Fox Business News recently ran a video featuring Tumbleweed’s Jay Shafer and his tiny Popomo house which was parked in the middle of Manhattan. The 172 square foot Popomo was on its way to the East Coast of the U.S. and Jay was interviewed about it and his other tiny designs.
This video shows some nice interior views of the Popomo’s “great room”, bedroom and kitchen (with or without the antics of the reporters). Fox Business News focused on the Popomo being an alternative living option during the housing crisis.
By Christina Nellemann for the [Tiny House Blog]
She’s very judgmental, and I feel that’s not appropriate for a reporter. This is a news report, not an editorial. Talking over Jay when he listed reasons why people want one is also just rude.
As for the tv issue, people can either get a smaller tv or a small projector if they absolutely must have one.
Other than that, I liked the simplicity of Jay’s design. The narrow shower was a neat approach.
Fox News has nothing to offer but editorial content. An informed populous is contrary to the needs of Rupert Murdoch and his ilk.
Mr Shafer stayed on point despite their mocking tone and flip attitude. Good for him.
They basically made a joke of it, not taking the potential seriously. That’s ok. We know there’s a better future here that folks are missing.
Ah, with all the myriad of things to cover on the news…. they chose this… no matter how they act… it is a tremendous thing that this even made it on the tv. Now, I do think it’s a bit ironic though that it seems most small house people aren’t into watching tv…
The interview wasn’t the best, but I was happy enough to see the inside of the Popomo, which looks really nice.
God….I could barely watch that. What a horrible woman But, glad to finally see that model in the real world. Even if it was on Fox!
When that quip about her “50-inch flat screen” came out of the reporter’s mouth I’d bet a lot of people who’ve never heard of tiny houses thought “yeah, wow, no way I’ll fit my TV in there”. Meanwhile, all the folks who follow the movement were thinking either “what do you need a 50-inch TV for?” or even “why do you need a TV?”
The way she kept saying “you’d better downsize” kind of disgusted me: are we really to the point as a culture that we’re more worried about where to put our stuff, rather than our quality of life?
Good on Jay for putting up with her though, and for getting the Popomo on TV.
Yes he was very polite in the face of rude behavior.
size is relative. if you’re closer, you don’t NEED a big screen. i watch tv/movies on my 24″ monitor and it seems huge when i’m 2 feet away! 🙂
Jay, you did good.
I enjoyed the tour and was pleased to see some more interior shots of the Popomo.
I agree with other posters about the reporter. She came across as clueless and condescending. May she live happily ever after with her many pairs of shoes and flat screens.
It’s called Faux News for a reason. 🙂 Good Job Jay being a gracious gentleman and fine ambassador for our American dream.
i think you guys are way too sensitive; i thought the interview was respectful and i didn’t hear her talk over jay at all, don’t know what you all are talking about. yeah she cracked a slight joke… big deal… she said forget the skis and the tv – that is totally accurate, you need to downsize things to live in that. why would you be offended at that? she let him explain his business quite thoroughly and gave him ample time to answer all the questions.
Actually, I would not have to forget about a large flat TV. There is plenty of wall to mount one on, or better yet, flushed in the wall. It takes up zero floor space. I could also mount one on a rotating base so that I could see if from the living room or the bedroom. The reporter interjected her personal ill-informed opinions which only made her seem ignorant to me. I am glad that Jay finally owned up on film that he does not live in the Tiny house any longer.
Soulless ginger needs to wear Spanx.
Very rude and dismissive interviewer.
I didn’t think she was so bad other than she looked totally out of place. She was a bit obnoxious in the beginning and overall she came off as a typical snob. It really would’ve been nicer to have a reporter that fit the whole tiny house idea better, one that is more down to earth and conscious. Jay was great!
If she were anymore rude, condescending and arrogant she would cave in on herself. That woman should be careful. With the way things are going in this world right now and people – NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE – getting fired, she’s not exempt from being on that boat and eventually needing one of these super cute and tiny homes when she can’t afford what ever she lives in now!!!
You get what you give!!!
She completely embodies all that is wrong with the world right now. Shame on her and stupid Fox. Fox news is such GARBAGE now!!! They represent a soulless and empty-headed group of heathens. She’s a prime example.
Fox does not deserve Jay!!! He is brilliant!!!
Let’s see some of those dead-heads at Fox build something. How about the rude woman that covered this story. What can you make, other than people despise you?
My goodness she was offensive! I couldn’t even watch the whole thing. I am glad to see Jay and his company getting some press though. Go Jay Go! You were a really good sport!
It would have been better for her to relate the tiny spaces that many single people occupy in New York, which are very often SMALLER than this tiny house. Some of these tiny houses would be a step up from some New York City living, so it’s all relative. People forget how many of us live in rentals and the tiny house is a step-up for many of us who want our own homes. It’s not all about people “downsizing” some of us want to just continue to live simply and have our own space. With the need to move where the jobs are these days, it’s nice to have a portable space as well.
Thanks again for all your work in getting these options and ideas out into the world!
But they don’t relate at all. I’m pretty sure the people living in NYC in apartments smaller than Jay’s homes couldn’t buy a Popomo and park it on the city curb. Apples and oranges.
