Chip and Joanna Gaines are ending their highly successful HGTV home makeover show tonight, but the cable network has successfully built a roster of duos to take their place. "For HGTV, their departure is a major loss," says Megan Angelo. "But the couple’s success provided the network with a formula for filling the ratings sinkhole they’ll leave behind: Make shows about charismatic twosomes from underexplored parts of the country. HGTV is applying this formula vigorously; 19 of its current series are toplined by duos, with more on the way. Some of the emerging shows star siblings (Restored by the Fords) or parent-child teams (Good Bones), but most revolve around couples."
TOPICS: Fixer Upper, HGTV, Chip Gaines, Joanna Gaines, Reality TV