Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
on ABC
By Ally Matteodo
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
again outpaces the rest of the television program pack to become the Best
TV Show of the Week. Airing at 8:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, November 8th,
this episode focuses on the amazing Terpenning family of Beavercreek, Ohio.
James Terpenning, the patriarch of the family, was born in Vietnam to a
Vietnamese woman and American man. The Air Force helped move James to America
while still a little boy, as part of a policy intended to protect American or
half-American infants from perishing. Stricken with polio as an infant, James
needed a wheelchair from then on, but this did not stop him from becoming a
decorated athlete, winning two gold medals at the Paralympics. James’ family
consists of his wife Shannon and their four children, Josselyn, Jacob, Justin,
and Joshua. In addition, James takes care of his little brother Joe, who
suffers from cerebral palsy. The Terpenning family home, with narrow corridors
and high countertops, limits the two brothers’ movements. Furthermore, James
struggles putting his own son Joshua to bed since his crib is raised. Ty
Pennington and his team to the rescue!
This season’s Extreme
Makeover: Home Edition series revolves around the theme of volunteerism, and
this week’s celebrity guest volunteer was country music star Kellie Pickler.
Kellie throws herself into the tasks at hand, from painting a treasure chest to
demolition work, and brings her little brother Eric along for the ride. She
emphasizes how important and touching the experience is for her, and how she’s
certain Eric will remember it for the rest of his life. This program really
showcases the power of volunteers. With enough volunteers, a beautiful house
can be built and decorated in just a week, something that almost seems
impossible. Yet what only took a week will last a lifetime for a deserving and
beautiful family. Furthermore, college scholarship grants are given to all of
the Terpenning family children so James and Shannon can stop worrying about
finances, and James and Joe are given brand new electric wheelchairs so their
movements are less constrained. In perhaps one of the most touching details,
the design crew builds a new crib for Joshua, so now James can comfortably and
confidently tuck in his baby boy. The design team and volunteers’ ability to
anticipate every need, their eye for detail, and their eagerness to completely
fulfill a family’s dreams are all shining examples of the power of love.
Best TV Show
of the Week
The Parents
Television Council -
www.parentstv.org
