EXTREME MAKEOVER HOME EDITION - Try not to cry

I told myself, as I always do, that I wasn’t going to cry watching this week’s episode of Extreme Makeover Home Edition. No, this time I was going to be strong and keep my emotions in check and not hand Ty Pennington another victory in our silent war.

But no. I probably didn’t even last ten minutes before I started tearing up a little.

I’m admittedly a bit of a softy - I choke up while watching dog food commercials. But Extreme Makeover Home Edition really hits my buttons, and this week in particular seemed carefully engineered to make me cry.

This special two-hour extra-touching episode focused on the Gilyeat family – four kids and a decorated Marine father who lost a leg in Iraq. There current house was no darned good – cramped, not easily accessible for Dad, and full of dangerous pitfalls and venomous snakes. OK, I’m lying, there were no snakes, but it wasn’t hard to visualize Dad taking a bad fall trying to get up those steep stairs.

Since it was a two-hour episode, they padded this week’s show with plenty of vignettes and misty-eyed interviews that seemed designed to make us cry every ten minutes or so. Mr. Gilyeat is an inspirational guy, a real hero who is trying to raise four kids by himself while dealing with a life-altering injury – plus all the mundane trials of daily life in a house that doesn’t work for the family at all. These guys need help.

I don’t think anyone would begrudge the Gilyeats a new house. But since this is Extreme Makeover Home Edition, they don’t just get a new house – they get a mega-house!

They never have a family on Extreme Makeover Home Edition that just kind of needs a new house. You’ll never see an episode where the parents are hanging out drinking coffee in their expensive kitchen saying, “Well, we’ve always wanted a breakfast nook but with Skip going to Yale we just didn’t know if we could make our dream a reality. Luckily, Ty heard about our situation and we’re going to get some help. Maybe a bigger garage, too? Fingers crossed.”

Enter the EMHO Team with 5,000 volunteers. Ty and company gleefully raze the old sucky house to the ground and, through the magic of editing, replace it with a beautiful sprawling single-story house complete with a wheelchair accessible layout, custom bedrooms for everybody, and a gleaming new garage stocked with thousands of dollars of gear. Oh, and a new car. And a hovercraft. And a pony.

OK, I’m lying again. But a hovercraft and a pony wouldn’t have been out of place – the Gilyeat’s new home is loaded with cool extras. As usual, the team creates wonderful over-the-top bedrooms specifically designed for each family member. Dad’s master bedroom was the best – Ty made a Zen warrior’s shrine complete with modern Asian wall paneling, samurai swords, and stone guardian statues.

You could tell that this makeover was going to have a HUGE impact on the quality of the Gilyeat’s lives – doubly so because the mortgage was paid off! Sure, EMHO is carefully tuned to illicit sympathy and tears from the viewer, but basically the show – and this episode in particular – celebrates the virtues of community, volunteerism, and recognizing those who sacrifice so much. So while EMHO may be a little manipulative in a reality-TV show kind of way, at its core the show is built on a foundation of honest emotion and neighborly goodwill that is hard to dismiss. You’d have to have a cold heart not to be moved by the Gilyeat scenario.

This is why I don’t feel bad for crying – manfully – more than once while watching this episode, even though I told myself I wouldn’t.

You win, Ty Pennington. This time.

--Dave Campbell

 

 

 

Comments

[Generalissimo]

That guy should have never left his family in the first place. His cowboy bravado endangered all those little helpless kids.oh well, maybe now he can get a Ty tattoo in the tiny remaining space that hasn't already been inked over.

[Ryder]

What did amaze me is that here's this quote unquote handicapped Marine, raising 4 kids... and the mother is no where in the picture.

Gotta wonder about what kinda gal his ex was huh? I mean that they'd award sole custody to a guy with 1 and a half legs and a formerly crap box house...

Interesting... although I gotta admit, the guy's a hero. He could have been one of those bitter dudes that whine and complain about Bush and the War and do squat, but he's helping in hospitals and such. Pretty neat guy.

And yeah I nearly shed a tear too. Damn you Ty!

[horselover67]

This was the absolute best Extreme Home Makeover yet. Daniel's family is such a deserving family. We are lucky to have such a dedicated inspirational Marine to have served our country. God Bless Daniel and his family and thank you for what you sacrificed for all of us.

[horselover67]

One more thing, Generalissimo, you have some serious issues. You sound like a jealous coward that would run if asked to serve your country. It's a shame that you do not have any pride for your country and I am glad you are NOT in the military.

[Radigan Neuhalfen]

A serious issue for anyone to contend with is which takes precedence: responsibility to one's children, or responsibility to one's nation?

[J. Hennesay]

If you had listened to the show you would know why the mother wasn't there. They told you she left a year ago leaving the children and all.

Generalissimo, nobody cares about your idiotic ideas of what this man is all about. You wouldn't have any idea what he is all about. So what if he has tattoos. The man fought for this country so we can have the freedom to say what we want. You said yours, now apologize to the nice Marine before his buddies come to get you.

