PASADENA, Calif. — Crossing the Atlantic to do a bit of gardening might seem a bit extreme, but then extreme gardening isn't exactly something new for the folks at the BBC's "Ground Force." These are people, after all, who produce a show whose object is to make over someone's garden (as a surprise) in just two days.
Which, according to one of the program's stars/presenters/garden experts, isn't exactly the best way to do it.
"I wouldn't suggest you do a garden in two or three days," said Charlie Dimmock. "It's a silly idea."
But it does make for some interesting television. "Ground Force," which airs throughout the week on BBC America, is the sort of show that quickly becomes addictive.
"The wonderful thing about the format is that anything that goes wrong becomes part of the story. So you can't fail," said executive producer Carol Haslam. "If this is a disaster, that's what you see. . . . There are so many things that can go wrong that you never know what's going to happen in any program."
We do, however, know that "Ground Force: New York" (Tuesday, 6 p.m., BBC America) brings Dimmock, Alan Titchmarsh and Tommy Walsh — the bickering (with love) stars of the show — to Manhattan for one of their more ambitious projects: transforming a derelict lot in the East Village into an "oasis" for the community.
Doing an episode in New York had been under consideration before Sept. 11, but became a priority after the terrorist attacks. " But we wanted to do a community garden, not a private garden, for obvious reasons," Haslam said. She was hooked up with Bette Midler's foundation, the New York Restoration Project, which suggested the site and pitched in to help.
(Look for an appearance by Midler herself.)
As always, putting it together is a deadline-stressed struggle, but our heroes come through. And they did it made-to-order for the community.
"They wanted areas for single mums and young children where they can roll around on the grass," Dimmock said. "Hence, the big mound of lawn rather than it being flat, which was what we originally thought. But for the children, if you're sort of 2 or 3, there's nothing nicer than rolling down a mound of grass. Or if you're 34 or 35 as well."
"Ground Force" ranks as one of the most-watched "reality" shows in the UK. Along with "Changing Rooms," which inspired the American imitation "Trading Spaces," these shows are almost a mania for the Brits.
"They are prime-time shows. And the reason they work in prime time is that they are deeply emotional journeys," said Paul Lee, COO of BBC America. "I mean, you want to find out what happens. And it uplifts you in the way the best comedies might uplift you."
"I think it's partly because it's about everyday life," Haslam said. "And I think what makes the particular style of these programs attractive is because they are funny and amusing and inspirational very often. Thousands of people write to us and say, 'We've copied your ideas. We've really made our own little patch of garden into something special because you've given us the confidence and the inspiration to do it.'
"So it's a combination of entertaining people, inspiring them and giving them some information as well."
Haslam said at least one more trip to the states is under consideration. "And the main reason we'd like to do some, particularly in the Southern states, is because there's a good chance it might not rain. And in every other 'Ground Force,' it always rains."
Well, not every other episode. But, certainly, a lot of them.
But that only adds to the challenge, and the charm, of "Ground Force."
E-MAIL: pierce@desnews.com