Jack McBrayer Compares ‘Zillow Gone Wild’ to ‘Tiger King’ and Explains How Retta Convinced Him To Host

Just when you thought it was safe to reenter the real estate market, HGTV unleashes a monster of a show. Zillow Gone Wild, hosted by 30 Rock star Jack McBrayer, takes House Hunters to an entirely new level—sometimes literally, with homes shaped like a whale or designed like a pirate ship. McBrayer says filming often leaves him speechless—in the best possible way.

“You would have thought we’d tapped out,” McBrayer tells Collider when reflecting on the shock factor during his home tours. “But then … nope! Remember that series Tiger King, where it’s like, this is as crazy as it going to get? Oh wait … what?!” Crazy and wild doesn’t scratch the surface of what McBrayer toured during Zillow Gone Wild Season 1 where he visited some of the wildest (most wackadoodle) homes in America; many of them for sale and one wilder than the next.

Like many HGTV shows, Zillow Gone Wild homeowners compete to win the title of “Wildest Home” and a cash prize. Inspired by the Instagram account of the same name, McBrayer says he’s constantly picking his jaw up off the floor, getting a crash course in just how creative real estate can get.

“It’s been fun to see and I love celebrating people’s passions, even if it’s not exactly like mine,” he says, joking that he prefers more of a neutral-toned home atmosphere. “I like seeing people really put 100 percent of themselves into it and I mean, it sounds crazy to say out loud, but I never considered a home to be art or to be artistic expression until I started hosting this show and realized there there are a million different ways to be creative and be artistic through four walls and a roof. Sometimes a roof, sometimes not four walls, right?”

But hosting Zillow Gone Wild wasn’t an automatic “yes” when producers approached him with the idea. At the time, fellow comedian and friend Retta was making a splash on the network with both Ugliest House in America and the spinoff, Scariest House in America, so he reached out to her to get the “insider” scoop on what it’s like to host an HGTV series — and got the brutal truth.

Retta Gave Jack McBrayer Advice on Whether He Should Do ‘Zillow Gone Wild’

“She was like, it’s exhausting.”

McBrayer knew Retta would be truthful with him. “I’ve been friends with Retta forever with [her being on] Parks and Rec and [me being on] 30 Rock,” he muses, jokingly adding, “We were on NBC at the same time, so we were at all the same fancy parties.” But McBrayer says, “Retta is one of the important reasons that I said yes to this job in the first place. She was already doing her series, and so when the opportunity came my way, I was like, I don’t know. I’ve never done anything like this. So I was like ‘Let me check with Retta.'”

Retta was “very instrumental” in McBrayer agreeing to wade into the HGTV reality world because, “Even though we generally have different comedy styles, I think what each of us brings fits our respective shows,” he reflects. While Retta said the experience was “super fun,” she also prepared him to miss the luxuries from home. “She was like, it’s exhausting. Like you’re really going, going constantly. And you just reach an age where you’re like, ‘I miss my own bed. I miss my own toilet paper.'”

Also, just traveling in general takes on a new meaning. “Actually, Season 2 has made me really evaluate what is my relationship with travel,” he says. “Sometimes I worry: do I just associate travel with work and then my beautiful, boring home with vacation and relaxation?” The benefits outweighed any drawbacks of being on the road, and McBrayer is grateful he reached out to Retta for the confirmation to move forward with Zillow Gone Wild.

Jack McBrayer and Retta Need an HGTV Crossover Show — STAT

“I would kill to have some sort of crossover with Retta!”

Speaking of Retta, Collider noted that McBrayer and Retta’s HGTV shows have a unique symbiosis. Both former NBC comedians travel the country, meeting the homeowners who occupy some of the wackiest homes in America. Retta explored a home in the shape of a boat, while McBrayer uncovered every inch of a home that was built in the shape of a whale, which was crowned the Season 1 winner.

Related

“Please Tell Me You Didn’t Do That!”: Retta Recalls the One Time Her Roast Went Horribly Wrong on ‘Ugliest House in America’

It was the one time Retta should have told the homeowner to “treat yourself” to a new design style.

In a world of crossovers, would a Retta and McBrayer show ever be in HGTV’s future? “ I was just saying the other day I was like, ‘I would kill to have some sort of crossover with Retta!'” McBrayer says. Retta’s and McBrayer’s shows are both rooted in the element of surprise, where production gives the comedians no information about the homes they are about to tour. Also, they both have warm, friendly personalities with the goal of making the homeowner feel comfortable. “From your mouth to God’s ears,” McBrayer says about a Retta mashup show. “Honestly, I’d just listen to her read the phone book.”

Fans won’t need to wait for Retta’s phone book reading or their (eventual) crossover show because Zillow Gone Wild Season 2 returns with the weirdest, wildest, “most wackadoodle” homes ever. “We saw 30 houses this year, so you think you’ve seen the craziest in episode 1? No, dear, wait till episode 7, then wait till episode 10. There are so many wild houses out there, and hopefully I get to see a lot more too.”

Zillow Gone Wild Season 2 airs Friday, July 18, on HGTV.