HGTV is known for broadcasting shows that feature husband-and-wife duos renovating homes, including Erin and Ben Napier’s Home Town and Dave and Jenny Marrs’ Fixer to Fabulous. There are also shows about home design like Christina on the Coast, which sees Christina Haack transforming and updating homes in Southern California, and design experts and married couple Ray and Eilyn Jimenez competing with one another on whose style is better suited for their clients in Miami.
In 2022, HGTV introduced viewers to a whole different concept for a show. Hosted by comedian Retta, who is most known for starring in Parks And Rec, Ugliest House in America sees the actor traveling across the U.S. to find the ugliest and most unattractive homes. With five seasons having already aired and a sixth season in the works, Retta has toured some very unsightly homes. However, when the network announced that they would be airing a Halloween-themed spin-off, the comedian was all for it, until she actually had to enter the spookiest homes in America.
Retta Was Terrified About Having To Film Her HGTV Spinoff
To celebrate the 2024 Halloween season, the HGTV network decided to create a very spooky spinoff of Retta’s Ugliest House in America series. In August, HGTV announced Retta’s new show, Scariest House in America, which will feature the comedian touring nine of the most terrifying homes in the U.S. The show will have the same premise as Retta’s original show in that the scariest home will be awarded a $150,000 makeover.
A press release for the show, which will air on Oct. 4, stated:
“Retta will tour nine eerie and terrifying houses throughout the Midwest, Northeast and South that have everything from built-in death traps and questionable taxidermy to daunting basements and ghost sightings.”
Although fans will really get to enjoy these creepy homes, which are perfect for the upcoming Halloween season, it wasn’t so thrilling for Retta to film. In fact, the Parks and Rec actor did not enjoy touring these scary homes one bit because of her real fears of ghosts and the unknown. In addition, with Retta having to consider the “fright factor” for each house, it made it even more difficult for Retta to have to film.
“I did not see this iteration of this show coming. I was cool with the summer road trip and ugly in paradise, but, for a gal that is spooked by every creak, critter and errant hair that brushed my shoulder, this wasn’t it.”
Retta continued, “Glad I got through it, but I won’t lie and say I ‘enjoyed it.'”
Retta Has Always Had A Big Fear Of The Unknown Which Made Filming Difficult
Retta made it clear that she did not have a very fun time filming her upcoming HGTV show, Scariest House In America. Having a fear of even the smallest things, it’s hard to imagine how the comedian toured not only one but nine of these so-called haunted homes. However, showcasing her unfiltered opinions on her main show, viewers will certainly love watching Retta get a little spooked.
Retta’s unique name is actually short for Marietta, her first name. While appearing on
The Real
, the comedian revealed that
the nickname had stayed with her since college
, when a guy would call her Retta. She also stated that when she would be called upon during comedy shows, it was easier to say Retta than use her full name, which is Marietta Sangai Sirleaf.
Retta has previously expressed how uninterested she is when it comes to all things deemed scary, including ghosts and haunted houses. While appearing on Late Night With Seth Meyers in June, the actor discussed her latest show and how she really had a hard time filming it.
When Seth asked Retta why she would ever do a show that would raise the hairs on the back of her neck, she jokingly admitted, “It’s a contract.” The host then asked if she had “any trepidation before walking in the door” of one of these scary homes, with Retta stating, “I hate it. I hate it. Seth, I hate it.”
Although Retta couldn’t believe she went through with the show because of her many fears, she did reveal to Seth that she had a ritual she would perform before entering the 9 homes she toured.
“Okay, so 100% I believe in ghosts and spirits and all of that s***. But I go into every house with a feeling of like, ‘Don’t let any of it in. None of this stuff is going to affect you.’ So I get in my mind in a place where I kind of block it. Like I don’t—I try not to think about it. I know I’m gonna talk about it, but I try to block it.'”
The actor also told Seth that she had a unique way of letting any ghosts know that she wasn’t trying to disturb their peace. “When I go in, I go, ‘I’m only here for two hours! I’m not here to mess with your s***!’ And then I’m out. ‘Cause I don’t like it.'”
In addition, Retta did express that she believed some of the things she witnessed while touring the scary homes were definitely staged. However, there were experiences that made her want to run for the door.
“Here’s the thing, I do believe in it. I don’t know if I believe all these people. You know what I mean? There’s some places where I was like, ‘We gotta get the hell out of here.’ And then some places I’m like, ‘Whatever. You put that there.'”
Scariest House In America airs on Oct. 4 at 9 p.m. on HGTV.