Now that we’ve discussed our favorite home shows, does anyone know which one delivers the highest ratings for HGTV?
Here are your three clues:
1. The long-time host has acted in various TV dramas and even had a small role in one of my favorite flicks, “Housesitter.”
2. Star Jones guest-hosted for five episodes in NYC.
3. It films episodes all over the world for an “international version” of the show.
It’s “House Hunters!”
The first episode of “House Hunters” aired in 2000, and within a couple of years it was HGTV’s hottest show. Until recently, they didn’t tell viewers how much the featured houses cost. Viewers were simply given a vague idea of the buyer’s price range. As soon as “House Hunters” started revealing the prices of the homes in 2005, the ratings rose even higher. Producers began creating entire shows built around the concept of house prices, such as “National Open House” and “What You Get for the Money.”
Host Suzanne Whang is an actress who played Moseby’s secretary in “Housesitter” and has had parts in “Nip/Tuck,” “Brothers and Sisters, and “Boston Legal.”
When Star Jones guest-hosted for five episodes in NYC, the series pulled its highest ratings ever.
“House Hunters” is so popular that both it and “House Hunters International” can be seen almost every day of the week on HGTV.
Did anyone guess correctly? For those of you who keep their televisions glued to HGTV, I bet this was a piece of cake!
{ 29 comments… read them below or add one }
Did you know you can watch “House Hunter” in ten minutes if you DVR it and fast forward through commercials? No kidding!
Ha! I bet you’re right, Tracey. I do that with shows like “Designed to Sell” because I basically just want to see the “before” and “after”–not the work they do in-between, and they do fly by.
I think it’s interesting that “House Hunters” is supposed to be HGTV’s most popular show, and yet in our poll here no one has cast a single vote for it as their favorite yet. Go figure.
Just a note: the “What’s your favorite home show?” poll is at the end of the “Trading Spaces” post, not this one.
I love House Hunters- I don’t really know why- maybe it’s because I love houses.
I’ve seen Suzanne Whang on Las Vegas too- as a crazy nail tech or hair dresser in the hotel. She was very funny and very convincing. I haven’t seen her in the other things.
Amy–I’ve been enjoying all of your comments today. I love House Hunters, too. It’s totally addictive. I think part of the fun is trying to figure out the buyer’s personality and figuring out which house they’ll choose. -Julia
Thanks! I’ve had the flu so I’ve been catching up on all the stuff I’ve missed.
I’m totally on a losing streak as far as guessing correctly. I think they can’t really convey the buyers desire for a specific area, etc. But it’s fun trying- even my 6 year old guesses. She doesn’t like to be wrong though.
House Hunters is my ABSOLUTLY FAVORITE PROGRAM.
I love it!!!! Suzanne Whang is so darling, but I was very disappointed to see Star Jones tonight. I do not like her and I’m so worried that she has replaced Suzanee. Say it isn’t so
Lana–
I assume that’s a repeat from 2006 when Star Jones hosted for a week from NYC. As far as I know, they have no plans to replace Suzanne with her or anyone else. But if anyone has heard differently, let us know! -Julia
Are all the house hunters international reruns? I know that years ago there would be new epsoides run for a week around the first of September.
House Hunters and House Hunters International are my favorite shows on HGTV.
Thank You,
Suzanne Borrego
“House Hunters” is one of the shows that always seems to be on television. Unfortunately new episodes seems few and far between. I would like to know if they will be showing new episodes in the near future. I’ve seen many more than once.
Suzanne–
I haven’t seen a new House Hunters International in what seems like a long time.
Frank–
The key is to watch “House Hunters” on Sunday nights at 8:00 when they air the new episodes. The rest of the week they are airing repeats. I have a TiVo that records only the new episodes, so I know they’re still airing them. It has another one scheduled for tomorrow night at 8. -Julia
How is Myles of Styles doing in the ratings? I was soooo disappointed in DS 2 when Kim was the winner. She may be talented, but NOT in interior design. DS 1 winner, David Bronstad is a REAL star, and deserves his fabulous show, Color Splash.
Let’s see more of Splash…..and less of Myles of S.
I’ve been catching a few of what I think are the newer House Hunters shows, and there was someone elses voice other than Suzanne’s narrating! They never showed the lady and I’m wondering if Suzanne will be coming back, or was this Suzanne wannabe just temporary??
