TV Review: Is 'Extreme Makeover: Home Edition' too extreme?

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Sunday evening, after watching the "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" team blow up a house with a radon issue, I began thinking about the whole concept of the show.

When the series began in 2003, I thought the idea was to give houses a makeover. But as I would learn, it's really about annihilating the old house, as violently as possible it seems, and then putting up something completely new.

No matter what the problem — mold, radon, lead paint — the solution is the same: raze the house.

I can't help but be happy for the folks who got a new home, but I wonder if the show gives the wrong message to the rest of us. What if we have mold, radon or lead paint? Should we dissolve in tears in front of a video camera in hopes the "EM: HE" people will save us?

Or should we find a way to fix what's wrong, to prevent radon from getting into the house, to solve the moisture and ventilation problems causing mold? I believe so.

Members of the National Paint & Coatings Assn. had similar thoughts recently. In reaction to a May 4 show that focused on the dangers of lead paint, the association president, J. Andrew Doyle, wrote a letter to the show that said, in part:

"The misconceptions conveyed during the show were so glaring that they surely warrant a broadcast and web site correction prior to airing your next episode, so as to avert putting millions of viewers at risk.

"First, the show gave the impression that any home containing lead paint would require total removal of lead paint from all surfaces before the home could be safe. This absolutely is not true in the majority of cases. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) acknowledges that intact lead-based paint is not a hazard, when preventive maintenance such as paint stabilization or repainting is properly done. In such cases, lead cannot 'seep through 20 layers of paint' as show host Ty Pennington claimed!"

Plus, the show's team made a big deal of scooping up several feet of soil, which, according to Doyle, is not a typically required precaution.

I contacted "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" to get a reaction to this letter, but did not get a reply. The whole issue got pushed to the back of my mind until Sunday, when I saw the house with radon gas being blown up (the show was a repeat).

So I'm wondering: Is "Extreme Makeover" too extreme? Would it not be in our best interest to understand some of the alternatives to a tear-down? Wouldn't it be responsible for this show to at least mention some alternatives?

With the economy and home prices still in the toilet, most of us are not moving anytime soon. I'd like to think we can fix the things that are wrong with our homes to make them safer.

Because here's the big news: No matter what the problem with your home, chances are that the "Extreme Makeover" team is not coming to the rescue.

What do you think? Is the show too extreme? Or does it get a pass because it's "just" entertainment?

(Photo: Turbo Squid)

Comments

[Stephanie]

It's far too extreme, in so many ways. When did "makeover" and "obliteration" become synonymous?

Am I alone in wondering how long these new homes will actually last? When an entire house is built, painted, finished and furnished in just two weeks' time, seriously, how great can the construction quality be? Are these families soon to be saddled with yet another crumbling wreck?

[CynPro]

It is a noble idea to provide needy families with proper housing, BUT the TV show, Extreme Makeover, does not appear to be about providing for needy people. It's all about RATINGS. I've seen homes (which many people would love to have) destroyed without regard for their potential to house a different needy family with different needs. An example would be a nice brick home they destroyed last week, because the current family needed a wheelchair friendly home, but that same home would have made a homeless family very happy!! Far too much waste in this show. Waste is not entertaining. It is shameful. In other episodes, placing six TVs in one child's room is ridiculous, or other waste like multiple guitars for a child who likes guitars. Everyone knows the people doing this show are collecting big bucks, so why put on all the fake tears, hugs, and that disgusting loud-mouth who takes center stage? If they REALLY wanted to help people, they would provide enough to be helpful and make a family comfortable, then move on to another family in need. As it is, this show is a big waste of time and resources. If people decide to show their disgust by turning the channel, the sponsors may make improvements.

[Pekinite]

I have watched the show only once - as I don't really need to see this type of "entertainment" more than just the one time...but I have witnessed a makeover by this crew this week here in Pekin. It IS actually shameful to see that instead of making a home to help the Grys family better suited to their needs in an affordable manner, they have shamefully constructed a 4000 sq. foot, 9 bedroom, 4 bathroom home on a lot that in no way can hold it well. The surrounding houses are completely dwarfed by the mansion that was erected, and I am fearful that the family's estimated $800-$900 MONTHLY tax amount and heating and cooling bills will be too much for the family to be capable of keeping the home. There are donations being taken to cover the existing mortgage and medical bills (goal $130,000) of which I have read is now at $50,000. Why couldn't they simply gut the house as it was, and "re-do" in a reasonable fashion (thus helping the family tremendously) and then move on to help MORE families? The answer: sadly, it's all about the ratings.

