They get a $150,000 for the renovation. Some of the houses are going to take a lot more than $150,000. So that eliminates some of the houses. Like this first season one house would of taken $500,000 easy.
45 Reviews
Ugliest not picked
mitchryder19537 January 2022
Retta's the Saving Grace of This Show
chakkuri-4071924 July 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Let's start with the main positive aspect of this series - the hostess. I love Retta's humor and vibrant fashions. She is the main reason I continue to tune in.
Now for the drawbacks: 1) The Choosing Process - As some previous commenters have pointed out, the houses chosen for the final rounds were not necessarily the ugliest. I think they choose the cheapest/easiest to renovate.
2) The Designer - I just finished binge watching season one and was appalled by the exterior colors she chose for the "winner" - a jet black house with dark wood trim. That looked hideous. Hopefully the homeowner repainted it later. The interior decoration was much better but I had to laugh during the scene when they took the homeowner shopping on the pretense of letting her pick the tile and the designer ended up forcing her to pick something else.
Otherwise, this was a fairly entertaining program!
Now for the drawbacks: 1) The Choosing Process - As some previous commenters have pointed out, the houses chosen for the final rounds were not necessarily the ugliest. I think they choose the cheapest/easiest to renovate.
2) The Designer - I just finished binge watching season one and was appalled by the exterior colors she chose for the "winner" - a jet black house with dark wood trim. That looked hideous. Hopefully the homeowner repainted it later. The interior decoration was much better but I had to laugh during the scene when they took the homeowner shopping on the pretense of letting her pick the tile and the designer ended up forcing her to pick something else.
Otherwise, this was a fairly entertaining program!
So much potential but falls short
wendymallette-352397 January 2023
What a wonderful idea for a show!
I like Retta and the process, but a lot of the houses are just a little dated, or overly opulent, and aren't even ugly. Some of the houses are actually very beautiful.
Then the designer comes in..... Oh, so predictable: She rips out the gorgeous kitchen cabinets to put in the same ones in only darker and paints all the walls an ugly grey colour. Come on now. Is anyone else sick of open floor plan with grey paint as a go-to?
Every time I watch this, I feel like the results are much worse than the start. Last year, they had a huge gross house to rehab, and they took out the kitchen, the only beautiful thing in the house. So sad.
Please, please, please hire a better, more innovative designer!!!
I like Retta and the process, but a lot of the houses are just a little dated, or overly opulent, and aren't even ugly. Some of the houses are actually very beautiful.
Then the designer comes in..... Oh, so predictable: She rips out the gorgeous kitchen cabinets to put in the same ones in only darker and paints all the walls an ugly grey colour. Come on now. Is anyone else sick of open floor plan with grey paint as a go-to?
Every time I watch this, I feel like the results are much worse than the start. Last year, they had a huge gross house to rehab, and they took out the kitchen, the only beautiful thing in the house. So sad.
Please, please, please hire a better, more innovative designer!!!
JOKE!!!!
asaucier-4398221 August 2022
Let's be real. They picked the house that they thought would be the easiest to design and gain all this glory.
Binged watch season two to see what it was all about and it was the biggest disappointment ever. The only great part was the host Retta.
Let's truly pick the ugliest!!! Let the viewers decide. Come on, make this a REAL challenge. Let the viewers vote and really see how good of a designer she is. Not "Let's pick the one we know we can design the easiest because it is not much work".
Just my opinion and will not waste time watching season one or any other.
Binged watch season two to see what it was all about and it was the biggest disappointment ever. The only great part was the host Retta.
Let's truly pick the ugliest!!! Let the viewers decide. Come on, make this a REAL challenge. Let the viewers vote and really see how good of a designer she is. Not "Let's pick the one we know we can design the easiest because it is not much work".
Just my opinion and will not waste time watching season one or any other.
Loved 1st season 2nd season who's judging???
joyjoyjoyd8 August 2022
Are you kidding me??? The house with no privacy wasn't even ugly. Or non functional!!! The Amityville house was ugly!!! And it was way more non functional!!!!
And the rock house wasn't the ugliest either! The other ones were way more non functional.
The first season y'all did great but what is wrong???
And the rock house wasn't the ugliest either! The other ones were way more non functional.
The first season y'all did great but what is wrong???
Fun Walkthrough of Nontraditional Houses and Aesthetics
aquawave-8489130 August 2023
I loved the array of houses here. Not many were "ugly," but rather thematic or unique - making for a fun walkthrough of nontraditional houses and aesthetics. The host and the designer are fun and enthusiastic, with Retta's facial expressions being top-notch on numerous occasions. The editing is also enjoyable, offering both facts/tidbits and sass (such as the counters for various features and reactions).
