Bargain Block is a reality television show on HGTV following couple Keith Bynum and Evan Thomas as they buy, renovate, and design houses in Detroit. Thomas handles building and construction, while Bynum focuses on design; realtor Shea Hicks-Whitfield co-stars in the show. Bynum and Thomas often live in the houses as they work on them.[1] It is produced by High Noon Entertainment.[2]
| Bargain Block | |
|---|---|
| Genre |
|
| Starring | Keith Bynum Evan Thomas |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of series | 3 |
| No. of episodes | 30 |
| Production | |
| Production locations | Detroit, Michigan |
| Camera setup | Single-camera |
| Running time | 60 minutes |
| Production company | High Noon Entertainment |
| Original release | |
| Network | HGTV |
| Release | April 14, 2021 – present |
Bargain Block premiered on April 14, 2021, with nine episodes.[3] A 10-episode second season was broadcast in 2022,[4] and the third season of Bargain Block began airing in August 2023 and will feature 11 episodes.[5][6]
Bynum and Thomas were first introduced to television after Bynum appeared in 2017 on an episode of Tiny Paradise ("Tiny House, Mountain Vistas").[7]
Around 2015, Bynum was inspired to flip homes in Detroit after seeing a social media post of someone traveling there and buying ten houses. He and Thomas purchased a home in the city in 2017.[8] They filmed a pilot episode in 2019 and the rest of the first season in 2020, when Hicks-Whitfield was brought into the production.[1] The Detroit Land Bank Authority has said it is "extremely pleased" with the work done by Bynum and Thomas.[1]
Bynum has an MBA from Texas Tech University, and Thomas has a PhD in physics from the University of Colorado Boulder.[5] He and Bynum also operate a store in Detroit called Nine Design + Homes.[4] Previously, in 2011, Bynum operated a home decor company with his sister called JoniKeith Co.[9]
References
edit- ^ a b c Hinds, Julie (June 5, 2021). "HGTV 'Bargain Block': 1st season of show rehabbing empty Detroit homes is about to end". The Detroit News.
- ^ "BARGAIN BLOCK Stars Keith Bynum and Evan Thomas Create Beautiful, Affordable Detroit Homes in New Season Premiering on HGTV Wednesday, Aug. 23, at 9 p.m. ET/PT". Warner Bros. Discovery. July 27, 2023.
- ^ Leiber, Sarah Jae (March 17, 2021). "BARGAIN BLOCK Premieres on HGTV April 14th". Broadway World.
- ^ a b Feighan, Maureen (June 8, 2022). "HGTV's 'Bargain Block,' filmed in Detroit, is back for second season". The Detroit News.
- ^ a b Lyttle, Zoey (August 23, 2023). "Keith Bynum and Evan Thomas Are Transforming Detroit and the Construction World as LGBTQ+ Builders". People. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
- ^ Zimmeth, Khristi; Noding, Jodi (August 24, 2023). "Welcome Mat: Final weekly Garden Photo Contest winner, HGTV's 'Bargain Block' returns to Detroit and more". The Detroit News.
- ^ Michael, Jason A. (April 28, 2021). "A Gay Michigan Couple Are Flipping Homes in Detroit on Their Very Own HGTV Show". Pride Source.
- ^ Lee, Felicia (August 23, 2023). "Bargain Block's Keith Bynum & Evan Thomas On How To Design A Home On A Budget". House Digest.
- ^ "Joni Keith Co. has growing tradition of developing new, inspirational home décor". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. April 11, 2011. Retrieved 28 August 2023.