
Can you imagine we've been crying for 99 episodes? Come on, I'm surely not the only one who sheds a few tears when the family sees its new house! That's the number of episodes Ty Pennington and his crew destroyed houses to rebuild them and helped make deserving families' future a little bit brighter.
This weekend, ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition will celebrate its 100th episode in Minnetonka, Minnesota with a two-hour special featuring the return of some of the show's most memorable families.
The family featured in the 100th episode is the Swenson-Lee family. In a nutshell, Erik and Vicki Swenson, coaches and parents of three (plus one on the way), took under their roof the four children of Vicki's sister. The latter was killed by her estranged ex-boyfriend in 2006 and the kids had nowhere to go because their father was killed in a car accident in 2001.
For the occasion, ABC.com added a special section to Home Edition's website where you can read about the 100 families they helped, the guest stars who helped since the show premiered, etc. This 100th episode of the series airs on Sunday, November 25 at 7/6c on ABC.















Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
7-06-2008 @ 6:39PM
wanabmaxine said...
We are SOOOOoooo HAPPY!! This show is FINALY on for two Hours! We LOVE this insperational show. I laugh, Grin, Cry, etc. Love Sunday's and Momdays on ABC!!! Sunday, Funniest home video's, Extrem home Edition then Brother and
Sisters. Then Mondays The Dance Judges, Carrie and Bruno's Teams!! and more! But NOT Desperate House Wifes. I can't tell if it is serious or a comedy!!
Love all you at EMHE, ABC, Sears, furniture Co's, Builders....Oh my goodness! Such Fun!!
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2-06-2008 @ 7:57AM
Sherryann A. Wiltshire said...
Hi:
My name is Sherryann as stated above. I live in St. Croix United States Virgin Islands. I am a single mother of two children. My daughter is currently enrolled in law school and my 14 year-old son is currently attending the 9th grade. I am a veteran of the US Army. I entered a contract to purchase a seven bedroom house some years ago from a pastor. After giving him most of our family's savings and doing renovations in the house to the tune of an additional $20,000.00, he fled with my money and other people's money. Unfortunately, he did not give us any paperwork for the house and we found out that the house did not even belong to him. The monies did not go to escrow, so we all lost our hard-earned savings. He is still on the run today. I can give you more details later. The point now is that ever since then, my kids and I have had no where to go. from that time on we have resided with a friend because we cannot afford a house of our own. It has been long since past the time for us to move out. I have quite a bit of furniture in storage presently. I brought those home with me from Germany. They are just sitting there rutting away. I am currently enroled in a first time homebuyer's class every Thursday night which will end on March 8th. I am in the process of purchasing a low income home for the loan price of $60,000.00 before interest. My son and I went to check out the house for the first time (while it is under construction) yesterdy. I was so hurt, because my son was there I had to fight the tears from falling. That place is so small, we can't turn around in there. There is nothing in that house and already it can't hold anything.
My question to you is, can your show do a makeover for us to enlarge this home so that it can serve the purpose for which it is being built? I work with a lot of children in our area. I was the PTA president of one of our public schools when my daughter attended there. Now I am PTA president of the entire territor'y public schools. I hardly have time to myself. I know I can't have the dream home that I intended, but I would certainly like to have somewhere that my kids and I can put away the troubles of the past day. My kids would like to have a place they can finally call home. They would like to have their own bedrooms. We would like to have a half-way decent life. Sometimes I feel bad because I could run to everyone else and assist with their crisis, but I can't do the same for my family. I am partially handicapped, due to an automobile accidnet I had in Florida. Some things I can't and won't ever be able to do ever again.
I plead with you to really consider our situation and come to our rescue. I do not have the funding or finances to do the required renovations necessary to this structure. I eagerly look forward to hearing from you. Keep us in your prayers. Thank you!
Sincerely,
Sherryann A. Wiltshire
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11-23-2007 @ 12:25PM
Dorv said...
Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't they add the theme of helping in need families early in the first season? I didn't think it was an episode one convention, but I could be wrong?
