Fans of the popular HGTV series Ugliest House in America have voiced a united complaint following the premiere of its brand new season. The show, which returned for its seventh series on January 7, is fronted by the 'hilarious' 55-year-old actress and comedian Retta. While delighted to have the programme back, viewers are now campaigning for a significant change: longer episodes.
Viewer Backlash Over Short Runtime
The crux of the issue lies in the episode length. The first five instalments of the new season run for a mere 20 minutes each, with only the final episode scheduled to span a full 60 minutes. This format has left the show's dedicated audience feeling short-changed, with many taking to online forums to express their frustration.
On Reddit, one fan passionately asked, 'Why oh why is this not a one-hour show?' They elaborated, 'I want to see more of these houses, and I really want to see Retta expressions and listen to her comments!' The sentiment was widely shared, with another user declaring, 'Retta is the Queen and deserves more screen time.' The consensus is clear: fans are begging producers to commit to multiple hour-long episodes for the entire season.
What Season Seven Offers
Despite the runtime controversy, the new series promises the same cringe-worthy entertainment. Retta will tour 15 more properties across America, showcasing shockingly bad designs, awkward layouts, and grossly outdated styles. This season also marks a major milestone as Retta is set to visit her 100th ugly house, though the specific property receiving this dubious honour remains a secret due to the episodes being shot out of order.
The premiere featured three homes in the Great Plains region, while the second episode saw visits to the Midwest, including a bizarre castle-like home. Ultimately, one house will be crowned the ugliest based on its appearance, awkwardness, and most surprising feature. The winner will receive a $150,000 renovation overseen by designer Alison Victoria of Sin City Rehab fame.
Retta's Vision for the Future
In a recent interview, Retta reflected on the show's longevity, admitting she always believed there were enough ugly houses but is surprised by the enduring audience interest. Looking ahead, she even floated an idea for a potential spin-off, telling TV Insider, 'I just hope to spend time in the coziest house... I just want to sit in people's beautiful comfortable homes.'
For now, however, fans must content themselves with the current format. Ugliest House in America airs on Wednesdays on HGTV, with the current series comprising six episodes. Whether the network will heed the calls for longer runtimes in future seasons remains to be seen.