Ty, my hats off to you pal. Your team is awesome and so is the show. I wish I could be a part of it, but I am a disabled veteran myself and currently in college learning a new carreer, thanks to the veterans administration. Maybe when I complete my education I will give you guys a call to see if I can help out.

A small town in Oregon,named Silverton, just had there own extreme home makover, over a weekend. They rebuilt a home for a family while they were at the coast. The house is beautiful. We need communities to get together like this all over the country.

It's working Ty, You and ABC are building a better community and country.
Keep up the great work.
J.H.

[Elizabeth Morgan]

Extreme Home Edition is an excellent example of great television! Each week Extreme Home Edition works magic to spread the spirit of goodness to those in need, who in turn, pass along the kindness to others. This week was especially touching with the moral of the story being overcoming challenges to achieve the impossible. Thank you home edition for helping so many and through your show creating an example of how community can make the impossible possible. Extreme Home Edition brought well deserved attention to a gifted individual, Patrick Henry Hughes, who has the potential to inspire others through his music. I'm sure there are many fans of Extreme Home Edition, including myself, who would like to know when Patrick Henry's music will be available on CD, especially the song he sang at the end of the episode. Thank you to everyone involved with Extreme Home Edition!

[LLee]

How amazing is Patrick Henry! To see him live, love and laugh the way he does.........that is what striving to be like Jesus is all about! Thank you Patrick Henry for being a beautiful light in this world!

[robert]

(help my family keep our home)

Why do big companies only see me as a number and not as a person? I know that every body has their sad sob
stories but why can't big companies listen to them and let people prove that they are telling the truth? Why is money so
much more important then living people to companies that have plenty of money to keep running? What ever happened
to compassion, understanding and caring for your fellow man?
What has happened to our society? Everything these days is about numbers, and empty promises, everything from
government, to loans, to out our education, and mortgage companies. We can't buy anything or rent anything without them
running our credit and what is credit just another number that runs our lives Are we living in a Matrix world or are we in
reality with live people that have problems. I would love to go back to the days when your phone
rang it was someone that you knew or at least could say your name, instead of is this .loan number 12345? ect . When
I was born my parents gave me a name not a number, that is how I should be reffered too.
I will admit that I signed a contract when I get my mortgage loan, but i was stupid and believed what my ,loan officer
told me, (go figure im old fashioned and like to take people's word as truth) I told her how much I could afford and she told me
no problem. When we signed papers she told me that they were the preliminary papers and the actual loan amount would
be in our price range. She knew all along that we are on a fixed income that my wife and I are both Disabled,and that we are
raising at least two disbled children one with a heart condition that has been requiring alot more money then expected.
We have been told living on social security we should never have gotten the house and that it showed me as working. I was but
was fired for health problems before any papers were signed and the loan officer was aware of this at the time. We are falling
behind on all of our bills, but a few of them are not willing to listen to us at all about our situation or willing to work things out
with us on their bills.As far as the house there is alot of problems with the house and we have tried to explain to the mortgage
company that we need the money from the mortgage to fix the problems before they become more of a health risk for my son
with the regurgitating heart valves. It costs alot of money to get the things you need to fix and if you don't have the money then you
try to get a credit card and can't get one because your fico score is so bad.
When I asked the mortgage comapany what they could for me to work this out, they say pay all of the past due amount
and the current bill at once. When I asked can I send a partial payment they say no that will not work partial payments are not
accepted. When I tell them that I cannot afford that, they tell me to sell my house, first of all real estate agents cost money,
to list your house costs money, the housing market is way down, and we have been told that the value of our house has gone
way done. To try to sell the house our selves would take forever. Of course then they say they are going to forcluse on our house
So if they forcluse on our house where are we going to live , how are we going to rent an apartment with a forcluser on our credit.Yes
again that almighty FICO score another number that runs our lives. We are told all the time don't give out your social security number,
(the only real number that makes since) and then everyone and there brother wants that number to of course run your credit get the
almighty FICO score that runs our lives. Even the apartment complexes run your credit to see if you can live in thier complex.
Can anyone please tell us where this all ends and where are going to get the help we need? Does anyone out there care about
anyone else in this world? Is my family the only ones in this situation? I get phone numbers call those to just get more phone numbers
call them to just get more phone calls, just to ge tthe numbers i started to call in the first place. WHERE DO I GO NOW PLEASE HELP
ME AND HELP ME NOW. I WANT TO KEEP MY FAMILIES DREAM OF HAVING A HOUSE. Or at least have a safe place
to raise my kids and keep my wife safe.
If you have gone into a reasonable priced apartment lately they are so small and narrow and don't leave alot of room for kids to play
or room for people with seizure to fall without breaking their bones. The apartment you have to listen to your neighbors and they have to
listen to you. Alot of people seem to put me and my wife down because we have health problems and are disbled. We can't hold down
full time job's believe me I would love to work. My wife misses working, she loves being with the kids but she gets so bored during the day
that she would love to work but cant find a company that will hire her with her siezures. And yet we dont even get paid the equivalant of
minamum wage. How is that fair to us It is not our choice to be disabled. besides if either one of go back to work we lose the chip
insurance for our kids and if we make to much money then we lose our social security money and then what do we do the next time
our health acts up again, and we become unable to work. I think alot of places mortgage companies, business, and the people that
think that disabled and elderly people can survive on so little a month, should be sued or made to try and survive on the little amount of money
that we are forced to live on. Why don't they try to live for even one month on what we try to live on every day of our lives.
Something needs to be done and it needs to be done now.
I have even tried applying to extreme home make over to see if they will help us and have not ever heard anything back from them, so If you
know how to get ahold them please tell them my plea for help.

