IrishImport

Regarding the great idea of getting all our favorite "agents" (most of the ones we like are apparently real agents, unlike others) together for a conversation show - - would like to see practical, tell-it-like-it-is Roz from Amsterdam join colorful Adrian from Paris, and especially hot Luc from southern France, sarcastic Richard from London, that attractive very British guy who used to be in the London episodes (the one cuddling the dog in the old promos), cute, funny James from Cork... and Tamiel from Puerto Vallarta who can barely keep a straight face sometimes. Oh... well, I thought I watched HHI for the location and houses.....! Who am I forgetting? There are some new cute agents in the mix too.

Just a thought...after watching yet another young House Hunter look around an affordable apartment - anywhere in the world - and say disparagingly “Looks like Grandma’s house.” ... In 50 years are young folk going to look at our stainless steel appliances, granite or quartz countertops, white and grey kitchens, and IKEA furniture and say with a sniff, “Looks like Grandma’s place.” ??

Yup... I didn't want to make assumptions about third-world countries and all that but yes, you don't have the services that you have in the U.S. (which often have their own problems) but there they can be really unreliable. For various reasons. I confess the first thing I thought of is they didn't pay protection money, or enough of it, and their place burned down. They said something about how the main owner of the building had a bit of insurance, which is rare there, but it wasn't enough to cover much. I know someone who moved to Guatemala for the HH mantra - "slow down, enjoy life, in a beautiful place, for a lot less money" and he was back in the U.S within 2 years. Too much graft, bribery, corruption. So, in relation to House Hunters, yes, we enjoy the TV show, and the little bits of reality (real people!) but the TV show just plays into anyone's fantasy of a fresh start in 30 minutes. I enjoy the shows very much - just have to remind myself they don't show the whole story. Every time I get the itch to move!

Couple buying bar in Granada, Nicaragua - was just catching up on shows I hadn't seen yet - I looked up Reilly's Bar in Granada after seeing that show (yes it was an odd one!) and that bar burned down a few months ago - in fact most of the block burned. Suspicious "electrical fire." It's on their FB page and someone started a GoFundMe to help them rebuild. It talks about how they called the fire department and it took ages for a fire truck to come, which then ran out of water - went somewhere to refill - and then ran out of gas to get back to the fire. Yikes.

Gordon was adorable. And seemed so nice. But his girlfriend, that voice, that laugh, that attitude. Could barely watch but wanted to see more of Gordon. No wonder she’s worried about being together longer than 90 days! Maybe it was just camera nerves. Hope she’s nicer in person. He must like her for some reason. And the place they chose...that “kitchen” is smallest I’ve ever seen. They must eat out a lot.

You mean when she was looking out the window and said something like “Look at all the cute little houses?”... yes I noticed! The shacks were not “cute” ... Different place, different standard of living. But that certainly wasn’t the best part of town.

Here is the Tuscany B&B’s website. They’re still working on it and plan to open in 2019. (Those “partially renovated” properties are always a giveaway, as we know.). And on the website they do say the town is a short DRIVE away. :) Despite their understandable insistence that a walkable distance would be a priority for guests when “looking” for a property. Of course HHI is staged, it’s TV, but still fun to get glimpses of places around the world... and see the real people and their websites. https://www.fontemartino.com/about-us/

I liked the guys looking to start a B&B in Tuscany too. But I had to laugh when the realtor said it was only a 10 minute walk to that beautiful hilltop town. Only if you’re a mountain goat. Maybe she just meant the bottom of the hill. Realtors do spin things, after all.

Seriously. They say they don’t want their kids on TV. Their fifth child isn’t even BORN yet and they’re releasing videos of the ultrasound! For the public to gawk at. Sure. Right.

Didn't anybody else see Kristi Yamaguchi totally diss Sasha at the top of the sky box stairs? Sasha was standing at the top, gave Lindsey a big hug, reached for Kristi and she blew right past him. Sideways. He had a funny look on his face. Then he gave Mark a quick man-hug. Ouch, that was cold, Kristi. Did she just blank out or does she not like him? Everybody likes Sasha!

