Extreme Makeover: Home Edition - Reaction and Criticism

Reaction and Criticism

Since the show premiered in November 2003, one of the show's strongest supporters has been the Parents Television Council which not only gives the show its coveted "Seal of Approval", but has also named it the most family-friendly series on network television on its website since the show's second season and frequently names it the best show of the week. The show is also praised by the Parents Television Council for promoting altruistic ideals such as helping others in need and thinking of others. At every makeover, thousands of people participate by donating their time, money, and help. By the beginning of the show's seventh season, an estimated 500,000 Americans had helped with the show.

However, while the show has usually earned positive reviews and even earned two Emmy Awards, it has often been criticized by some viewers for unnecessary contributions and glorifying excessive suburban lifestyles, such as in a Mother Jones article that questioned giving a 6-bedroom, 7-bath, 7-television house to a family of 4 in Kingston, WA. However, this criticism was countered by the fact that the family was using a portion of the house as a bed and breakfast.

In an article entitled "ABC's 'Extreme Exploitation'", The Smoking Gun published an e-mail sent on March 10, 2006, from an ABC employee to network affiliates, relaying a message from the program's casting agent detailing specific tragedies and rare illnesses sought by the show. Included were a "Muscular Dystrophy Child", a "Family who has multiple children w/ Down Syndrome (either adopted or biological)" and a child with Congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis. This last request included a parenthetical remark stating, "There are only 17 known cases in US - let me know if one is in your town!" This e-mail has led some major media networks and blogs to accuse the show of opportunism in seeking out the most sensational stories in a push for higher ratings.

Another criticism aimed at the show surrounds financial issues that some of the families have had after receiving the home makeover, the majority of which have been found to be grossly exaggerated or completely untrue altogether. The most common allegation is that most of the families have sold their houses due to their inability to pay for them, and some have gone into foreclosure. The most widely known case involved the Harper Family, who sometime after receiving a new house from the show placed a $450K Home Equity loan on the house and used the funds to start a construction business, which failed after the housing market crash in 2007. As a result, the loan went into default and the family faced foreclosure. A few other families, including the Wofford, Vardon and Marrero families, have had some struggles, but most sources specifically point out that these troubles have little to do with the show or the makeover, and more to do with the recession.

A major criticism of the show comes from viewers who believe the makeovers are overly extravagant and that the effort could be redirected to more productive areas. In several cases, once the makeover process is complete, the families are heavily scrutinized by neighbors in the towns or cities who claim that they didn't deserve the makeover. The Huber Family of South Range, Wisconsin, is one example of a family who received criticism from the residents in the vicinity of their home. For the season premiere makeover in August 2009, the show's staff and over 2,300 volunteers built a house for Howard Huber, a decorated firefighter, and his wife and two children. Almost immediately after the makeover, the family received several critical responses from people in the area, several of whom claimed the family did not have the right to the home makeover. In an article from the Duluth News Tribune, Jessie Huber stated that several people visited their home and stated the family did not deserve the home makeover. The criticisms escalated to a point where the Huber family felt it necessary to place visual warnings against trespassers, saying, "Please respect our privacy." In addition, the family enlisted the help of the Douglas County Sheriff, who lived right down the road from their home.

Another case involved the Tutweiler family of Chapman, Kansas, the family of an Iraq War Veteran who had lost their old home in a tornado. The Tutweilers received extremely negative criticism from their neighbors. In December 2009, the family put their home up for sale and made plans to move out of Kansas because of the scrutiny and ill feelings from their neighbors. According to Crystal Tutweiler, "We absolutely hate to leave the house, and we wish we could pick it up and take it with us, but it is not the house which makes you happy."

The five children of the Higgins family, aged 14–21, filed a lawsuit against ABC after they were evicted by a family that had taken them in before the show came to renovate the family's house. The five kids "say that the producers took advantage of the family's hard-luck story and promised them new cars and other prizes to persuade them to participate in the program", according to the LA Times. On July 17, 2007, Judge Paul Gutman ruled against the siblings, stating that the plaintiffs failed to prove their case. The decision of the trial court was affirmed on appeal.

Questions arose when Theresa "Momi" Akana was picked for the Extreme Makeover program for Hawaii. The Honolulu Advertiser investigated their tax records and found out that she and her husband each made over $100,000 in salary. Denise Cramsey, the executive producer of the show, responded with "I think Momi certainly fits the bill." She defended the pick by stating that they look beyond the family's finances and consider other factors, including family plight and contributions to the community.

In 2006, Extreme Makeover Home Edition tore down Brian and Michelle Hassall's once modest Harrison County home and built the new sizable one in its place. Just months later, the couple put their nearly brand new, donated home up for sale. The Hassalls said the decision to sell their extreme home "wasn't an easy one", but they realized it was necessary due to rising medical bills.