LANSING, MI — At the end of September one lucky family will be surprised when ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” crew knocks on their door. One of five families that live close to or in Lansing were nominated for the TV show. This will be the third home built in the state.
The producers of Extreme Makeover Home Edition were looking for a family in the Lansing area to help, and they asked the community to help find the perfect family. There’s a different twist because the family they are looking for contains a hero. They searched for community champion or someone who had just done so much for others but not for themselves. The perfect family for this edition just didn’t desperately need a home makeover.
On the day the family is chosen, host and crew member, Ty Pennington shows up at the front door and greets the family with a “Good morning!” wake up call. The family will tell their story and they will then be whisked away on a vacation of their choice for seven days. During that time major structural renovations and radical changes will be made to the interior and exterior of the home.
Several hundred volunteers work in a race against time to complete the house that would normally take over four months in one week. They’ll totally rebuild an entire house – every single room, plus the exterior and landscaping.
The construction is accomplished with the help of a large army of blue-shirted volunteers which most of them attended a pep rally at Michigan State University. There will be a wide array of sponsor-donated products and services. Also involved is a team of designers and carpenters who are professional consultants for the show and assist with narration.
Mayberry Homes was chosen by the popular network television program to oversee and construct the new home . E.T. MacKenzie Companies will donate more than $50,000 in demolition, excavation, grading and all foundation work, and MPC Cashway Lumber will donate all lumber, windows, framing and trim.
The show’s successful first season garnered an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Reality Program. The show airs locally at 8 p.m. Sundays on WLAJ-TV.
