Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
The Harvey Family - How'd They Do That?
Recap By J. G. Bird
May 2, 2005
Willie Harvey is at the heart of this makeover, no question. The responses the crew catch on camera from him are the bright spots. Wife Aleecia mentions that her family is kinda on her case for her profuse tears – well, it’s the other memorable and personal side to this story. The wife that takes over the breadwinning in an area that already is severely depressed is a great story of everyday strength. Imagine doctor visits, medical bills, and the 80+ hours a week she has taken on. She does what is needed; this includes working a factory job for the past 18 years to provide the family’s medical benefits. What a dream come true to have this makeover bestowed on them.
We are shown a rare interaction of the family with the people that nominated them. Aaron Robinson and Melissa Strohminger, rush up to give their congratulations to the Harveys before the crew loads the recipient family into the waiting limo.
These two visitors are simply community members that wanted to recognize the neighborliness the selfless Willie Harvey demonstrates daily in this impoverished area.
Alan Luxemore Production Manager notes that the volunteers for this build are primarily competitors in day-to-day operations, but their affiliation for these community improvement projects in North Florida create a kind of “Super Bowl of Renovation.” We see several shots of excited volunteers receiving their blue EHME T-shirts at sign-in on demolition day. Gathered crowds are shouting, “Pull the house down! Pull the house down!” What we don’t know until now, that rickety old shack didn’t come down as quickly or easily as we were shown on the edited Sunday show. A teen “military academy” army brigade is used for some of the set-up for the demolition and some reflection from one of these cadets relates how the program has lifted him from his own rough life.
The Demolition Man, Glen, is highlighted from the EMHE crew when the original plan to simply pull the house down with ropes does not work! He’s absolutely jubilant about his job. Who couldn’t love a job where every job is a different way to destroy something?!
A little time is spent describing that hand-held radios are carried by all the cast and crew to keep communication rapid and simple. Like police radio code, certain code has been created to alert production mangers when someone needs equipment, food, even a potty break. Next, Ed reflects upon some of the detail that had to go into the cypress tree table for the outside kitchen. He spends quite a bit of time using a Dremel-like grinder tool to get an exact fit. Preston is profuse with the level of praise for his favorite Limey’s effort.
Ed and Michael take a trip to Kennedy Space Center and goof around in the Space Shuttle training vehicle. The mad shopping in the gift store nabs official astronaut caps, jackets, rocket models and the astronaut headshots that end up lining some of the plain walls in the finished Space room. Ed expresses his gratitude to the electricians that spent hours placing the filaments in the room’s ceiling for the starry sky.
Ty hosts the next segment, his Secret Room, of course. His goal, give the family a place for being together, and having a good, fun time. He builds “old school” and creates numerous cubes and rectangular “cubbies” to give rearrangeable storage, ottomans, seating. He demonstrates the simple mitered cut and assembling a bench that is simple but lovely. His game room includes a wall “maze,” but its practical installation is in question, since it is being completed in the hour the family has returned. He leaves the finishing and hanging of the piece to his assistants. Ty gushes over his pillows that “scream fun.” It’s ultimately a funky, yet functional family game room. It’s really a nice concept that they did not install a TV in this room.
The disrepair of many of the community’s homes is targeted in a segment in which Bill Wilson, Executive Director of Builder’s Care and Ty go door-to-door to talk about what the Builder’s Care crew is bestowing upon others. Many live in dilapidated homes because they cannot afford the renovations themselves. Due to donations, Bill states this will be an Extreme Neighborhood Edition. Not only did they highlight how portions of the entire neighborhood were being renovated piecemeal, but that a family, The Jacksons, who have been slowly building themselves a new home since a fire destroyed their home 4 years earlier, is being aided so that the house might be finished much, much sooner.
Ed takes note of the many volunteers working throughout the community. Bill Wilson notes that many of the volunteers are professionals that work a job in a specialty, then go straight to work for free on the work that’s needed in the community. Michael attends a community thanks fest with gospel music and homemade food for the volunteer crew members.
The tease for the last segment is a bit overstated. The reveal of “something we didn’t get to show” ends up being just the laundry room. The point is, this family is, like many others, very grateful for an addition like an established laundry room. So, in a way, it is a big deal. As viewers, let’s not get jaded and consider anything boring or overdone that brings something to a family that never had it.
About J.G. Bird
I have a direct, clear writing style useful in business, but if you wonder what I'm really thinking about, I keep a portfolio of creative writing on Writing.com/authors/walkinbird. My day-to day work is at a great metropolitan newspaper, proofreading ordered advertisements. Keeping an experienced eye to consistency in design elements also makes me an obnoxious, if not valuable, web editor and fact-checker. Due to my straight-laced demeanor, I need the occasional infusion of Reality TV. The home design shows are my only true addiction. I can be contacted at: walkinbird@writing.com
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