By Brianna Alleva

HGTV’s quirky show about finding the country’s “ugliest” houses and giving them a makeover has been a sleeper hit for years. 

Hosted by Retta, a famous comedian mostly known for her role in Parks & Rec. Retta travels across America and picks the semifinals in each region. The semifinalists then go head-to-head to crown a winner each season. The winner then gets a $150,000 makeover from Alison Victoria, host of Windy City Rehab on HGTV.

Every season has its fair share of ugliness, whether it’s old, wacky furniture or cement buildings. There is something fun and cringeworthy about watching people explain their decisions for buying these houses. 

Most houses are stand-alone buildings, eye sores in their communities, and, if you saw them in person, you would think, “Who would live in there?” while simultaneously wanting to know what the house looks like on the inside.  

After a winner is picked, there is then the

finale episode showcasing Alison Victoria’s process, giving the families a better, prettier house. This is where the HGTV really comes in, you get to watch Victoria haggle for prices, direct all the workers, and you can slowly see the house come together.

The most striking similarity to all the houses that get made over, in my opinion, is their kitchens. This is where the modern really comes out, and Victoria’s taste preferences are seen. Each kitchen is definitely better than its previous one, but they all tend to have an open, minimalist design. 

The center of each kitchen is the oven, specifically the oven hoods that Victoria uses as a showstopper, if you will. 

Season 1

The first season’s winner had a very millennial sage-green color-based kitchen. The oven hood was white and brown. This is honestly the first time I have come across a “statement piece” for an oven hood. 

Courtesy of HGTV’s YouTube Video: Ugly to Unbelievable: The Winning Houses of Every Season | Ugliest House in America | HGTV

Season 2

Second season. We are still on the green theme, but this time the oven hood is more the showstopper as your eye is drawn to it and the fridge, the pops of color.

Courtesy of HGTV’s YouTube Video: Ugly to Unbelievable: The Winning Houses of Every Season | Ugliest House in America | HGTV

Season 3

This oven hood has got to be the worst one. It’s a blue box that looks similar to a cabinet and makes the space look really tiny. Color is okay, though.

Courtesy of HGTV’s YouTube Video: Ugly to Unbelievable: The Winning Houses of Every Season | Ugliest House in America | HGTV

Season 4

Season 4 looks very retro and super high? 

Courtesy of HGTV’s YouTube Video: Ugly to Unbelievable: The Winning Houses of Every Season | Ugliest House in America | HGTV

Season 5

No hood! Since the oven is in the middle of the kitchen, it is impossible to add our beloved hood here. 

Courtesy of HGTV’s YouTube Video: Ugly to Unbelievable: The Winning Houses of Every Season | Ugliest House in America | HGTV

Season 6

Pink! And brown? I can not get past the colors; the bright pink oven hood is not even a problem for me anymore.

Courtesy of HGTV’s YouTube Video: Ugly to Unbelievable: The Winning Houses of Every Season | Ugliest House in America | HGTV

Season 7

The latest season’s winner. A DISCO BALL?! It’s so wild it kinda works, but also looks tacky at the same time. The rest of the kitchen is great, though!

Mishmosh Hodgepodge house in Vershire – Courtesy of HGTV and Seven Days article by Ken Picard

Bonus!

Ugliest Houses’ spin-off, Scariest Houses of America, has its own share of hoods. Here is one!

Season 1

All jokes aside, the show is a lot of fun, and it’s life-changing for these families to get a home makeover for free! 

Advertise on Streaming: Ugliest House in America

Audience Demographics for CTV

• Primary demo: Women 25–54 and Adults 25–54 with strong upscale household representation.
• Lifestyle: Homeowners or aspirational homeowners interested in renovation, real estate, and home décor.
• Scale: Seasons reach ~10M+ viewers, with strong performance on both linear TV and CTV platforms.

Typical Advertisements for Streaming

• Home improvement brands (hardware stores, paint, furniture).
• Homeowner services like insurance, security systems, and renovation companies.
• Retail and financial brands.

Where to Stream Reality Check: Ugliest House in America

• HGTV GO
• With subscription: Disney+, HBO Max, Philo, YouTube TV, Sling TV, Roku Channel, Discovery+, Amazon Prime Video
• For $1.99: Apple TV, Fandango at home

Think Ugliest House in America is a good place for your CTV Advertisements? Click here to talk to a representative at adduro.io.

We’ll help you reach your audience on the shows their favorite shows.