After more than two decades on television,Mike Holmeshas definitely made his mark on HGTV.
How was this experience different from some of the other renovation shows you’ve been a part of?
And that doesn’t always happen.
This “Battle on the Beach” was such a fun time.
I’ve been a judge for many years.
You’ve been a judge like you said many times, but were there any difficulties in this competition?
Yes, there always is.
Especially if you go to like the people, I’m a fair guy.
I’m not going to pick two people just because I liked them.
I’m going to be who I am.
I hope you learn from this."
So that makes me like the bad guy, even though I’m not the bad guy.
I’m actually the good guy.
But it’s a learning experience for these competitors too, right?
By the end of it, they became friends, and they became friends of ours back and forth.
It was honestly a wonderful experience.
You had met her before, right?
I’ve met her before, yes.
Now, she’s working with me as a judge.
She’s got her own style also, and I loved a lot of the things that she said.
I just not only grew more respect for who she is, but she became a friend.
Just getting to know the three families, which was a wonderful experience.
Getting to know a new production company that I thought was so talented and just had their stuff together.
We had a blast working together.
I mean, I got to know Ty more.
I didn’t know he could sing.
I got to know Alison more.
I didn’t know she could sing.
The wonderful experience for me was actually working with the other four people and getting to know them better.
That just made it great for me.
I went home with a smile and not like, “That was a pain.
It wasn’t great.”
Were there any special moments that you wish that we could see at home?
Come and have a juice."
And Ty, I didn’t know him that way.
Getting to know him personally, he’s a great guy.
It was just a wonderful time.
If you look at that, that’s a television show behind a television show.
Things that I didn’t expect.
I do these things like, “Okay, I think I know who these people are.
I can’t wait to see their bedroom, what they’re doing or their bathroom.”
Then what was the final?
Sometimes I was like, “I did not expect that.
You guys won.”
That’s a great question.
What I learned from the competition is what’s going to make good television.
It was the perfect way to do a television show that I think everyone is going to enjoy.
Viewers are going to get so much out of this show.
That’s, to me, what made the difference.
Okay, great question.
Just don’t do that.
Bring in the right people, or learn how to do it.
I don’t ever want to say, “Don’t tempt it.”
Don’t mess with structure.
That’s a big thing, because that can cause a massive issue.
“Battle on the Beach,” three houses on the beach.
You were kind of accidentally “discovered” in a sense.
Holy cow was I ever.
I’ll never forget.
The plans were drawn up.
It was a very unique home.
We’re going to need to dothis."
So I’m telling him what he needs to look at, because that’s my part.
Well, that just put me on it got on my wrong side.
And I said, “You know what?
This reminds me of the shows on your channel.
I can’t believe that you guys are airing crap shows like that.
I’ve seen so many mistakes.
I can tell when no permits are pulled.”
And trust me, I went on for about 30 minutes straight.
I had diarrhea of the mouth.
I was looking at him, and he’s looking at me really strange.
I think I should leave now."
And I laughed my head off.
I said, “I’m a contractor.
I’m not a TV guy.
Maybe I can help you behind-the-scenes to verify that you make it right.”
It’s got to be you.
It’s got to be you."
And I said, “That’s what this is all about.”
He says, “How would you like to help them all at once?”
And I said, “You S.O.B.
I own the show, or I’m not doing it.”
That was the beginning of “Holmes on Homes.”
Oh, my gosh.
Nobody else has heard that, so you’ve got it hot off the press.
How fame has affected Mike Holmes
How has being on TV affected your life?
And in over a hundred countries, it just continued to be a massive phenomenon.
I think it was only because it related to people.
Everyone wants to fix their house.
They want to know how to do it right.
It would give them inspiration and design.
But the wonderful thing about this is that they’re just good people that want to say hi.
I still get the odd, you know, “Have I got a basement for you!”
Sherry, representing women in skilled trades, and Michael, becoming the next best.
Sherry, a natural in front of the camera.
Michael I don’t even think they realize how natural they are.
It’s only because they were no longer afraid of the camera, so they became themselves.
Do you have a favorite one or a favorite project that you’ve worked on?
There are so many, to be honest.
In Atlanta, I built 22 houses and gave them away to deserving families on “Home Free.”
Building that home and making it withstand a category five hurricane was my interest.
Think of the three little pigs.
Do you get starstruck?
Has there been anyone that you’ve just been starstruck by?
Wow, that’s a great question.
I have met a lot of people.
I mean, a lot of big stars.
I’ve been on Ellen DeGeneres, Dr. Oz multiple times.
She’s in my phone for Christ’s sake.
What’s your name?
Valerie [Bertinelli], Eddie Van Halen’s [ex-]wife.
She watched my show and loved it.
I thought she was a great person.
You watch my show?
I’ve watched yours."
If you weren’t doing that, though, what would you want to be doing?
I think I was destined for construction as a little boy.
There’s no doubt in my mind that I was.
I think even along the way, I would have ended up being a teacher somehow, some way.
What will we see Mike Holmes working on next?
You recently debuted a podcast.
What’s next for you?
Well, we’re going to play more with podcasts.
We’re going to do more things like that.
And then never mind the cartoon that no one really knows about.
Do you have any other information you’re able to share about this cartoon?
And it’s I love the idea.
“Battle on the Beach” premieres Sunday, July 11, 2021 at 9/8c on HGTV and Discovery+.
