What’s HGTV’s Secret Plan For The Brady Bunch House?

Well, that didn’t take long. Nsyncer Lance Bass can kiss The Brady Bunch house “bye bye bye.” After intense bidding from entertainers (like Bass), corporations and developers, The Brady Bunch house in Los Angeles was quickly sold to HGTV, which promises to restore the home to its 1970s glory. Does that mean we can look forward to a long floating staircase, architect’s den, wide mid-century modern front door and a maid’s quarters? We’ll see soon enough.

Like the 82nd Airborne, HGTV virtually parachuted renovation and production crews into San Fernando Valley pronto, presumably prepping for a groovy new TV show about an iconic house where a lovely lady, a man named Brady, and six step-kids once lived (at least on TV; only exterior shots of the home’s façade were showcased on the cult hit series).

In the hands of HGTV, Brady fans can breathe a big sigh of relief. The second most photographed home outside the White House avoided the developer wrecking ball. The network’s purchase satisfied listing agent Ernie Carswell’s mandate to sell to a buyer who will preserve the home’s historical significance—much to the chagrin of Bass (a self-confessed Brady Buncher) who expressed a passionate desire to own the home (to preserve it). HGTV’s hardball buy of the Studio City property recently closed for upwards of $3 million (well over the $1.88 million ask price), according to a TMZ report.

Bass said his bid was accepted and subsequently pulled (a common cut-throat real estate tactic with which he may not be familiar, as a celebrity who usually gets his way). He claimed to be “heartbroken” and suggested he was used to drive up the home’s bidding price, according to his Aug. 5th tweet. Bass said after his offer was accepted another corporate entity (HGTV) swooped in, prepared to top all other offers.

“How is this fair or legal?,” via tweet said Bass, who even celebrated his perceived purchase with friends. “How can I compete with a billion dollar entity?…I feel used but most importantly I’m hurt and saddened by this highly questionable outcome.”

Feelings and sour grapes aside, the bidding for this smallish abode amounted to a bloodsport of which Sam The Butcher could relate. Eight serious offers were reportedly considered before HGTV sealed the deal.

Bass changed his tune upon finding out HGTV outbid him, later tweeting “HGTV??! Aw man, I’d be pretty upset if it were anyone else, but how can you be mad at HGTV?? My television is stuck on that channel. Kudos HGTV, I know you will do the right thing with the house. That was always my biggest worry. I can smile again.”

So HGTV has one large-mouthed Bass (media wise) on board for its future show. But now it’s Studio City neighbors who are peeved that their quiet neighborhood has turned into televised spectacle. TMZ reports neighbors are complaining about HGTV’s loud renovations, and crowded or blocked streets.

Fans of The Brady Bunch (including Bass) can rest assured the famous home won’t be completely razed and rebuilt as a mega mansion on its 12,573-square-foot plot (third of an acre) along the Los Angeles River. Instead, HGTV is reportedly expanding the 2,477-square-foot house to 6,000 square feet—adding 4,000 square feet to the back of the home. Considering all the planning, permits and crew required to pull this off so quickly, one has to wonder whether the entire public sale was part of a publicity stunt?

When contacted, HGTV had “no additional info to share about the house or the project now.” The term “project” definitely teases a future show of which only HGTV fans can obsess—judging from the popularity of series like Fixer Upper, Flip Or Flop, Love It Or List It, Property Brothers, House Hunters, and Beachfront Bargain Hunt.

So instead of the wrecking ball, let’s look into the crystal ball to speculate what HGTV might have up its sleeve. I see…another HGTV reality series with The Brady Bunch house as the headlining star and cameos by the Brady Bunch kids—Barry Williams (Greg), Maureen McCormick (Marcia), Christopher Knight (Peter), Eve Plumb (Jan), Mike Lookinland (Bobby) and Susan Olsen (Cindy). Okay, maybe not Jan.

I see…A Brady Fixer Upper, Property Brothers and Sisters (co-starring the Brady kids) or maybe Love It Or Bass It (where Lance Bass randomly shows up unsolicited like cousin Oliver, pestering HGTV to sell him the house or toss it back into the L.A. River—although he seems to nice for that).

The possibilities are limitless. So are HGTV’s potential ratings.