One of the hottest shows on television, TLC's "Trading Spaces," is produced by Philadelphia's Banyan Productions, which is run by former "Evening Magazine" host Ray Murray.

By LAURA NACHMAN
Courier Times

One of the hottest shows on television, TLC's "Trading Spaces," is produced by Philadelphia's Banyan Productions, which is run by former "Evening Magazine" host Ray Murray.

The show, where two neighbors makeover a room in each other's homes with a $1,000 budget, has been featured in "TV Guide," "Entertainment Weekly," "Time" and "The Today Show." The "Trading Spaces" Memorial Day marathon, capped off with a celebrity edition with Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks, had the highest ratings in TLC history.

According to Murray, the success of the show has opened some doors for his company, which previously to this show was known for "A Dating Story," "A Wedding Story" and "A Makeover Story."

He said, "We have talked to every network, and are in serious negotiations to do something with a cable network such as E!".

Banyan, with over 100 employees here, recently opened an office in Los Angeles. TLC gave Banyan a new 65-episode order for the show, which airs weekdays at 4 p.m.

Murray, who co-hosted KYW's "Evening Magazine" from 1979-1992, founded Banyan Productions with husband and wife team Jan Dickler and Susan Cohen Dickler shortly after "Evening Magazine" was canceled.

Since then, Banyan has been producing shows for TLC, The Discovery Channel and HGTV, but according to Murray, "Trading Spaces" has created the most "buzz." With business booming and no "Evening Magazine" dancers to worry about, it doesn't look like Murray would want to be "trading spaces" with anybody right now.

MORE SPACE TRADING

Speaking of spaces, former WCAU reporter/anchor Don Lemon will have hiss Center City home on display in "Homes of Philadelphia" on HGTV Wednesday at 10 p.m. Lemon left the station to join the NBC New York affiliate where he'll begin July 15.

On the other end of the scale, WPHL tackles the problems of residential toxic mold in "Home Sick Home" July 29 at 6 p.m. The special includes a story about Bucks County's Chris Clinton, who has become a national grassroots leader on the issue.

Dave Huddleston joins Dawn Stensland as weekday news anchor for "The Ten O'clock News" on WTXF Monday.

Reach Laura Nachman at [email protected].

June 20, 2002