Extreme Makeover: Home Edition TV Show - Extreme Makeover: Home Edition Television Show - Yahoo! TV

The Key Word - Reality

When I think of the onslaught of reality shows we have seen hit the air over the last 5 years or so it makes you wonder....why would folks put themselves out in the open and place their emotions on the line. Shows like The Bachelor, Survivor and even Fear Factor definitely makes you wonder why.

ABC introduced a show called Extreme Makeover where folks in need of self improvement in looks had their prayers answered. Then some executive over at the network came up with the idea of what about homes? The premise of the show was to find families in need (usually families with an ailing member) and repair their home bringing it up to code and rebuild a home for that family within 7 days (only once did it go to an 8th day). The first few shows in the first season did just that. The team would go into a home and make it a shell and rebuild from within. Around the 3rd of 4th show of the first season the team came across a home in such great disrepair that they decided to knock it down and start from scratch. They have been doing it ever since.

Back to the keyword REALITY for a moment. The families are REAL people with REAL problems which most of us can relate to from week to week. Unlike shows like the Apprentice where you better have a minimum of a Masters Degree or The Bachelor where you better have the good looks, this show reflects the problems American families like yours and mine face on a daily basis.

From week to week the members of the team may change. When you have Preston and Paul on the same show look for those two to quickly make you laugh. The team leader Ty Pennington at times can be overzealous and you just want to knock him out so he will sleep but he is the man that keeps it all together. The other members including Eduardo, Tracey, Paige, Ed, Tanya, Connie and Michael are design gurus. The rooms and gardens these teams create are surely one of a kind. Their work is pure genius.

While the show is somewhat commercial as sponsors are previewed via the different products and/or services they provide, I feel it is rightly justified. I know if I want to purchase a product for the home and I have seen it on this show it is of great quality. Sears is the largest corporate sponsor on the show and my hats off to them as well for providing week after week not only the appliances but also the furniture and clothing for the families.

I am a 47 year old man who grew up on the tough streets of The Bronx but I will admit no show has ever moved me to tears of happiness as this show does from week to week. I am talking literal tears. I keep a box of Kleenex close by every Sunday evening as I watch this show. I never miss this show and if I am not home the show is recorded. (Who am I kidding, I record this show every week whether I am home or not - the shows are keepers).

In general I am not a fan of reality shows because of the cutthroat tactics some play on others. Emotions are involved folks and people get hurt. On the other hand Extreme Makeover: Home Edition is not that type of reality show. Instead this show is nothing less than a feel good show for the whole family. As a matter of fact this show is the best darned feel good show I have ever seen in my 47 years.

I don't know how long this show will stay on TV but for whatever amount of years it is on there will never be enough good things to say about ABC and it's sponsors for their sincere generosity in bringing smiles to the families faces and a better life for those who need it most.

Thank you ABC for making my heart smile from week to week. You guys are doing a superb job!