The Bennetts flip hot properties in ‘Desert Flippers’
Heat wave: One of the hottest trends in television right now is home renovation, but not everyone has what it takes to flip houses. Even experienced DIYers can crumble under the pressure. Nevertheless, a popular HGTV series follows a couple who face the added challenge of working in extreme heat, and it’s fascinating to watch.
Eric and Lindsey Bennett keep their cool as they completely revamp houses in the hopes of selling them for a profit in the new season of “Desert Flippers,” airing Tuesday, July 31, on HGTV. He’s a real estate agent and she’s an interior designer, which makes them perfectly suited to create incredible homes with high-end amenities and beautiful outdoor living spaces.
Cameras follow the Bennetts as they tackle hot properties in Palm Springs, California, an area where investment properties are getting harder to find. However, working in the area is worth it for the Wisconsin natives, who escaped the harsh Midwest winters to follow their dream of flipping houses in sunny California.
“Palm Springs may be in the desert, but it’s an oasis unlike any other in the world,” Lindsey said in an official season 3 release.
Parents to three young boys, the fun-loving couple know a thing or two about living life to the fullest, and they infuse their spaces with warm contemporary designs. All the while, they struggle to stick to their budget and finish on time.
This season, the Bennetts take a big risk on a property that needs a total overhaul. They work to give the place a modern kitchen and spa-like bathrooms, while also improving the home’s curb appeal. Don’t miss “Desert Flippers,” airing Tuesday, July 31, on HGTV.
Tough enough: Every job has its challenges, and whether you’re pushing paper or a broom, everyone deserves respect and appreciation in the workplace. There are, however, some jobs that are tougher than others, and a new series shines a spotlight on America’s unsung heroes.
Tim Kennedy learns what it takes to perform some of the most dangerous jobs on the planet in “Hard to Kill,” premiering Tuesday, July 31, on Discovery. He consults with experts in a variety of fields as he prepares to tackle each job, and when his training is over, he finds out if he’s up to the task.
If there’s someone who’s suited to do tough jobs, it’s Kennedy. He’s an active, Ranger-qualified, Green Beret Special Forces sniper who’s served in Iraq, Afghanistan and other locales around the globe. He’s also a retired mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter — among the top ranked in his heyday. Kennedy competed in both UFC and Strikeforce events, among others.
Follow Kennedy as he finds out if he has what it takes to pull off some of the toughest jobs imaginable. Over the course of the season, he tries to use explosives to trigger avalanches at dizzying altitudes, protect a cowboy from a 2,000-pound bull and much more.
In the series premiere, the intrepid host discovers what it takes to be a test pilot as he experiences g-forces, hurtles out of a plane from 20,000 feet, and escapes from a flaming airplane. Find out whether Kennedy has the grit, determination and courage to be a test pilot in the premiere of “Hard to Kill,” airing Tuesday, July 31, on Discovery.
Ready, set, bake: While food programs are commonplace these days, TV viewers craving something a little different need not look far. PBS brings the flavors of the U.K. to American audiences once again with one of the network’s most popular series.
Some of Britain’s best amateur bakers tie on their white aprons and enter the infamous white tent to compete in “The Great British Baking Show,” airing Friday, Aug. 3, on PBS. Each week, they face culinary challenges that test their creativity and technical skills as they vie for the coveted title of “star baker.”
This season of the hit series, which has never been aired in the U.S., features original judges Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood, as well as co-hosts Sue Perkins and Mel Giedroyc. The cast makes this particular season a special treat for American audiences because Berry, Perkins and Giedroyc have all left the current iteration of the series in the U.K. While PBS has been billing this season as season 5, it’s actually the third season, which aired across the pond in 2012.
Hollywood and Berry make a formidable team as they weigh in on the bakers’ creations. They critique and rank the results of three critical competitions in each episode. The Signature Bake tests each baker’s flair, while the difficult Technical Challenge requires that the bakers use only ingredient lists and minimal instruction. The final competition — the Showstopper — showcases each participant’s ability.
This week’s Signature Bake features crispbreads, and the bakers struggle to produce chocolate tea cakes in the Technical Challenge before facing the dreaded Showstopper. To find out how the competitors fare, check out “The Great British Baking Show,” airing Friday, Aug. 3, on PBS.