A pair of University of Wisconsin Oshkosh alumni say they are “excited and nervous” to see themselves featured next week in an episode of a popular HGTV show.
Josh and Alli (Kerwin) Hughes, who reside in Waukesha, purchased their first home in September 2018, as part of the filming for the show House Hunters. The episode featuring the Hughes airs at 9:30 p.m. Monday, March 18.
“While it was fun and equally stressful, it was worth it,” Josh Hughes said. “I would definitely say it’s not for everyone and you have to be dedicated to working with the team capturing the show.”
The current promo for the show only states the hunt for their first home “puts their new marriage to its first big test, as he wants vintage charm and she wants a big, open-concept home.”
A UWO radio TV film major (RTF) who graduated in 2011, Josh said he knew several RTF alumni that worked for Pie Town Productions—the company that produces House Hunters. He was browsing their website last year and found the submission form to apply to be on the show. He heard from someone a few weeks later, and the couple was asked to fill out a questionnaire and then do a Skype interview. A few days later, they were told they would be getting their own episode.
“We filmed for five 12-hour days in September of 2018,” Josh recalled. “I would say my RTF background helped. I worked as a photojournalist for NBC 26 in Green Bay for a few years and was researching, shooting, writing, editing and fronting my own packages three to four days a week.”
Josh said he was comfortable on camera and had previous experience with live and reality TV production. His background also helped with understanding the lingo on set and the process of filming the show.
“Alli didn’t have as much exposure to this, but I’d say my experience helped her act as natural as possible,” he said.
Alli graduated from UWO with a marketing degree and journalism minor in 2014. She works as a marketing supervisor for Derse, a face-to-face marketing company that works trade shows and exhibits for very large companies worldwide.
Josh works as a marketing producer for Dental Associates, producing video and photo content for the company that has 14 dental clinics in Wisconsin and more than 900 employees.
The couple didn’t cross paths on the UW Oshkosh campus, but met in downtown Oshkosh.
“My buddies and I were filming the Oshkosh Main Street Music Festival at Peabody’s on Main Street,” Josh said. “I saw Alli outside Peabody’s and ran up to hug her because to this day I’ll tell you I knew who she was. I put her down and realized I had no idea who this person was. I guess I just assumed I knew her because she was with people I knew. She bought me a beer and the rest is history. I don’t know if you believe in love at first sight, destiny or God’s plan but there was some magic workin’ that night”
Watch a teaser
The House Hunters production company, Pie Town Productions, posts photos to their Facebook page the day of teasing the episode.
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