Renovation Raiders

Premise of this show is OK. In a few hours, while the owners are away, a crew comes in and renovates a part of the home. One spouse is part of the plan, the other has no idea.

This plot line is entertaining. Once. Every succeeding show is the same plot line, only the home owners change. As noted in the previous review, Amy - the shows star - spends her time trying to generate drama by pretending that everything is behind schedule or that one spouse can't keep the other away long enough to finish. And she never lifts a finger to help her crew as it would only interfere with her feigned angst.

If you are going to watch a reno show, Renovation Addict is way better. And the shows host, Nicole, actually knows something about renovation and home remodeling without any fake drama.

No, my idea wasn't to fabricate a show about contractors who rush a house while the homeowners are away having 7-hour meals. Where there are only problems that can be overcome by a gabby host. Where the municipal inspector is waiting around with no other houses to inspect. Where all the material presumably gets snuck in the back door while nobody's looking. Where the demo is handed off to a crew of illegals just off-camera. Where the couple somehow doesn't notice that a camera crew is following them around all day. My HGTV show idea is to have two actors/''contractors" - let's call them them Jobathon and Dew - throw random construction tools out of windows while wearing no pants. Person who hits the most bystanders wins that episode's prize. I'd like to suggest my idea is no less ridiculous or unrealistic than Renovation Raiders.

The premise of the show is that while a couple is out to eat, a room(s) in their home is totally remodeled before they get back home. One of the spouses is in on it and arranges to be away for several hours.

The host, I think her name is Amy, does nothing but yell and screech at all of the workers. As if they don't know they're working under a timed deadline - "Oh really, you mean I have to hurry up because the owners are coming home soon? Thanks so much for screaming that at me no less than ten times."

Someone, in disguise, trails the couple and reports back to Amy as to how far along they are with their meal. Why is the spy who follows the couple wearing a wig that makes Donald Trump's hair look like a better choice?

Show has some merit, but is so over-acted and predictable.

I'm not sure what the other two reviewers were looking for, but plot lines isn't what I want in a reno show.What these people do in 5 or 6 hours is amazing, I enjoy the show for the amazing room transformations and the surprise of the spouse. The host isn't always yelling and is helping, she's just also leading... I love how they do a dry run for every build so they can anticipate problems, that heist element on top of having a friend or relative spy on the couple is fun, I also like how some of them get a restaurant manager in on it to make sure that they can keep tabs on the couple, though I sometimes find myself complaining that the spy could be doing so much better at stalling.

I have been watching Amie Mathews for years. She is so professional that she makes every thing look easy. Looking at Renovation Raiders, you might not realize that she is a professional contractor, that in an earlier life did all of the work herself.

The complexity of some of the projects is way beyond what most people do in a renovation. The last show I watched, they installed a Double 2 x 12 header. This is not something that you can do alone. Just holding up each board takes 3 people. This is a show of coordinated effort. If you have ever done a renovation or had one done, you know that the littlest job takes days, and then there is always something that is not finished. I am asking all viewers not to underestimate the fantastic job of coordination and skill that is shown. The inspector is on the job and gives them immediate confirmation that the quality of the work meets the local code. Something that the local handyman does usually does not meet the local codes. I recommend this show if you want to see work done quickly and correctly with good taste. God Bless You -- John