An opportunity that almost ended before it started.
The very definition of “sink or swim.”
A change of heart from the folks in charge.
It might seem inconceivable, but "Fixer Upper" almost never made it to the small screen.
This is why the iconic home renovation show almost didn't happen!
In a special "How We Got To Here" episode, beloved home renovation hosts Chip and Joanna
Gaines revealed that the initial footage they filmed for HGTV wasn't very good.
In fact, the network almost passed on the series entirely.
However, there was one scene that convinced the network to take a chance on the Gaines
clan.
And fittingly, it was one where Chip himself took a big chance - one that backfired spectacularly.
Chip's big idea was to move the family onto a houseboat while they were having their home
renovated.
The problem?
He decided to surprise Joanna with this plan by buying her the boat sight unseen for Mother's
Day.
And boy, was she surprised, because the boat turned out to be a complete pile of junk.
"Chip is like that kid, like the five-year-old kid that's trying to make his mom breakfast
and there's milk everywhere.
Good heart.
Big mistake, but good heart."
The rapport between the couple in this short scene ended up turning the tide and convincing
HGTV that they had the potential to become a hit.
That didn't just save the show, it may have ended up saving the network, as "Fixer Upper"
became HGTV's signature series and biggest hit.
"I mean, I don't think we'd be here if it weren't for that boat."
Given that the show almost didn't happen, it's amazing that "Fixer Upper" ran for five
successful seasons.
But right when Chip and Joanna Gaines were at the height of their fame, they shocked
fans by suddenly ending the show and leaving HGTV in 2017.
In a blog post, they expressed a desire to spend more time with their family, something
they found increasingly difficult given how many projects they were juggling.
Still, it was an undeniably risky decision, as Chip himself acknowledged to Success magazine.
But he explained their decision-making process, saying:
"Jo and I just realized in our hearts that as much as we love 'Fixer Upper,' as much
as we love the honor that we have felt with this show basically introducing us to the
country, if not the world, we want to make sure that we're here for our family during
really crucial, pivotal points in its journey."
Moreover, their relationship had to remain a priority, too.
"Fixer Upper" put unnecessary stress on the Gaines' marriage.
Chip said:
"We don't want to run so hard after some dream or some goal only to find out that we've neglected
the thing that means the very most to us, which is our marriage and our relationship."
As the Gaines shared with The Hollywood Reporter, the main issue with the original incarnation
of "Fixer Upper" was that it became too demanding, eclipsing everything else in their lives.
As Joanna put it,
"The show ended up where we had to constantly be feeding it."
So it seemed over.
Joanna told People,
"The day we wrapped our final episode of ​'Fixer Upper,'​ we really believed it was a chapter
closed."
Thankfully for fans, it wasn't actually the end.
The Gaines family brought the beloved show back on Magnolia Network, with Joanna describing
it as "'Fixer 2.0."
It had been a little while since the home renovation stars appeared on camera together,
so it took some time to get back into the swing of things, but it felt right.
According to Joanna, they, quote, "weren't done dreaming about ways to make old things
new again."
The big difference this time around, though, is that their children don't appear on screen
unless they want.
Joanna said:
"If they volunteer to be a part, we are more than happy, but we never want to just force
it for a scene.
They can make that choice.
We'll see as much of the kids as they want to give us."
The new "Fixer Upper: Welcome Home" debuted in 2021, and so far, it's been everything
anyone could hope for.
And to think, it all might never have happened if it weren't for some poor judgment and a
crappy old houseboat.
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