Extreme Makeover Home Edition

This has been one of my favorite new shows this season, but I’m a bit concerned about a some things and wonder if the show is getting off track –

 

• It’s starting to feel a little stale to me. Will this show keep its legs for more than a season (or two)? It’s going to take more than Ty’s bullhorn and cute carpenters. I still like it, but lately not as much.
• All the “Thank yous” to ABC from the family members seem to be slightly overdone. We are aware that ABC is producing the show—for a profit—or they wouldn’t be involved. Now I don’t mind that, but all the gushing appreciation seems a bit disingenuous. It’s painfully obvious that people are being cued for these cheesy thank yous. Ultimately we the viewers make the show and the rescues possible. Not that we need to be thanked, but ABC?? This is business.
• Many of these recent makeovers look more like demolish and overbuild projects. Can these families afford the new property taxes on these homes?  Is ABC going too far with some of these projects? Is it a case of a little makeover is good, a bigger makeover is better?
• Will the general TV audience support projects that are, in the collective judgment of the audience, overdone? As a viewer, there have been several cases where (if needed) I may have donated to help the family. But I don’t know that I would have donated on some of these projects that I consider overkill. Am I alone and/or am I wrong?
• I’m feeling like the show’s producers are tugging on my heartstrings a bit too much. They need to avoid over-hyping the story of the family, overdoing the help provided, and congratulating themselves too much.
• One winning element of this program has been the authenticity of the family members. I’d like to get to know the family better without all of the takes being so emotional. There are probably some great subplots in their lives.
• There has to be some conflict among the crews working on the projects. I don’t think it would hurt the “feel good” of the program if the build out featured a little more reality. The show is getting gooey.
• Obviously, advertisers have lined up to have their names prominently displayed on the program. Too much of this is counter productive to the TIVO/VOD/ipTV generation. Acknowledgements need to be slightly understated to be most effective.

 Those are my thoughts. What are yours?

Comments

[W2]

I agree with you Chris. I actually decided to watch a good movie last night, as opposed to watching EMHE. I'm growing a little tired of it all.

[Dave J.]

I'm a TLC fan, and love Ty. But the network attempts at building off of cable-reality shows just don't cut it.

I watched "The Swan" for about 5 minutes and the over-wrought drama was just too much to bare (was that five different pan-shots while the swan stands waiting for the mirror to be unveiled?). Give me "What not to where", where things are honest and simple (and friendly). I'm sure the same thing applies to EHME. Barf.

[Chris]

I agree Dave. The networks are overproducing these shows and manufacturing way too much drama. Then they call it reality television. The cable networks are doing a better job a la American Chopper, and others.

[Abi]

I see what you guys are saying. Here's the deal though: I still tear up during every episode. My guess is that men will feel the effects of overdramatization before women will. To me, it still seems moving and I love watching it. Although I can see your perspective, I hadn't thought of it until I read the blog. It would be interesting to know what percentage of the viewing audience is male v. female.

[djchuang]

For a softie, touchy-feeling type, the emotional drama and tugging on my heartstrings is great, enjoy it very much. I can see how a less feely type can get turned off by the show's production and packaging. While the rebuilds are overdone, it's that very lavishing of grace that overwhelms the recipient family with life change and gratitude. And the overdoneness gives more room for sponsorships.

[scott hodge]

i agree... i'm a big fan of the show, but it is beginning to taste a bit stale. it does feel a bit overdone, as well as over dramatized. i would like to see more "raw" footage. show me some more of the challenges and conflicts that are, no doubt, happening. that makes the end result even more beautiful.

[matthew barnes]

you gotta be kidding me. yeah... let's go ahead and tear apart the only incredibly successful show on television where the main purpose is to help others. there is a lot more to the show and the good that the show does for the families than they even show in each episode (an hour is not enough time). they, most often, help the families pay for things like property tax, mortages, etc... they send people to make sure that everything is running smoothly. they really take care of these people. they're able to do that because of the product placement and by making ABC happy. so get over yourselves if you have to put up with a few things you don't like. it's not about you. i think that's the whole message of the show, isn't it? it's about helping other people. (ps... i don't even know where i am. i accidentally stumbled upon this blog and saw the topic and had to respond. sorry!)

[Ken]

I'm a little late posting to this blog but I wanted to comment anyway.

It hurts me to hear some people so jaded about the one show on television that is truly about self-sacrifice and the betterment of others. The volunteers (whether they know it or not) are living out Kingdom Life. I hope that more people will watch this show and be inspired to sacrifice a little when someone else is in need.

I made a comment on my blog about Extreme Makeover: Home Edition as well and would love to have people comment on it. jadedcm.blogspot.com

I think that the church and Christians should be encouraged to further live out their Christian lives by watching a show like this and then be willing to help someone else who is truly in need.

[Chris]

To Ken,

I wouldn't call the responses jaded. I know I would like to see this show succeed and become a long-term fixture on ABC. But, I think the producers are letting a lot of other things get in the way of the core story and it's cheapening the program instead of making it better.

Rather than sink the show, I hope ABC will be make it even more gutsy and real and that it won't suffer the fate of Wife Swap where we find the producers "scripting" some of the dialogue to try to make it more interesting.

[k.silliman]

Your concerns might be valid. Check The Press Democrat, article published March 24, 2005 on the Pope Family from Penngrove, CA. They had the daughter who was allergic to sunlight. They now face huge tax bills. $664,500 in state and federal income taxes and high property tax.

Sort of a financial "hit and run."

[Stacey]

I applied but I dont think my story is sad enough...the show was made for epole who need their home made over now it has turned into sob fests...not that they are not deserving but some of the houses were not even that bad.

