7 Reasons To Get Excited About The Return Of Flipping Out

While I don't begrudge anyone their Real Housewives, Bravo's programming has generally failed to hook me, with one exception: shows about rich people decorating their houses. And since 9 By Design is gone and apparently never coming back, that leaves me with Flipping Out, which returns tonight for its ninth (!) season. Don't worry: Jeff is still crazy. Here are seven other reasons for you to be optimistic about what's to come.

1. The Flipping Porn

   Flipping Out has always featured stunning reveals of homes made over with Jeff Lewis's meticulous style. This season, we get to see what he does with a home he plans to live in, himself, for the long haul.

   

   And it's starting out pretty well!

2. The Flipping Process

   ...but it's still a work in progress. So in addition to seeing what Jeff and Co. do for clients, we'll get to see how he handles living through his own remodel -- something that's difficult for the average person; for someone as famously persnickety as Jeff, it's likely to be torture. (Whee!)

3. There's A New Guy

   Jeff Lewis Designs has a new employee!

   

   This is Matt, the company's newest project manager. According to Jeff, he is "all business." How will working in this lunatic asylum change him? I can't wait to find out.

4. Gage

   I'm so happy Jeff is still with Gage, because I love him.

   

   I especially love his repertoire of piss faces, and am grateful that the show gives him so many reasons to bust them out.

5. Zoila

   Since Gage is my guy, I -- like him -- am often annoyed by Zoila.

   

   But give her this: she knows she's got the cushiest situation any housekeeper ever had, and if she can afford Chanel, she's going to wear it even in her uniform scrubs.

6. Baby Stuff

   Jeff and Gage are closer than ever to their dream of having a baby (their surrogate gets implanted with an embryo in the week's second episode), but Jeff's work on the home of a friend who's about to have twins reveals how utterly ignorant he is about childproofing. What else isn't he ready for? Probably lots that's going to make living in a remodel seem stable and calm by comparison. Watching Jeff having to compromise on his own high personal standards -- something he's historically been unable to do -- is going to be amazing.

7. A Lawsuit!!!

   As you may have read, Jeff is no longer the Creative Director of furniture retailer Living Spaces, having been fired from the position last year. And he is VERY WILLING TO TALK ABOUT IT ON CAMERA. In the premiere alone, we see him discuss the matter in a TH with Jenni, and even sit in on a meeting he, Jenni, and Gage have with their lawyer. Other reality TV stars might, in the ninth season of their shows, have learned decorous silence on controversial matters. That Jeff hasn't is one of the reasons Flipping Out is still so much fun to watch.

Flipping Out premieres on Bravo Wednesday, July 13, at 10 PM ET; starting July 14, the show moves to its regular time slot: Thursdays at 9 PM ET.