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[06/22/23 - 07:01 AM]
Roku Greenlights Home Renovation Series "Empty Nest Refresh" Hosted by Liza Koshy and Featuring Design Expert Orlando Soria
Whether they are ready or not, each year parents from across the country find themselves as newly minted empty nesters when their children say goodbye to their childhood homes and hello to adulthood.

[via press release from Roku]

Roku Greenlights Home Renovation Series "Empty Nest Refresh" Hosted by Liza Koshy and Featuring Design Expert Orlando Soria

New Roku Original series produced by Jennifer O'Connell and Rebecca Quinn's Velvet Hammer Media (VHM)

Roku has greenlit the new home renovation series "Empty Nest Refresh," hosted by actress Liza Koshy. Interior designer and best-selling author Orlando Soria will serve as the series' design expert.

Whether they are ready or not, each year parents from across the country find themselves as newly minted empty nesters when their children say goodbye to their childhood homes and hello to adulthood. Told through the eyes of a new generation, "Empty Nest Refresh" follows young adults moving out of their parents' houses, but before they go, to show their love and appreciation, they're turning their childhood bedrooms into the rooms of their parents' dreams.

The six-episode series is produced by Velvet Hammer Media, with VHM Co-CEO's Jennifer O'Connell and Rebecca Quinn serving as executive producers, alongside showrunner Dean Ollins and Koshy. Nick Alarcon serves as a co-executive producer.

"Empty Nest Refresh" joins The Roku Channel's expanding slate of Roku Originals including "WEIRD: The Al Yankovic Story," "The Great American Baking Show," "Die Hart 2: Die Harter," "Meet Me in Paris," "Honest Renovations," and more. From award-winning scripted entertainment and engaging documentaries to new breakout unscripted series, Roku Originals gives viewers free access to bold, fresh entertainment from the biggest names in Hollywood.

QUOTES

"Our streamers are huge fans of home renovation series, and we're thrilled to work with the production team, Liza, and Orlando to bring a fresh, multi-generational take on this beloved genre," says Brian Tannenbaum, Head of Originals, Roku Media. "On a personal note, it's incredibly rewarding to partner with Velvet Hammer Media on one of their first series -- having worked so closely with Jennifer and Rebecca at the onset of my career."

"Moving out of your family home is a big step in your 'adulting' journey! It's equally emotional and exciting for both parents and kids, as both prepare to enter the next chapter of their lives," says series host Liza Koshy. "Reimagining your space is a cathartic way to welcome a fresh start. We can't wait to meet the families of 'Empty Nest Refresh' and use design to help them embrace transition and navigate change," adds Orlando Soria, series design expert.

Said O'Connell and Quinn, "Empty Nest Refresh' captures an incredibly relatable, and often emotional, life transition, blending heartfelt moments, humor and home design. We're thrilled to collaborate with the charismatic Liza Koshy, inventive Orlando Soria and our longtime friends at Roku. Together, we're delivering a unique spin on the home renovation genre."

BACKGROUND

Launched in 2017, The Roku Channel is the home of free and premium entertainment on the Roku platform. In Q4 2022, The Roku Channel reached U.S. households with an estimated 100 million people. The Roku Channel was a top 5 channel on the Roku platform by active account reach and streaming hour engagement in Q1 2023. Today, The Roku Channel features a diverse lineup of more than 80,000 free movies and programs and more than 350 free live linear television channels in the U.S. It licenses and distributes content from more than 250 partners.

Roku is a registered trademark of Roku, Inc. in the U.S. and in other countries. Trade names, trademarks, and service marks of other companies appearing in this press release are the property of their respective holders.

Liza Koshy is a multihyphenate actress who has seamlessly segued from being one of the most prolific and popular digital creators to one of Hollywood's brightest young stars. Liza starred in the Paramount tentpole summer blockbuster "Transformers: Rise of the Beasts" as the first ever female transformer. She will next be in Universal Pictures animated film "Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken" and recently completed production on Netflix's "A Family Affair" and "Players." Liza has been featured on Forbes' 30 Under 30 Hollywood & Entertainment List, TIME Magazine's Inaugural TIME 100 Next List and was named one of TIME Magazine's Most Influential People on the Internet in 2019.

She stars, directs, writes and produces (alongside Above Average Productions and writers Deborah Kaplan & Harry Elfont) her own YouTube Original show, "Liza On Demand." The show has earned the distinction of being the most-watched YouTube Original debut ever with the first episode of Season 2 garnering 81.5 million views. As the brand ambassador for clean beauty brand C'est Moi, Liza launched a makeup and skin-care collection, called One of One. She is also an active champion for mental health and wellness initiatives, having partnered with former First Lady Michelle Obama as co-chair for the Obama non-profit "When We All Vote".

Orlando Soria is a versatile interior designer, author, and television host who made his creative debut in Hollywood as a set decorator. Renowned for his engaging and down-to-earth approach to interior design, he has succeeded in making this field both approachable and enjoyable. As a proud dog dad, Orlando's sidekick is a lovable pit bull named Satie. He leads a dynamic lifestyle, splitting his time between the vibrant heart of Los Angeles and his current passion project - a charming cabin retreat in the breathtaking landscape of Yosemite.

About Velvet Hammer Media: Award-winning unscripted producers and longtime friends and colleagues Jennifer O'Connell and Rebecca Quinn founded VHM (Velvet Hammer Media) in 2023, leveraging their collective industry expertise working across nearly every aspect of the non-fiction television business. Focusing on both premium and global formats, VHM's series and development deals include The Big Bakeover for The CW and Empty Nest Refresh for Roku, along with another Roku series in production, as well as numerous development deals set at a range of streamers and networks. Co-CEOs O'Connell and Quinn serve as executive producers on all projects, and VHM provides production services on all commissions. With access and inclusivity as core tenets of the company, VHM's "Inside Access Program" ensures a line item in every production budget to hire exceptional BIPOC talent behind the camera and help them grow; the program is at the heart of the company's culture and applies to 100% of its productions. For more information visit velvethm.com.





  [june 2023]  
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· EMPTY NEST REFRESH (ROKU)





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