But I think it leans into the "ugly" bashing a bit too hard considering the houses in question. This show's definition of ugly seems to take on the broader meaning of "in need of updating and improving function." I'm not personally a fan of the designer (her style isn't my sort of thing, and I feel like she leans too hard into making everything have one style throughout the finished product), but the end results are typically quite pretty. Although, with that in mind, I can't help but wonder if some of the final choices were made according to who was open to letting the designer run with her preferences. Perhaps we would have seen more houses or more ugly winners (pointed look at season 2 in particular) if each season had a different designer.
But I think it leans into the "ugly" bashing a bit too hard considering the houses in question. This show's definition of ugly seems to take on the broader meaning of "in need of updating and improving function." I'm not personally a fan of the designer (her style isn't my sort of thing, and I feel like she leans too hard into making everything have one style throughout the finished product), but the end results are typically quite pretty. Although, with that in mind, I can't help but wonder if some of the final choices were made according to who was open to letting the designer run with her preferences. Perhaps we would have seen more houses or more ugly winners (pointed look at season 2 in particular) if each season had a different designer.
Funny
cleancupboards7 January 2023
It's not unusual for the ugliest house, not to be chosen. I can only imagine that's because it would take a whole lot more than $150,000 to redo those homes. So I kind of feel bad for the owners of the really ugly homes, but then again, nobody forced them to buy those places, so they kind of did it to themselves. I would love to hear the stories of the people who actually designed those homes to be so ugly. Of course, they would probably be too embarrassed to go on TV. It might be interesting down the road to have episodes showing how the houses that weren't picked might have been updated.
Show is still entertaining.
Show is still entertaining.
I just binged watched all the seasons
nwsqvdtgd8 January 2023
Warning: Spoilers
I love Retta!! Great host for the show. I noticed after the first season alot of the homes was just outdated, nonetheless i love the unique concept of the show.
The homes listed was massive so I could tell some of the ugliest just weren't picked because of the cost it'll take to repair, but it was a joy to watch. I never knew people would actually purchase a daycare or a funeral home because of the price, lol.
I binged watched all the seasons in one day because I really enjoy watching Retta, she has a great personality, an awesome sense of humor and I would love to see her apart of other shows.
The homes listed was massive so I could tell some of the ugliest just weren't picked because of the cost it'll take to repair, but it was a joy to watch. I never knew people would actually purchase a daycare or a funeral home because of the price, lol.
I binged watched all the seasons in one day because I really enjoy watching Retta, she has a great personality, an awesome sense of humor and I would love to see her apart of other shows.
Retta is amazing. Season 3 houses are not ugly.
cathyglouisy6 January 2023
Retta is the greatest thing about this show! She's really funny and her commentary and reactions are enjoyable to watch. I really enjoyed season one. It was new and different. However, in the most recent season (aired early Jan 2023) they're showing mostly giant houses owned by upper middle class people that really are not that ugly. I'm sure they could find truly ugly houses - perhaps with people who really need the $ for the renovation. I like the rapport between Retta and Alison Victoria in the final episode of each season; however, the biggest drawback for me is Allison Victoria's designs at the end of the season. She basically takes away all the charm of the house and makes it as bland as possible. Disappointing after all the build up.
Too funny and sad
slvrmn-2774417 January 2022
Decent show - Obnoxious Host
Marlon10579 September 2023
It's interesting to see all the homes that need work all over the USA. The host is decent but she really seems to think she is funnier than she is and it's distracting sometimes. The houses that win aren't always the ugliest and they seem to pick houses that don't have a lot of tear out. The remodeled houses look good. I would like to know what the selection process is to have a house win. I have some suspicions they choose some houses based on what they can do for $150k and avoid additional production costs. Hopefully they can redo it a little or even find a better host. It's going to kill the show eventually.
I like show but they pick the easiest to remodel
dadams-586308 January 2023
This show does a great job of showcasing houses that are ugly, however with that being said they pick the houses that will be the easiest to remodel. You can tell the show wants to be able to show off a nice home at the end rather than overcoming a challenge and remodeling an actual ugly home that is not functional. The house on the first season the house was ugly, but was purchased by her father. The house in the second season could have been passed over. The house in the third season just required cosmetic updates. The houses it was up against were worse. Additionally, there was a home that was not included as a finalist and I'm sure that was due to the amount of work it would have needed.
