Andy DehnartThe return of Trading Spaces did very well for TLC: the premiere was the most-watched show on television last Saturday.
In live plus three ratings—which includes everyone who’s watched within three days, either live or on a DVR—the show had 2.8 million viewers, while the reunion was watched by 2.5 million viewers, according to a TLC press release. (In Saturday night only ratings, A&E’s Live PD had more viewers, both overall and in key demos, so people watching via DVR clearly helped Trading Spaces.)
TLC said that the two episodes together equalled “TLC’s highest Saturday night in eight years.”
While the show has not yet been officially renewed, that seems like a formality now, especially considering that it is actively casting for a new season.
The application says applicants—who ideally live next door to each other—”will need to be available between Summer and Fall 2018,” though those “dates TBD and may change at Producer’s sole discretion.”
The show isn’t casting specific types, but says “Relatives, best friends, coworkers—all pairs are encouraged to apply if you live on the same block or street.” Applicants can’t live more than a quarter mile away from each other.
A very short first season for Trading Spaces
The casting is also good news because of a stark reality: This reboot only filmed eight episodes. And there are:
- six returning designers
- three new designers
- two returning carpenters who will act as designers (Ty and Carter, on this Saturday’s episode)
- two guest designers, Nate and Jeremiah
That’s 13 designers—unless Nate and Jeremiah are designing as a team, in which case that’s 12. The show needs 16 designers for eight episodes.
In other words, we’ll see most of them—even the original designers—just once.