New Web Series Roger That! Brings All the Home Design, None of the Fake Reality TV Drama
(PRWEB) May 22, 2014 -- Roger Hazard is no stranger to reality TV. His Emmy-nominated show "Sell This House," which aired for over a decade on A&E and continues in syndication, was the first real estate-focused show on American television. It proved a hit - and inspired endless copycats. But as networks pushed for bigger transformations and more drama, home design shows exited reality and entered fiction.
"I'm a designer, not an actor. I take pride in pulling off impressive transformations on a small budget, but I want to tell it like it is," said Roger Hazard.
Together with his husband Chris Stout-Hazard and longterm collaborator CertaPro Painters, Hazard created Roger That!, a show that features stunning room transformations with realistic budgets and simple DIY projects. As for the yelling and crying endemic to today's design shows? That got left on the cutting room floor.
"Redesigning a room in someone's home in a day and a half, pushing them out of their comfort zone with bold design choices, invading their house with a team of painters and a camera crew... There's plenty of real drama without having to stage arguments between hosts," said Hazard.
"We've talked to so many people who used to love design programs, but can't stomach all the yelling on today's shows," added Stout-Hazard. "Every minute devoted to people pretending to fight for the cameras is a minute that isn't providing design information. We want people to have fun watching Roger That!, but want them to learn enough to go out to their garage and tackle one of these projects."
The show is packed with tips and inspiration, with a focus on tailoring designs to the homeowners' personalities. "Every homeowner we work with has a big personality, but they're afraid to express it in their home. We're helping people take that first leap of putting real color on the walls," said Hazard.
Because many of these homes belong to married couples or families, making style compromises is important to ensuring everyone loves the finished product. "We genuinely care about creating a space that everyone in the family can enjoy," said Hazard.
For viewers who want to apply some of the Stout-Hazards' style to their own home, the show's website, http://www.rogerthat.tv, includes detailed project instructions, paint color names, and source lists.
"In all those years of TV, I never had time to explain how I chose colors or built projects. We decided to launch Roger That! as a web series because we can include all these details on the site," said Hazard.
"We felt like it was time for a professionally-produced home design show to make the leap to the web," said Stout-Hazard. "The cord-cutting trend is growing, particularly among design-savvy viewers. Now that we have a few episodes launched, we even have our first binge watchers!"
Three episodes of Roger That! are currently online for viewing. An additional three episodes are being edited and will debut on the site in the following months, and future episodes could take the team around the country. Episodes so far include homes in Pennsylvania, Texas, Wisconsin, and North Carolina. "We're fortunate that, wherever we take the show, we have a skilled team of CertaPro painters to help us with the transformation. Painting complicated color schemes, patching holes in drywall, even removing mirrors from a bedroom ceiling - CertaPro's been able to handle every challenge I've thrown at them," said Hazard.
And what about those arguments between hosts? "Things can get tense," said Hazard. "We're under a tight schedule to not only complete these projects but also film them. But Chris and I work together on everything, so we're used to playing off of each other's strengths."
Added Stout-Hazard, "Plus, we're married. Any big fights would make for a pretty awkward flight back home."
Roger That! can be viewed online at http://www.rogerthat.tv.
Chris Stout-Hazard, Roger That!, http://www.rogerthat.tv, +1 855-433-2233 Ext: 1, [email protected]
Share this article