Living with Ed

HGTV enticed me into watching this show with teasers while I watched the Rose Parade. It certainly seemed like an original idea, and a timely one. HGTV is polluted with a plethora of home makeover shows, and I'd rather see the latest in solar panel technology as opposed to how to glue hay to a wall for a "new look".

I quickly became disappointed while watching, however, as much of the show was devoted to the conflict (real or contrived) between Ed and his wife Rachelle. O.K. already, I GET IT, Rachelle doesn't like to conserve energy, and Ed does.

There's a lot of angles they can work to make this show not only informative, but also entertaining.

You've got one more episode to turn it around, Ed, then I'm bailing.

Season One: Conservatives of previous generations found prosperity through frugality, but in today's culture, conservatism and conservation share only a linguistic root. Despite his success as an actor, Ed Begley, Jr. has conscientiously sought to organize his life around conservation and simple living. With his wife, Rachelle Carson, as an amusing counterpoint, Begley gives us a very non-threatening introduction to living a 'greener' lifestyle. You won't find heavy discussions of population overshoot, energy uncertainty or climate change, but you will be exposed to new ideas (good for you) and new products (good for HGTV).

Season Two: As in the first season, successful actor Ed Begley, Jr. plays himself as an average Joe dedicated to conservation and simple living. His wife, Rachelle Carson, plays herself as an average Jane that would rather not think about energy one way or the other, mugging her aggravation relentlessly as Ed preaches conservation. Instead of scaring you with talk of climate change, Living With Ed serves up a mix of simple energy-saving tips (the low-hanging fruit) and pricey new technology.

We enjoyed the first season, but after the first two episodes, all we've seen is Ed and Rachelle ooh and aah over Cheryl Tiegs' airy Bel Air hillside estate, and swoon over Larry Hagman's opulent 25,000 SF hillside mansion. To his credit, Hagman has incorporated $750K worth of solar panels, and donates energy to help nearby working class families, but Ed fails to point out that such an immense house for two people, even with a household staff, is extravagantly inefficient.

I'm hoping this series doesn't become Lifestyles of the Rich and Greenwashed.

I admit that I don't find the bickering on the show all that entertaining, and I agree that a little more background on the marriage should be provided-- what, for example, was Rochelle prepared for when she married this guy? Anyway, I do find the show a nice counterpoint to the endless remodeling shows on HGTV. People on the other programs are constantly tearing out serviceable but "dated" fixtures only to replace them with new ones that will be dated in a few years as well, and energy and resource conservation is rarely discussed. The gadgets that Begley has installed are pretty interesting, and I would like to see him host a "how-to" show about running a green household.

Season one is a great kickoff for a fun and informative program.

Seasons two and Three carries on the tradition.

Actually, I have to confess that I've watched the series several times over. I just finally broke down and decided to buy the DVDs.

Living with Ed gives you an overview of many ways that you could live green. As you may notice, some are practical, and others are expensive. Yet in the long run, even the expensive ones are not that expensive because by downsizing the house there is money left over to be able to put into technologies such as solar panels and electric cars.

Actually, I cannot downsize as it takes quit some wall space (including hall wall space) to shelve 10,000+ books.

I even bought the book. As with the series, it does not have a good list of where to get the items that are shown. It is just being aware that such products exist that makes the series useful. However, I wonder how antagonistic the couple (Ed and Rachelle Begley) really is and what is put on for our entertainment. Rachelle gets a shot at her own show on YouTube.

I have been an environmentalist for years and was really looking forward to this show. I had it set to record all episodes because I thought I could really learn some great new things. I probably could if I could get past Rachelle.

I'm sure a lot of this is staged to seem like a reality show and appeal to that class of viewer. It doesn't work for someone who's really interested in improving the planet.

This show should be called Nagging with Rachelle.

Since Ed is such a great font of information, maybe a second show that's really serious about the environment would be a good idea. Dumbing things down is not necessary for some of us.

I no longer record episodes or watch the show, but do let me know if a real green show may be in the works.