HGTV’s new show Zillow has gone crazy brings to life the guilty pleasure of gawking at bizarre houses.
The nine-episode TV series is based on the ultra-popular Instagram account of the same name, which curates unusual listings. In the program, presenter Jack McBrayer visits houses and meets their owners. It will air weekly on Fridays starting May 3 on HGTV and will also be available for streaming on Max.
Including such unusual entries as an abandoned missile silo and a house turned into a pirate ship, each episode assigns ratings to three houses based on how creative, on-theme and “wacky” they are. advance in a tournament, in which one roster will be crowned the “wildest” of them all in the final.
“Whether we admit it or not, we’re so curious… about seeing the inside of other people’s homes,” said McBrayer, best known for his Emmy-nominated performance in 30 rock, told Yahoo Entertainment. “It’s a really cool expression for anyone who buys.”
Zillow has gone crazy features people who have recently purchased unusual homes and people who want to sell them. Sometimes the reason for leaving – welcoming a new partner into your home, hoping to invest in a different project, or simply changing style – provides fascinating insight.
“My favorite thing was meeting the people who made these decisions and getting direct input from them,” McBrayer said.
While the show’s conceit may point out the eccentricities of certain homes, he said he was moved by the “vulnerability” of the homeowners who allowed him and a camera crew to search their homes.
“Not to brag, but I think I’m a great guest,” McBrayer added. The Georgia native, who joked about his Southern charm, gave all the homeowners an HGTV mug and sent them handwritten thank you letters.
He was careful not to tease any of them for their eclectic tastes and declined to name a favorite house among the dozens he visited, citing how “unique and memorable” they all were.
“I told HGTV, ‘Look, I’m a comedian, but I’m not here to take anyone down. I’m more of a positive guy,” McBrayer explained. “And they said, ‘Perfect! This is exactly what we want.’”
He deferred to the base instincts of most curious onlookers, asking homeowners to, for example, tell him “all about this rainbow wall” or to say, “I can’t believe you bought a Catholic Church – show me that, ” Without ever mocking them.
“I’m glad we chose to use the word ‘wackadoo’ to say that some things are really absurd, because I didn’t want there to be any negative connotations, like you say one of them is ‘crazy,’” he said. . “I wish there was a celebratory way to say, ‘Wow, you committed to expressing yourself in your home!’”
