User Reviews

The original version of EMHE aired on ABC during my middle school/ high school years. At the time, it was one of my favorite shows and a must-watch every Sunday night. I even had the opportunity to visit the construction sites of four different homes EMHE built in my area over the years (only as a spectator; I was too young to volunteer at the time). I was, however, able to witness one live demolition and one live "move that bus".

The original ABC version was truly "extreme". So much so, in fact, that some of the helped families ended up having to sell their new homes after the builds because of increased property taxes and what not. However, the majority of families helped by the show remain in their new homes.

This HGTV version of EMHE is missing something. Not only is it not as extreme as its predecessor (the houses are a much more reasonable size and so far have been remodeled at least twice instead of being torn down), but it lacks something else as well. Obviously with the show being on HGTV rather than ABC, it has less money available for each episode. ABC was able to send each family away on vacation in a limousine, often to one of its Disney vacation destinations. Southwest Airlines provided air transportation (I still remember hearing that sponsorship at the end of every episode.) This new version? It sends the families to a "local hotel" for five days.

This isn't the only noticeable difference. While Jesse Tyler Ferguson is a great actor and would likely be a wonderful host on a talk show or game show, he is completely out of his element here. While the other three members of the new design team seem more than competent, Ferguson is like a fish out of water. He does fine while interacting with the families, but has zero construction skills. Ty Pennington is greatly missed.

As others have mentioned in their reviews, the product placement in this new version feels awkward and choppy. Yes, there was plenty of product placement in the original. (Disney, Southwest Airlines, Sears, and Ford immediately come to mind.) Yet in this HGTV reboot, it feels like the entire build is product placement, with little time given to showing individual projects, problems encountered during construction, special guest designers (Ty Pennington received what, a combined total of about two minutes of time in the last episode?). Not to mention the fact that the larger sponsors in the ABC version were able to give out larger gifts to the families in addition to their new homes- new cars, paying off the mortgages or medical bills, etc. This first season on HGTV feels similar to the first on ABC- sticking to homes in and around California.

I don't know why ABC ever decided to move EMHE from Sunday nights to Friday nights, but that move ultimately killed the show's ratings and led to its cancellation. I would love to see it go from HGTV back to Sunday nights on ABC so that it can truly be "extreme" again. This new version simply feels watered-down.

I was very excited this show was coming back. But I've since been very disappointed. I like Jesse Tyler Ferguson, but he's not right for this show. The designers are nothing special. The families' stories are not like they used to be. The show used to bring me to tears. Now I'm more annoyed. HGTV missed the mark here.

I was a casual viewer of the previous version of this show. When I saw this one on Hulu, I thought I'd give it a try.

I realize now that one of the reasons I didn't watch regularly before was because of the previous host, Ty Pennington. He's a nice guy, talented...but he's too "on" all the time, the raspy voice and his personality overshadowed everyone else. With Jesse Tyler Ferguson, I have not missed an episode. I like that he's more of a host than anything, he's calm, very happy, and seems so genuine.

I also love Breegan as a designer, she's incredibly talented, and absolutely stunning.

Unlike some others, I don't mind the product placement. The companies are donating materials, time, money, products, etc. To these people who truly deserve it. They can slap a Wayfair sticker on all the volunteers backs for all I care.

Finally, perhaps it's because I'm older than when the first version of the show came out, and my priorities are different - but I get LOTS of decorating ideas from the new show.

I rated 6/10, I'd rate the Ty version 3/10.

I almost puked when one of the hosts burst into that room holding a can of paint and said something along the lines of " I've brought some kelly-morgan paint for you" the show has always been one long commercial for Sears or whoever but it is even more egregious in it's lack of effort in trying to hide it now. Not to mention Ferguson is completely void of charisma and sucked what little life remained out of the show.

These children's tears and sob stories are brought to you by: Best Buy, Wayfair, Microsoft Surface, Sony, State Farm, La-Z-Boy, and many others. Save the children, buy our products.

Loved the previous one with Ty Pennington and was super pleasantly surprised by this new edition! Amazingly moving and beautiful results! Congratulations!!! 👍🏻👏👍🏻👏

This show is no good without Ty Pennington! I'm out!

I cried being 12 watching the old one, and I cry now at 28. The product placement doesn't bother me, the important thing is that these families are getting what they deserve. Jesse is sweet, maybe he can bring new viewers. I don't get the hate, I give 10 stars because this kind of show need to continue on the air. Get some perspective people

The segments seem forced and the flow of story feels stagnant. The formula for the original Extreme Makeover Home Edition was heartfelt and exciting, albeit predictable, yet this has none of charm of its predecessor.

