"House Hunters" is a great show on HGTV with a simple concept - house hunters look at three homes and choose one, discussing the pros and cons in between. Hosted by the lovely Suzanne Wong, there is something very involving about this show and some other HGTV offerings, such as Designed to Sell, Buy Me, and How Much is My House Worth.
I think it's the couch potato aspect combined with fantasy that works well for this show and others on the network. We can pick our own favorite house and then say things like, "I knew they'd pick that one," or "They're idiots" when they choose, and we can also discuss how much money we think they have while asking the age-old question, "What is the big deal with hardwood floors and granite countertops?" (Without them, your house may as well go into foreclosure.) And we can listen to them carp about the color of the rooms - as if they aren't willing to paint. When the home owners are revisited in the new place later, we are able to analyze their taste. This all easily replaces looking out the window while the new neighbors are moving in.
The house hunters themselves are usually delightful people with whom the audience identifies, though not only. Many of them have pets, and if they don't, they usually acquire them once they move. So one can ooh and ah over babies and puppies. HGTV is onto a good thing.
