MovieChat Forums > Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (2003) Discussion > Instead of overdoing all the houses..

Instead of overdoing all the houses..

posted 16 years ago by Chaluta2
11 replies | jump to latest

they should build normal, but beautiful houses at a less insane price. If they do this not only would the costs of the homes be more afforadable to the family but it would prevent robberies if the home is in a bad area, as well as children growing out of ridiculously themed rooms. Along with this, Extreme Home Makeover could go to an inpoverished area or somewhere like New Orleans or another area that was hit by some natural disaster and help rebuild entire communities that are normal, instead of big funhouses. With the exceptions of houses they build for hurricane resistance or with special features for medical/health reasons of the occupants the just overdo it. They should stop making it a theatrical thing, and try and keep it to positive community devlopment and help for Americans down on their luck. Does anyone else agree? (And I tried to make a similar ost just before so sorry if this is doubled.)

[–] toenacious 16 years ago

Well then they would basically just be a charity organization and since their purpose is to get rating it's not going to happen.

[–] Chaluta2 16 years ago

If reality TV can make the everyday life of has-been movie stars a hit then they can find a way to make something like that entertaining.

[–] wolfinspirit 16 years ago

I saw an old episode (a couple of years old) a few weeks ago. Back then the houses they built were a lot simpler and had a lot less "themed" rooms. As the show grew in popularity, it seems like the homes have gotten "bigger and better" (notice the quotation marks). Popularity brought bigger sponsors. Bigger sponsors paid for bigger homes and/or more stuff in the homes. In turn, bigger homes with more stuff seems to have increased the ratings.... and the whole thing spirals.

In some ways I agree: They might be able to help more familes for less money if they built simpler homes. On the other hand, less people might watch the show. If less people watch the show, sponsors may not pay/donate as much money and products. It's a weird cycle that can go both ways. After all, this is a TV show and TV shows are fed by ratings (and sponsors).

The one thing that I have always liked about the show is how they adapt homes for family members when needed. I also like some of the cultural awareness that they encorporate into some of the homes that they build.

The one thing that I have always hated was the horrible pity-inducing language that Ty and the gang often use when talking about people with disabilities, etc. Luckily that seems to have changed somewhat in recent episodes.

[–] puzzow 16 years ago

And when the families that the show was purportedly trying to "help" get bounced out of their homes in a couple years because they don't know how to be fiscally responsible for a giant luxury home, it turns out that the only people that ABC has actually helped are themselves...at the expensive of the sincere efforts of the people in the community. Not to mention the warped message the show is purveying to its audience: "have problems? You need expensive electronics and a luxury home!"

[–] ohsparkly 16 years ago

Why do they have to put all these super expensive appliances and electronics in the house? The first episode I saw was the one were the father found his dad living on the streets and they had to put the grandpa in the RV. They made the gradge into a apartment for the grandpa. The remodled the house and it was a simple remodle.

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[–] babydoll-1 16 years ago

I'm with you.

They're setting these people up for failure and America eats it up like it's some noble thing.

It's ridiculous.

I don't care about ratings.

You're right about the "theme rooms."

Those kids will get sick of that in a few months.

Just make some normal homes for people in need.

I would bet people would still watch.

[–] ReasonToBelieve910 16 years ago

Agreed...they are building way beyond the needs of the family. It's ridiculous how big of a house they build for three people.

Easy on the skanky innuendo!
-Brooke Davis

[–] nkracher 16 years ago

When they build the houses, do they pay them off? Because I was watching an episode and it seemed like Ty was making a big deal about them paying off the house for them. So if they don't it seems like a lot of the families are gonna end up losing the houses anyway.

[–] sweets672 16 years ago

They do pay off most of the mortgages or the family receives huge donations to pay their utility bills, etc. They only family that has actually had their home forclosed on is a family that used their home as collateral on a bad business deal. The show advises all of the families to consult a financial advisor before making any decisions about their new home.

[–] TheSolarSailor 16 years ago

Which is a hollow gesture designed for them to fall back on and say "see, we warned you". No, overdoing these homes to start with is the real problem. To expect these families to actually utilize responsibility is ludicrous. They are creating a situation that is just begging these families to go beyond their means.

* * * *
If electricity comes from electrons, does morality come from morons?

[–] brittannie19 15 years ago

I always laugh at the theme rooms. They go so overboard on them and oftentimes it's not even something the kids are that into. In the beginning when they interview the kids about what they like sometimes they get somewhat shy kids or kids with poor social skills who don't say much and when they finally say something random like "butterflies" the designers go *beep* and go completely overboard on the butterfly theme because it's Suzie's favorite thing in the whole world! (Only it's not.)

There was one episode in which they built an over-the-top house for a homeless family. BUT...it was in a low income "get-back-on-your-feet" type of community in which they did not own the house at all and they were only allowed to stay until the parents got jobs and they could afford to move out. Okay...if that were me I'd never get a job. Obviously this family could never afford to rent, let alone own anything half as nice as this home. What a horrible thing to do to those kids. Let them live in luxury for what might only be a few short months before the owners of that charity neighborhood decide the parents have had enough time to get work and kick them out. For the money they pissed away in that house they could have built 12 nice duplex units for 6 different homeless families.