House Rules
Channel 7
Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday nights
OUR fascination with other people’s discomfort – and surprising ability – on the little screen is played out on commercial TV in cooking, singing and home improvement shows seemingly around the clock.
Our interest is now responsible for some unforgivable zombie TV … Survivor just refuses to die … and there’s always the threat that ultimate televised voyeur experience Big Brother could come back from the dead.
The appeal, of course, is in thinking that we could do the same, with a bit of encouragement, cash and coaching.
On the home renovation front, Channel 7’s House Rules has hit its fourth season – televised three nights a week – with six couples spending a week in turn gutting and remodelling each other’s houses in the hope of every home owner’s dream … having their mortgage paid off.
House Rules has retained the same tired format – commercial breaks at crucial moments, endless promotion, fear your faves will not do enough to get a good score, and the drama of the reveals – but it’s still remarkably engaging, and provides some real surprise moments.
Then, as always, there are the ones we’re supposed to cheer for, and the ones we’re supposed to oppose.
Queensland country boys Luke and Cody are being heavily promoted as the ones to watch this series – and in one of those surprises that delight, the boys pulled off the biggest opening score in the show’s four years on Sunday’s season opener.
The villain is a navy commander who is used to having his orders followed … barking instructions to people not really used to martial law.
Add in a few reno novices and all audience segments should be well and truly covered.
Two key differences over other reno shows like The Block are that there is feedback and scoring from the home owner, who is also a contestant; and there are no eliminations.
It’s a gentler, kinder reno show.
If you like your reno shows more gladiatorial, stick with Renovation Rumble, which is as entertaining as any blood sport.
– Andrew Cantwell
