Extreme Makeover: Home Edition - TV-PG

Interesting and dramatic ... for a reality show.

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Common Sense rates it
3
Seen the show?
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details
  • TV Rating: TV-PG
  • Network: ABC, Syndicated
  • Cast: Ty Pennington, Paul DiMeo, Tracy Hutson
  • Genre: Reality TV
  • >Available On: DVD,Download

Parents need to know

Parents need to know that this is an emotionally intense reality show featuring families with special needs whose lives are completely changed when the crew's bus rolls into town. The series' messages about community and helping others are strong enough that its occasional detours into the land of materialism can be forgiven.

Families can talk about the makeover process and compare life before and after the crew leaves: Was the community coming together for the family in need before the cameras began rolling? What kinds of changes will these people's lives undergo when all is said and done?

Message

Social Behavior:

The idea behind this show is to help people in need by rebuilding their homes. Most of the recipients of the home makeovers have special needs. All are unable to afford changes that take place.

Consumerism:

It's all about the materialistic stuff. Most improvements are helpful, while others are really over the top and unnecessary. Brand names like Sears are often featured.

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:

Violence

Sex

Language

Common Sense says

What's the story?

Reviewed by Joly Herman

After his successful stint on Trading Spaces, Ty Pennington, the enigmatic team leader of EXTREME MAKEOVER: HOME EDITION, has become a virtual rock star of home redesign. His good looks, can-do attitude, and rather easygoing demeanor make him the perfect person to get the impossible job done -- and impossible it seems. Every week, thousands of families send tapes to the show's producers, pleading their case as to why their family needs a home remodel. The crew reviews the tapes, finding one that really touches them, and then they take action. When the crew's bus rolls into town, the entire neighborhood rallies around the project and a remodeling task is undertaken and completed in one week's time. The family is taken to a hotel for the time being, with no idea how their house will look when they return.

Is it any good?

3

To demolish, disinfect, uproot, restructure, and decorate a home is a task that usually takes months. The fact that this crew can do it in less than a week is unbelievable. What drives them to succeed, apparently, is the belief that they are doing something good for the people who need the remodel. And consequently the viewer often hears the reference to the good deed, which can be a little bit of a bore.

At best, this show raises awareness about people who truly struggle from day to day. (Many times these families have special needs -- like a child who is deathly allergic to molds living in a mold-infested house, for example.) But at worst, this series emphasizes the materialistic nature of our society -- that the glamour and gloss that big money can buy makes everything all right. Still, for a reality show, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition makes for interesting, dramatic viewing.

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Parents and kids say

All Reviews

There are 26 reviews.

5


Posted on 05/31/08 by calichic Kid contributor, age 14

I cry

I usually cry when I watch this show. I love to see what these people do to help families in need. While there is commercialism, (like Sears, whom they are sponsored by) this show really demonstrates that not all television is trash.
3


Posted on 01/18/08 by BusmasterJones Adult contributor

Mostly Good Values, but Things Creep In

The overarching message -- that of doing good for others by helping those who often cannot help themselves -- is a good one. Parents, the intros can bring in a lot of real world things that might upset younger kids (family violence, joblessness, death in the family, natural disaster), so you might need to skip the first 10 minutes of the show. After that, Sears is prominent and many of the people utter "Oh my God" when viewing their new home.
5


Posted on 06/26/07 by Sjgogirl Kid contributor, age 9

THE BEST

I LOVE THIS SHOW!!! I think 4 yr olds could watch it it is so good. I don't see why it is PG.
3

Posted on 06/20/07 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 14

hmmmm

Sometimes, the family really needs the new house, like in the episode with the mom in the wheelchair. that was really sad. But other times, it's like, wow, people, its called a job! that's where you apply, then you go there and do what you're told! I think that some of these people are just feeling bad for themselves. Not all, but some. I mean, seriously, alot of these homes aren't even so bad to start with! Some of these people need to get a grip. others are being sensible, props to them and good luck to the ones who had REAL harships.
5


Posted on 06/19/07 by maddie.moo Kid contributor, age 11

wonderful

how dare you in commercialism coloum say that some of the things they do is over the top that is a load of bull this show is about helping people no matter how unforturnate
2

Posted on 04/08/07 by Anonymous Adult contributor

ABC Messed up this week

Wow- I normally find the stories heart wrenching and the families needy. There is NO excuse for a family of 4 with two healthy boys 17 and 18 to live in a house without a door for 3 years. I understand hardships, but there is also a thing called a job. Both these boys were capable of finding work. The gas money it takes to go to football practice one week could have been used to put a piece of wood over the missing door. Three adults in one house and they could not ask one person in their church to help with plumbing. I normally LOVE the show, but the Jones family seemed capable of doing more for themselves than they had done. There are so many more people out there that are not physically able to provide for themselves. The show this week just frustruated me.
5


Posted on 03/15/07 by forgetregret93 Kid contributor, age 13

So good

I love this show. Sometimes, I even cry. The cast members are so nice to do all that work in just seven days. A family from my school (Kilgallon family) just had their house finished and the episode is going to appear in May. I saw the outside and it's beautiful. I can't wait to see what the inside looks like.
5


Posted on 02/03/07 by bbbmaria Adult contributor
0


Posted on 01/07/07 by chummly Adult contributor

I thought this show was for people with NEEDS

why don't these people go and purchase a home on their own?? I would think these two perfectly capable people would be able to purchase a home. There are a lot more people out there that need a home more than this family does!!
5


Posted on 11/04/06 by Reads A Lot Kid contributor, age 10

See all 26 reviews >

Adult Reviews

There are 15 reviews.

