Get ready for another thrilling season of HGTV’s favorite competition series, “Rock the Block.” This season features a cast of familiar faces – all veterans from previous seasons who fell a little short of the grand prize. That can only mean one thing: The Rock the Block cast is back in full force!
Remember the dynamic duos of Sarah and Bryan Baeumler (“Battle on the Beach”), Keith Bynum and Evan Thomas (“Bargain Block”), Lyndsay Lamb and Leslie Thomas (“Unsellable Houses”), and Page Turner and Mitch Glew (“Fix My Flip”)? Well, they’re all back, ready to battle it out again, this time hosted by the ever-enthusiastic Ty Pennington.
So, what enticed the Rock the Block cast to return to the arena after facing setbacks in their initial runs? For many, the chance at redemption proved too tempting.
The Drive to Redeem Themselves
“When the producers reached out, I declined,” admitted Page Turner. “I spoke for Mitch Glew too, without even consulting him! But then they mentioned the theme for this season – redemption. My ears perked up – redemption? We’re in!”, Mitch didn’t need much convincing after that – the word “redemption” sealed the deal for the competitive duo.
Turner wasn’t alone in her desire for redemption. Teammates Evan Thomas and Keith Bynum echoed similar sentiments, eager to showcase their improvements since their first appearance on “Rock the Block.” “We wanted to rectify the mistakes we made before,” explained Thomas. “We also craved the opportunity to demonstrate the skills we’ve honed over the past few years. Redemption seemed like the perfect theme for us.”
Unique opportunities offered by the show, like the hefty $250,000 budget and the chance to collaborate with other talented designers, also played a role in enticing some contestants to return. A recurring theme emerged – often, one teammate was more enthusiastic about returning than the other.
This was the case for Lindsay Lamb and Leslie Thomas. “The chance to design with such a significant budget was a huge draw for me,” said Lamb. “While I loved the challenge, Leslie wasn’t on board. , she ended up enjoying the experience. Being able to push the boundaries with a substantial budget and compete alongside such incredible designers – that’s what keeps me coming back to ‘Rock the Block.'”
Sarah Baeumler confessed that her husband, Bryan, only learned about their season 5 participation after she’d already agreed. “The first time I did ‘Rock the Block,’ I was awestruck walking through the other designers’ houses,” she explained. “Returning this year, I knew that exhilarating feeling again. Learning from others’ work is how we all grow in this field. That’s what excites me – the constant opportunity to evolve and improve.”
Convincing themselves and their teammates to return for season 5 might have been a challenge, but this season presented a whole new set of hurdles that pushed even these seasoned veterans to their limits.
A Grueling Season Like No Other
Renovating a beachfront property on a tight schedule is no walk in the park, even for seasoned professionals. But throw in surprise twists courtesy of Ty Pennington, and chaos ensues! This season’s challenge for the teams in Treasure Island, Florida, involved transforming not only the house interior but also the surrounding yard, complete with an outdoor pool and a boat dock.
On top of the pool and dock renovations, HGTV revealed that season 5 will feature even more unexpected elements, much to the contestants’ dismay. “There were times when the sheer number of challenges felt overwhelming,” admitted Lyndsay Lamb. “Ty wasn’t exactly our best friend during those moments,” she added with a touch of humor.
Pennington himself acknowledged the season’s intensity. “It’s a sink-or-swim situation,” he said. “And some contestants are better swimmers than others.”
Speaking of swimming, it turns out there might be a hidden aquatic expert among the HGTV stars this season (although his swimming prowess might not translate to design success). “We discovered that Mitch can swim like a dolphin,” teased Keith Bynum.
Regardless of their swimming abilities, these HGTV stars are all renovation veterans, making the competition even fiercer and the stakes even higher.
Ty Pennington summed it up: “This season feels like the ‘premier league’ of design. You’re all established stars, bringing your A-game.”