Local casting call for reno-challenged

Hopeless with a hammer? Stymied by a hacksaw?

Proper Television is creating a new do-it-yourself competition TV series for Discovery Canada with the working title Handyman Smackdown which will teach some of the nation’s most unskilled D.I.Y. enthusiasts tricks of the trade as they compete under the mentorship of contractor experts.

“Anyone interested can nominate themselves or someone else by completing an online application form at www.badhandyman.ca,” says executive producer Jennifer Scott. “Our casting team will be in Edmonton the week of August 4th to interview candidates on our short list. We follow up with every applicant, so it is definitely worth applying.”

The show will bring together five couples from across the country.

“One person must be a passionate D.I.Y.er who happens to be horrible at it, while the other one has been suffering (through) their better half’s failed renovation attempts.”

Competitors may include married couples, same-sex couples, brother/ sister duos, best friends or common law. All sorts of couples are eligible to apply as long as they are living under the same roof, says Scott.

Handyman Smackdown will be filmed in cottage country outside of Toronto where couples will be assigned their own cabin in which they will be challenged by a variety of renovation tasks each week.

And there’s a cash prize at the end too.

Handyman Smackdown will be filmed mid-September and will air on Discovery Canada next spring.