There's Plenty Of Room For Nice On Reality TV

It's not easy to create a segue from Snooki, star of MTV's Jersey Shore to a segment talking about Mike Holmes, but NPR managed to do it. In a segment about reality TV shows-- the good, the bad and the trashy (my description, not theirs)-- they list off several shows on TV where backstabbing, gossip, sex, and plain old misbehaving bring in massive audiences. They then juxtapose shows like Jersey Shore against Holmes Inspection, where "nice" rules, and rules quite nicely. I guess their main point was, Mike Holmes is "nice" and still manages to have a successful TV show (I take it they've never seen episodes of HOH and HI where Mike gets angry, huh?). LOL.


Here is a partial transcript from the NPR segment:

But there's a star who doesn't fit that mold: Mike Holmes.

(SOUNDBITE OF TV SHOW, "HOLMES INSPECTION")

MIKE HOLMES: As soon as I see the electrical, that issue is electrical.

DEGGANS: Holmes is a TV star imported from Canada. He's a building contractor who rescues unlucky homeowners, swooping in to redo bad renovations on his HGTV series "Holmes Inspection."

(SOUNDBITE OF TV SHOW, "HOLMES INSPECTION")

HOLMES: The home inspection appeared to go well, or so she thought. But now she's faced with a lot of problems. I'm going to make it right.

DEGGANS: Some critics have questioned his knowledge or his habit of tackling massive projects to correct problems. But it's refreshing to see a reality TV personality focused on helping other people in the most realistic setting around: their homes.

Like other reality TV stars, Holmes has used fame to forge his own media empire. It includes books, TV shows, celebrity endorsements, his own home inspection service and even his own charitable foundation. Sometimes it's possible to get ahead by helping people, even on reality TV.

INSKEEP: That's Eric Deggan, the helpful TV and media critic for the Tampa Bay Times. You hear him on MORNING EDITION which is brought to you by this local public radio station. Glad you're joining us this morning. You can continue following the program throughout the day on social media. We're on Facebook, we're on Twitter. We're at MORNING EDITION and at nprinskeep.

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)

INSKEEP: This is NPR News.

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)

Mike's segment begins around the 2:20 mark:

October 2011 Radio Interview with Mike Holmes, John Moore

In October 2011, John Moore from radio station CFRB 1010 in Toronto, Ontario interviewed Mike Holmes about DIY projects. As one would expect, Mike strongly discourages lay people from approaching most reno projects without consulting the professionals. "I'm against DIY as a standard," he says, adding the following questions for ambitious homeowners to consider, "How old's the house? Did you need to gut the kitchen? Do you need to check the electrical, the plumbing? Does it all need to be changed? How's the structure?" Big, big questions to consider, especially given that "[i]n most cases, homeowners don't know enough." True that. Check out the full interview.

MyFixItUpLife Talks To Mike Holmes

Mark and Theresa of MyFixItUpLife talk lead, asbestos, remodels, magic, and enduring the elements with Mike Holmes at the International Builders Show. My favorite part about this video (other than Mike of course) is watching all of the random people in the background whipping out their camers and cell phones to take pictures. Wherever that Holmes guy goes, he always seems to draw a crowd. Figure that. Or maybe it has something to do with the fact they're sitting directly behind the wine bar. And yes, Mike, you most certainly are a freak, in more ways than one. But that's why we love you.

Mike Holmes and Scott McGillivray visit JJ and Melanie in the Morning

It might have been a chilly 7 degrees outside the Flow 93.5 studios in Toronto, but Mike Holmes and Scott McGillivary of  Canada's Handyman Superstar Challenge and its American counterpart  All American Handyman  were heating things up. In this March 2011 radio chat, Mike discusses his proclivity to cut through other people's BS on his shows, stating "I know you cannot take the strips off a tiger, I am who I am." Mike Holmes definitely knows how to use a tool belt, AND looks good in one too. As far as who's the better handyman... sorry Scott. You know who our vote goes to.

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