Shine Bright: Winning on ABC’s Christmas Light Television Show
The thrill of dazzling displays, friendly competition, and the chance to win a substantial prize—that’s the magic of ABC’s “The Great Christmas Light Fight.” This Christmas Light Television Show pits families against each other in a festive battle of creativity and illumination. This article shares a firsthand account of victory, offering insights into the application process, filming experience, and the impact of winning.
From Application to Airing: The Journey to Victory
The journey began with a simple online application and a short audition video. After a period of anticipation, the Paradowski family, creators of the “Christmas in the Grove” display, received the exciting news of their selection. Initially, the show planned for 16 families competing for a single grand prize. However, the format evolved into five episodes, each featuring four families vying for a $50,000 prize.
Tony Paradowski’s award-winning Christmas light display.
The production process involved extensive paperwork, background checks, and a pre-filming conference call to outline the rules. No outdoor decorations were allowed in place before filming, but families could stage materials in garages and behind fences. The initial filming schedule, with a potential start date in early October, surprised the Paradowskis, who typically began decorating later in the season.
Lights, Camera, Christmas! The Filming Experience
A six-person crew arrived with a plethora of equipment, transforming the Paradowski home into a temporary television studio. The first two days focused on interviews and establishing shots of the house and yard. The crew’s professionalism quickly eased the family’s initial nervousness, making the filming process enjoyable.
A simulated phone call from the show’s host (a role that was ultimately eliminated from the final broadcast) signaled the start of the 21-day decorating period. The crew captured every aspect of the process, from triumphs to challenges, even documenting mishaps with the bucket lift. Time-lapse cameras recorded the display’s progress, and the family provided additional footage using a camera provided by the production team. The Paradowskis relied on the help of friends and family, as hired help was not permitted.
Reveal Day and Beyond: Winning the Christmas Light Fight
On Day 19, the crew returned for two more days of filming, culminating in a test run of the display’s four musical sequences. Reveal Day, Day 21, involved a larger crew, road closures, and a crowd of invited guests and neighbors. Multiple takes were filmed of everything, from crowd reactions to interactions with judge Sabrina Soto. After the initial run-through, a second performance was filmed without sound to record commentary. The filming concluded with a display tour and final interviews.
The reveal of the winner was filmed eight days later, adding to the suspense. The Paradowskis described the entire experience as amazing, praising the professionalism and respect of the Fremantle and ABC teams. They emphasized the positive impact of the show, beyond the prize money, highlighting the new friendships and the joy of sharing their Christmas spirit. The increased traffic after the show aired prompted them to implement a traffic management plan with their homeowner’s association.
The Paradowski family’s story illuminates the behind-the-scenes reality of participating in a Christmas light television show. It’s a testament to the power of creativity, community, and the enduring magic of Christmas lights.
