The Format of the Show

For Extreme Makeover: Home Edition ABC gets thousands of applications from needy families, and they say that it is very hard to choose just one per show. They judge the families on two main criteria: they need to be truly in need, and they must be of the sort who give back to the community in which they live. Each time the production staff chooses a family, they are attempting to address an issue such as addiction, HIV, terminal illness, natural disaster, domestic violence and gang related incidents.

Most episodes are an hour long, but in some cases, the episode is split into two parts (in the United Kingdom, those episodes air as a single show). Most shows begin with Ty Pennington bringing the entire design team together for a "Let's do it!" chant. Next, he visits the family home to wake them up with a bullhorn, and the team goes through the house and asks family members about their interests, as a source of design ideas. The family is sent on a one week vacation, and airfare is sponsored by Southwest Airlines. The house is either demolished or renovated, as the case may be, and as the family enjoys a vacation, they get periodic messages from Pennington via a laptop computer.

Starting with the third season, the team has used some creative means by which to demolish houses: tanks, falling timber, and once, even a monster truck. In one notable 2007 episode, they demolished a Wyoming house with dynamite, and a 2008 episode saw Ty and the team using a 500-pound bowling ball to demolish a bowling-themed restroom. A local homebuilder (sometimes even two) and a team of volunteers begin the basic parts of home construction, such as roofing, plumbing and electrical work. Once that work is done, the designers add the final touches, and Pennington gets a part of the home or the entire backyard for his "secret project".

At the end of the family's vacation, they return to their home and see a cheering crowd and a huge bus (or maybe even two!). When the family and Ty can't stand it any longer, they give the order "Move that bus!" and the family finally gets to see the result of all the effort the team went through. In most cases, the "secret project" done by Pennington is the last part of the renovation to be featured on the show; usually it's a child's room, master bedroom, or home office. Some families also receive gifts from other sponsors in addition to the home makeover. Every show ends with Ty Pennington saying "There's only one thing left to say- Welcome home", and thunderous applause from the team, the family and bystanders.