It's been a little over a year since Chip and Joanna Gaines announced they were taking a break from television, and that Season 5 of Fixer Upper would be the final season. Apparently, that break is over. The couple revealed on The Tonight Show that they're heading back to television with a big project that should have many of their fans excited.
We signed a nondisclosure and it said, 'You can tell your mother but that's it.' So Mom, I just wanted to make a quick announcement. We are coming back to television. You're gonna get to see the kids grow up. You'll get to see us, obviously, in maybe a six months delay like the rest of the world, but we're excited to be back.
Chip Gaines continued on, and announced the family is partnering with David Zaslav and Discovery for an ambitious project that goes beyond the scope of a television show. Gaines said the current talks have revolved around the couple getting their own network that, in addition to the aforementioned footage of the Gaines, will feature family-friendly programming 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. That's certainly a lot of television time to dedicate to shiplap!
The Gaines' announcement on The Tonight Show may come as a surprise to Fixer Upper fans, since the family previously said they needed time to focus on their family. One would think launching a network would be a little more time-consuming than a television series, although Chip Gaines noted Discovery's plan "made sense" for their family. As for how that may be, Chip specifically mentioned a bulk of filming will take place in the couple's hometown of Waco, Texas.
The show Chip Gaines specifically teased appeared to imply they'd be doing something different than what they did with Fixer Upper. The fact that viewers will see the family and their children "grow up" may mean the series will focus less on the business side, and more on the Gaines' life with their children. This could mean the couple is doing some sort of reality series that follows their family in-depth, similar to Little People Big World.
As far as other programming that may be on the docket for this potential network, it wouldn't be all that surprising to see old episodes of Fixer Upper in the rotation. While home renovation-themed programming is mostly HGTV's bag, it would make sense if the couple's flagship show is present on a network being built around them. Additionally, Discovery owns HGTV, so securing the rights would presumably be simpler than entering negotiations with a rival network.
There are certainly other Gaines-centric shows the family could create beyond reality television or home renovation as well. The couple are established restaurant owners, and Joanna Gaines' cookbook could mean an original cooking program is a possibility. Considering the success the couple has had turning their home renovation series into an empire with different product lines, one would imagine the sky's the limit with what content the couple could create for viewers.
Concrete details on the Gaines' grand return to television are still in the works, but CinemaBlend will keep an ear to the ground for details as they come to light. For a look at what things we already know are coming to television in the near future, head on over to our fall premiere guide.
