Challenge is on to reinvent The Block for 2014
The Block is already considering properties for 2014, but Producers have probably created a rod for their own back.
- Published by David Knox
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Nine’s The Block is already considering properties for 2014, but Producers told TV Tonight they have probably created a rod for their own back.
After a successful “skyhigh” series, the challenge is on to find another way to reinvent the show.
The days of simply buying four terrace houses may well be over for the show with audiences now expecting it to up the ante.
Meanwhile penthouse renovator Trixie dispelled some of the show’s myths.
“The budget is the budget.” she said. “I get so sick of people saying ‘They probably give you another $5000’ or ‘You probably don’t have tools down then, they probably give you another day.’
“But no, it’s nothing like that. Everything is what it is.
“I think that’s what I’m so proud of in this show. You hear a lot about other shows that are scripted and this and that. But The Block is very real.”
She also acknowledged the crew.
“If we didn’t have this crew there’s no way any of us could get through the week.”
The Block is open for inspection today and tomorrow in South Melbourne from 10am – 2pm.
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24 Responses
I stopped watching this series very early on for many of the reasons mentioned already, i.e. pointless challenges, too much bitchiness and not very interesting contestants.
What i’d like to see is a more back to basics show, with more affordable houses and contestants that literally do all the work, no outside tradies bar essentials such as plumbers and electricians. In other words multi-skilled people such as builders or professional renovators who are capable of doing everything. I’m tired of the ever long list of dills that have never lifted a hammer before, never mind renovated a house.
After all this is a contest, so I’d like to see the best compete against the best.
There are plenty of ways to reinvent The Block.
Most importantly, focus on the renovations. Cease all of the pointless “challenges”.
Drastically reduce the budget so that the participants have to do more work than simply demolishing walls, painting walls and shopping. If they didn’t have such generous budgets, then they would need to be helping their tradies, restoring furniture and making their own artwork to make the homes look good.
Stop focusing on “millionaire” properties. While the apartments/terraces have always been high-end, the focus on multi-million dollar housing is ridiculous and completely unobtainable for the vast majority of viewers. It also contributes to the extreme budget as the “judges” demand all designer furnishings and decorations which are also unobtainable for most viewers.
New judges may also help. The participants are right – they’re…
To reinvent the block:
Focus on Renovations,
Stop the challenges, drama, bitching and irrelevant non renovation material
Relocate to another city outside Sydney and Melb, but don’t copy the House Rules 5 houses in each city
Why not get them to renovate housing for people who actually need it, rather than focus on money grabbing auctions.
Send them to Alice Springs and make them renovate some Aboriginal community housing?
I think it would dominate in ratings if people could watch some feel good reality show.
The Block has heart. And the producers rely on the emotional connection formed between the viewers and the contestants.
I don’t think anything too drastic has to change. 5 teams is more drama, but reduces the amount of time each couple gets. The All Stars version showed a lot more building than Sky High did.
More renovating and building would be good. And the challenges should be bigger. The All Stars challenges were great; the Sky High challenges, not so much.
Maybe they could send the couples overseas to renovate. That would be different and would definitely top this season!
Surely they’ve already bought next year’s property and started early production work. Shooting will start in November according to the application page, and there is a lot of work that needs to be done to get development approval, building prep etc ahead of the contestants actually arriving on site.
Hopefully there will be less going out for drinks/hair appointments/manicures/shopping for clothes etc next year. A family show shouldn’t be all about how all the contestants are too hungover to get out of bed. And please could Nine cut the endless swearing out next time around? Even bleeped words set an awful example to the demographic watching.
Agree with you about the swearing. They should just run The Block Uncut if this much language is a pre-requisite.
We were at Home Hardware the day Trixie went to buy the paint brushes for Allisa and the producers were telling her what to say!
I think House Rules will destroy The Block next year.
I would have to agree that the heavy focus on the drama and in-fighting this season was certainly a let-down. More renovating and less drama. Show us what they are doing and how they achieved it.
I think they need to make the challenges more relevant to renovating ie themed design challenges etc. I also liked the bedhead challenge where they made something and had to use it in the house.
1 stop the stupid challenges all they are is blatant advertising
2 get rid of snot cam
3 move it out of Melbourne because electronic scoreboards obviously haven’t been invented there yet they are still back in the days of chalkboards and chalk
4 build houses for charity’s like chris Riley etc
They had a chalkboard in Bondi earlier this year.
They really need to mix up the judging. Instead of having three interior designers who all look at the product with the same eye, they should include other fields of expertise, such as building or real estate. The scoring would be varied and fair.
Here’s a thought, focus on the renovating rather than stupid challenges and fighting.
I doubt it’s scripted, but at the same time, I don’t think the producers jump in when there’s a conflict and go ‘wait, I think he/she meant this’.
I think what they have is a very carefully planned show. Which I guess to some is a scripted show.
I actually like the challenges. They need more money and it’s a great way to get people money rather than just go ‘here, have more money’. It also puts the pressure on them and thus creates more drama.
I’m looking forward to the next series. I like the idea of moving away from Melbourne or Sydney and maybe starting from scratch. But give them the chance to do it from the ground up (design and build – would have been a perfect All Stars). I guess the producers are a bit scared, mainly because will the amount of buyers in another city rival Sydney / Melbourne? They want the best dollar figure at the end of the day.
Don’t believe that for a second. Every reality series is scripted in some way, shape or form.
Perhaps next year they could take it back to basics and just give each contestant an empty block of land.
An idea for next year could be building four townhouses side by side from scratch.Big blocks of land available in Brisbane( ex social housing). Fairly close to the cbd and the first challenge could be pulling down the old house.Let’s hope that it somewhere other than syd or melb.
The Block is a guilty pleasure of mine.I watch..don’t brag about it..lol.The screening of the couples might improve…sure has been an unengaging,uninteresting bunch on this go round.Wish the producers would impress upon the contestants that it could get kinda rough at some point..tired of everyone whinging,wanting to go home…please don’t apply in 1st place!Secondly,I think they’d be better off restoring houses rather than units/townhouses.That’s the aspiration of most Australians,and maybe one reason House Rules did so well.The challenges have been awful this year..don’t know if they should get rid of them entirely or what.I do however think a lot hinges on this.The TB/HR battle next year might go a long way in determining who wins the year.
Well yes, they do have a set budget, but they also get a lot of stuff for free. Certain things they get as part of the shows sponsorship deals; such as their paint, kitchen cabinets and lighting
And the individual teams can also do deals with companies in exchange for advertising. Last season they did it for free wall gardens, outdoor showers and wine coolers.
I don’t necessarily have a problem with this. The problem i have is that they’re not open about it.
Don’t like watching disguised ads. I stopped watching it this season.
Perhaps a way they can reinvent the show is to actually show people renovating instead of doing pointless challenges.
I hope the twins win. Trixie is a blubbering mess with a sickening laugh, Maddy and Bec both have annoying voices, Matt and Kim are good but can be annoying. The twins are bitches and proud of it and are seemingly genuine when criticizing the others rooms.
Bec the other night complaining that another team should’ve moved the couch so so you could look at the view was priceless because she was criticized for doing the exact same thing the week before.
To up tha ante, they should have the couples renovate a resort Tempation Island style. That’s the only way I can think of to make It bigger scale wise