Trading Spaces

This show is pretty mediocre. Actually, what makes it worth watching are its poorer points, because they make the show funny. First of all, I can't think of a more annoying host than Page Davis. She is just so totally phoney and slappable. Then we have a team of about 8 designers who apparently come on the show in some sort of rotation (or they keep getting fired) and just about all of them are incredibly uptight and socially inept. It is truly funny watching guests react to the obnoxious enthusiasm of the "cast" from this show.

I particularly enjoy it when one of the designers intentionally go way over the top with a room as a form of revenge at whomever's p**sed them off at the time (I recall one episode where one of the gay,leather-wearing designers has a tiff with the guests and they end up decorating pistacio green, orange, and brown).

Then of course, my favorite is watching people open their eyes to their newwly redecorated room and pretending to be flattered at what is obviously an utterly horrible job. The wide eyes and repeated useage of the word "cool", all the while repeatedly glancing over at their teammate to see if they're equally horrified is just a riot. Page does a great job of playing up the tension by over acting and dramatizing just how wonderful and tra la la la fun it has all been!

What makes this show annoying is how they once in a while have a cool new idea, but fail to adequately explain how to reproduce the idea for yourself.

Summary: Pretty much a waste of time if you have the time to waste.

Through the good and the bad this show always managed to have a good time. Some of the designs were downright gorgeous (anything by Genevieve/Laurie) and some hideous (Hildi). The homeowners were usually good people and good sports, which makes the show enjoyable to watch. And Paige is such a fun and engaging host. I've definitely gotten some design inspiration from this show!

I cannot explain how much I loved this show, and I don't know why exactly. If there is one reason, it's that everybody seems so likable even if they are tired and harried.

I especially like Alex McLeod as host in the first season. Maybe it's because she's the original host. I like Paige Davis well enough. However I always found her a little too hyper, a little too outgoing, a little too happy.

I do have to say after a couple of seasons, it does get tired and repetitive. Seriously how many different ways can you redo a room? At least, it was fun for awhile.

Well, I've sat through a number of these dull American rehashes of the vastly entertaining "Changing Rooms," and I'm not impressed.

"Trading Spaces" seems to lack all of the things that make "Changing Rooms" such a charming and entertaining program. First, the hour-long format is way too long, but only because it's filled with designer posturing and stupid homeowners with these "Hi Mom!" expressions on their faces. In the original show, the designers and host (Carol Smillie) have a rapport and chemistry, and genuinely seem to like each other, despite the odd quarrel. The folks on "Trading Spaces" just seem mismatched. Although I didn't catch their names, the lovely redheaded designer is pleasant and talented as is the female carpenter but these two elements don't make up for a dire show.

Try switching over to "Changing Rooms," on BBCAmerica, it's worth the price of digital cable.

For the life of me, I don't see where they spend $1000.00 dollars in any of these rooms!! The designers must go to a fabric store and purchase THE most expensive fabric and make one lousy pillow out of it or something, because these rooms just look awful. Hilda is the worst of the lot, as she wants everything painted black!! And who could forget her famous hay-covered walls?? LOL.

Have you ever noticed that these designers never really lift anything heavy when starting to decorate the rooms? If it weighs more than a pencil or a sheet of paper, forget it. Maybe the designers don't want to chip a fingernail or something. And why don't these designers stay and help their "team" get things done the first night?? What is it with all this "homework"??? I would be grabbing someone around the neck and threaten to wring it, if I was told to do all this work while "rich designer" is leaving for the night!! I keep watching and waiting for ideas on decorating, but so far.....nothing!! "Changing Rooms" is a much better show.