There have been plenty of party planning shows on television, but none have taught viewers as much as "Super Saver Showdown" will. On every episode of the new OWN series, two saving experts will each team up with a family to help plan a perfect party. The Super Savers are obsessed with getting great deals, their partners just want to make sure that their special event is perfect for the momentous occasion in their lives.
Contestants compete in two challenges each week on 'Super Saver Showdown'
Each episode starts with a Grocery Store Challenge in which the Super Savers meet their families, learn their soirees' themes and pick up the perishable items. With just $100, 20 minutes, their arsenal of coupons, and a little advice from a member of the clan -- the contestants are off and running, or as host Kristan Cunningham says, "Ready, set, save."
The winner of the Grocery Challenge gets free groceries for a week. But the stakes are upped significantly for the final showdown -- armed with another $100, the competitors and their Super Savers have just 48 hours to plan the perfect event. The contestant who throws the best party takes home a $10,000 prize.
'Super Saver Showdown' focuses on 'attainable, achievable ideas'
In a recent exclusive interview Cunningham remarked, "The thing that's most important about the show is that these are real people, throwing real parties with real attainable, achievable ideas and product. They're doing everything from borrowing bleachers from the local church, calling in local favors from independent businesses to borrow goods. It's very much a beg, borrow, steal situation."
The results are gatherings that will make anyone feel like they, too, can be the ultimate budget-minded host. As Cunningham noted, "The idea is that when you're creative about the resources that you have available to you, the scale of the event that people can throw when they get a little bit creative is really inspiring."
Kristan Cunningham picks the best party on 'Super Saver Showdown'
When the confetti settles, the pressure is on Cunningham, who is the show's sole judge. She must choose the winner based on a determination she described as "who created the best experience for these families, not just who threw the prettiest party."
To make that decision she said she weighs a number of key factors, "How was the food? How was the overall decor? Did they achieve what they took on? Did they actually execute all that they attempted? And, finally, did the party feel good? Was it the experience that this family was hoping for? Because at the end of the day, a theme and good food is only half the battle. These were occasions that were meant to celebrate such important moments in these families' lives, and that to me was the most important part."
Cunningham acknowledged that it's not always the fanciest party that takes the prize. "There was one episode in particular, where one of my Super Savers was hands down the better DIY-er. It was a prettier, more tasteful party. But we had two families, each party was thrown for little girls, and one was just a better experience. It was a more memorable moment that it was thrown for, and that wound up being the thing that outweighed everything else. "
See if you can guess which party will take the top prize when "Super Saver Showdown" airs each week starting with the premiere on Friday, August 3 at 9 p.m. PST/8 p.m. CST on OWN.
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