From the creators of American Idol comes a new kind of makeover show. The Complex: Malibu moves real-life couples into a cliffside apartment building in Southern California’s coastal enclave of the rich and famous, and puts their construction, interior design and, most importantly, their relationship skills to the test with the chance to win a large cash prize.

Reality Reel Media
08.03.04

Home renovation under normal circumstances can be stressful enough to tear a relationship apart, but when couples are forced to keep within a tight budget and faced with strict deadlines and competitive neighbors, the stakes are even higher. Following a special two-hour premiere on Monday, August 30 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX, the series will air in its regular timeslot on Mondays (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) beginning Monday, September 6.

Nationwide retailer Sears, a sponsor of The Complex: Malibu, has partnered with FOX and FremantleMedia in this unscripted series that gives contestants a budget to renovate their unit by a specified date.

Eight couples will compete for the opportunity to restore and redecorate one of four units. Under tight deadlines, the couples will battle each other for control of the units, while trying to add the most value to each of the rooms. A panel of real estate professionals – an interior designer, a real estate agent and an architect – will rank the rooms from best to worst and help decide the couples’ fate: who stays and who goes. The renovated units will be sold at public auction, and the couple whose unit nets the highest-percentage profit will receive the profits from ALL of the units.

The eight couples participating in the competition are:

Barney (67) and Rose (64) from Hauppauge, NY
Brad (37) and Lew (39) from Phoenix, AZ
Carl (30) and Kim (30) from Las Vegas, NV
Dave (26) and Ana (27) from New York, NY
Erik (31) and Jayna (28) from Dallas, TX
Steve (28) and Nicole (27) from Chicago, IL
Sanyika (24) and Monique (26) from Washington, DC
Scott (32) and Sam (31) from Canton, GA

The Complex: Malibu is based on the hit Australian show, “The Block,” now in its second season for Channel Nine in Australia. The first season finale last August drew the highest rating of any show in that country in 15 years.