Best TV Show of the Week

 Extreme Makeover:  Home Edition on ABC

By Catherine Nailog

ABC’s Extreme Makeover:  Home Edition, which aired on August 21st at 8:00 p.m. ET, receives the honor of Best TV Show of the Week.  Ty Pennington and his team traveled to Maple Heights, Ohio to build a dream home the Andersons, a loving and caring family of five: parents Jasmine and Andre, their two children, Jaison, 13, who is deaf, Jahzion, 7, and Valentine, the guide dog.   Diabetes had caused Jasmine and Andre to go blind, but that didn’t hinder them in achieving their goals. They began the Disability Awareness Center in their community, and provided educational and mentoring programs for the disabled and their families.  Jasmine and Andre have a strong sense of contributing to their community and encouraged others with disabilities to accomplish their dreams.  Their only regret was being dependent upon their sons.  With the help of the Maple Heights community, the Cleveland Browns, Marous Brothers Construction, Ty, Xzibit, Michael and Tracy, Jasmine and Andre wouldn’t have to be as dependent on their children, particularly around their home.

Initially, Andre tried to make repairs on the home, but as his eyesight weakened, repairs were left undone.  The disrepair in the home included a bathroom without a sink and an unanchored toilet that could easily be moved.  The home was barely functional for people who could see, much less for people who are blind.  Ty and his team were determined to build a smart home for the Andersons. 

The Andersons were sent on a vacation to the Adaptive Sports Center in Colorado where they fished, hiked, rock climbed and rode horses. While the Andersons were on vacation, Ty and his team installed an audio aid at a busy street intersection to help the disabled when crossing the street.  The Andersons were also told that their mortgage had been paid off in full.  When the Andersons returned from their vacation, Michael took the Andersons shopping at Sears.  Michael handed Andre a tool that, when pointed at an item, would respond with the color of the item.  The family then shopped for new clothes.  Upon returning to their new home,  Andre was given a model to touch in order to get a sense of the newly-built home.  The Andersons were grateful for such an amazing home.  They thanked Marous Brothers Construction, who also gave them $50,000 for the upkeep of the home.  While inside the home, Jasmine and Andre received canes that vibrated when something came their way.  They also received an audio barcode scanner that tells them what the product is when it is scanned. 

Jasmine and Andre were so thankful for a home that “speaks” to them.  Jahzion was given a room designed by Xzibit and depicted his dreams of becoming an eye doctor.  Jaison was given a room designed by Tracy that included a Cleveland Cavaliers theme.  The boys also received a full scholarship to Cleveland State University. Jasmine and Andre they received a beautiful master bedroom that had a magnified version of Braille on the headboard that read “love is blind.”  Also, Jasmine received a gift that magnifies her hands or face to help when painting her nails, applying makeup or fixing her hair.  This gift also assisted her in seeing her wedding ring for the very first time.  The home also included an office that had an audio reader for books.  Sears also donated $20,000 to toward their Disability Awareness Center.  For the entire family, Ty made sure that when watching a movie during “family time,” the family could all together, yet each member could enjoy the movie through subtitles or an audio descriptive track.  To top off their night, musician John Legend entertained the Andersons. As he sang, Andre and Jasmine danced. 

The show deserves to be the Best TV Show of the Week because the Andersons did not let their disabilities stop them from being a loving family or giving to their community. The Andersons truly represented the idea that love is blind. Jasmine and Andre did not dwell on the loss of their eyesight, but rather they determined what they can do and share that knowledge with others through their center.  They are like all parents who want to provide a safe home and a future for their children. And in giving to their community, they were given a wonderful new home and a future for their family in return.

Best TV Show of the Week

The Parents Television Council - www.parentstv.org