Hey all you lovers of HGTV, tell me if this sounds familiar?  "Husband and wife dynamos Rob and Lisa Brandsma own and operate Brandsma Renos & Design, a renovation and design business in Abbotsford, British Columbia. They help their clients find and then renovate their dream homes – turning dilapidated but potential-rich houses into showplaces. " This is the log line for HGTV Canada's new show called "Forever Home".  Fans of the wondrous "Fixer Uppers" will immediately recognize the description.  And if they don't they only need to watch the pilot to see that the show is a blatant rip off of Jo and Chip Gains show.  I also take offence at that use of the word dynamos!!

Now, I'm all for Canadian content.  In fact, most of the DYI content on HGTV and other channels are supplied by Canadians but in the case of this new show I am sorry to say that imitation is definitely not the sincerest form of flattery.  The hosts and producers and trying too hard to recreate the charm and wit of the Texas based Fixer Upper.  Maybe they have permission to do this, I don't know, but even if they did they have missed the mark.

You cannot out "Gaines" Chip and Joanna.  Their natural on air presence is a gig part of the success of the show.  Last month I spoke about this wonderful show.  I wasn't even going to write about them again so soon but when I caught the sneak peak of "Forever Home" I had to head to my keyboard.  An especially hard moment to watch was an awkward attempt and humour by having the husband/contractor run and jump on a trampoline.  Again, that's Chip's thing.

I am sure that this new couple are nice people and I am not saying that they should not have their own show but the producers need to take the idea back to the drawing board and re-invent a new format.  We already have Jo and Chip, we don't need new ones.