Michael Block is a 14 time GLAM Award nominated writer, producer, and host of the podcast Block Talk. Throughout his time in the entertainment industry, he has worked on and off Broadway as a stage manager, written several produced plays, critiqued hundreds of theatrical performances, drag and cabaret shows, and has produced events randing from drag competitoons to variety concerts!
On Block Talk, he interviews nightlife personalities, covers the wide world of entertainment through features, ranking episodes, and recaps ALL of Drag Race, as well as Dragula and Survivor. He has interviewed hundreds of RuGirls that span the globe at DragCon NYC, DragCon LA, and DragCon UK.
In his free time, he makes one-of-a-kind jewelry and gift baskets with his mom. He is a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community.
For more than two decades, one ABC franchise juggernaut has turned romance into appointment television, creating spin-offs that kept the formula familiar while swapping the cast and setting. But now it’s making a surprising pivot that has nothing to do with its groundbreaking premise: The Bachelor is getting a $100,000 glow-up thanks to a new collaboration with HGTV.
Bachelor Mansion Takeover welcomes 12 alumni across the franchise as they compete for bragging rights and a briefcase full of cash. All they have to do is give the iconic Bachelor mansion a much-needed makeover. With a franchise that has focused on a specific format since its debut, the brand-new series is about to shake things up in a positive way. The network crossover will unite Bachelor Nation and HGTV fans with one common goal: entertainment.
‘Bachelor Mansion Takeover’ Gives ‘The Bachelor’ a Makeover
One of the most famous houses in television history is finally getting an overdue update, thanks to a reality TV game. Bachelor Mansion Takeover will see 12 Bachelors and Bachelorettes put their design and renovation experience to the test as they tackle each room, while hoping to beat out their fellow contestants for a whopping cash prize. Hosted by The Bachelor host Jesse Palmer, the series is pulling back the curtain in glorious fashion. With judges and former contestants Tayshia Adams and Tyler Cameron watching every step of the way, the spirit of the flagship programming is central to the series.
Kicking off the season, the alumni are tasked with updating the tired bunk rooms into dreamy retreats. But this show is not a squeaky-clean, happy-go-lucky competition that fits the HGTV mold. Instead, tensions will flare, past relationships will alter the vibes, and shocking twists will shake up the game. But the biggest shake-up comes in the lack of love. And that’s a good thing. Though we met these designers originally on their hunt for love, their ambitions in the home renovation realm are now on display. Some of the cast actually work in the industry. Others use it as a hobby. Nevertheless, it’s a smartly curated ensemble that fulfills the need for strong design and innate drama.
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Posts By Michael Block HGTV Gets a Makeover In the Process
HGTV is not necessarily a network known for drama. The most emotion you might see is when a homeowner first sees their house or when a celebrity designer learns they’re over budget. But when you put a group of Bachelor Nation alumni in the same room, you’re going to get drama you’ve never seen before. And that’s why reality TV loyalists might have a reason to turn on HGTV for the first time. Bachelor Mansion Takeover perfectly balances the genre-crossover trend by transplanting familiar names into a new setting. But they’re not compromising their identity in the process. Whether they were just seeking love in the original franchise or battling for affection on Bachelor in Paradise, the competitive spirit is being showcased in a new light.
Other HGTV competition series, like Rock the Block, have seen industry experts fight for design glory, but they were checked into a sense of calm. That’s not entirely the case here. The contestants have experience in this world, but they’re Bachelor Nation stars first and foremost. There are rivalries, alliances, and sabotage. Jill Chin and Allyshia Gupta, we’re talking about you. Plus a double vote off BEFORE the first challenge is even complete? It’s truly nothing HGTV has experienced before. And that’s a great thing.
In the changing reality TV market, HGTV and The Bachelor needed to keep up. Bachelor Mansion Takeover has found a way to do so. There is an old-school reality sensibility to the series, reminiscent of how early-2000s FOX reality shows were produced. And we all know that’s when the boom of the genre began. By marrying the elements HGTV fans love, like the design process, with the Bachelor staples, including each contestant arriving in a car and having a one-on-one intro with Palmer, everyone is satisfied. This season is preparing for the upcoming season of The Bachelorette, featuring The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Taylor Frankie Paul as the lead, as the house will debut. Though this show is likely a one-off that can’t be replicated, a similar crossover format can be used for other reality IPs to receive their own glow-up.
Bachelor Mansion Takeover airs Mondays at 8 p.m. on HGTV. All episodes are available to stream on HBO Max.
The Bachelor Like Follow Followed TV-14 Reality Romance Game Show Release Date March 24, 2002 Network ABC Directors Brian Steimle, Ken Fuchs Cast See All Chris Harrison Self – Host Jake Pavelka Where to watch Close WHERE TO WATCH Streaming BUY
Writers Mike Fleiss Franchise(s) The Bachelor Creator(s) Mike Fleiss Powered by Expand Collapse