SF to Amsterdam: Lately I just enjoy catching the little digs the editors work in there (even they must be tired of the same stuff over and over.) In the second Amsterdam place with the big yard, that gal was standing there whining that it "had no character, didn't feel like you were in Amsterdam." And the editor cuts to a long look at the gorgeous round stained glass window glowing with colorful tulips. Um.... yes. No Amsterdam character at all.

So.. I love watching HHI for the peek at other places around the world, but it finally hit me... 9 times out of ten it's the unfurnished or partly furnished place that they "pick" .... So why do they bother moving all their stuff out at all? If there were three furnished places, it would at least maintain the pretense of suspense! And save a lot of time and trouble. It's not like we know what their furniture looks like? I suppose it would ruin the "three months later" shots though ( More like 24 hours...I was disappointed when I realized they usually don't go back later really.) I suppose that's it!

OMG! Just catching up with the DVR. Trent always kind of bugged me from early on but I just finished my 180 fast! Sharp Dressed Man was HOT !!!! Loved everything about it! A star in the making for sure. Yes, now I agree he was wasted on the farm. Loved the back up singer intro, even Bandzilla got into it, loved the hair, the suit, his swampy groove, that was indeed hot. Finally a Moment! For the dying embers of American Idol. I feel better now. And I loved the way Trent said "men-tour"..,!

Exactly BiakBiak! The tinkering/fixing/adjusting/polishing is part of the whole hobby for them. My husband spends hours in the garage fussing with his motorcycles. I have no idea what he's doing but glad he is happy doing it. He has absolutely zero interest in my hobbies, horses, etc. Everyone has their own passions. Keeps the world interesting. You couldn't pay him $1000 to ever watch a House Hunters episode! Ever. Hah. I like them. Hey I lived in San Francisco many years. I hear you on expensive small space. I fled to Minneapolis so we could buy a house with a garage for the motorcycles. Didn't manage a horse barn though.

Well I'm against the grain here but everyone's different! I loved the Kaiserslautern episode. It's what I watch HHI for. To see new places. And places that I have been to also. I was in "K-town" in 1987. And sometimes friendly, pretty normal people that seem like they'd be fun to sit down with for a beer. (Yes, I have a busy life, this is my break time.) I liked her laugh. They seemed more natural than most HHI folks. I know avid bikers and if they have 3 bikes each then they are avid bikers with different bikes for different uses and the bikes require lots of constant adjusting and maintenance, it's their religion practically. Of course there is the usual silly HHI plot fakery but we're all used to that. They're grinding out a TV show with different crews around the world so they use consistent scripts/shoot outlines for cost efficiencies. When my sons were teenagers they would have loved their own extra space. Actually I was surprised though they didn't just make that extra room by his the bike room... !

PS. Oh, the reason I'm starting to like Trent is that at least he singing the song and feeling it and letting his voice do his thing. That's inviting us in to share the passion, as the judges say. Unlike Dalton, who yes, has great eyes, but all I see in them now is him thinking, three steps to the left, spin, wave hand, shake hair, repeat. And that's his lane. Give me a singer lost in his song instead.

