A&E has ordered seven one-hour episodes of "Flipped" from Departure Films, it was announced today by David McKillop, Executive Vice President, Programming, A&E Network and BIO Channel. The series follows "Survivor" Russell Hantz, a "flipper" himself, along with his family, around the Houston area as they try to buy low, renovate cheap and sell high. The series is slated to air in late 2011.
In the post subprime mortgage crisis, time is the new enemy as flippers race to renovate properties before prices fall even further. In the past, if a flip took too long or went over budget, then the flipper could just wait for prices to go up. Today, expenses and sinking prices are eating away profits on a daily basis. This is the next evolution of house flipping, where the rewards are greater and the perils are harsher.
"There are tons of reality TV stars sitting on their couches and twiddling their thumbs because they haven't created anything else," said Hantz, "I expect to be one of the biggest house flippers in Houston and I am here to bring Houston's economy back on its feet."
"House flipping is back and the stakes have been elevated," said McKillop. "Known as the entrepreneur on 'Survivor,' Hantz' life as a house flipper is truly outrageous, real and genuine which fits in nicely with our lineup of non-scripted original series."
"Flipped" is produced for A&E Network by Departure Films. Max Weissman, Matt Levine and Tim Robbins serve as executive producers for Departure Films. Executive Producers for A&E are David McKillop, Elaine Frontain-Bryant and Jessica Morgan.