Robert Van Meer
947 s 250 e
Layton Utah 84041
801-593-5500
r_vanmeer@yahoo.com

[Tamika]

HELLO I WATCH YOUR SHOW ALL THE TIME.AND I THINK THAT YOU ARE A GREAT GUY TO HELP PEOPLE OUT AND GET THEM ON THEY FEET AND THE HOUSES ARE BEAUYFULL AND I AM SO PROUD OF YOU.THANK YOU AND I HOPE THAT I CAN GET A CHANCE TO BE NEXT....

[tamika]

im here again i was wondering if they have a show were people help family members get back as a real family and stop all the hate.me as a family at my home is not ok where people think i have it all.i have something i can say i take care of my stuff or the little bit i have.and i apreciate some of the goods i have i could really use some help.

[Kathy]

I love this show...and is Ty married. I would love to meet him. Near Nashville.

[Kathy]

Ty....I think all of the Crew is Thee finest and most talented people. I always watch your show. I just need a fence and garage but I heard through my friends in Nashville when you went to the famous Ryman, that you were so very nice! I'm an injured flight attendant but don't hold that against me. I would just love to say hello. Thank you kind gentleman.
Blessings and Sincerely, Kathy

[Kelly]

Ty not sure how to start out with this. I have been trying to fill out an application for my brother inlaw and sister inlaw and i can't seem to get your page to come up. Anyway to tell you a little bit about the family i'm talking about they are a family of 5 with 3 kids and 2 adults the youngest and the oldest of the 3 kids has altisem the live in dunlap illinois in a house that need alot of work to it and is to small for the family of 5 so can you please help me to help my sister inlaw it would be a dream come true for them and the kids would love to go to walt disney world you may reach me at k_66bog@yahoo.com or call 309-706-3304 THANK YOU SO MUCH TY YOU ARE GREAT FOR WHAT YOU DO FOR THESE FAMILYS GOD BLESS YOU ALL

[sharon dinsdale]

hello people. Im sharon and im from england. can anyone help me. I want to send a letter to the Gilyeat family but have no idea what the address is. please can you help. posted the 20th april 2008 at 7.15 am

[sharon dinsdale]

If any kind person can help me to find the Gilyeat familys address it would be great. my E mail Addy is shall.yorkshire@lycos.com.uk thanks

[breanna ward]

ty,i need you to please,please,please, do a home makeover for my auntie.i am 9 years old and im begging you to do this for me because theres holes in the ceiling and when it storms lightning and rain comes through the wholes.and also they were givin 30 days to fix the house and 15 days have already gone by.and they have a morgage problem.and they aredue to a lost job.if i know anyone that needs a home makeover its my auntie.this is a desperate message.this is the address of their home.(4067 NW 35 way lauderdale lakes florida 33309)please call me back at (954)205-6903.this is a safety issue.and very urgent,please do not delay.the only reason im sending you this message because ive been watching your show ever scine i was 4.ive seen what you can do and im asking you to please do this for my auntie.im counting on you you for my aunie safety,may god bless you and continue to bless you forever! thanks breanna ward

[budo47@msn.com]

salut,je suis française et j aime beaucoup cette émission ,je c pas quand en france il pourais faire la meme ! longue vie a votre émission fantastique! A bientot .

[dancin e. hansen]

your 07/13/08 show was great!when my man sung at end i teared up like a little girl. ty, you guys do the lords work.great blessing are due you guys,for real.love!

[Carlene Fretz]

I love Extreme Makeover Home Edition more than I can describe. Now, why can't succeding episodes past season one be released on DVD? What is the hold up? Thanks.

[A Disappointed viewer]

I have loved watching Extreme Makeover because you seem to help a lot of people in need. I watched your episode that you did for a family whose mother had donated her bone marrow and saved another mother's baby girl. It was so very heartwarming. Although I was very disappointed in the way that the team ridiculed the Canadian Company that did the framework of the home. I don't believe that this type of ridicule is necessary at any time let alone on a program that is supposed to be so in touch with the right things to do for people. Our world is made up of many countries and we should all be considerate of one another. At the end of the program they even ridiculed our O Canada song. This has definetly
influenced any future viewing of this program on my part.