Poor house choice
gerilynnbenedetto29 January 2022
I like the show with the host being very funny, but with the last series I think you chose wrong. The young girl didn't buy the house her father did. No expense to her. He bought a very weird house with all the cameras dirty pool etc. All they had to do was remove the cameras, paint, remodel the BR, kitchen and exterior. The true ugliest house and the people who really needed the help was the under the sea home with statue in the front. This wasn't chose because you probably couldn't have fixed it fir the 150,000. You should have tried. Those people needed help more. You need to think about your real choices and the reality of your obvious limitations.you should still offer help to the other home.
Enjoyable, Fun, Relaxing, and Unscripted!
Genuine_Reviews9 January 2022
Retta is the perfect host for this show, very funny, and it seemed unscripted. That's the issue with so many shows lately, they are scripted and dramatized and overall a terrible show, but I've noticed on Discovery+, that's not the case, especially with this show. Ugliest House in America had a nearly perfect 1st season, Episode 4 was the only one that wasn't as good as the others, the houses just weren't near as ugly. However, Episode 2 was my favorite, it had the House of No Secrets, and I thought overall it was just such a enjoyable episode. I and many others hope this show is renewed and goes on for the long run, unscripted, fun, and just an enjoyable show to sit back and relax to. This show is totally recommended by me and many others, it's well worth your time, and if the show is renewed I hope they have more houses, different locations, and a bigger renovation budget, which would make this show shine.
Can't get past the wardrobe!!!!!
gunnstuff20 July 2022
Forget the show. Okay, don't forget the show. Thoroughly enjoyed it! Those were some nasty choices. Too bad you can't award more than one winner. However, I was glued to the set for each wardrobe change. Each change was fantastic. Love the designer or whoever your stylist may be. I was anticipating the wardrobe in every episode. Love, love, love your clothes. I felt like I was following the designer for Suits again, only more wearable. Keep up the gorgeous choices.
Good bones
estathena215 August 2022
The show's premise is a good one but needs a little work to keep the viewer interested such as cost breakdowns, are the best deals sought on appliances?, how long do the renovations take?, how many workers did it take to complete the job?, what was the most expensive fix? The answers to these questions would help a great deal - especially to the viewers who are considering renovating their own homes.
Retta is completely wonderful and is - so far the reason to tune in & watch each episode. Her charm, warmth, and humor shine.
Retta is completely wonderful and is - so far the reason to tune in & watch each episode. Her charm, warmth, and humor shine.
I like rocks
theveits-397548 August 2022
I love this show it's fascinating and usually I agree with her but tonight's show showed a house with a gigantic rock next to the house and in the house that house I love the house itself is nice and I love the idea of having that great big rock there I thought that was really neat but then I like rocks.
Like the Show, but not the Designer
DarbyM190115 August 2022
I am not a fan of the designer Allison. She is obsessed with the color green (pea green) and uses it as often as possible. She also uses the show to promote her own products which explains how she found kitchen appliances in pea green. I would like to see different designers.
First season has actual ugly houses while season 2 has outdated. Hope they change back for season 3.
kalynnhawkins15 August 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Season one definitely has the ugliest houses in America. I love that they did each of the 4 regions. Obviously they dont choose the real ugliest house because it would cost much more than the $150,000 to fix the entire house. The show is funny and love seeing the different ugly houses. Season 2 is a disappointment. I hate how they switched it to ugliest house in "paradise". Almost all of the houses are just people who didn't update their house. Not updated shouldn't be involved as they were just lazy or even built their house that way on purpose.
Rhoda + house hunters = gold
ally711065 August 2022
Take the successful house hunters format (3 houses-which will they pick??) and mix it with a hilarious host and you get junk tv gold. It's the perfect show to relax and chill out to after a long day. It's just a fun, happy show.
Great show. A slice of (bad & cheesy) HOME life.
djkat-581-21458116 August 2022
Retta makes it! She has such good vibes, wonderful quick witty humor, and also, an enjoyable professional energy that most shows host lack.
Overall, the show can be interesting for a lover of throw back pop culture along with architecture & interior design. It can be quite a reminder of how diverse American tastes are and were through the past decades. If you're waxing nostalgia for homes from the past, appreciate eccentric or eclectic ideas, or just want a bit of humor; this show may be for you.
Spoiler Alert: It can remind a viewer how bad choices end up and, how trends in design and furnishings can become cheesy awful legacies. Lol.
Overall, the show can be interesting for a lover of throw back pop culture along with architecture & interior design. It can be quite a reminder of how diverse American tastes are and were through the past decades. If you're waxing nostalgia for homes from the past, appreciate eccentric or eclectic ideas, or just want a bit of humor; this show may be for you.
Spoiler Alert: It can remind a viewer how bad choices end up and, how trends in design and furnishings can become cheesy awful legacies. Lol.
See also
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