Pelham Woman Shows Ins and Outs of TV Set Design with HGTV Show

Ever wonder what the deal is with the sofa and coffee table in Leonard Hofstadter and Sheldon Cooper’s apartment on the hit CBS show “The Bigbang Theory”?

Curious about the behind the scenes decisions that went into designing of the homes on Wisteria Lane for the ABC show “Desperate Housewives”?

If the answer to any of those questions is yes, then get prepared for some good news. Pelham resident Randi MacColl has had similar questions and she plans to provide those answers when the first two episodes of her show, “HGTV On the Set”, airs at 9 p.m. on Friday, April 27.

The show, which MacColl conceived and produced, is a series of specials that will take viewers behind-the-set-design of some of the most popular shows on television and feature interviews with some of the shows' stars. It is hosted by Emily Henderson.

“I think people are very interested in seeing how the sets for different shows are designed,” said MacColl, the producer of the show. “Many of my friends who are in the business say that they constantly get questions from viewers about how the sets are made.”

MacColl’s foray into the world of television production wasn’t intentional. By day, she directs the Fine Homes division for 1stdibs.com, a Web site that specializes in homes design, antiques and fine art.

At home, she raises two sons with her husband, Brian.

So how did she find time to hustle through a television special? MacColl said it was networking and luck.

“I’ve had friends say to me ‘do you have any idea what it takes to get a television show on the air’,” MacColl said. “All it took for me was one conversation. I got completely lucky.”

In October 2010, MacColl said was at an event where a friend introduced her to an executive at HGTV. MacColl mentioned to the executive that she had an idea for show about television set design.

MacColl said she had a lot of connections in the industry and would be able to gain behind the scenes access. The executive liked the idea and initiated talks to make the show a reality.

“I have a full time job, so I wasn’t in a rush to have them greenlight it and we took our time,” MacColl said. “They basically told me in early 2011 that they wanted to go ahead. They handed me the contract and they started shooting in the fall.”

Two shows have been taped so far, but MaColl said more specials are planned for later this year.

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