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11-23-2007 @ 12:34PM
Oreo said...
I thought they always fixed houses for the needy. I do remember for at least the first few episodes they would redo the house and not build a new one.
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11-23-2007 @ 12:57PM
Isabelle Carreau said...
Yes, they always helped families in need or with amazing stories. The 100th episode family is in need because they are 10 in a house that is way too small.
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11-23-2007 @ 1:18PM
Cincinnati Mike said...
I have always thought this was a bit over the top. Not so much the wringing of tears--hey, that's good TV. But the makeovers themselves. Like, there's 9 kids, and they can't agree on what to watch. So we mounted 9 independently controlled 42-inch TVs in the wall so they never have to fight again!! This is a NEED? I have always thought they could help 4 families for all the overkill thay lavish on 1 family every week. Yes, I know this makes me a Grinch!
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11-23-2007 @ 1:34PM
Oreo said...
I agree with Mike, they do sometimes go over the top.
My favorite is when they redid a house and a few of the children had to share a room. It's a 4,000+ square foot house and yet they have to share rooms?
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11-23-2007 @ 2:32PM
Gene Cowan said...
A lot of the time when I watch this show, I am struck by the thought that the purpose of it all is not to reward needy families, but to indoctrinate families who gave of themselves even when they had nothing into the more profitable ways of consumer excess. And nothing says excess than giving a poor family of 10 a dozen or so plasma screens. I suppose they could sell them later when they are struggling to feed 10 kids, pay the enormous electricity and heating bills for the house and TVs, and stave off the demands from the tax man now that they have a multi-million dollar house.
I feel for each and every family on that show, and think they all deserve it (as do thousands more). But I can't help wonder if the aftermath of it all makes their lives better or worse. My favorite episodes are the ones where the team does something that will enable the family to sustain their good fortune by enabling them to work or continue to help others.
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11-23-2007 @ 4:27PM
Oreo said...
You Gene bring up another great point.
Ignore the 10 TV and such, or the 5 SUVs that get 5 miles a gallon. Some of these homes are huge 5,000 square foot things and heating oil will be up over $3 soon, how do you heat the houses.
If they ever built a house for me I would ask them to keep it smaller (2,500 feet) and have solar panels and everything possible to make the houses cost less. What's the point of having a nice house if you can't pay the bills for it?
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11-23-2007 @ 5:10PM
Brent McKee said...
The thing that has always bothered me is not the conspicuous consumerism but rather the conscious lack of follow-up either by the show or the media. We saw the family get the fancy hottub and assorted other stuff but haven't seen the fact that they can't afford to run much of what they got because they can't afford the electrical bill and their taxes are shooting through the roof. Then there was the case of the family that got a new house because they took in some orphaned children, then once they had their new EMHE house threw the orphans out. No, all we ever see is the "oh gosh, isn't this wonderful" bits.
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11-23-2007 @ 9:21PM
Trish said...
The store I work at donated the food for this family. The house is near our store. It's a sad thing what happened to those children.
That being said, I do agree that a lot of times the show goes overboard in the "how many electrical/technological things can we fit in this house?" department.
There are also stories out there about some families feeling duped in that they thought the show would be paying the new, higher, property tax or some other thing that is now higher financially.
I look forward to this episode primarily because it's a hometown one for me. Hopefully it won't dissapoint with over "OMG!" moments.
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11-24-2007 @ 11:38AM
Michael Kaply said...
The Austin American Statesman revisited the Austin family this past week. Here's the article:
http://www.statesman.com/search/content/news/stories/local/11/22/1122autism.html
To quote "No, the quickly built home is still standing; yes, they can still pay the taxes."
It's amazing how much more money you have when don't have a mortgage.
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11-27-2007 @ 9:50PM
Dale Peterson said...
