by Gina Scarpa

 

This week, AMC will unveil a new reality show that asks people which they prefer - using a manual or just winging it. Ed Sanders (Extreme Makeover: Home Edition) and Marcus Hunt (HGTV's Hammer Heads) will not only attempt to answer that question, but do so while completing extreme challenges each week. From flying planes to sailing tall ships, one will work from the book while the other just uses pure instinct to get the job done! We talked with Marcus and Ed today in an entertaining interview about their experiences together on Owner's Manual.

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: How did the idea for Owner's Manual come about?
A. Ed: To be honest, I don't actually know where the idea came from. All I know is back in January of last year, I got a call and they said, "We're doing a show and we'd love you to host it with another guy." They told me we'd be testing out machinery and complete a challenge. We did a pilot and AMC didn't like the co-host too much so we searched and it took about 7 months before we found Ol' Sweetcheeks. The show went from testing little small pieces of machinery to throwing our guts up in airplanes and sailing tall ships!

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Have the two of you worked together previously?
A. Marcus: We did not.
A. Ed: Which is a shame...

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Are you similar people?
A. Marcus: I think, in life, we have very similar personalities and a similar work ethic. As far as the show goes, I think we're very different. Ed is more hands on and a bull in the china shop and I'm a little more OCD. I like to have my ducks in a row and do my research. I'd rather get it right the first time.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: I love the concept of people who read manuals versus those who don't. I'm always trying to figure out how something works without reading anything...
A. Ed: YES! That's one for the Englishman!
A. Marcus: He didn't say it was right.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: What type of people are you in your everyday lives?
A. Ed: Let me answer this from my side of the fence. How many people, when they get a new iPhone, read the little bloody manual? I don't know anyone who reads it! When you get a microwave, do you read the manual? No you just turn it on!
A. Marcus: But what you're missing out on, you can do a lot of things better with the manual.
A. Ed: Gina, you're gonna open up a can of worms with this!

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Okay, but there's a big difference between me setting up my new cell phone without reading a manual and you guys flying planes! Were you worried about any of these challenges?
A. Marcus: I've said this before about Ed, even though I don't like to say it. When I went into this show, I thought it would be, 10 to 1, me having all this knowledge would blow it away. Truthfully with the airplane, I read it and I knew how to do it and the mathematics behind it, but it's kinda street smarts vs. book smarts. It took a lot of street smarts just to feel it out. You have to experience it and do it. I feel like Ed is better off than I am in these challenges.
A. Ed: Can you just put on the record that Marcus gave me a compliment?

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: For the two of you, it seems like this wouldn't feel like work at all! Do you have a favorite task you were given?
A. Ed: Hang on a second... before you say that word fun... Ol' Sweetcheeks might've had fun in an airplane, but we're flying a plane! I thought the producers were joking! I passed out twice in the airplane, threw up once, and I nearly soiled my undercrackers. It was a horrific experience for me. If I could choose the most fun, it would be the brewery. I've always wanted to make beer. Marcus and I were on the floor together side by side. We weren't in two airplanes or two stunt cars. We really could wind each other up quite enjoyably. However, collecting the honey was not fun.
A. Marcus: Ed was dancing around like he got shot by a machine gun. I could swear he got stung a thousand times! He got stung once. Once! In his defense, his arms swelled up and I was very lucky. We found out very quickly who was allergic to bees and who wasn't. I would have to say the plane was my favorite but the tall ship was great. If you ever think of an epic adventure,... it was dark, rainy, it hailed, the seas were crashing, we had a crew of 10, the sail ripped, it was a movie scene!
A. Ed: My thick headed co-host chooses a challenge where I'm the captain of the boat. I'm from London, I've never captained a boat in my life! We had a crew of people doing everything we were telling them to do, even if we were wrong! We sailed into a horrific storm. It was a nightmare!

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: What do you think viewers will enjoy most about watching Owner's Manual?
A. Marcus: I would say it's a really great combination of adventure and big machines. Little kids are gonna love what we do and big kids are gonna love what we get to do. I feel like it's a bucket list for people. It's not a how to show but you get a taste of that. You also realize that people... like the guys in the quarry episode. It's 21 degrees in Oregon and we bust our ass for 2 days but that doesn't even compare to these guys every day in these crazy conditions. You realize there are superheroes out there in day to day life. People who have an office job or work from home sometimes forget there are people who bust ass.
A. Ed: A how to show could be a little boring. We're more of an adventure show. AMC is known for their drama, not reality. Our show has been filmed with amazing cameras and crews. We have some amazing shots! We hope that people can watch together... fathers and sons... ladies too... and unhinge their brains for a half hour, and watch two guys go at it and answer the question: Is it better to use an owner's manual or not?

 

Owner's Manual premieres on August 15th with back to back episodes starting at 10pm ET on AMC.

(Image courtesy of AMC)

 

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