Parents' Guide to

Fixer Upper

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 10+

Family-friendly home-renovation show has likable hosts.

TV HGTV Reality TV 2013
Fixer Upper Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

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age 11+

Based on 4 parent reviews

nuenjins
nuenjins Parent
July 7, 2019
age 10+

Inspiring couple shows hard work, results with great family values.

It's disheartening to see Common Sense belittle traditional family values with low ratings while some real garbage shows get better scores. This show is great and the couple, Chip and Joanna, have alot of heart and tackle REAL challenges as they run their multi tiered business with hard work, honesty and good old family values as their kids watch and often participate in the day to day. THAT is what sets this show apart from other "home improvement" shows and also what makes it successful and worth watching aside from just the mere "projects" taking place. This is something you can watch without hesitation with anyone in the family, and how often do you get to say that?
1 person found this helpful.
gk702062
gk702062 Adult
July 30, 2019
age 18+

Chip Childish

I love Joanna Gaines but Chip Gaines is so immature that it’s hard for me to watch the show he acts more like a little bratty kid then an adult. His actions are so childish and he thinks he’s funny
See all 4 parent reviews

What's the Story?

FIXER UPPER is a reality series about a Waco, Texas, couple committed to turning dilapidated houses into spectacular real estate throughout central Texas. Chip and Joanna "Jo" Gaines work with clients to purchase run-down houses and small business spaces that have huge renovation potential. Chip manages the construction side of the renovation, while Jo designs the new spaces to reflect the house's character and the new owners' style. Once the work is complete, they present the restored home to its new owners in a big reveal. They hope that each house they work on helps revitalize the local community.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (4):
Kids say (6):

This lighthearted and positive series features home renovations that are meant to please the owners while improving the neighborhoods they live in. It spends multiple episodes following each major renovation and offers details about some of the work going into designing and building kitchens, new living spaces, and landscaping around the home to improve its curb appeal.

Chip and Joanna's pleasant, fun-loving personalities -- they're mildly flirtatious with each other -- add as much character to the show as their beautiful redesigned homes. Some may also pick up on the subtle references made to their conservative Christian background. But Fixer Upper is mostly about fixing houses, and folks who like real estate and design shows will enjoy it.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the ways a home remodel such as the ones on Fixer Upper can affect an entire neighborhood. What can restoring an old house do for the community? Can all old and historic homes be renovated? How hard (and expensive) is it to do?

  • Why do you think Chip and Joanna Gaines have their own reality show? Is it because of the community-inspired focus of their work? To promote their business? To make money? Does Fixer Upper really show what their work is like every day?

TV Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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