Drew and Jonathan Scott Promise the New Season of 'Celebrity IOU' Will Make You "Ugly Cry"
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HGTV’s iconic brothers are back, this time with Season 8 of their popular show Celebrity IOU. For those who are just tuning into the series, each episode follows famed Property Brothers Drew and Jonathan Scott as they help Hollywood A-listers celebrate individuals that have deeply impacted their lives by surprising them with a big home renovation. Season 8 of the beloved show premieres on August 12, and ahead of the big day, the twins chatted with Country Living to give fans a glimpse into what they can expect.
We gave both Jonathan and Drew three words to sum up the season. “Wanda. Roof. Flamethrower,” said Jonathan. “Epic. Hilarious. Heartfelt,” added Drew.
On The New Season of Celebrity IOU
As the conversation progressed, each of these words rang more and more true with the discussion of each episode. “What I like, too, is that you're seeing the other side of these celebrities that you don't usually see. Like Day One, Jonathan said to Danny Trejo, ‘You know, I'm afraid of you.’ But he's actually a teddy bear. He's a sweetheart. He has a huge heart,” Drew says. It’s this softer side coupled with the laborious demolitions that make the show so compelling.
Jonathan elaborates, “You get to see the side of people that you don’t expect. Look at Mandy Moore, for example. She’s just this very sweet, kind, small person, and then the beast that was unleashed during demolition. I actually wanted to postpone that project because it was raining so hard, and it was an outdoor space, and she’s like ‘No, we’re not delaying. We’re getting this done.’ And so she showed up, with no glam squad, with rain pouring down her face. She’s saying, ‘I’m not slowing down—we need to get the family in.’ And to me, that’s dedication.”
It gets emotional, too. “In every single episode, there’s something unexpected that makes you ugly cry. And that’s just the beauty of this show,” says Jonathan. “Jennifer Jason Leigh, for example, knew the recipient for four decades. So it’s one thing to give back to somebody who has been really impactful, and it’s different when that person has literally been like family for 40 years. It’s the second that you hand the keys back over that changes their lives, and that’s where usually the culmination of emotions happens.”
Curious about where the flamethrower comes in? Drew says, “Wanda Sykes was giving back to honorary niece Amber, and they have two kids—one of which was I think a year old. The problem with their house was that it had all these leaks; the roof wasn't sound, and every time it rained, it would pour onto their bed in their main bedroom suite. Plus, the house was configured so that you had to walk from the main bedroom suite through the laundry, kitchen, and all the way around to the other side of the house to get to where the kids’ bedrooms were. It was not functional, especially when your kid is so little, and it was really stressful for them in that home. Wanda wanted to take all the stress away and step in. That’s why she was on the roof, torching the membrane with this flamethrower…”
It’s choosing the right celebrities that makes for such compelling episodes. “We have a no assholes rule. We want people who are really dedicated. None of these celebrities get paid to do the show. They volunteer their time because they care that much for the recipient,” Jonathan explains.
On the Future of the Series
“I feel like every time I turn on my social media, I've got Wolverine and Deadpool popping up. I'd say Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds clearly need to do this.” Jonathan continues, “We would love for, on our social media or anybody who's following [Country Living], to hit us up on social and tell us who you'd like to see on the show because we love diversity of stories, and there are so many amazing celebrities with big hearts out there to give back to. Whether they're singers, athletes, actors, it'd be great to see who the audience wants to have on our show.”
On Judging Their Friends
If you don’t get enough of the duo in this season of Celebrity IOU, be sure to catch them on HGTV’s 100 Day Hotel Challenge. “Jonathan and I are judging the competition, and I’m excited about it because a lot of the competitors—hosts you’ve seen on HGTV for a long time—we’ve known them for years,” says Drew. “Like Scott McGillivray and Bryan Baeumler, we’ve known them for 15 years or so. It’s a little reunion. So we’re having fun, and we get to judge them.”
The first episode of the new season of Celebrity IOU—“Mandy Moore's Backyard to Remember”–premieres Monday, August 12, at 9 p.m. ET/PT on HGTV and Max.
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