Retta is hosting season two of Ugliest House in America: Ugly in Paradise, airing now on HGTV and Discovery +. I know I phrased that like an ad, but I genuinely loved the first season and binged it. It’s a study into dated, narcissistic and terrible design. I came away feeling sorry for the people who did not win the $150k home makeover, because their homes were so far beyond repair/fixing it was scary. (If you don’t have the time/subscription to watch it, you can get an idea of the type of homes they’re looking at by browsing the Zillow Gone Wild Twitter account.)
In a new People interview, Retta said she was scared in some of the houses, which I could definitely see. There was just a bad vibe in a few of those places and some of them were dangerous. Here’s more of what she told People.
Season 2 of the network’s Ugliest House in America”, this time with the theme “Ugly in Paradise,” follows host Retta, 52, as she travels to several states to ultimately award the least attractive home a $150,000 renovation completed by Windy City Rehab designer Alison Victoria.
Throughout the 5-episode run, the Parks and Recreation star says each region has something “terrible” to offer. “I feel like it’s equal opportunity ugly all over the place,” she tells PEOPLE.
When she first signed on to join the show, which premiered in January, she was just finishing her own home renovations and was even more interested in home decor. But, there’s another reason she jumped at the opportunity.
“I’m nosy, so anytime I can get into somebody’s house and see…I’m into it,” she quips. “This [is] an opportunity on getting inside people’s houses to see what’s up behind closed doors.”
Despite settling into her role as host from season 1, there’s one all-too popular feature in several ugly houses that still stuns Retta.
“Well, I still can’t get over the fact that there are bathrooms with carpet. Every time I see it, I am just stunned and I’m like, ‘How was this not the first thing you tried to kill with fire?'” she says. “It just happens every time and I’m like, ‘I know I’ve seen this before, but I’m still shocked by it.'”
The Good Girls actress makes it clear that being the host of a show that takes you inside of unsightly homes isn’t a job for the faint of heart.
“I’m oftentimes scared. There have been moments where I just give my director a look like, ‘Why would you bring me here? Why would you put me in this position?'” she jokes. “That’s happened more than once. He’s like, ‘That’s why I didn’t say anything — because I knew you wouldn’t do it if I told you beforehand.'”
It’s scary when they go into certain homes, and it’s also uncomfortable because they’re seeing how people live and many are desperate. There’s a nosy aspect to the show like Retta mentioned. It can be comforting to see what other people live with when you consider the things you want to change about your house. It takes a certain kind of DIY person to buy a complete fixer upper. I’ve heard too many horror stories about contractors.
I am a homeowner for the first time and I had my first experience with that. The house needed a foundation repair that was found during inspection, which the sellers graciously covered. (I didn’t meet them, but they seem like great people.) After that I had to hire someone to fix the drywall. The company I hired had good reviews but they smoked pot in my house when I was away, they didn’t tent properly and there was dust all over my basement and the floor above. You could see every seam in the drywall and there were mistakes and tears in the wall! I had a lot of cleanup to do and it made me want to figure out how to do most things myself. There’s a room I want to convert and the wallpaper in the dining room is chintzy, but I can live with it for now. Watching Ugliest Houses in America makes me feel so much better about the minor things I want to change. So far I’ve seen the first episode of season two and it’s just as much voyeuristic fun as the first season.
Photos credit: Avalon.red and via Instagram
I haven’t seen this show, but I’d watch anything with Retta in it. She’s just so charming!
Well I definitely agree with her about carpeting in the bathroom, like who thought that was a great idea? As a boomer, I know we lived through carpeting on everything including the walls but the bathroom idea was definitely a miss.
Right?? My parents had lime green shag on the wall behind their bed. Ah, the 70s. But even they weren’t crazy enough to carpet a bathroom!
We watched the season 2 premiere and I am blown away by these homes. The views are amazing, but the houses…no way in hell. Like that one ☝🏾 above with the freaking rock formation inside the home! No way!
Love Retta! She definitely lives the motto “treat yo self!”
I’m with you, I feel bad for the people whose homes are not chosen but it’s probably a cost issue for the show. They want to pick a house where they can get the most bang for their bucks. For some of those houses the $150k would probably not be enough to address the structural changes let alone decorate.
does anyone have a style ID on her shirt in the last pic? or can suggest where to look? i love it. i did some googling but couldn’t find anything. i don’t follow retta’s IG, so maybe it’s there?
thanks in advance for any suggestions 🙂
I LOVE Retta, and like her I am nosy about other people’s homes (I get to go into many for work). I enjoyed the first season, except for who was chosen as the winner.
Spoiler
the house they chose needed the least work, it was all cosmetic (I get that looks better for the TV show, they could do more), but the whole thing seemed fishy – the owner’s dad bought it for her, and they had it, won the show, got the renovation, and had it back on the market in less than year, for about $400K more than they bought it for. Basically the show facilitated a profitable flip for the owner.
I’ll never not stop saying this about her: She’s a B**ch. Mean. Nasty and rude. I’ve met her and she’s been nasty to me and she’s been terrible to people that I know. She truly is up her own behind.
D., Sorry. Fame definitely goes to some people’s heads.