My best memories from the show
As we kick off our eighth season of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, I’m reminded of all the incredible families and stories I have encountered over the last seven years and the more than 150 homes.
There are so many great memories, but from a design standpoint, one show I’ll never forget is the time I built a beautiful bed for a family’s master bedroom only to realize that I had misread the builder’s plans and the bed wouldn’t fit up the stairwell to the room. I literally had to saw the bed in half and then rebuild it in the room.
And for a moment when I stopped and said, “Wow, this is amazing,” it’d have to be in 2009 when Stevie Wonder showed up in Tallahassee, Florida, and played the piano and sang for us. It was amazing. And from the response I got from my Facebook fans about the best songs to build by, I can tell music means a lot to other folks, too!
After all these years, I still love the show. Yeah, it’s exhausting and sometimes the stories are really tough to handle. But I have the honor of spending a week watching a community come together to help one of its own. Lives are changed forever. It’s magical and every single week whenthe bus moves and the community cheers and the family cries, I am humbled and awed by it all.
Do you have a favorite moment or episode from Extreme Makeover?
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I can’t choose! I love all of them!
U guys are awesome, and every episode is amazing!
Thank you so much for doing this!
And we can’t forget Dave and the crew, thank you to all of u too! We can see this on the TV thanks to u guys!
One of my very favorite episodes happened on season 1. There was a family whose husband/father was in the California National Guard and was deployed shortly after buying a house. While his wife and boys were on vacation, you brought the father home and built a baseball field in the back yard. Tommy Lasorda and a couple Los Angeles Dodgers arrived and brought jerseys. The father hid in the batting cage and came out with a catcher’s mask on. When he took it off and the boys saw their dad, the tears flowed. From them and from me. My other favorite episode was last season with Jeff Gordon.
Hey there Ty and Design Crew
Every episode I have watched…every story I have heard has been inspiring and continues to motivate me to help people how ever I am able to. My favorite in general was the Martinez Family in Albuquerque, NM. How many families would purposefully move into an area that’s been nicknamed “The War Zone”? As if that weren’t enough, on top of that, they were so dedicated to turning this troubled neighborhood around that they opened their Mission Outpost, their lives, and their hearts to the people in that community just to help them get back on their feet! Handing out 3000 pounds of food per week, buying and self-renovating those other buildings to give people a roof to sleep under, I could go on and on about that family. I think Ty put it best when speaking to Gerald before sending them on vacation…he called Gerald, “a diamond in the rough”. This was true for the whole family I feel.
I loved that you came to our town, Philo, IL, and helped the Montgomery family. You were also generous enough to help them with their ministry at Salt & Light. You certainly raised people’s awareness of the work they do there. In fact, that is now where my church chooses to donate. Thank you!
I just really love the show I watch reruns of the show everyday I can not pick just one show I Love them all
It is very difficult to choose one in particular. All these families are special. But for personal reasons, family Vital has really touched my heart. I remember very well what his dad with three wonderful children. “The moon and the stars”.
My favorite episode has to be the Vardon family. I hope they got to keep their home. The whole family was amazing, and they really deserved this home. I cannot imagine them leaving because of the technology that was implemented in their home. Please let us know what happened and how they are now. I will never forget them!
Oh. you know we all want to know what your fave shows were, the whole thing would fall apart without you your awsome,
1 fave show in 8 seasons? can i cheat and say your behind the sceens special?.. no i guess not, but there were so many awsome shows, i cange my mind every time i see one.
Okvath, Kadziz, Thomas, Harris (alice), Harper, because i couldnt believe even after everything you went through all you wanted to do was be there at the end for the fam.
EVERYTHING you and that show do is somthing special, and im lucky you take the time to share so much of it outside of the show with us, so even though i live in another country i can keep up with your amaizing stories.
x
take care always Ty. x, one day my wish will come true and i will get to meet you, if im not that lucky, maybe one day i’ll say somthing interesting and you will say hi to me
I love the “Beach” house in Kemah Texas! IT’Sclose to my heart!!
Mi hijo tiene tdh y es hiperactivo lingüístico espero que algún día su inteligencia y viveza la utilice en algo positivo como ty y me haga sentir mas orgullosa de lo que ya estoy de él
What an AMAZING seven year run it has been! Like everyone else, I have so many favorite memories from the show. All the countless smiles, tears, hugs, and handshakes are forever imprinted in my mind, and just because I’ve seen an episode once doesn’t mean I won’t watch it again and again! Three episodes that really stick out in my mind are the Kadzis family, the Jason Thomas family, and the Swenson-Lee family (100th epidode). Every single family is so special in their own way, but these three touched me deeper than all the rest. I also have special memories from the Anders-Beatty episode because I was a frequent visitor to the building site during construction, although I was unfortunately too young to volunteer. As a future educator, every episode that involves a teacher also holds a special place in my heart. Oh, who am I kidding? I love ALL the episodes, ALL the moments, ALL the memories!!!! Thank you so much for a spectacular seven year run…and I look forward to many more!
EMHE has so many special moments, but the one that always sticks out in my mind is the 1st ever “Surprise Home” for the Okvath Family. They didnt even know they were getting a New House til the Bus rolled Away! How Awesome was that?!?!
