Oprah show featuring Bowmanville airs Jan. 6
Million Dollar Neighbourhood. CLARINGTON -- Season two of the Oprah Winfrey reality show Million Dollar Neighbourhood, filmed in Bowmanville featuring local residents tackling their money problems, airs on Sunday, January 6 at 8 p.m. December 2012 Submitted photo
"It was crazy the amount of time and effort put into this, the work and challenges," said Janet Lange, owner of Janet Lange Art and Design. "This is a-once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and it's not something I could pass up on."
Ms. Lange was among 100 local families selected in early July by the television producers for the MDN reality community.
The show, produced by Vancouver-based Force Four Entertainment (The Cupcake Girls and Village on a Diet) for Ms. Winfrey's TV network, aims to help contestants save money over 10 weeks to increase their collective net worth by $1 million. Families in the show tackle their money problems with expert help.
The new season of Million Dollar Neighbourhood will feature several guest appearances. Acclaimed singer-songwriter Paul Brandt performs his hit s! ong Worth; David Visentin, host of the W Network show Love It or List It, advises the community as it executes a major home renovation for a neighbour; and Heather White and Lori Joyce, stars of The Cupcake Girls, advise Bowmanville's small business owners how to make their businesses more profitable.
Ms. Lange said she learned her worst money habit was bartering or giving away her services for free or at a discount to people she knew in the community.
"I've got to respect myself and be careful that this is a business and it has to be separate from my friendships," said Ms. Lange. "That was the hardest thing for me."
The participating Bowmanville families took drastic measures as they attempted to wrestle down their personal debt, rein in their spending and find new sources of income.
"I'll be scared to watch because I'm scared of how they'll portray me. They caught me once. I cried once but I stayed true to myself," said Ms. Lange. "I can't watch reality TV the same way."
The new season of MDN is launching with a new Facebook app to offer advice and coaching. Viewers will be able to take weekly pledges that help them find simple ways to save more and earn more. Each pledge is tied to episode themes ranging from cutting back on food costs, transportation costs and discretionary spending, to saving for the future and finding ways to increase income. Every pledge made allows viewers a chance to win prizes.
The Bowmanville season of Million Dollar Neighbourhood launches on Sunday, Jan. 6 at 8 p.m. on Corus Entertainment's OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network (Canada).
For more information about the series, visit ownca.oprah.com/Shows/Million-Dollar-Neighbourhood.aspx.
