The Renovators
The Renovators is an unashamed companion piece to MasterChef, but could well do for DIY what the other has done for food.
- Published by David Knox
- on
- Filed under Programming, Reviews
Let’s be frank…
The Renovators is an unashamed companion piece to MasterChef Australia.
At every step it draws from the same storytelling prototype.
Produced by Shine Australia (and the creative team behind the first MasterChef) it employs the key elements of the hit cooking series: there are group challenges, individual challenges, two eliminations a week, off site challenges, a ticking clock, contestants constantly telling us how they were feeling during any given moment, judges shouting at them while they’re under pressure.
But it will absolutely work….
The show begins in the vast studio workshop. This thing is overwhelming, big enough to fit a few houses, planes, semi-trailers and then some. It is stacked to the roof with more hardware supplies than Bunnings on a bender. Dwarfed by its large screens and rotating fans, the feel of this setting is Hard Hakka meets contemporary chic.
We meet the 26 contestants, a large group of ages and genders (ethnically it isn’t as diverse as MasterChef) -the eldest is a bloke called Phil, 64.
“I want to see heart and passion,” says host Brendan Moar.
There are six Sydney houses which will be the ultimate renovation: a fibro cottage, a weatherboard, a shop, a ‘half done’ house, an inner city terrace and a sixties suburban house.
These strangers are immediately put to the test, asked to renovate a house which -literally- rolls in on the back of a semi-trailer. Told it “needs a little bit of love and a stack of work,” it even has its own cockroaches. And did we mention it needs a garden, all done in 48 hours please?
Watching these strangers come up with a team plan is a bit like asking the Big Brother contestants to renovate their house on Day #1. Who will become the Alpha male?
As the challenge proceeds, judges Barry Du Bois, Robyn Holt and Peter Ho discuss the work, in much the same way that George and Gary talk about MasterChef contestants while preparing dishes. Who is on fire? Who is struggling? Time is ticking…
At the end of the first 8 hours work everyone is exhausted.
“Were completely knackered,” says one.
No being whisked off to a luxury mansion for this lot. They sleep out, camping-style, on the workshop floor. The versatile screens, which double as a countdown clock and super-screen, even provide a moon backdrop. Nice touch.
The marathon renovation continues the next day, and while some are stretched to the limits, other contestants support them -this has the feel of the first MasterChef series where being nice to someone on a Reality show was the rule, not the exception.
The winner of the first group challenge will make the first step towards the teams that will divide amongst the six houses, but to say any more would be a Spoiler.
Brendan Moar, formerly of the LifeStyle Channel, is ideally suited to this format, bringing his landscape expertise, confidence and his dashing looks. It will be interesting to see how the chemistry of his judging team develops, it’s too early to identify here.
This is a handsomely-produced, grand format that owes much to MasterChef and The Biggest Loser. Any fears that it could be another Hothouse (it had to be said) are quickly dispelled. It has chiselled out all the knots in the wood. The remaining questions for the show is how much renovation audiences can sustain.
On the downside, product placement is, unfortunately, prevalent. In these days of “integrated” television viewers will soon let the network know if it is bothering them. I’m unclear how the end point will ignite a career in the same way as MasterChef. This winner lands the profit from the sale of all six houses.
Nine’s Block has bolted out of the gate, and will benefit from audiences having connected with their characters. But The Renovators is set to give the genre a new coat of paint. Indeed, it may even leave Nine’s show looking a bit cheap and cheerful by comparison. Where this leaves Top Design is another question yet again.
The Renovators looks set to follow TEN’s big-ticket television items that hark back to the early years of Big Brother and Australian Idol. It could well do for DIY and property what that other show has done for food.
The Renovators premieres 8:30pm Sunday on TEN.
33 Responses
A waste of space.Honestly I would have preferred 10 to have gone back to Big Brother and ditch these Home Renovator/Masterchef shows for good.I kind of remember the days when MC took over from those now gone US Sitcoms as their initial 7pm idea back in the day before 7pm project even existed.
Rrrrrrip Offff of The Block.
Arent these the same producers that cried MKR was a rip off of Masterchef – lost track of who is the pot and who is the kettle and which one was black.
Bigger isnt always better – sometimes less shines more.
@Taz Devil, the only reason why Sarah Wilson was dropped was because no one realised how bloody good a host Gary Mehigan would turn out to be. I don’t see any of the Reno judges outclassing Brendan Moar, but time will tell.
I agree with some earlier comments. Reality needs a break. Its getting to the point of overkill, especially if its a carbon-copy of MC.
I soooo can’t wait for this! Bring it on:)
Is this really going for over an hour an episode , thats way too much , i cant stand The Block at times when they have there challenge night.Ill watch a few episodes but too much reality crap on tv now , its all a bore.
No surprise that it’s a carbon copy of MasterChef. Any television network would be stupid to not commission a show like this, what with the success MasterChef has had.
Brendan Moar will most likely get dumped at the end of this series, a la Sarah Wilson.
@samo I agree; I like reality but I feel exhausted from it; this year I solidly watched almost every episode of My Kitchen Rules, Amazing Race, Biggest Loser, Masterchef and I’ve oddly caught the Block – I’m tired I need a TV break; to invest another 12 weeks in a 6 night a week show is too much; I’ll most likely check it out next week during the 8.30 slot as MC leads right into it; but I think I may just watch casually; I’m tired and have other things to do lol.
….all happy smiles on the publicity photo….watch how quickly these smiles are swiped off once the rating figures come out………
Thanks for the review David. It cleared up a couple of things I was wondering about. I think once it goes to the six houses is when it’ll more into the story.
@P this show does not look cheap! in fact, i think that its the opposite. Shine have obviously thought this programme out and it looks very expensive and high quality. the block on the other hand, does look cheap. thats why i would rather watch paint dry.
Looks good. Ill give it a go.
The reason it owes a lot to Biggest Loser and Masterchef is because that’s the only kind of show these guys can make. As soon as they step away from that exact formula they flop.
rip-off of Block/homeMADE.
ya know- i think im done with all these shows..there are too many- i watched a bit of the block ..but now dont care- masterchef is ok ..but loosing interest in that too…will not watch Jamie Duire and his rubbish…watched MKR… and now renovators….dont t think i can be bothered…….too much time to invest
I predict this show will be a hit…1.3 million viewers regularly, possibly more in the later weeks of the season
People love the Block and Masterchef, and this show looks like a combination of the two
I won’t be watching though, 6 nights a week is ridiculous
Not too hot on the time slot.
My issue is time constraints. Might be a PVR show for me.
Richard: I give a Hot Tip for different reasons, but at the time I wrote that the show was still unknown (even to media) -so I see no issue in being one of the first to give the show the thumbs up. Puff advertising? Nah, just a personal reaction, which is what most blogs provide.
Let’s just say my main reason for watching will be the host… 😉
Although I am glad to hear that there are eliminations, the prospect of looking at that old bloke’s mustache for 3 months didn’t sit well with me.
Looks cheap to me.
The Block is frustrating me with all of the challenges and dragging everything out.
You seem to be really shilling for Shine’s Renovators lately David, including that July 10 Hot Tip that seemed nothing more than a puff advertising piece.
Big fan of the site thou!
such a rip off of The Block
Cannot wait for this!
Just thought it was a bit strange being in the 8.30pm timeslot. Is it expected to move in to Masterchef’s slot once it’s done?
It sounds like it could be good….however I am already bored with these reno shows and will avoid it.