HGTV’s “Flip or Flop” went from a popular (if innocuous) home-renovation series to tabloid fodder when hosts Christina and Tarek El Moussa filed for divorce in January following a bitter separation.
Despite their split, the El Moussas are working together on Season 7, though, beyond that, their “Flip or Flop” future remains murky.
But HGTV isn’t wasting time expanding the franchise with five new spinoffs set in Las Vegas, Atlanta, Chicago, Fort Worth and Nashville and — notably — hosted by different duos.
[HGTV says planning on the spinoffs started before the El Moussa headlines based on “the tremendous, consistent ratings success of the original ‘Flip or Flop.’”]
The first spinoff, “Flip or Flop Vegas,” premieres Thursday at 9 p.m., and stars MMA fighter Bristol Marunde and his real estate agent wife, Aubrey. Though the Marundes, both 34, have never met or gotten any advice from the El Moussas (who aren’t involved in the new series) they’re confident they can navigate working together as a married couple on TV — thanks to eight years of doing so out of the spotlight.
“Being married and business partners, we find it’s an advantage for us,” says Bristol. “Of course there are issues that come up with construction and communication, and … you’re going to have to work on it. It’s about understanding what needs to get done and we’re both very objective with our relationship and with the project.”
Being married and business partners, we find it’s an advantage for us … It’s about understanding what needs to get done and we’re both very objective with our relationship and with the project.
The Marundes met in 2009, when Bristol was talking to Aubrey about purchasing his first home, which they ended up flipping together. Since then, they’ve renovated almost 140 houses together in Sin City (while also raising two sons Kale, 6, and Kane, 3.) HGTV discovered the couple two years ago from Bristol’s Instagram account and they filmed a pilot titled “High Stakes Flippers,” which HGTV then re-branded under the “Flip or Flop” franchise.
While the original “Flip or Flop” films in Southern California, Aubrey says what sets the Vegas real estate apart is its fast pace. “Our properties buy and sell in a matter of hours, rather than days or months,” she says. “The casino industry really sets a standard for everyone — you see these high-end finishes in the casinos and buyers want that in their homes.”
In their 13-episode series, the Marundes will be working within tight budgets to renovate single-family residences that range in price from $100,000 to $500,000. Bristol handles the construction side of the house-flipping, while Aubrey is in charge of buying and selling the properties (and all of the design work.)
“We have very distinct roles and I think that’s what makes us successful because we don’t step over each other’s boundaries,” Aubrey says.
“Flip or Flop Vegas” Series premiere 9 p.m. Thursday on HGTV