I am considering moving to Trinity, Fl. within six months. My friend watches HGTV House Hunters and told me you did a piece on Trinity, Fl. homes in the last few weeks or couple of months. Is there any way I can buy that viewing on DVD or watch it on your website?
Thank You,
Marlene Orr
801.566.8857
Beside the homes asking price, I would like to know what the property taxes are for the properties
To answer Marlene’s question, the Trinity episode of House Hunters will be on again on November 29th.
Does anyone know how to find out the colors used in the houses being shown? I just watched Episode 46 of 2008. More room in Austin. There was a greenish color on the walls in House #1 that I loved.
MY FAVORITE SHOW HAS BEEN HOUSE HUNTERS FOR YEARS BUT IF THE START NOT HAVEING SUZZANE WHANG ON I WILL FLICK OFF THE CHANEL. I ESPECIALLY DISLIKE THE WOMAN THAT IS SO INSULTING ON HER AND HER DAUGHTER SHOW.I DO IT NOW AS SOON AS I HEAR HER VOICE.
House Hunters—what is with that fake, irritating voice that pretends to be Suzanne Whang? I can’t stand it…and turn the show off immediately. Horrid!
When will the episode 33 “The Atkins are dreaming of a second home in Maine” air again. I have a summer place in the area and would love to see it. Thanks Joan
If HGTV would only stop using the “Swinging Camera” and keep the camera’s still so the audience can
see what is the subject matter, their viewer numbers would go back up to the good-old -days. We can’t watch because it
makes the us dizzy.
Same for DIY
What’s wrong with these people?
Betson–
I don’t know what the deal is with the “fake Suzanne Whang” doing the voice-overs on the show now. I’ve looked for information but haven’t found any on whether Whang is still under contract.
Joan–
No idea what the schedule is. Check hgtv.com.
Jerry–
Got to agree with you on this one. It’s extremely annoying. I often have to pause my DVR to get a good look at a room–not only on this show but others on HGTV.
Thanks for your comments! -Julia
FINALLY saw name of new narrator that no body here likes - Colette Whitaker is her name. Her voice sounds familiar, but I can’t picture her face. Apparently she has done a lot work as just a voice. I imdb’d her and she was an “additional voice” in Disney’s Cars and Wall-E. I wonder why hgtv hasn’t taken Suzanne Whang’s name off their website. Perhaps she is just on temporary leave hopefully?
what happens to previous guests that havce purchased homes on your show. have you thought about doing a updates on previous guests
Yikes! Does anyone have any info yet on if Suzanne Whang is to return? It personalized the show sooooo much more when she narrated.
If you email Suzanne Whang on her official website, she will tell you that HGTV let her go last year. She’s doing other stuff now, and that is why she was replaced with this Colette Whitaker fakewannabe voice-over person. This is what she sent me: ” i left the show almost a year ago, after hosting it for almost a decade. they’ll still show my reruns for eternity, i imagine. feel free to post your comments or send an email to hgtv.com.
i am now headlining at stand-up comedy clubs, i’m guest hosting on the Game Show Network, writing my 2nd book, developing several television series to star in, doing professional keynote speaking, guest sermons, political activism, and charity work. life is good!
thanks for your email. have a blissful night ~”
The only true way to send a message to HGTV about the horrid, horrid, fake, sing song, voice on House Hunters, is to boycott the show. I won’t watch it. HGTV doesn’t have respect for its loyal audience to “come clean” on their website re Suzanne Whang.
Replacing her with another “voice” is one thing, to try to pass off a fake, and still run Whang’s picture. Forget them…turn off the TV or switch the channel
I have been in real estate for over 21 years and in interior design for over 30 - would love to have a chance to work on some HGTV show. I
teach real estate and staging to agents and
am a consultant to builders and investors. I
take a lot of buyers around in my car, and the
latest group commented that I should be on
House Hunter. I’m in the Cary, NC, area.
I would like to voice my displeasure at the loss of Suzanne Whang as host for House Hunters. I also turn off the show when she is not hosting it. I have tried to watch when she is not on or when they have the fake voice on. The show is definitely suffering from her loss. I am not sure what it would take to get her back but I would suggest that HGTV look into it!