This installment, so far, feels like the volunteers are around simply to function as a screaming, cheering studio audience while the contractor du jour erects the prefabricated building in the background. No a speck of sawdust on any of them.

As a fan of the original, I wish I enjoyed this more, but it is a missed opportunity.

The new show is more about advertising product and companies then about the families. Jesse has no charisma and knows nothing about building or design. A very bad remake of what use to be a feel good show. What is the need to build such big and grandiose homes fit for millionaires? Can't they just build normal size homes. Bring back Ty Pennington and get rid of Jesse.

HGTV has grown so much and missed a major opportunity here. Be it the wrong and lacking star power. Making the advertising seem more than the family. Then they missed a mark by not enlisting their own design power. Idk, maybe I got to excited when I heard HGTV took over the show and my expectations were wrong. I wasn't impressed.

Y'all made a good choice bring this show back!

Keep up the good work!

You could tell how this was going to go when the makeover team marches to meet the family carrying banners with a name on them.....NOT the name of the family, but of the contractor hired to build the house. After that it was just a highlight reel show for different products. The host and designers are not very engaging.

I loved the original and this one has its special touch and I enjoyed it so much. Love Jesse and the new group of designers and the show brought me tears and make me laugh. I recommend it.

I was a "blue shirt" on the original. We did the Wofford home in Encinitas, CA. As a volunteer, I and others worked 20 hour days on the home during the week of shooting and then came back for 6 months after the cameras were off to fix all the things done quickly/poorly to make the show deadline. Unlike later shows, we did the work *with* the General Contractor and the planners and skilled folks who were part of the show - not just cheering audience in white hats and blue shirts.

The original show had Sears, etc. and the materials weren't cheap (I estimated almost $400K). I get the need to mention sponsors but it can be done more tactfully and less in-your-face.

What's missing? Faith. The original had references to God. We were contacted at a local church to volunteer and we prayed for the family, the workers, the effort. Most of us did not even want to be on camera. On the original crew Ty was young and crazy but *appeared* to have some actual construction skills. Paulie was a real good person who would show up in the middle of the night and thank the folks doing the work. Tracy and others were not fed lines in the intro but were free to react with compassion for the family and you could feel it and be motivated by it. The women on the original team had genuine faith and compassion -- question to HGTV: what did the originals all do so wrong that not one could even be a guest on your version? The original version had a balance where the HGTV version seems too reliant on a star who is missing something. All the actors as overly dramatic designers is kind of overdone in my opinion.

I watched all episodes and see a caffeinated attempt to capture the feel of the original but it comes off flat. I think the host somehow makes it about himself instead of the family, the story and the community.

My wife who also was a blue shirt made immediate observation:

I miss Ty.

My conclusion, "Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it."

p.s. I loved helping but it is heart-breaking to see how the new homes hurt the families who over-leverage their equity and then get foreclosed but better in my opinion to risk doing good than rationalize the potential negative as an excuse to not help. To that end I applaud HGTV for trying to do good and at the end of the day investing in some deserving families. It is tough to again remember how many people are struggling out there.

Embarrassing to watch... spend more time on product placement and advertising for companies that I now will refuse to do business with than focusing on the people they're helping, and why, and how exactly. The original was night and day different than this trash.

The 4 stars is simply for at least helping people from all walks and not completely screwing the pooch by getting political about their choices like most of network TV these days.

This is a cross between a multi-product infomercial and a sappy disaster telethon led by an untalented, unsympathetic host. I feel sorry for the families exploited by this garbage. The original wasn't nearly this blatantly commercialized and had a funny, sympathetic host. PASS

I love the changes they made. Much more realistic design and specific for the families and their needs. Love Jesse.

I was so excited to see this show comeback. But now, 8 just dvr, then scan for the 1%.

The host has zero concept in the build, up high cheapens the hgtv show. The few seconds Ty Pennington is on the show is the few moments the show gets interesting.

Just one long commercial and the design pieces are so trite. I hope they do a recast and design instead of canceling it.

I can 1st season was way better. Back when it was less glitz and glamour and more "hmm, that's cool...I would like to do that in my house" with a cast that knew how to build and were charismatic.

Ty's projects are still the highlight!!!!!

Watching I guess is pilot of reboot and I can't get though it. Story seems fake, blatant advertising which the original had some of that too. Where the original seemed authentic in the stories this version doesn't. Plus in this pilot they are destroying a very good house to build a useless mansion house. Even in the original I never got this. A family is struggling and you building a bigger house so they can have a larger mortgage plus larger property taxes! In the original there was only a few shows that they actually paid everything off but not with everybody. Think about that if writing to a series like this one to get a makeover. Anyway, I take the original any day.