'most' of them) are actors. Don't know how any of the other viewers feel about this, but I personally find it disappointing.

I've been around hundreds of DIY type shows and have never seen fake homeowners. The potential harm in faking homeowners with actors and being found out is just not worth the risk - I can't imagine DIY or any other network doing it. Plus, real homeowners aren't paid. Some people are better actors than others and are more comfortable in front of a camera - these people probably come off looking more like actors than what you would expect to see.

I have seen some people who are on how-to type shows that get bitten by the TV 'bug". They then actively search out some form of career in TV.

As to being seen in a commercial: A few years ago we were working on a job site (I am a General Contractor) when a couple of guys with a camera drove up the driveway. They were shooting a commercial for a credit union and needed scenes of how equity loan money could be spent. They shot my guys and myself just working on a typical remodel project. That ad program must have run for over two years - we had quite a few people recognize us.

BTW, that was an unpaid shoot - only took a couple of minutes and we didn't have to do anything special.

On edit to add: If you watch enough DIY shows you'll see homeowners who are doctors or lawyers, housewives, students or any of hundreds of vocations. It's entirely possible that at least a few of those homeowners are real people who could also be actors for a living. Actors do live in a home and not all are rich and famous.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Jaybee,

I hope you are wrong, It would be disappointing to follow the shows with hopes that someday I would have a chance in my yard. Have you noticed that most project are in beautiful areas? Yesterday I saw the bathroom crash and the woman already had a beautiful bathroom, they should choose people that really need the help and can't afford not a person that just want to remodel theirs.If that is the case my hopes are down the drain I'm not wealthy. Now I'm curious how do they get the guest anyone can answer that?

quote:

Originally posted by blueseana:
they should choose people that really need the help and can't afford not a person that just want to remodel theirs.If that is the case my hopes are down the drain I'm not wealthy. Now I'm curious how do they get the guest anyone can answer that?

I've said this before but it's worth repeating: Unless the show is called "Who Needs a Remodel the Most" than it doesn't matter if some of the projects are in nice, big houses owned by people who can afford to remodel. A how-to TV show is there to showcase how to do a particular project, not bail out someone who can't afford to remodel. When that happens, then it's great, but there is no reason to refuse an application from someone who may have the perfect project but can afford to do it without a free remodel.

The best example of why you sometimes see nice large houses in TV shows would be when it's a bathroom show. Big houses have bigger bathrooms. Small houses have small bathrooms. You just cannot fit a couple of homeowners, a host or two, a producer and a couple of camera guys in your typical 5' x 10' bathroom. 30 minutes of a toilet and peoples backsides doesn't make for interesting TV.

As to the houses looking beautiful, well answer me this: You've been chosen to be a part of a how-to TV show. The TV crew is coming to your home and will be spending several days filming. You know that millions of people will be able to take a first-hand look at your living room. So.....Are you going to clean your house first? I would hope so.

People get on TV shows by applying - there are links on the DIY home page, HGTV pages and all the others. For the popular shows, there will be THOUSANDS of applications for every one chosen. If you apply and do not get on a show, it doesn't mean that you or your project is not suitable. It could mean that you live in a part of the country where they are not scheduled to tape. Or a project like yours has already been shown many times. Or lots of other reasons. Having a TV show come to your home is much like winning the lottery - and the odds are about that long.

quote:

Originally posted by Angelluciano:
I hate to be disappointed, but I'm starting to get the impression that some of DIY's shows are acted out by actors/actresses and aren't really real. I watched a Yard Crashers show in which a black woman with short dreadlocks in her hair got a backyard makeover. DIY even uses her in their advertisement of the show... "He swooped in like a Backyard Batman", I believe she says. Well I later saw the same lady in an airline commercial on another channel. This is the 2nd time that's happened since I've been faithfully watching the DIY & HGTV network for the last 5 years. Truly disappointing. I mean if the shows are fake & acted out that's fine, just don't pretend like these are real homeowners. And I'm sure DIY has covered their butts for the most part & that they do have real homeowners that they've done work for, but clearly some of them (and who knows, it could be 'most' of them) are actors. Don't know how any of the other viewers feel about this, but I personally find it disappointing.

I personally watch only a few shows, but most "homeowners" seem legit. To bad most shows are also product showcases and not real "How to do it Shows"....But that is my two cents.

Thank you for answering my question. I'm not lucky on the lottery so It's hopeless. Have a great day

nothing is ever hopeless. but understand, as Jaybee said, it's a TV show first, and there are products to showcase in a positive setting many a time. that pays the light bill, so that's the rule.

it's been called "tradeout" for the 90 years of commercial broadcasting, "product placement" is the more modern term. all legal, there is even a department at networks to track the gimmees and use of copyrighted material in their programs in case anybody ever comes around asking. (it's way part-time, so you can't expect those folks to answer 50 questions a week on "where do you get those orange and green recliners?")

every grateful homeowner (and the few cranks who wouldn't be happy if you hung 'em with a NEW rope) is self-selected to get into the fishbowl. a handful get selected for follow-ups. some of those get picked for a show and a remodel. one HGTV host told Dow Jones news a few months ago that a big part of the selection is the homeowners must be fun, at least partly-attractive, and good sports to get past Step Two.

after all, it IS television. ugly, nasty people only get on TV on Jerry Springer and Discovery FIT channels

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Angelluciano:
Well I later saw the same lady in an airline commercial on another channel. This is the 2nd time that's happened since I've been faithfully watching the DIY & HGTV network for the last 5 years.QUOTE]

I know who you mean and she is doing commercials now- we don't know if she was doing them prior to DIY.

and a major NYC network-owned station's sports anchor was in a Man Caves show. big rip.

thousands apply, they get sorted out, a few get a callback, fewer get the second callback, and then the survivors of the search get on a show. it helps if you are bright, good-looking, have a nice space that the "gimmes" look good in, and can work with the producers and host. it's TV. they didn't pick me for a show. I grew up in TV, worked it, I know the score.

the thing is, almost everybody is disappointed who applies. hopefully not enough to stop watching and doing your own remodels after figuring out how to do it right, bright, and purty.