Another very Special Moment just Happened Recently in Downtown Baltimore, MD. The Live Door Knock was something else thats never been done on the show before since its inception, but it was crazy awesome to see.
What about the House that got Blown to Bits with dynamite in Montana? Or Was it Wyoming? Either way…..I don’t believe a House has ever been Demo’ed that way before…..or after.
The Cast & Crew at EMHE is always coming up with New & Exciting & Creative ways to get things done from Door Knock to Demo to Reveal, and thats what I like most about the show and what keeps me coming back for more week after week. Its never the same show twice (maybe except for reruns..lol). Getting to see a community come together to help a deserving family is very heartwarming and something that makes the show Worth watching. The “WOW!” Factor at the end when the Family finally sees their New Home is without a doubt the most awesome yet Satisfying part of the Show. Its in that Moment that everything comes together. The Cast & Volunteers get to see the fruits of their labor and you can just breathe a big sigh of relief knowing that the Family’s going to be Okay from that Moment Forward.
With all that said, I look very forward to Season 8. To see Where they go, and what kind of people they meet and to hear all their stories. To know that when the Dust Settles, there will be an Awesome Home for a Deserving Family Standing before us.
Absolutely love the show.have been a huge fan for many years and always makes me cry! One of my favorite shows has only just aired in the UK but it was about the Native American Piestewa family who sadly lost their mother, daughter and friend to the war. Lori and her family are a true inspiration xx
EVERYTHING!!!!
The Elton John autographed piano was pretty awesome.
Whoa! That’s a huge question! So many great parts from so many shows! I missed the one with Stevie Wonder, man I love that guy, so amazing! I cannot give just one though. I see so many designs, amazing rooms, silly antics you guys pull, flash through my head when I think of an answer! You guys are just fantastic and I love tuning in to watch…thanks & peace!( was pretty funny seeing you up in that cherry picker turning a little on the pale side, ha ha!)
I had to go away from the computer and really think about this question. The show that has always stuck out in my mind is the one where a guy was dying and a garden was made for him. On it was placed the quote,” So much to think about but nothing to worry about.” I have never forgot that quote. He was dying with such grace and trying to not trouble his family.
I love when you add your own personal touch to your secret rooms. You think so hard about what is right for the person on such a deep level. I love that.
My favorite was the deaf family. Reason being is I have a deaf daughter and I only dream that I could provide the safety that you provided in that home. Did you ever think about having a show on your own that sponsers families that don’t have homes?
I finally recieved my Memorial bracelet for PFC Lorie Piestewa who was the first women who died inthe Iraqi War. She was a Hopi Native Americn who served with Jessica Lynch in Iraq and were best friends who made a pact with each other to take care of the others family if one of them died. Jessica honored that pact when…… she nominated Lorie’s parents and her 2 children to Extreme Makeover Home Edition. That pack was fulfilled when the great team of designers from Extreme Makeover made that dream come true on May 22, 2005. If interested in honoring Lori or other loved ones check out: http://www.memorialbracelets.com
Well, this is a hard question, but I think my favourite part was with the Kadzis family and the Thomas family.
I loved all episodes. It was so amazing to see, that there is a Man and a Crew, who travels a lot and brings hope to families. You know, here in my country you can’t really see something like that.
My biggest dream is that one day I can go to the USA and I will have the opportunity to volunteer and work with you, and even talk to you for a few minutes.
Have a wonderful day nad take care of yourself.
Puszi, Meli
Hello. Ty i was wondering if you could call me i need some help on a mission for my mom Im 13 i want to help my mom to get on the show i have sent in so many applications i would love for you to help i have email everyone on your show and i cant get any one to answer please help me to help my mom!! call me at 540-556-8178!!!
Thank You For Your Time!!!
–Lauren Davis
Hey Ty just want to say you are all Awesome truly Angels of God!You all are a blessing to so many ppl! You have them tremendously and forever!How do I go about applying?It would be so surreal if my family got picked.I am from Winner South Dakota and I have a dream for my family and in memory of our father who has passed on last year.He was the greatest Dad ever and well respected by our whole town-community.He protected us well for well over 30yrs.He had recently became a Deacon of his church,which at the time was rebuilding his church,but it needs a lot of work he did his best on it.I justt dream and wish for a new house for my mother which I know he would have wanted.And most of all a new church in memory of him.I HAVE BEEN PRAYING FOR THIS!I PRAY THIS GETS TO YOU.Thank you for your time!We love you and the design crew!Its beautiful country out here you would love it!I pray to hear from you! Kimimela@live.com
Hola Ty, soy de España y me encanta tu programa aqui intentan imitaros pero no tiene nada que ver con el vuestro aunque lo importante es que ayuden a familias necesitadas solo decirte que haces un gran trabajo y lo que mas me fascina de ties el empeño y el cariño que utilizas con las personas, todos los dias me haces llorar. pero no te preocupes, son lagrimas de alegria y ermocion por ver que hay gente que es tan amable y agradecida, bueno solo decirte que gracias por ser como eres no cambies nunca y que sigas haciendo esa labor que haces que es muy importante saludos y kissesss
Ty,
I think you are an angel to many people. I use to watch your show when we had cable. It’s amazing the things you have done. Your one in a million.
Jenn