Last Sunday, Jan. 24, HGTV debuted its newest home renovation show entitled "Home Town." Like many of its hit shows such as "Fixer Upper" and "Flip or Flop," the new show is hosted by real-life couple Erin and Ben Nappier.
"Home Town" follows the husband and wife duo as they go around their little town in Laurel, Mississippi, helping new residents to find a house and make it a home.
HGTV Home Town — Erin and Ben Nappier https://t.co/9MKtnx6uPx via @CountryLiving pic.twitter.com/nUCsjzqbY0
— HGTV Top News (@HGTVTopNews) January 23, 2016
"There's a big group of young families doing what it takes to restore these old houses," Erin, a print designer by profession, told HottyToddy.com.
Ben, a master at wood work, emphasized that they wanted to showcase their little town through the program.
"The big part of the show is the history of Laurel," Ben said. "My degree in history lit a fire in me to learn more."
"We bring a team of local craftsmen and architects," Erin added. "We introduce them to the community and we put lot of Laurel's history into the home."
WDAM reported that during the show's premiere, Laurel's residents, including the hosts, gathered at the Arabian Theater in Laurel to watch the pilot episode.
"Twitter was blowing up and talking about 'Home Town' and talking about Laurel and how many homes are for sale in Laurel," Erin gushed.
Even Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant was in attendance, and praised the Nappiers for their work.
"It was great. Laurel has never looked so good, very proud of how they represented Mississippi," Gov. Bryant said.
While there are similar shows already airing on HGTV, Ben and Erin insist that theirs is more than just a home renovation show.
"It's a renovation show on paper, but it's a show about finding your place in a small town at its heart," Erin told Hooked on Houses.
"When you live in a small town, you can make a difference," Ben told the University of Mississippi News. "It's affordable. You can travel if you want to see the world, but the small towns are important. That's where most people's lives begin."
HGTV has yet to pick up "Home Town" for a full season, based on the success of its pilot episode.
