Trading Spaces is back with plenty of drama for fans

April 2024 · 4 minute read

Trading Spaces

Saturday, 8 p.m., TLC

‘Trading Spaces” — the popular home-improvement series that spawned a cottage industry of do-it-yourself TV — is back after nearly a decade’s absence. The TLC program gives neighbors 48 hours to redo a room in each other’s house with the help of well-known designers (like Doug Wilson, Vern Yip and Hildi Santo-Tomas) and carpenters (including still-hunky Ty Pennington). Bubbly actress Paige Davis — who previously hosted the show from 2001-05 and 2007-08 — will again track the progress of the renovations and conclude each episode with reveals that spotlight the home owners’ ecstasy — or, conversely, despair if a designer’s ideas offend. In the revival’s premiere, two sisters living next door to each other in Simi Valley, Calif., set out to spice up bland bedrooms.

Davis, 48, recently spoke to The Post by phone from Manhattan, where she lives with her husband, Broadway actor Patrick Page.

Why bring back the show?
Fans were asking for it. People wondered if there would be a reunion special. So with the wave of nostalgia happening in TV, it was the perfect time for TLC to get on board.

In the premiere, you wear the apt shirt that reads “THIS AIN’T MY FIRST RODEO.” Was that intentional?
It was not my shirt. The executive producer [Tess Gamboa] showed up on set wearing that shirt for the first episode. I pointed at her and said, “That shirt is coming off you and going onto me right now.” I literally took the shirt off her back and put it on me.

The construction budget has increaed to $2,000 per episode. Has anything else fundamentally changed?
We have six “legacy” designers, three new designers and two new carpenters. Other than that, it’s essentially the same show. We did double the budget, which was imperative, based on inflation.

How did the show change the DIY television landscape?
“Trading Spaces” not only altered and added an entire genre of television, but I think it made people across the country open to the idea that they could do home improvement and design on their own and that it’s not a snooty, only-for-the-elite experience.

How is “Trading Spaces” unique for reality TV?
I want people to know that “Trading Spaces,” above anything else, is 100 percent real. Things aren’t scripted, staged or forced. We found that truth was always stranger than fiction, so we could never make up anything that was more crazy and wild than what was happening for real.

Do the reveals make you anxious?
Very much so. I stopped long ago guessing whether or not homeowners would like or dislike a reveal because I found out that I was often wrong. I just try to understand and facilitate their feelings, their concerns, their joy, everything. Sometimes the very best thing I can do is just stay quiet and listen.

The show’s often the most fun when there are negative reactions. Will that continue?
I can absolutely promise that the reveals will hold surprises, the same as they ever were. That’s a testament to human nature.

Among your family and friends, whose house would you most like to remodel on the show?
Oh, that’s a really good question. I can’t think of anybody. And even if I could I wouldn’t throw them under the bus [laughs].

People often use the word “perky” to describe you. At this point, do you hate that term?
Yes — I prefer “effervescent.”

— Eric Hegedüs

And here’s what else to watch this week:

Modern Family

Wednesday, 9 p.m., ABC

Cam (Eric Stonestreet) and Mitch (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) are out of their depth when their daughter Lily (Aubrey Anderson-Emmons) gets into a fight with the girls at school over bras.

Jesus Christ Superstar Live

Sunday, 8 p.m., NBC

The Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice rock opera is staged at the Marcy Avenue Armory in Williamsburg. John Legend (below left), Sara Bareilles (below right) and Alice Cooper sing the Easter story of Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection.

Will & Grace

Thursday, 9 p.m., NBC

Season finale. Grace’s (Debra Messing) dad (Robert Klein) and Will’s (Eric McCormack) mom (Blythe Danner) meet and make a surprising connection. Jack (Sean Hayes) finds yet another new love. Karen (Megan Mullally) is tempted to ditch her husband.

The Child in Time

Sunday, 9 p.m., PBS

Children’s-book author Stephen Lewis (Benedict Cumberbatch) faces marital anguish with his wife, Julie, (Kelly Macdonald) when their 5-year-old daughter disappears at the neighborhood supermarket. Based on the novel by Ian McEwan.

Roseanne

Tuesday, 8 p.m., ABC

Roseanne (Roseanne Barr) clashes with Darlene (Sara Gilbert) over how she’s raising her kids. Dan (John Goodman) helps Roseanne with her bad knee by installing an elevator chair, which makes her feel like she’s getting old.

Paterno

Saturday, 8 p.m., HBO

Penn State football coach Joe Paterno (Al Pacino) loses his job as a result of the Jerry Sandusky child-abuse scandal. Co-starring Riley Keough as Sara Ganim, who won a Pulitzer for reporting it.

Saturday Night Live

Saturday, 11:30 p.m., NBC

“Black Panther” star Chadwick Boseman hosts the show. Cardi B sings.

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