I actually enjoyed the show and some of the performances for the first time this season. Thank heavens! Been sad to see such a "let's get it over with" train wreck so far. Used to look forward to the show. Now I dvr it and watch the next day just to say I tried. I even ran a few back to watch again. Rather than FF after the first few boring seconds of most each week. The judges are actually offering real feedback and spot on advice... even Jennifer! So much better than the Nikki/Maria debacle, speaking of train wrecks. Actually liked Trent and LaPorsha's duet. They sounded great together and it had life and fun and was different. Even Harry said their voices went well together. On the solos it seemed like they suddenly settled into their lanes and did their unique thing that got them there in the first place. Yes, AI dragged out the old song chestnuts for performance one more time. But at least I recognized these. LaPorsha has attitude but for Pete's sake somebody has to. Too many blushing Tweens. Work those plus size leather pants, sister! Loved how she turned her back at the end and kept walking. Perfect. Dalton is getting very one note. Literally. Boring. I didn't like Trent at all at first but I think Keith is right, he is growing and he obviously just gets into songs and sings them as they overtake him and does his thing ...that's what is fun to watch. You don't know where he is going. But he's feeling it! I actually like his new look, don't miss the scarves. Sonika is a pretty voice in a groomed Barbie doll and just boring. Nothing different. I always liked Lee, yes, lovely tone, but he is so young. I know they wanted him to "stretch" but I thought bandzilla killed his Let It Be. Let him back in his lane. It would have been gorgeous if it was just him on a stool with his guitar and a single spot and singing Let It Be so that you could hear the sweet spot in his tone. I feel robbed. He could have had his Moment. Before he left. Does no one learn from Phillip Phillips? I still watch his Volcano and his other "moments." Still have no idea how Nick "won" last year. I blamed Wilson's Leather Discount Rack oil-slick Borchetta. But even he doesn't seem to know what to do with him.

Your first guess is closest, BookElitist!

I have to admit I loved what they did to the recent 5 bedroom "bungalow" for the California couple with their girls going to Baylor. A lot of the usual touches but they DID mix it up some. Cool handmade blue and white tile on kitchen walls. Even Chip had to throw in "look, no white subway tile in kitchen! " Brass sink faucet. Loved the new cute arched front door!! And loved the new exposed unfinished ceiling in the master bedroom, really added cozy feel to contrast the natural wood with all the white. That room looked SO much better. Loved the new front of the house fix too, it looked amazing. The only thing is they didn't end up with much dining space besides kitchen bar for a "family get together" home but the new breakfast area, really, was cute. Overall, A+ from me!

All right, Dublin couple last night... What was with the "huge yard" in second house??? It was a dirty little cement back stoop. Even a "patio" would be an enormous stretch. Yes it's city living but calling that a huge yard? Several times?!? No.

Re: bicycles in Amsterdam. I have been there and yes, they do ride bicycles to get around their daily lives, in the city center and elsewhere. Beware when walking because bicycles have the right of way and they ride fast! There is plenty of mass transportation too though with city center buses, trams and trains. The main train station downtown is quite a sight because it has a huge bicycle garage next to it with thousands of commuter bicycles!

I liked the tighter editing and the one hour show. More liked the old days. No endless stretching into two hour advertising marathons. Fell in love with Keith again tonight. Great specific, colorful commentary. Talent portals for Tina Turner redux. Lean into abandonment! for Thomas. Although right after that Ryan said to Thomas that he took a risk with the abandonment. What? Exact same thing he's done every time. I had to FF through it to skip the faux-Brit anguish. Yes, I saw Jordan run right past his baby reaching out for him. Nice one. And Harry was right. Just sing the damn song. Don't overdo it all twisted up into knots. I felt like he was rushing to the bathroom and that is why he blew past the family. Gianna is 15 and her songs have been way too old for her. Sing them in 10 years when you have some edge. If you're going to sing a torchy song like Put a Spell on You why are you doing it in a mini granny dress and hardly any make up and little girl hair. Now was the time for the black leather, the hair up, the dramatic eyes, the heels, the strut. 15 be damned. As Simon used to say, it was like watching a kitten sing it. Can't have it both ways. Make up and costume made up for it on La Por'sha or however she spells it though. Great dress for her size. But yes, time to dip into something current with that voice and attitude. And poor Emily. When even I can tell it's too low and a train wreck from the first few notes... Bad. I was glad to hear the judges agree and keep it real. OverallI thought the commentary from judges was much improved and not all the vague,time-stretching, you're so talented filler they've been indulging in. And oh yes, props to the first poster who mentioned Thomas was channeling Woody from Toy Story. Nailed it! Except for the voice of course.

The heck with Eric. That realtor was hot!