美国国家公共电台 NPR HGTV Real Estate Stars Find Yet Another Home In Print

 

ARI SHAPIRO, HOST: 

Some of this year's best-selling writers are better known for their way with tools than words. They are stars on HGTV, the network that shows us how to buy, sell and fix up our homes. NPR's Lynn Neary looks at their transition from TV personalities¹ to authors.

LYNN NEARY, BYLINE²: The secret of the success of two of the most popular shows on HGTV - "Fixer Upper" and "Property Brothers" - isn't just real estate savvy³ and creative design. It's that hard-to-get combination of charm and chemistry that turns mere⁴ show hosts into genuine stars, says Maggie Winterfeldt, editor of POPSUGAR Home.

MAGGIE WINTERFELDT: They're fun. They make you feel like you could be friends. And these are people that you actually relate to. They're not living in mansions⁵. They're not driving Escalades. They live an attainable⁶ lifestyle.

(SOUNDBITE OF TV SHOW, "PROPERTY BROTHERS")

DREW SCOTT: This is a gem⁷ of a property right downtown, and I think that Vincent and Helena will love the fact that there is lots of privacy.

NEARY: The Property Brothers are identical twins Drew and Jonathan Scott.

JONATHAN SCOTT: Drew is the most competitive man I have ever met in my life. Even if we're just going to the car, he has to beat me.

D. SCOTT: Yes.

NEARY: Drew's the real estate agent. Jonathan's the contractor⁸. It's worth noting that the Scott Brothers are very good looking. But Winterfeldt says much of their appeal also lies in their good-natured sibling⁹ rivalry¹⁰.

WINTERFELDT: Well, the Property Brothers are obviously very goofy. That's part of their whole shtick. You know, what you see is what you get with them. They're really like that in real life. And it's genuine, and I think that comes across.

(SOUNDBITE OF TV SHOW, "PROPERTY BROTHERS")

J. SCOTT: We have a realtor present (laughter).

D. SCOTT: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN: Hey.

D. SCOTT: How goes the work?

UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN: Just getting started.

J. SCOTT: Yeah, actually - good timing¹¹. You can actually pitch in for once.

D. SCOTT: Oh, I'm wearing my nice clothes right now. I don't think I can get it dirty.

J. SCOTT: Well, do you...

NEARY: The Scott brothers had their own business in Canada, then Drew got offered a job hosting a home improvement show. He pitched a show with his brother instead.

D. SCOTT: We were originally actually pitched to HGTV in the U.S. And at first, HGTV said, no, we don't see that a fit with our programming right now. And then there was a network - W Network in Canada - that said, two young guys in tight jeans renovating¹² - yeah, we'll take that.

NEARY: They now have five shows on or in the works for HGTV, and their book "Dream Home" is a bestseller. Jonathan Scott says the biggest challenge moving from screen to page was capturing their relationship in print.

J. SCOTT: This is Jonathan. The hardest thing was trying to have the same thing that we do in the show, where there's two voices.

NEARY: And this might be a good moment to mention that not only do the Scotts look exactly alike. They also sound exactly alike.

J. SCOTT: So trying to write a book with two distinct voices - 'cause we do not agree on everything. We have our own opinions. We have our own...

D. SCOTT: Yeah, Jonathan's wrong with a lot of things.

J. SCOTT: (Laughter) Yeah. So that was the trickiest¹³ thing, but I think we pulled it off. And you still get that same fun, brotherly banter¹⁴.

NEARY: If the Scott brothers have cornered the market on brotherly love, Chip and Joanna Gaines have wooed legions of followers¹⁵ with their seemingly idyllic¹⁶ life with their four children on a farm in Waco, Texas.

(SOUNDBITE OF TV SHOW, "FIXER UPPER")

UNIDENTIFIED CHILD #1: I want to do it by myself.

JOANNA GAINES: Is it turning into snow, guys?

UNIDENTIFIED CHILD #2: Not really but kind of.

