When it comes to HGTV, you tend to only see wholesome programming.The shows are catered to home and garden fans and families, so the programming is filled with cheery and sunny dispositions, with personalities showcasing an exuberant amount of positivity. But sometimes, very rarely, does HGTV allow a series to seep through that strays away from that wholesome mission.
While it only lasted one short season, HGTV gave a series order to a show that gave viewers something to salivate over. Say hello toFlip the Strip. The 2023 short-lived series was essentially watching the hunks fromMagic Mikesledgehammer their way through a home and into our hearts. Celebrated interior designerKelly Stoneis joined by a quartet of nighttime headliners who just so happen to be expert tradesmen. The Vegas-set renovation show got fans all hot and bothered as the network tested its limits on the type of content it was ready to share.
‘Flip the Strip’ Was Too Hot To Handle
Let’s set the stage, shall we? Four entertainers from Las Vegas' famed stage showThunder From Down Underhappened to have some experience in the construction industry. Now, did the quartet of dancers struggle in the field to turn to the stage? We can’t say, butBen Cleary, Dan Paterson, Liam Black, andMalik Wills-Martinwere willing to pull double duty on the Vegas strip.According to the press releaseat the time, Dan Paterson said, “We are here in the United States to perform, but we also want to try our hand at building a business and deliver the best possible renovations to our clients.” In comesFlip the Strip. Alongside Kelly Stone, a Vegas-based interior designer, the team set out to turn their client’s humdrum homes into glitzy desert oases. From over-the-top casino-inspired style with decadent chandeliers, imaginative bar setups, custom statement balustrades, and an abstract art piece involving paint and a shirtless dancer,Flip the Stripwas destined to heat up the screen.
The show promised that the guys would drop some “Aussie-isms,” but what fans really wanted were those shirts off.When you bill the show asThunder From Down Underdoes reno, there best be sweat dripping down their pecs.Each of the four guys fit a specific renovation role. Dan was the project manager, Ben was the carpenter, Liam was the painter, and Malik was the demo “do-it-all” ace. And they all danced to keep you entertained and engaged in the project at hand. To say thatFlip the Stripwas too hot to handle is an understatement.Even in all of their promotional material for the show, they hammered home the risque elements of the series. They ensured that we would be blushing while watching. If 2024 was Brat Summer, some HGTV fans deemed 2023 Hot Contractor Summer, thanks to this show.
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‘Flip the Strip’ Was a Losing Hand
Perhaps trying to ride the wave ofMagic Mike’s legacy or shows likeWelcome to Chippendaleson Hulu,Flip the Stripwas a bold and daring entry to the HGTV programming catalogue. But with so many cookie-cutter shows filling the time slots, it was a welcome departure, especially for those eager to watch something a bit more daring.If there’s one descriptor that does not pair with HGTV, it’s sex appeal.Sure, there may be some attractive males on the network, but rarely do they get billed as such.Flip the Stripessentially pushed that aside to ensure sex appeal was front and center. Even with the show promoting the guys' aspiration to start a renovation business, it seemed more like a formality and plot device rather than an actuality.
With only six episodes in existence,Flip the Stripcame and went with very little fanfare. Perhaps it was too daring for the network, as HGTV hasn’t attempted to push the boundaries quite like this show since. They’ve reverted back to trying out a plethora of husband-and-wife duos flipping homes with feel-good stories.The unlikely concept had potential, but as a summer series, the odds were already stacked against it.Never bet on a summer show.While we could have hoped for dance-offs and body rolls with a sledgehammerin a second season, it just wasn’t in the cards.
