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A & E Executives Choose New Flip This House Cast; Former "Flip" Team Finds New Home at Discovery
And the winners are...
After reviewing hundreds of cast applications, five from Houston real estate investors, A & E Network selected two southern real estate developers in Texas and Georgia to host Flip This House, now in its second season.
The winning teams -- San Antonio's Montelongo family and Atlanta developer Sam Leccima -- received contracts from Departure Films back in March.
813 Casting Director Steve Grant sought new talent after Richard C. Davis, President of Trademark Properties, the Charleston, South Carolina company featured in A & E's original Flip This House, pulled the plug on the network.
The first episode of the hour-long "docu-soap" premiers July 23 at 7 p.m. CST.
The New Teams
HoustonRealNews grabbed the shovels and dug deep to learn about the teams chosen to reconstruct homes in dire need of repair. Even if no Houston real estate investors were chosen, the orginal cast proved to be local favorites.
Members from each team, as well as production company representatives, asked how the publication learned about the new cast. That information was kept relatively quiet, even between the San Antonio and Atlanta teams.
As of June 25, the San Antonio team was kept in the dark about the Georgia team. "We have not figured out who the Georgia Group is. It's very hush hush..." said the Texas team's spokesperson.
So, here is the dirt we dug up on the new property flipping stars:
San Antonio-based Montelongo House Buyers consist of brothers Armando and David Montelongo and their respective wives, Veronica and Melina.
Armando heads the company; Veronica is responsible for sales. Armando's partner, David, is the "construction expert;" his wife Melina is Marketing Director. All four have been working together for three years, although each had previously worked independently in real estate.
Filming for the show began in late April for this group that buys between 15-30 properties per month and has bought and sold over 400 properties in the last two and one-half years.
The Montelongos' participation in the show, which Melina describes as "fun," not only stems from interest in increasing profits, a practice coming under scrutiny by the FHA and state governments, but also from a desire to contribute to San Antonio.
"It seems everywhere you go there are new houses going up, but we see a real opportunity to invest in San Antonio's established neighborhoods," said Armando.
"This is our chance to give back to the city by rebuilding San Antonio's history and culture starting from the inner city and working our way to the hill country."
Melina also said she is glad to have the opportunity to put Texas in the limelight, because "America will know that we all are not still using a horse and buggy to get to work!"
Meet the Atlanta crew.
This team features African-American businessman Sam Leccima who, with his wife Shani, Leccima Real Estate's closer and interior designer, "flips" more than 100 homes a year, turning eyesores into prime real estate.
The Leccimas became involved in the show after Angela Wilford, Realtor at Keller Williams Realty, presented them with the idea. Ms. Wilford, who watched and was inspired by the series last year, and who will be a familiar face on this season's show, felt confident that she "could do the same thing" for Atlanta property.
Mr. Leccima's Project Manager, Lamont Martin, is another Atlanta cast member. Mr. Martin also moonlights as a songwriter who works with Atlanta's R & B and rap stars.
Periodically, viewers will see Ms. Wilford's "right-hand man," Richard Duda, CEO and President of Homes Designed to Sell, along with his partner Sandy Pontius. Team and production sources are unable to specify how often they will appear on the screen, however.
Ms. Wilford recruited home stager Mr. Duda, because "he makes homes more marketable...making the home feel livable and appealing," she explained.
"Homes Designed to Sell specializes in decorating services to insure homes sell for top dollar and at least 30% faster than homes not staged...We were thrilled when Angie... asked us to participate with her team of local contractors to insure the home would show to its best advantage...,"Mr. Duda wrote.
Episode Air Time
Contracts for both real estate teams are binding for "at least five shows."
Melina Montelongo said her team has been talking about filming in September, so it is likely they will film six or seven episodes. Depending on ratings, the final number of shows could total 32.
The network's decision to showcase two "flipping" teams veers from their original plan and from last year's format that focused on one team."When looking for a cast for season two...the casting director found possible casts...and two stuck out, Atlanta and San Antonio. [The teams were] presented to the network. The network liked both and wanted both," explained Matt Levine, Departure Films' Series Producer.
"We are thrilled to be working with both."
According to Melina Montelongo, one of the producers told her that Richard C. Davis' team "had a hard time finding houses." They were "originally scheduled for eight months, but it took them eleven or twelve months to complete."
Because A & E thought the show was taking too much out of one cast, A & E "wanted backup" and had two casts, just in case one team had trouble finding houses, Melina added.With the spotlight now on two teams, exactly how the episodes will air remains uncertain.
"This is...a mystery. I have a feeling that they might air their (Atlanta's) show on Monday the 24th since we have the 23rd slot airing on Sunday. It might be a whole ratings thing also. This is also one of those things that is in complete hands of the network. Not even the production company knows," wrote Melina Montelongo.
One possibility, according to Mr. Levine, is to feature five shows of one team and then five of the other. "It could also depend on delivery," he added.
One feature A & E hopes will attract viewers this season is "the new problems and challenges the teams face," Aimee Gautreau, an A & E publicist indicated. She declined to elaborate, referring HoustonRealNews to A & E's Executive Producer Michael Morrison. As of writing, this publication has been unable to reach the executive.The Montelongos' press release, though, offers a glimpse into some of the family dynamics viewers can expect to see this season.
"The show will...focus on the families' personal lives. As we see Melina juggle PR campaigns and soccer games, Veronica s[ells] houses then hurries off to 'mommy and me' Tae Kwan Do classes."
It will be interesting to see if A & E creates competition between the two teams. The network's press release does not indicate that, but it might add some spark to the series.
Trademark Properties Heads to TLC/Discovery, and Court?
For now, the relationship between A &E and the real estate teams seems positive and productive.
But tensions between the network and former Flip This House team leader, Richard C. Davis, led the Trademark Properties real estate guru to take his team to TLC (The Learning Channel), who showed him a little more "tender loving care" than A & E.
An article in Charleston's March 31 The Post and Courier mentions "creative differences" between A & E and Mr. Davis."Most importantly, he (Billy Campbell, Discovery Communications President) is not going to script my life," Davis said, referring to his creative differences with A&E and its production crew. In contrast, "the broadcasting company (Discovery) 'rolled out the red carpet'; treated me like royalty," he (Davis) said.
Escalating legal tension between Mr. Davis and A & E is further exemplified in Mr. Davis' e-mail to HoustonRealNews:
"They [A & E] did a casting call after I moved networks; they are trying to 'act' like my real company. I can't comment much further but I will tell you this, they will not steal my show:) you can't do my show without my team, you can try and copy but I still own the show, read the credits 'created by Richard C Davis.' I took it to them, they owe me many dollars, the rest will come out in court."
Will the New "Flip" Be a Hit, or Will "Flip" Flop?
Undoubtedly, loyal viewers who loved the original Flip This House team will follow Trademark Properties to TLC.
How that will affect A & E ratings is yet to be determined.
Flip This House has stayed in the South, geographically, to highlight two new exciting teams. The question is, will ratings head that direction also?### Elyse Bell has written for HoustonRealNews and The Cincinnati Enquirer as well as some niche publications. She earned a Master's Degree from Harvard University and pursued further Graduate studies in top institutions in the Northeast.
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