Dear Tye and all the crew at ABC
I have watched with amasement as you continue to bless people across this country that have gone thru or are in the mistst of incredable trials. Today's program was no exception, but I had to shut off the show when I saw you destroy a home that could have been given to another victim of domestic violence while going to another site close by and building a new home for the family. Why are you so intent on providing a home that is way beyond a families need and current ability to care for long term. The money spent on one location could easily benifit three to four families with reasonable homes that would meet their needs. It would not make for as dramatic a tv show,but a much more dramatic impact in several lives. Please us greater discression so I can return to watching your incredible program. Thanks. Dale
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11-25-2007 @ 11:08PM
Carolyn said...
Hello Tye,and ABC....
As I read some of these comments I wondered are they crazy or just not thinking?
I saw your onehundredth eposoide and I thought it was great and very rewarding to the family and they derserved a bigger pl;ace rather it was just remolded or built from ground up.
I would love to be able to have a new house but I can't afford one.. I live with my son cause I can't afford to live on my own anymore. I raised my two children all by myself and well I think I did a good job,yes there was alot of bumps and knock downs in my way but believe me it was well worth every wrong hurdle there was ...
Son and I live in a small two bedroom house that well was redone on the inside but bellieve me it wasn't done right and it is falling apart.I can hardly move around in my bedroom it is so small. We have one batheroom that is barely enough room for one person...
I am glad the 100 th family got that bigger house they really derserved it .. I can only wish.....
Thank You Tye for what you do, I believe in you and that the Good Lord has choosen you to be a Great Angel for all the right reasons....
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11-26-2007 @ 2:44AM
Betty said...
Congratulations on your 100th episode!!!!
Thankyou for voice for Domestic Violence Prevention.
You give a challenge by example.
May others look at the laws, victims, resources, and re-evaluation.
I know someone who was turned down for food stamps on the basis they were homeless, which was due domestic violence. Your message is so much more helpful.
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11-26-2007 @ 8:25PM
mich said...
why can't people just be happy for or appreciate the fact that there are good people in world who do things out of the kindness of their heart.Why does it only have to be so called "needy people" that should have something nice done for them. Do you not think watching your dad die and even worse your mom as well a horrible and extremly traumatizing thing.Especially when it comes to murder.God even their moms boyfriend was taken from them.If that family doesn t need a little joy in their life.Do you have any idea the pain you encounter to have a loved one murdered because of a sick ex boyfriend or husband the kind of pain and guilt it leaves the family with.Questioning yourself "what could I have done , why etc" I do and you see it on tv and think it could never happen to you well guess what it can and you will never be the same again. That family needed a new and fresh start on their life as a family of 10.It hard for a averager family of 4 to make ends meet let alone 10. Who are we to say who deserves a makeover and who doesn't. Try putting yourself in that families shoes and see how you would feel.
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11-30-2007 @ 1:12AM
liz in kc said...
when i tye and his crew were in kc in march of 2007 i really believed in what they did my kids go to school with the jocoba family kids and i volunteered my time on the house tyes' bus parked in my yard i was guarenteed my yard would be good as new and they pulled out of kc leaving a local co. to fix my yard here it is nov. of 2007 and im still geting the run around and have what appears to be crop circles in my front yard do you think tye and his crew cares? maybe i can get an extreme yard make-over
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12-07-2007 @ 10:55AM
Mary Murry said...
I think that Tye and the volunteers ar doing a wonderful job, just wish they could help more families.....I have tried so many times to find out how to apply for a home make over for a family I know that is very very deserving. If anyone knows please let me know through this blog..
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12-15-2007 @ 3:14PM
Barbara Champion said...
I just emailed you about needing help with our home. I would be so very very blessed if you were to help us. Nothing good has ever come my way I have struggled all my life with depression and other problems. I need something to come and happen that is great or even good will be okay if it happened to me. A year ago I lost my daughter and I am trying to fix my home up so it is livable and I can have my daughter that I have raised for the past 5 years to come back home to a beautiful nice home. Please Help Us. We really need it. Thank You. Barbara Champion
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12-28-2007 @ 10:56AM
Marilyn Cody said...
How do you pick your families? My daughter and her
son are in need of help. Please let me know. Thanks
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