Style Network's new reality series Built has a simple premise: hot guys fix up homes. Think HGTV with six pack abs. Oh, and occasional hunks sporting Calvin Klein skivvies.
Built's opening introduces Hott and Handy's five man crew of remodeling male models. Like all great introductions, it's full of buff men showering and working out in various states of undress. Oh, and they talk about themselves. These personal statements could have been given a little more time. Seeing a beefcake buffet is nice and all, but hearing the group's foreman Sandy mention his Aeronautical Engineering degree was sexier than any amount of shirtless pushups.
Afterward the team is off to work. Hott and Handy's client Adina is a self-styled “Russian Barbie princess” who wants her closet (i.e. attic the size of average two bedroom apartment) redone to match her over-the-top personality (i.e. paint everything pink).
Having worked as a contractor myself, I'll admit going in with some skepticism about how handy these hunks would be. Forget the cast, I was worried if the drywall would be well – hung. Turns out the guys have skills. Metalworker Gage handcrafting of a vault door to protect Adina's several hundred thousand dollars worth of clothes was a highlight.
The focus never stays with any actual work for long. It seems like every five minutes someone's heading off to excercise, or snag an underwear modeling gig. Built inverts the traditional home renovation show formula, where bits of personal drama break up the remodeling process.
For a show so focused on displaying delicious man flesh, it's surprising the only lusting for these guys comes from women. Adina gleefully inspects the crew's abs, much to her husband's dismay. I'm hoping this season will feature Hott and Handy getting ogled in a non-hetero's home. On an unrelated note, my kitchen could really use some work.
We also never get any indication which way these models swing. That's probably to keep them sexually appealing to the largest audience. Still, for a show so personality-centric it would be nice to know which one to write anonymous love letters.
Overall, Built isn't breaking any new ground outside of injecting metric tons of sex appeal into the usual home makeover TV format. That doesn't mean it's not an enjoyable watch. You can catch the premiere of Built tonight on Style Network at 9/8c.
Seriously though, someone help me do something with my kitchen.