J. GAINES: Oh, it feels like snow.

UNIDENTIFIED CHILD #1: Look at all this.

NEARY: And it doesn't hurt that the Gaines still seem to be very much in love. Joanna's the quiet, down-to-earth one. Chip's the class clown who keeps her laughing.

(SOUNDBITE OF TV SHOW, "FIXER UPPER")

CHIP GAINES: What's your name again?

J. GAINES: J. (ph).

C. GAINES: It's nice to meet you. Casting did a heck of a job making it look like we knew each other.

J. GAINES: (Laughter).

NEARY: The Gaines have turned a home-grown contracting and design business in Waco into a personal empire. And their memoir¹⁷, "The Magnolia Story," is one of the bestselling books of the year, number 3 in The New York Times nonfiction list with a million books in print.

MATT BAUGHER: The show and the book isn't just about fixing up houses.

NEARY: Matt Baugher is senior vice¹⁸ president at Thomas Nelson publishing company. It's one of the oldest and largest Christian¹⁹ publishing companies, and Baugher says its mission is to inspire the world. He believes the Gaines' story - how they met, how they built their business - is inspirational.

BAUGHER: In a culture in society where we're bombarded with so much negativity, I think we're all drawn²⁰ to someone who is authentic²¹ in every way and shows that you can combine your life's passion with joy and hard work. And also, yes, they are people of faith, but they don't lead with faith. It just happens to be part of who they are.

NEARY: But the Gaines' faith did draw unwanted attention recently when an article in BuzzFeed pointed²² out that their church takes a strong stand against homosexuality. HGTV released a statement saying that it does not discriminate²³ against members of the LGBT community. Baugher says the Gaines' support that statement, but they have not said anything publicly. So far, Baugher says, the controversy²⁴ has not affected²⁵ sales.

BAUGHER: I just got sales numbers in for last week, and the numbers that I saw are the biggest numbers that I've seen yet for them.

NEARY: And both the Gaines and the Scott brothers already have plans for more books in the future. Lynn Neary, NPR News, Washington.

(SOUNDBITE OF PIANO MUSIC)

1 personalities   

n. 诽谤，（对某人容貌、性格等所进行的）人身攻击； 人身攻击；人格, 个性, 名人( personality的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• There seemed to be a degree of personalities in her remarks.她话里有些人身攻击的成分。
• Personalities are not in good taste in general conversation.在一般的谈话中诽谤他人是不高尚的。

2 byline   

n.署名；v.署名

参考例句：

• His byline was absent as well.他的署名也不见了。
• We wish to thank the author of this article which carries no byline.我们要感谢这篇文章的那位没有署名的作者。

3 savvy   

v.知道，了解；n.理解能力，机智，悟性；adj.有见识的，懂实际知识的，通情达理的

参考例句：

• She was a pretty savvy woman.她是个见过世面的漂亮女人。
• Where's your savvy?你的常识到哪里去了？

4 mere   

adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过

参考例句：

• That is a mere repetition of what you said before.那不过是重复了你以前讲的话。
• It's a mere waste of time waiting any longer.再等下去纯粹是浪费时间。

5 mansions   

n.宅第，公馆，大厦( mansion的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Fifth Avenue was boarded up where the rich had deserted their mansions. 第五大道上的富翁们已经出去避暑，空出的宅第都已锁好了门窗，钉上了木板。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
• Oh, the mansions, the lights, the perfume, the loaded boudoirs and tables! 啊，那些高楼大厦、华灯、香水、藏金收银的闺房还有摆满山珍海味的餐桌！ 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

6 attainable   

a.可达到的，可获得的

参考例句：

• They set the limits of performance attainable. 它们确定着可达到的运行限度。
• If objectives are to be meaningful to people, they must be clear, attainable, actionable, and verifiable. 如果目标对人们是具有意义的，则目标必须是清晰的，能达到的，可以行动的，以及可供检验的。

