According to the show's participants «"Battle on the Beach"» , Filming this HGTV cooking competition requires a lot more effort than what's shown on television.
Contrary to rumors of cancellation, , show "Battle on the Beach"« returns with new episodes and a new cast on Monday, June 1st. Ty Pennington returns as one of the show's three mentors, along with former judge Sarah Baumler and series newcomer Mika Kleinschmidt. Tristan and Kamohai Kalama of Renovation Aloha will also debut in "Battle on the Beach"« as judges for Season 5. .
Despite the changes in the lineup, the rules remain the same. HGTV stars will mentor one design duo each as they renovate a seaside vacation home. The team that achieves the highest seasonal rental rate for their home will earn bragging rights and take home a minimum cash prize of $50,000.
While the show depicts the teams doing most of the renovation work in their homes, the mentors are much more involved than it initially appears. "We don't just walk in and say, 'Well, that was a bad idea!' Thank goodness we're at the very beginning, at the concept stage," Ty Pennington exclusively told TV Insider. "And then, you know there are a lot of rooms left to be renovated, but you haven't gotten to them yet. So you start thinking, 'We need to start thinking about that room. That's next.'".
Pennington noted that mentors help their teams with everything from "removing plumbing" to "hanging wallpaper," and that being involved in renovations is important for building trust within the team.
Mentors also help competitors cope with the emotional aspects of competition. "I think every mentor has had [emotional breakdowns]," Pennington joked. Kleinschmidt, for her part, claimed she hadn't experienced one, but acknowledged having experienced a few stressful moments.
Mentors Sarah Baumler, Ty Pennington, and Micah Kleinschmidt with their teams on the beach, as seen in Season 5 of HGTV's "Beach Battle," premiering June 1, 2026.
HGTV
«I had moments where I wanted to take out the microphone and say, „Wait a second.“ But it didn’t feel like a nervous breakdown,» she explained. «But you know why I think that? Because it was interesting how we were assigned to teams. I don’t know if it was a strategic decision, but I feel like we had to learn really quickly as mentors because there were similarities, but not exactly. I think my team was quiet, calm. I was like, „That’s not me.“ And so it was interesting how we had to take on this mentoring role and think, „Wait. What do they need from me, instead of me trying to be myself, normal, 100% bossy?“ It was challenging, I won’t lie.».
Baumler emphasized that each team was «very experienced» and «respected» in the design and home renovation world, which added extra pressure. «I think it’s natural for us to just want to say, „This is what you should do, this is what I see, and you’re wrong,“» she told TV Insider. «But instead, we have to say, „Okay. Take a moment. Listen. Bite your tongue. Hear what they want to do.“ And I’m there to support, to guide, and, at times, I’ve probably learned a little more by saying, „I disagree. Here’s why I disagree. But how do we come up with something that’s consistent with what they’re trying to create?“»
Baumler continued, "Ultimately, there's a lot of money at stake, and they're trying to win it for themselves. And I want to make sure we support them, but that it's driven by their own goals and passion.".
Pennington previously told TV Insider that he turned to his mother for advice while working with the Season 5 team—mother-daughter duo Michelle Mueller and Sydney Lawrence. Mika said that her husband and co-star «100 Day Dream Home» , Brian Kleinschmidt, supported her during filming.
«"Being away from him and going back and forth to South Carolina is one thing, but yeah, he was definitely supportive," she enthused. "And he and my daughter [Jade] came down for the weekend, so they got to look at the houses a little bit before they were finished, which was really cool.".
Meanwhile, Baumler sought advice from his former mentors, Tanya Nayak and Alison Victoria, before filming began. "I think their words really resonated: we get out of this what we put into it... These teammates become part of your extended family. You learn about their families, their children, or other family members. You can't help but be invested in this project and your relationships with them when you're spending 12-14 hours a day together, and you start to feel very invested in it and in your relationships with them.".
Expressing gratitude to her fellow mentors, Baumler added, "I really embraced the mentoring role, and honestly, I really enjoyed it. And I really enjoyed working with Mika and Ty. They made it easy for me, even on those days when I was at my wits' end. So, I'm really grateful for that.".
«"Battle on the Beach"» , Season 5 Premiere, Monday, June 1, 9:00 PM/8:00 PM ET, HGTV.
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