‘Good Bones’ Stars Say Next Season Better Than First
Subscriber Benefit
As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe Indianapolis mother-daughter DIY stars of the HGTV hit "Good Bones" say a second season is in the books and a third season is being planned. Karen Laine and Mina Starsiak believe season two will be even better because Starsiak says "now we’ve got it down." The entrepreneurs say one of the goals is to help local businesses get some national attention through their involvement. The show follows Laine and Starsiak as they rehabilitate homes in the Fountain Square neighborhood of Indianapolis. Colorado-based High Noon Productions tells Inside INdiana Business Multimedia Journalist Mary-Rachel Redman that filming has created a $2 million boost to the local economy over the show’s two seasons.
Neither of the stars came into the show with a background in their current line of work. At the time, Laine was an attorney and Starsiak was waiting tables. They began their renovation business where they live and say the city and Fountain Square have become another character in the show. Starsiak says there are misconceptions about the business aspects of the show "like the network pays for the renovation or the homeowners get to keep all of the furniture and the renovation is paid for or all kinds of crazy things that — for our show — are unfortunately not true." The show provides a glimpse into the business, which is owned, managed and executed by Laine and Starsiak.
The show, previously known as "Two Chicks and a Hammer," started as a pilot in in 2014. Last May, a second season of the show was picked up by the cable network. Laine says "season one started and they said they wanted 10 episodes, we did the math — because each house costs us about $180,000 — and that’s $1.8 million. We didn’t have that and we still don’t have that." Laine says the network picks up fees associated with the show that are not related to the business, like furnishings and design elements, so Starsiak jokes the "we get to shop with a budget that we don’t actually have." The pair says they are still seeking investors and hope to have the company self-capitalized by season three. "Right now," Laine says, "any profit we make, we put right back into the business."
Season two of "Good Bones" is slated to begin airing on HGTV next month.