Bobby Berk has transformed countless homes during his eight seasons on Netflix’s “Queer Eye,” but nothing quite prepared him for what he’d encounter on his new HGTV series.
In “Junk or Jackpot?”, premiering Friday at 9:30 p.m. Pacific, the celebrated interior designer ventures into the cluttered worlds of Los Angeles collectors, discovering everything from action figures worth pennies to trading cards appraised at $100,000.
His genuine shock at finding treasures hidden among mountains of memorabilia isn’t just good television—it’s a window into how our possessions can simultaneously bring joy and suffocate our relationships.
This isn’t your typical home makeover show, and that’s exactly the point.
From Netflix Freedom to HGTV Bleeps
Berk admits adjusting to HGTV’s family-friendly format took some recalibration after years on Netflix.
I’m pretty sure I said, ‘What the f—?’ though I assume it was bleeped because it’s HGTV. I’m used to Netflix, where I could say whatever I wanted. But, yeah, that was just crazy to me.
That expletive-worthy moment came when a collector casually showed him a trading card worth six figures just sitting on a bookshelf. Such discoveries punctuate episodes filled with homes overflowing with pinball machines, puppets, marionettes, and collections that have grown from hobbies into household hazards.
When John Cena Comes Calling
The show’s origin story involves an unlikely champion: professional wrestler and movie star John Cena, who created the concept and specifically requested Berk as host.
Berk had been in discussions with HGTV for years, but his Netflix exclusivity prevented him from doing design shows elsewhere. When Loren Ruch, HGTV’s head who has since passed, reached out with Cena’s personal request, timing finally aligned.
John was a big “Queer Eye” fan, so I said yes. It shot here in L.A., which was really important to me. We were really lacking for entertainment jobs here in the city so that was a big plus for me to be able to bring jobs here to L.A. to all of our amazing crews.
More Than Makeovers: Collections Crushing Relationships
What sets “Junk or Jackpot?” apart is its emotional core. Every collector faces genuine life challenges where their beloved possessions have become obstacles rather than sources of joy.
Patrick and Roger’s relationship deteriorated so severely that Roger moved out—there was literally no physical space for him among Patrick’s collections. Carly and Johnny unexpectedly welcomed a baby in their early 40s, forcing them to prioritize their son J.D. over their accumulated treasures.
Obviously, I’m not a therapist. I’m a designer, even though in our field, we often make the joke that we’re not just designers, we’re marriage counselors.
Vivian’s Wonder Woman collection grew so overwhelming that friends stopped visiting. Her best girlfriend from Vegas, who used to stay overnight regularly, finally admitted she couldn’t handle being surrounded by memorabilia anymore.
The Therapeutic Power of Letting Go
Unlike traditional renovation shows with network-funded budgets, “Junk or Jackpot?” requires collectors to fund their transformations by selling pieces from their collections. This isn’t just about money—it’s intentional therapy.
I wanted the collectors to really realize that, yes, the collection that they have has value but this other thing that is happening in their life because of this collection has value, too.
Berk carefully guides collectors through parting with duplicates and less emotionally significant items while preserving cherished childhood pieces or gifts with deep meaning. The exercise teaches prioritization skills that extend beyond the show’s filming.
His budget-conscious approach also provides practical lessons for viewers. Rather than demolishing an unwanted brick fireplace, he demonstrates how micro cement can completely transform materials at minimal cost—decisions that respect homeowners’ financial reality.
A Designer Who Knows About Starting Over
Berk’s sensitivity to life transitions stems from personal experience. Born in Houston and raised in conservative Mount Vernon, Missouri, he left home at 15 when he didn’t feel safe coming out.
From 15 to 22, I moved around and can’t even count the amount of places I had to move around to just due to finances and situations going on in life.
Never finishing high school, Berk eventually landed in New York City, working for Restoration Hardware, Bed Bath & Beyond, and Portico. He launched his first online store in 2006 and opened a physical Soho location in 2007.
Appearances on HGTV and Bravo followed before “Queer Eye” launched him to new heights in 2018, culminating in his 2023 Emmy win for structured reality programming. He also received an honorary degree from Otis College of Art and Design in 2022 and published his book “Right at Home: How Good Design is Good for the Mind” in 2023.
Exhaustion Behind the Emmy
Despite “Queer Eye’s” massive success, the grueling schedule took its toll. Using the flight tracking app Flighty, Berk recently reviewed his 2019 travel—a year when he spent five months filming and therefore stationary.
In just seven months, he flew 200 flights covering over 500,000 miles.
I don’t miss that. That was a lot. But as much as I can remember of it, I look back with fondness.
Finding Home After Traveling the World
After eight years crisscrossing America for “Queer Eye,” the 44-year-old Berk relishes staying grounded. He lives in Los Angeles with husband Dewey Do and their mini Labradoodle, Bimini, though they maintain a place in Portugal and frequently visit Southeast Asia, particularly Vietnam.
L.A. is definitely home for me. Portugal’s great, but L.A. is definitely home. Although the more time we spend in Southeast Asia, specifically Vietnam, since my husband’s originally from there, that also feels like home.
For future seasons of “Junk or Jackpot?”, Berk hopes to film at least another season or two in Los Angeles before potentially exploring other cities—though after years on the road, home has never felt more important.
His new show reaffirms what his career has proven: design isn’t just about aesthetics. Cluttered spaces drain mental health and damage relationships, while thoughtfully reclaimed environments can fundamentally transform lives.
Sometimes the most valuable thing in a room full of collectibles isn’t what’s on the shelves—it’s the space between them.