[DONNA DICICCO]

II AGREE THAT WHEN THE MAKEOVER IS DONE, SOMETIMES IT IS TOO EXTREME. SOME PEOPLE DO NOT HAVE THE FUNDS OR PRIVILEGE TO OWN A HOME AS THEY HAVE FIVE CHILDREN, NO SUPPORT FROM THEIR FATHER AND SO ON. WE HAVE A COMPUTER THAT IS IN SAFE MODE, TV'S THAT ARE OBSULETE. MY SONS WHO IS 25,HIS ROOM IS THE SIZE OF A SMALL BATHROOM. NOTHING MODERN. A BATHROOM THAT IS SO TINY, YOU ARE LUCKY TO SIT ON THE TOILET.
A HOUSING APARTMENT, WHICH I AM GRATEFUL FOR, AS I BROUGHT UP FIVE CHILDREN HERE. TWO ARE HOME WITH ME AGE 23 AND 25 LOOKING FOR EMPLOYMENT AS WELL AS I LOST MY JOB IN OCTOBER WAITING FOR UNEMPLOYMENT AS OTHERS ARE.
JUST STATING THAT THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE POOR, AS I AM. I JUST GET BY. NOTHING MODERN IN MY APT BUT WE HAVE EACH OTHERS LOVE. IT IS TOO EXTREME GIVING HUGE APPLIANCES IN THESE HOUSES, AS WELL AS MANY GUITARS FOR CHILDRENS ROOMS. TWO BATHROOMS. HUGH LIVEROOM FURNISHED. CRAZY. AS WELL AS A CAR FOR THE FAMILY. I USED TO WATCH IT, BUT SOME PEOPLE ON THAT PROGRAM ARE NOT AS POOR AS OTHERS ARE HERE LIVING IN THE U.S. AND WORKING JUST TO GET BY.
WE HAVE EACH OTHER, MY CATS, MY TWO DOGS THAT WERE RESCUED IN N. CAROLINA AT A MARINE BASE, WHO WERE ABUSED. I TOOK THEM HOME TO OUR FAMILY IN MEDFORD, MA. THE CATS I HAVE WERE STRAY IN THE AREA, ONE MOTHER WAS PREGNANT AND HAS 4 BABIES. THIS IS MY STORY.
WE WILL NEVER HAVE OUR OWN HOME AS WE MADE MANY SACRIFIES ALONG THE WAY. OUR FAMILY COMES FIRST, ONE STRUGGLING IN BRAZIL WAITING TO BRING MY FUTURE SON IN LAW HOME, WHO WAS UNFORTUNATELY DEPORTED 5YRS AGO. MAKING SACRIFICES FOR THEM TO SURVIVE IN THE POOREST COUNRTY OF BRAZIL IS WORTH LIVING IN AN APT THAT IS MORE THAN PREHISTORIC. JUST LETTING YOU KNOW THAT PEOPLE ON THAT SHOW ARE NOT THE NEEDY PEOPLE AS MY FAMILY AND OTHERS ARE.

[benny]

why not just install a mitigation system, the house was in great shape???

[Karin]

How they build a home in the rain is my question. If it's raining dogs and cats, it's got to get into the pressboard and then stay there for the drywall glues and paper to consume, building mold. (My home's bedroom addition was built during a month of friday rainstorms. I had to broom, rigidvac and fan every Saturday and Sunday and still had to treat it two times with right solution of bleach water followed by fans to disolve the beginnings of mold on the whole underfloor in the crawlspace). So if they can build EMHE houses within 7 days, maybe what water gets in there isn't too much. But whenever I see the rain in those shows, I think there may be mold in those floors and walls. It's something every builders has to controll or treat timely.

[x-ray fluorescence]

Hi,
It's all about RATINGS. I've seen homes destroyed without regard for their potential to house a different needy family with different needs.

[scherernwyrk]

Being in construction, exclusively high end residential construction building for over 20 years, I shudder every time I watch this show!

No one needs to explain to me the amount of time necessary for concrete to hydrate and cure properly, as I fully understand the time to temperature ratios completely, as well as other necessary factors involved in safely and properly utilizing concrete for construction... My bigger concern is that I wonder if the folks at ABC/EMHE understand and if they do, they apparently don't care. The bottom line is that I would like to walk through and inspect a few of these homes, top to bottom, personally and give my professional reporting as to the quality of construction. I have a very strong suspicion those would be some reports that they would not want hitting the streets.

Aside form the issues of lack of quality, I would agree with most here that the houses and the amenities are way, way over the top and to address the point one commentor made, there are a number of the folks who have received these homes that are being foreclosed on for a variety of reasons, such as borrowing against them and faltering on loans or just plain not having enough money to cover the tab!

All in all, I believe the initial concept was not a bad one but as everything else goes on reality TV these days, they have "Gone Over The Top" making this less philanthropic or altruistic and more commercial and phoney or to quote a previous commentor, "It's All About Ratings"!

I wish all of the recipients well in their fights and pursuits but I wonder if this kind of thing will only worsen their lives rather than enhance them?

I liken it to the many Lottery winners across the country that are now penniless....

Oh well...

[susan rhodes]

I also agree I feel the show is about ratings.Ive tryed for many years to get some sort of help for my niece,shes a single hard working mom of two children,both of her children have had life threatening surgery,herself has had surgery but she keeps going with no help.Ther home is littery falling apart when she gets alittle extra money she tries to get something done.Two bathrooms but both need major work,needs windows,floors,some walls are punky from leaky windows,also needs siding,Theres been times she has taken homeless friends in and even one time she heard of a young15year old being kicked out,she took her in.Took in a mom with 5 children.Her name is Vanessa and she is amazing,but I guess she doesnt qualify.Why so this is one of many reasons I think its about tv ratings.Susan