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  • Network: PBS
  • Series Premiere Date: May 1, 2006
  • Season #: 1
Texas Ranch House Image
  • Summary: The latest in PBS' series of reality shows about everyday life in different time periods, 'Texas Ranch House' transports a variety of non-actors (including a family of five) to a re-creation of a 1867 Texas cattle ranch, where they must live for three months without modern-day comforts.
  • Genre(s): Reality, News/Documentary
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 9
  2. Negative: 2 out of 9
  1. "Ranch House" is engaging, droll commentary on the American dream and how we became the nation we are today.
  2. 50
    I kept wishing for a rose ceremony to perk things up. [8 May 2006, p.39]
  3. 30
    A plodding series that really just proves life was unrelentingly hard and pretty monotonous in the not-so-wild West.

See all 9 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 23 out of 39
  2. Negative: 7 out of 39
  1. GerriA
    10
    Someday we will want to send colonies to Mars, etc. I imagine someone will try to find colonists as they did for this show. "We need an administrator, a cook, etc." TRH shows just how far wrong we can go! A cook who is expert at fine cuisine can't handle atrocious working conditions. A boss who's used to constant applicants for jobs doesn't know how to motivate and keep workers. Fascinating to see it work out in real life! Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  2. kenth
    5
    I agree with most others, and the historiacl assessment by the experts. Mrs. Cooke was the worst problem followed by Mr. Cooke. Other than not respecting the women (chivalry), the ranch hands were goodl. Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  3. joellineo
    3
    The review of 3 is for Mr. and MRs. Cooke, Moira, the first cook, the first head cowboy. I'd give a 9 or 10 to the regular cowboys! Mr. Cooke is an idiot-wimp, Mrs Cooke is a "rhymes with witch," Moira is pathetic in her 21st century feminism. These 5 people were are the result of exceptionally poor casting by the producers and directors of the show. If, as they also did in Colonial House, they can't find people who will absolutely agree to leave behind their 21st century sensibiliites and politcal correctness, and sign a contract to that effect, they should not even be considered for inclusion in the show. There also should be intelligence tests administered to these people! What person of even average intention would leave out rotting food for 8 days in 100+ degree temperatures? What "cowboys" would refuse to have a night watch and then spend 3-4 hours every a.m. re-rounding up the cattle who strayed during the night? Etc. Etc. I think I'll stick to the British re-inactments in the future. They have, certainly, some of these flaws, but many, many fewer people who seem just to want to be on TV!. Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes

See all 39 User Reviews