HGTV's 'Fixer to Fabulous.' which is produced in Knoxville, nominated for Daytime Emmy Award

The HGTV show "Fixer to Fabulous" features home renovations in Bentonville, Arkansas. But behind the scenes, the show's production is rooted in Knoxville, courtesy of RIVR Media.

"Fixer to Fabulous" has been nominated for an Emmy Award, making it the second series produced by Knoxville-based RIVR Media to earn a nomination.

The show, which appears on HGTV, follows Jenny and Dave Marrs as they renovate houses around their hometown of Bentonville. While it's filmed in the next state over, production is handled entirely by the Knoxville company, which partners with Warner Bros. Discovery.

Discovery - which has its own Knoxville presence - owns and oversees HGTV.

The "Fixer to Fabulous" pilot episode began filming in 2017, executive producer Stephanie Ellis said, and the show is now in its sixth season. The recent nomination is for the Emmys' "Instructional/How-To Program" category.

What makes 'Fixer to Fabulous' on HGTV stand out?

The Daytime Emmy Awards recognizes excellence in television programming and highlights achievements in categories like daytime dramas, talk shows, culinary shows and instructional programming, according to its website.

"Fixer to Fabulous" is a home-renovation series, but the Marrses' willingness to share other parts of their lives makes it more than that.

"There’s so much to love about this show. It's a feel-good, family show," Ellis said. "Our talents, who are the lead contractor and designer, are an amazing couple. They're kind, they’ve welcomed us into their home. … They’re like family to us now."

In addition to the home renovation process, the show also highlights the Marrses' five children, as well as their bed and breakfast, mercantile and berry farm.

"They can truly do anything, and it amazes me every day," Ellis said.

The Marrses renovate between four and nine homes at a time, Ellis said. Depending on the age and size of the home, a renovation is typically completed in eight to 14 weeks.

"Fixer to Fabulous" has grown such a following that when the Marrses ask families on the show what they're looking for, some simply reply with phrases like "Jenny Kitchen." That means their ideal aesthetic is just that: a room designed by Jenny Marrs.

"It's brought all of us together," Ellis said about the company's relationship with the Marrses. "But then we also, through these renovations, get to bring families together that are watching the show, and then the families that are getting these renovations. It's incredible to get to see the difference that it makes in their lives."

RIVR Media CEO Lori Stryer said many people have contributed to the show, from those in their Knoxville office to the people of Bentonville, Arkansas.

"It truly does take a team and a village to put these shows together, and everybody in this company touches this show in one way or another," Stryer said. "It definitely takes a lot of people to create a successful, ongoing, six-season show – with Stephanie at the helm."

When are this year's Daytime Emmy Awards?

The award in the "Instructional/How-To Program" category will be presented at the Daytime Creative Arts and Lifestyle Emmy ceremony, which will be streamed live at 9 p.m. June 8 via watch.TheEmmys.tv.

A separate ceremony for awards in other Daytime Emmys categories will be available to watch live at 8 p.m. June 7 on CBS.

Hayden Dunbar is the storyteller reporter. Email hayden.dunbar@knoxnews.com.

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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: HGTV show 'Fixer to Fabulous' nominated for Emmy