As far as the reporter goes, she obviously knows nothing of the movement (most don’t). Trashing her “shocked” attitude makes the people here appear just as rude and unforgiving. We were all lost once before we were found.
Agreed
It’s already been said. Fox News is just editorial.
Do I think she could have handled the idea and the interview better? Absolutely! But I’m currently dealing with the same attitude from family in real life. They say these things because they don’t understand. Don’t hate her for not “getting it.”
Nice job Jay. Way to stay on track and not let the obvious condescension of the reporter to take away from spreading the word of a Greener lifestyle.
If FOX news is journalism, then I’m Della Reese.
Love Jay…despise FAUX news. Precisely what I would expect from the Murdoch puppets.
Love Jay….despise FAUX news. Precisely what I would expect from shallow Murdoch puppets.
I hate the news, this reminded me too much of ‘Good Morning America’. I guess when you make seven fugues a year you turn into that reporter because almost every person on the news seems to be like her.
OMG What a witch! I had the hardest time watching it and My heart went out to Jay as he took this yaks abuse! She boarder line made fun of him and his Green living homes the whole way didnt she?! As for Mike comin to her defense in the comments..seriously..you got no chance its ok to tell her what yoou really think =) Hope her 50″breaks! Karma when she finds out her husband cheatings with the maid and her kids wish the Nanny was mom! I wonder if she’ll take that so laughable!?
I think the word you’re looking for there is “borderline.”
Yes I agree.
She ought to abandon that flat screen and take up cycling instead. Not an ounce of muscle on that doughy body. And she has the nerve to be condescending to others.
Typical reporter with a one-sided view. Jay did a great job. Very professional.
It seems funny since some apartments in Manhattan are even smaller than that. Ah well. We did get a good view of the inside. I was curious about the shower size and now I know. And The kitchen looks pretty good. All that glass in the great room really opens up the space visually.
I think Al Sharpton would of given a better interview than this guy.
Does it come in other colours, than rust?
The bitter sweet sound of a 1 Term President.
Hey, there’s no such thing as bad publicity, right? I don’t have a problem with the reporter taking a humorous view of the thing; she presented the info to people, and people will remember it, maybe even partly because of the humorous take. I actually got a kick out of cabbies driving by in the middle of Manhattan. A lot of viewers will find Jay’s website, and some of them will explore further. no down side here.
Yes, I agree, but still it is not nice to say. She pretty much laughed at the concept of people living this way and denigrated every aspect of the home, but using the b word unnecessary. I would like to say that Liz Claman has been criticized by some for wearing low cut outfits and being overall unprofessional but others think she is top-notch. I tend to go with the former but everyone is entitled to think what they want. Not use the b word though.
Simple, spacious, bright – what a wonderful little home.
He handled that commentary very well.
Interesting that no one is willing to criticize Jay for choosing to go on Fox News in the first place. The reason we get Fox News and the garbage it perpetrates is that people can’t resist going on if asked. Jay’s ego got the better of him here. He should have known how he and his product would be treated, and said no, thanks. To the average viewer who knows nothing about tiny houses and their underlying principle of simplicity in living, he looked like a fool, a tree-hugging hippie, or a madman. As a consequence, most people in these comments rush to Jay’s defense (because they are really defending themselves in a way) and feel perfectly safe and justified to treat Ms. Claman in these comments as rudely as she did Jay by calling her names, demeaning her physicality, and treating her as less than human. Too bad, because these comments provide ammunition to those who believe that liberal/progressive thinkers have a holier-than-thou attitude about their principles.
Wow… sorry i’m late to the party. Wow, sorry about that Jay. I have several of these plans and sure enough there are a few of them out there. Everybody loves them, of course, the report would not be one of them. Probably needs a 1000sqft to support hair.
The ceiling height, stove size and “so-called greatroom” may not suit her, but Jay really was marvelous and I’m very pleased to see more of the inside. I’m hoping to build a popomo for college and beyond- she may just be invited to the housewarming party. She’ll have to bring her own TV though.
a little rude, red.
Yep! I just happened upon this report when it aired live and because it was about Jay, I decided to stay on channel(even though it was Fox faux News which I loathe) to see how they treated him. And was it painful…. She was a completely rude and just idiotic.
Jay… my hat’s off to you!!!! By remaining your composure you exhibited the character that Fox news can’t even begin to grasp and you expertly exposed them for the morons they continue to be. I felt like you must have been led into a trap where they told you they were “interested ” and maybe “fascinated” by your creation when in fact they just wanted to get you on national TV to try and slaughter you for thinking intelligently, creatively and busting the very chains of an economic idea that they represent that enslaves people.
You have been giving people access to true freedom and the pursuit of happiness that embraces more of the real American Spirit than what those goons (and those they represent) will ever grasp or want others to…….Fox represents “the lie” that “glams” the general, Lemming population of the U.S.
She was a perfect and glaring example of the conservative idiot savants Fox loves….. Weel done Fox News for continuing to be the Non-News gross (Un) entertainment that you are….She was only made more unattractive by her rude behavior, her tacky clothes and her “bully” tactics. What a completely disgusting piece of crap she is….
Bravo Jay!!! You held your own, Sir.