Matthew Finlason Matthew Finlason (born March 29, 1975 in Mandeville, Jamaica) is a designer, art director, and producer of film and television projects. He is the host of HGTV's television series The Stagers. Career Finlason worked as a landscape designer while pursuing his Bachelor of Arts from York University in Canada. Upon graduation from York University in June 1999 he worked as a performer on-camera appearing in minor roles on television and film while also learning the ins-and-outs of building, construction and property development in his family's business developing real estate. Job-schooled through designing, staging, and flipping properties with his family in Toronto, Vancouver, Jamaica and The Cayman Islands he discovered a talent for designing and renovating homes. He later transitioned to working behind the camera developing his expertise in art departments as an assistant and then as a set decorator, art director and production designer in film and television. His experience working in film and television industry combined with his knowledge and expertise building and selling real estate landed him a job with Dekora, Canada's leading home staging company. He discovered the position through a post on craigslist hiring for a 'Stager.' Finlason was soon approached by Paperny Films, which was looking to cast and feature dynamic stagers on an HGTV production called "The Stagers." It was his brand of humor, his unique approach to home-staging and his early experience in front of the camera that landed him the starring role that launched his hosting career. He quickly became a household name with the first season of "The Stagers," and received repeated critical acclaim from mainstream media over the ensuing three years and has been referenced as a home staging design and real estate expert in the New York Times and major Canadian publications. He has featured on entertainment talk circuit shows such as Entertainment Tonight Canada, Urban Rush and Breakfast Television. Finlason was also featured on the Scripps Networks’ "HGTV Showdown", a televised race-against-the-clock design competition, where he was paired to compete side-by-side with Olympic gold medalist and celebrity amateur designer Kristy Yamaguchi. Finlason has worked with and designed sets for Canadian inspirations Scott Smith and Gregory Middleton on Capturing George, a short film commemorating George F. Walker’s Governor General's Awards; and Cameron Labine's feature film Control ALT Delete, produced by Stephanie Symns and Lynne Stopkewich. Television The Stagers The Stagers is a half-hour reality television show about home staging that airs on HGTV in the U.S. and Canada. It is produced by Paperny Films and stars Matthew Finlason, Bridget Savereux, and Maureen Powers. The Stagers’, creatively produced by Keith Behrman, received four Leo Awards with Finlason being named Best Host in a Lifestyle Series. HGTV Showdown HGTV Showdown is a half hour reality television show that pairs up HGTV's hottest designers and carpenters of the season and pits them against each other in various design challenges. In each episode of HGTV Showdown, two design teams battle side-by-side on stage as they make over the same room for a couple whose decorating styles differ. Starting with staged replicas of the couple's lackluster room, the design teams are provided with everything they need to complete their transformation and are given four hours to complete the makeover. Finlason was featured along with his design teammate, Olympic gold medalist, Kristi Yamaguchi for an episode titled Bonus Room Blitz. Awards and mentions "Best Host" in a "Lifestyle Series" - The Stagers - The Fox and the Hound (2009) References Metro News HGTV Showdown https://web.archive.org/web/20100619124926/http://www.hgtv.com/decorating/hgtv-showdown-bonus-room-blitz/pictures/index.html New York Times Article Following a Stager’s Advice to Sell Your Home - The New York Times Leo