Extreme Makeover Home Edition Diary #8: The Episode

If Extreme Makeover Home Edition has done anything, it's raised the bar on tragedy. Living in a run-down falling-apart house no longer seems so bad when you could also be disabled, chronically ill, widowed, broke, wounded in a drive-by shooting, taking care of your sibling's children AND living in a shack. By our new, heightened standards, the Kirkland family just seemed kind of regular. When I explained their situation to my friend (single mother supporting her four kids by giving swim lessons in the backyard pool, living in a decrepit house made of asbestos), she actually said, "What, no cancer?" It sounds awful, but somehow the episode wasn't half as moving as others have been.

In any case, was super excited to catch glimpses of my hometown on TV, but apart from some generic shots of Lake Washington, we got glimpses of Northwest icons The Space Needle and Snoqualmie Falls instead. It was fun watching progress on the house unfold just as it had in person, and it's amazing the amount of footage that doesn't get used on the show. I watched them film things that were left out entirely, and the whole thing is whittled down so much that it hardly does justice to what really goes on.

I had also hoped for a cool local adventure - a member of the design team meeting with a local artist, or similar - but as I think about it, all the best behind-the-scenes stuff aired not on Extreme Makeover Home Edition, but on a short-lived follow-up show that ran on Monday nights - Extreme Makeover Home Edition: How'd They Do That? Oh, how I wish that were still on! I think it's far more interesting watching the design team in action than seeing the family "ooh and ah" over the finished product.

As for my big moment - The Pool Scene - it was condensed into a barely noticeable little blip. They didn't even show the crowd chanting "Move that pool!", but when the show was over, I rewound my tape (you knew I'd tape it, didn't you?), sat right in front of the TV, and watched the scene frame by frame. "Oh my God, Mom," I squealed, "that's your jacket! That's right where we were standing! That's you! That's me! Right next to you! Remember? I had on my grey fleece top under my blue fleece jacket - I see it!"

We had a moment of reverie, and then my mom said, "Was I even wearing that jacket that night?" I looked at the person I thought was me, and went, "Is that a man?" So truth be told, I don't know whether we saw ourselves or not. It does seem rather coincidental that people wearing coats we own, standing in places we stood would be in the crowd, but at the same time, the faces are obscured and small, so who knows? Who cares. That's about the most excitement to roll through Kirkland since I don't know what. If I adopted some sickly orphans, bought a crappy piece of land, and moved us all into a HoneyBucket, I wonder if I could get Ty and the gang to come back...

Extreme Makeover Home Edition Update

For all of the loyal Pie readers who kept up with my adventures on the set of Extreme Makeover Home Edition, the actual episode will air this Sunday, December 16th on ABC. Check out the earlier posts for a sneak preview, and I'm sure I'll be posting my final thoughts on Monday.

Have fun!

Holiday DVD Essentials

Everyone has a certain set of holiday movies they revisit every year, perennial favorites that make the season feel just right. I'll tell you mine if you tell me yours:

1.) Planes, Trains and Automobiles

John Candy and Steve Martin kick off the holiday season with their epic journey home for Thanksgiving. This John Hughes classic is as heartfelt as it is hilarious. I dare you not to cry.




2.) National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

This is my all time favorite Christmas movie ever. Endlessly quotable. Unfailingly funny. If only real holiday disasters were as much fun as the Griswolds'.




3.) A Christmas Story

"You'll shoot your eye out! You'll shoot your eye out!" I double dog dare you not to love it.





4.) Edward Scissorhands

Johnny Depp and Tim Burton work their Christmas magic on this modern fairy tale. Makes me want to buy a white Christmas tree and staple cotton batting to the roof.




5.) Meet Me In St. Louis

This should be cloying and syrupy, but is surprisingly witty and dark. As soon as little Margaret O'Brien laid a dummy on the train tracks as a Halloween trick, I was completely sold. That girl is fierce! If I remember correctly, she even kicks the crap out of her snowman.



6.) Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

Ah, Rudolph, the ultimate misfit's tale. Kooky songs. Claymation. Santa acting like a complete bastard. I love it!





7.) Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas!

Who can resist the purity of this Dr. Seuss gem? I've probably seen this 30 times, and I still smile when I hear the words "roast beast".




8.) Prancer

This sweet, melancholy little movie gets me every time. You've got to love a little girl who listens to Christmas carols all year round and hangs twinkle lights in her bedroom.




9.) Gremlins

What's Christmas without little green men?! Chris Columbus combines action, comedy, horror, and holidays to brilliant effect.




10.) The Family Stone

Just when I thought there was no room in my heart for a new holiday movie, along came The Family Stone flying it's freak flag for all to see. Better yet? One of the characters is watching Meet Me in St. Louis in the movie!



Now, by all means, head on down to the comments and tell us your holiday musts. Which DVDs put you in the holiday spirit? Which ones are as essential as twinkle lights and pumpkin pie?