7 gem   

n.宝石，珠宝；受爱戴的人 [同]jewel

参考例句：

• The gem is beyond my pocket.这颗宝石我可买不起。
• The little gem is worth two thousand dollars.这块小宝石价值两千美元。

8 contractor   

n.订约人，承包人，收缩肌

参考例句：

• The Tokyo contractor was asked to kick $ 6000 back as commission.那个东京的承包商被要求退还6000美元作为佣金。
• The style of house the contractor builds depends partly on the lay of the land.承包商所建房屋的式样，有几分要看地势而定。

9 sibling   

n.同胞手足(指兄、弟、姐或妹)

参考例句：

• Many of us hate living in the shadows of a more successful sibling.我们很多人都讨厌活在更为成功的手足的阴影下。
• Sibling ravalry has been common in this family.这个家里，兄弟姊妹之间的矛盾很平常。

10 rivalry   

n.竞争，竞赛，对抗

参考例句：

• The quarrel originated in rivalry between the two families.这次争吵是两家不和引起的。
• He had a lot of rivalry with his brothers and sisters.他和兄弟姐妹间经常较劲。

11 timing   

n.时间安排，时间选择

参考例句：

• The timing of the meeting is not convenient.会议的时间安排不合适。
• The timing of our statement is very opportune.我们发表声明选择的时机很恰当。

12 renovating   

翻新，修复，整修( renovate的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The increased production was largely attained by renovating old orchards and vineyards. 通过更新老果园和葡萄园，使生产大大增加。
• Renovating that house will cost you a pretty penny. 为了整修那所房子，你得花很多钱。

13 trickiest   

adj.狡猾的( tricky的最高级 )；（形势、工作等）复杂的；机警的；微妙的

参考例句：

• Many believe this is the trickiest area to navigate. 很多人认为这是最难驾驭的领域。 来自时文部分
• Establishing confidence in a new monetary system was the trickiest part. 建立对新货币体系的信心是其最棘手的部分。 来自互联网

14 banter   

n.嘲弄，戏谑；v.取笑，逗弄，开玩笑

参考例句：

• The actress exchanged banter with reporters.女演员与记者相互开玩笑。
• She engages in friendly banter with her customers.她常和顾客逗乐。

15 followers   

追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件

参考例句：

• the followers of Mahatma Gandhi 圣雄甘地的拥护者
• The reformer soon gathered a band of followers round him. 改革者很快就获得一群追随者支持他。

16 idyllic   

adj.质朴宜人的，田园风光的

参考例句：

• These scenes had an idyllic air.这种情景多少有点田园气氛。
• Many people living in big cities yearn for an idyllic country life.现在的很多都市人向往那种田园化的生活。

17 memoir   

n.[pl.]回忆录，自传；记事录

参考例句：

• He has just published a memoir in honour of his captain.他刚刚出了一本传记来纪念他的队长。
• In her memoir,the actress wrote about the bittersweet memories of her first love.在那个女演员的自传中，她写到了自己苦乐掺半的初恋。

18 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

19 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

20 drawn   

v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的

参考例句：

• All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
• Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。

21 authentic   

a.真的，真正的；可靠的，可信的，有根据的

参考例句：

• This is an authentic news report. We can depend on it. 这是篇可靠的新闻报道, 我们相信它。
• Autumn is also the authentic season of renewal. 秋天才是真正的除旧布新的季节。

22 pointed   

adj.尖的，直截了当的

参考例句：

• He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
• She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。

23 discriminate   

v.区别，辨别，区分；有区别地对待

参考例句：

• You must learn to discriminate between facts and opinions.你必须学会把事实和看法区分出来。
• They can discriminate hundreds of colours.他们能分辨上百种颜色。

24 controversy   

n.争论，辩论，争吵

参考例句：

• That is a fact beyond controversy.那是一个无可争论的事实。
• We ran the risk of becoming the butt of every controversy.我们要冒使自己在所有的纷争中都成为众矢之的的风险。

25 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。