3


Posted on 01/18/08 by BusmasterJones Adult contributor

Mostly Good Values, but Things Creep In

The overarching message -- that of doing good for others by helping those who often cannot help themselves -- is a good one. Parents, the intros can bring in a lot of real world things that might upset younger kids (family violence, joblessness, death in the family, natural disaster), so you might need to skip the first 10 minutes of the show. After that, Sears is prominent and many of the people utter "Oh my God" when viewing their new home.
2

Posted on 04/08/07 by Anonymous Adult contributor

ABC Messed up this week

Wow- I normally find the stories heart wrenching and the families needy. There is NO excuse for a family of 4 with two healthy boys 17 and 18 to live in a house without a door for 3 years. I understand hardships, but there is also a thing called a job. Both these boys were capable of finding work. The gas money it takes to go to football practice one week could have been used to put a piece of wood over the missing door. Three adults in one house and they could not ask one person in their church to help with plumbing. I normally LOVE the show, but the Jones family seemed capable of doing more for themselves than they had done. There are so many more people out there that are not physically able to provide for themselves. The show this week just frustruated me.
5


Posted on 02/03/07 by bbbmaria Adult contributor
0


Posted on 01/07/07 by chummly Adult contributor

I thought this show was for people with NEEDS

why don't these people go and purchase a home on their own?? I would think these two perfectly capable people would be able to purchase a home. There are a lot more people out there that need a home more than this family does!!
5


Posted on 10/29/06 by iowafarmersdaughter Adult contributor

Awesome Family Experience Watching This Show

The Gladbrook IA Extremem Farm Home makeover impacts so very many Iowa farm families. The show made we Iowans "proud" of how Iowans support other Iowans! The ABC personnel were terrific in sensing the personal needs of the family. Being a farm girl, it was so real that the family "really" perked up when they went into the barn & received the puppy..That's an Iowa Farm! Thank you ABC....
4


Posted on 04/28/06 by jakeandjonathansmom Adult contributor
5


Posted on 03/30/06 by jomom75 Adult contributor
3

Posted on 01/20/06 by Anonymous Adult contributor

My 5-year-old watches it

My daughter watches it & we use it as a springboard to talk about how all people are different and not everyone has a white-bread middle-class life. She also asks about why people may lose their homes to disaster, etc., and we explain to her how bad things do happen, but that others should help in any way they can.
5

Posted on 12/12/05 by Anonymous Adult contributor

Teaching Good Citizenship

Even though it's a bit commercial (Sears, ABC, Disney), the show helps people. It also makes for a family friendly show that opens up discussion about being a good citizen and helping those in need. It's a must-see on Sunday evenings.
5

Posted on 12/10/05 by Anonymous Adult contributor

Awesome show

My 4 yo and I watch each week and she loves watching the builders and seeing the final outcome. We talk about how they are helping a family build a new home because they really need it and can not do it themselves. I love it.
See all 15 adult reviews>

Kids Reviews

There are 11 reviews.

5


Posted on 05/31/08 by calichic Kid contributor, age 14

I cry

I usually cry when I watch this show. I love to see what these people do to help families in need. While there is commercialism, (like Sears, whom they are sponsored by) this show really demonstrates that not all television is trash.
5


Posted on 06/26/07 by Sjgogirl Kid contributor, age 9

THE BEST

I LOVE THIS SHOW!!! I think 4 yr olds could watch it it is so good. I don't see why it is PG.
3

Posted on 06/20/07 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 14

hmmmm

Sometimes, the family really needs the new house, like in the episode with the mom in the wheelchair. that was really sad. But other times, it's like, wow, people, its called a job! that's where you apply, then you go there and do what you're told! I think that some of these people are just feeling bad for themselves. Not all, but some. I mean, seriously, alot of these homes aren't even so bad to start with! Some of these people need to get a grip. others are being sensible, props to them and good luck to the ones who had REAL harships.
5


Posted on 06/19/07 by maddie.moo Kid contributor, age 11

wonderful

how dare you in commercialism coloum say that some of the things they do is over the top that is a load of bull this show is about helping people no matter how unforturnate
5


Posted on 03/15/07 by forgetregret93 Kid contributor, age 13

So good

I love this show. Sometimes, I even cry. The cast members are so nice to do all that work in just seven days. A family from my school (Kilgallon family) just had their house finished and the episode is going to appear in May. I saw the outside and it's beautiful. I can't wait to see what the inside looks like.
5


Posted on 11/04/06 by Reads A Lot Kid contributor, age 10
4


Posted on 04/07/06 by *HAPPY&HAPPY* Kid contributor, age 11

every episode is good for kids
5


Posted on 06/26/05 by animalloverkt Kid contributor, age 13

I feel happy, oh so happy...

This is a wonderful show which shows the good that people can do when they work together for a common good. The only problems I have with the show are this: Sears and sometimes Ford and predominant throughout the show, which sometimes detracts from the overall message. Also, they cry too much. That's it. All the houses are for disabled, unfortunate, etc. people. The designers really focus on the needs, wants, and hobbies of the lucky family. If there is a disability, they do everything in their power to make the house as handicap-friendly as possible. An overall wholesome show that is a breath of fresh air in today's world of horrifyingly tacky reality T.V.
5


Posted on 06/25/05 by dawgs51321 Kid contributor, age 12
4


Posted on 12/27/04 by mc2004 Kid contributor, age 13

Cute, well-meaning show...

In a world where reality shows consist of people eating snake eyes and marrying eachother for money, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition is the reality show with a heart. It picks out families that are either poor, have handicapped children, or are otherwise unfortunate, and gives their homes lavish, wonderful makeovers. The makeover is done in one week. This a show that your whole family can watch together, and enjoy. Why ABC rates it TV-PG I'll never understand, cause this is a G show if there ever was one.
See all 11 kids reviews >
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