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The Daily Star, Oneonta, N.Y., Friday, June 2, 2023 20 By Caroline Collacutt TV Media Seaside spectacle: Beach bums be gone, for this summer the sand is set for battle. Sea- son 3 of the competitive reno- vation show "Battle on the Beach" premieres Sunday, June 4, on HGTV – and this time, the renovators are taking on the beautiful beaches of Gulf Shores, Alabama. As per previous seasons, three skilled teams of up-and- coming home renovators take on the massive responsibility of updating three beachfront properties top to bottom, gain- ing help along the way from re- turning design-experts-slash- hosts Ty Pennington ("Rock the Block"), Alison Victoria ("Windy City Rehab") and Taniya Nayak ("Build it For- ward"), as they tackle big jobs with only a tight, $90,000 bud- get. Unlike prior seasons, howev- er, there will be one major dif- ference in Season 3's competi- tion: the homes will no longer be identical. While all three of the Gulf Shore properties fea- ture two bedrooms and two bathrooms, one is 200 square feet larger than its compan- ions. To decide who gets which unique location, the teams must compete head-to-head in a kickoff challenge that deter- mines their fate in the competi- tion. From there, weekly reno- vation challenges will take place across the three seaside homes, leading to a non-stop marathon of reno-jobs, paint swatches and sandy shoes. This season, the "battle" be- gins in the kitchen, with dining room makeovers following suit. Following episodes will feature living room, bedroom, bathroom and outdoor make- overs, ending in a complete- home overhaul. At the end of six weeks, judges Bryan and Sarah Baeumler ("Renovation Island") will join with a team of local real estate experts to determine which home is the most valuable post-renovation. Whichever beachside property proves to have the most suc- cessful transformation wins the "Battle on the Beach" and a $50,000 cash prize. While it has yet to be re- vealed which mentors will be paired with whom, Season 3's teams have already been an- nounced: Ryan and Kelsey Mansingh, a married couple from Uniontown, Ohio; friends Ashley Basnight and Steve Lewis of Oklahoma City, Okla- homa; and buddies Ben Argall and Pete Meldrum of the Up- per Peninsula, Michigan — all new to the Gulf Shores. So far, both Taniya and Ali- son have managed wins in the previous seasons (Season 1 and Season 2, respectively). Now is Ty's chance to prove that he's not just "bringing sand to the beach," facing the opportunity to potentially se- cure his first win in "Battle on the Beach" Season 3, premier- ing Sunday, June 4, on HGTV. Relationship redux: After chaos in Cabo, a dramatic su- shi party and a biting reunion, fans were left hungry for more from the wealthy women of the "OC." Thankfully, fans of the extravagantly rich reality show won't have to wait much longer, as the highly anticipat- ed 17th season of "The Real Housewives of Orange Coun- ty" premieres Wednesday, June 7, on Bravo. It's been a year since the Season 16 reunion, and since then, a lot has changed. Shan- non Storms Beador, Heather Dubrow, Gina Kirshcenheiter and Emily Simpson are back, but now the housewives are joined by newcomer Jennifer Pedranti, who found her way to the fabulous four through another familiar face: Tamra Judge. After a two-season break, Tamra returns as a Season 17 regular, bringing ample drama along with her, as the season's trailer teases appearances of Tamra's close friend, Taylor Armstrong, and hints at the re- turn of the "OG of the OC," Vicki Gunvalson (who left "Housewives" in 2019 after reportedly clashing with pro- ducers). As always, cameras follow along, capturing the jaw-drop- ping moments that transpire in the lives of these women, all of whom live in one of the coun- try's wealthiest protected com- munities. According to a description from Bravo, "[Tamra] is back with a new perspective and is ready to repair a few broken friendships. ... [She] comes in hot and her reconciliation with Shannon does not go as planned." They go on to prom- ise that conversations lead to "explosive confrontations" between friends – the bread and butter of the "House- wives" franchise. Back at home, Tamra and her husband, Eddie, close their beloved gym, CUT fitness. Meanwhile, Shannon faces changes of her own, as she be- gins to question the status of her relationship with beau John Janssen, leading to a tu- multuous weekend in Mexico. In fact, it's new chapters all around, as Heather embraces an empty nest, diving back into her acting career and in- vesting in a new business ven- ture. Gina, on the other hand, is on the road to getting her real estate license, hoping to join the business with partner Travis Mullen. As with previous seasons, Emily will continue her life-changing work with the California Innocence Proj- ect. Season 17 will also intro- duce Jennifer Pedranti: a mother to five children, cur- rently navigating a split from her husband. Jennifer is a strong advocate for fostering children, having just adopted her youngest child. It's an impressive year for the Housewives — both pro- fessionally and personally — as friends new and old gather for Season 17 of "The Real Housewives of Orange Coun- ty," premiering Wednesday, June 7, on Bravo. realtalk Taniya Nayak, Ty Pennington and Alison Victoria in "Battle of the Beach"

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