[Brian]

I will agree they are doing some good, but if you believe for a minute that ABC has become some big altruistic corporation, think again. You can be sure ABC and the production company are not losing money.

Lately they just seem to be going over the top. Mini go-cart tracks? waterfalls in the backyard? plasma TV's all over the place?

Tonight I watched as they tore down what amounted to a shack and replaced it with what had to be a half million dollar or more home. The poor woman who owend the house was already working 2 full time jobs.
Is she going to need to work 3 to pay the taxes? Lord knows the taxman isn't compassionate.

Maybe they need to tone it down a bit so the home owners can actually afford to stay in their renovated homes. Of course, that wouldn't be quite as dramatic.

[Ken]

I won't deny that you all have brought up good comments concernig the taxes. Those are definitely a concern that ABC has to reckon with in some way.

However, I still think that the premise of the show is still very good and that we in the church could learn much from the "ministry" they are doing to those families on Extreme Makeover.

[Bill]

My first thought when I saw the first show where the razed the entire house and started from scratch instead of improving the original house was "How can they afford the taxes on this stuff?". Most of these cases are families that are in some sort of financial situation where they couldn't afford the upkeep of their 1,000 sq. foot house and then they're left with the upkeep of a 5,000 sq. foot house full of giant appliances and fresh air systems and crazy electronics. It must not only be a tax nightmare but an electrical money pit. I'd like to see interviews and "where are they nows" on these families 1 year or three years later. I say sell the castle on Ebay and buy a normal house and send the kids to college. Screw ABC.

[Ashley]

Sure it's seems like a nice thing that ABC is doing for these families, but I hardly think that their motives are pure. Do they really care about improving these people's lives, or are they just trying to boost ratings? I'm inclined to lean on the side of profit seeking.
ABC makes these multithousand dollar "renovation" to these homes, but as has been mentioned before, these families may be facing taxes that they cannot pay. Not to mention wondering how good the workmansip can actually be on a house constructed in just under a week.
So are ABCs motives to actually to help these families, or to pull the heartstrings of you the viewer, in order to get you to watch the show again next week?
Like someone already said... perhaps ABC should scale down the projects to something that the families can afford, but whats the fun in that, most people couldn't care less about small scale renovations to deserving families, and therefore ABC has no use for a good deed that does not increase ratings.

[Ralph]

I think that ABC could capilaize on the home makeover show with more realistic home makeovers, not demolitions, that normal people could afford. I hate the jungle room makeovers that they do for some ten year old kid that will obviously outgrow this in a couple of years. This show is a joke. Is this classified as "Reality TV"? LOL

[Krista]

Extreme Makeover just finished a home in my neighborhood. They built a monstrous house for the family of 7 who's home was overtaken by "toxic black mold". Sounds like a sad story, but in reality, All of the families children attend private schools. And the mother is a world traveling motivational speaker. I am is serious doubt of any hardship they claim. I could be wrong . Check it out for yourselves. The mother, Dawne Kirkwoods web site is www.givingbirthtome.com. This episode has not yet aired but is scheduled to do so in Dec. If you do go to the web site, be sure to click on the speaking engagements link. On the right side of the page you will read all the comments "Important" people have left. Such as, the producer of Live with Regis and Kelly. Also if you are interested in purchasing her book "Giving birth to me" you can do so while you're there.

[Kimberlie]

I love your Show and watch when ever I can.

[Cheryl]

*sigh*
it's really sad that people are so negative about a show that is so postive and is all about helping people. Sure it's cheesy, and they overdo stuff. and of course ABC makes a profit, but if you really think they are doing all that just for money and not to help the families than your not seeing things clearly.

I know they do overdo things like demolishing the whole house and putting up a mansion, that does seem overkill sometimes. but what I've seen on most of the shows is the contractors paying off all the bills that they would have with such a large house.
and maybe it seems they just have a sad story and they don't really need renovations on their house, but I realized that those people need it too, just having something nice done for them in such a bad situation and the whole community comes down and cheers them on.. it really lifts thier spirits.
you probably think I'm an idiot. but I love this show, it's really a good thing even though it's flawed in some areas.

[alyssa]

Personally, I think this show is one of the few reality tv shows out there that is actually doing something positive in America. That's kind of sad if you think about it. So, yeah, maybe they do overdramatize things sometimes. But i just don't think it's wise to bash something or complain about something that is actually having a positive influence on Americans today. Well, that's my sermon. 'Twasn't very long anyway. :)

[Robb]

Give a man a fish, he eats for a day. Teach him to fish, he eats for a lifetime.

People that watch these types of shows are watching networks give people fish.

[Lauri]

I've been a fan of this show since the beginning....and am more of a fan now that I've been able to see a house built in person. I visited the recently built Kirkwood's home in Port Orchard, WA- the one where the family had to move out due to toxic black mold. I first went as an interested observer....then, 2 days later came back as a hands-on volunteer. You folks who only watch on tv will never understand the spirit of the folks who built that house.

Sure- it's an entertainment industry, and ABC and Sears and whoever else wouldn't be doing this if it wasn't profitable. And yes, there has been lots of controversy over the worthiness of some families, including one new homeowner who had a criminal history. And yes, I was quite disappointed to see "Hollywood" reality television up close....which means I now know how much the celebrity designers really do (don't do) on each project.

BUT- I spent 11 hours at that site, and it was an amazing experience I'll never forget. The house was crammed with workers, unpaid volunteers and paid contractors working side-by-side for one common goal. All through the day, professional contractors arrived on the shuttle bus, bringing their own tools, and crews of workers to paint, landscape and put up fencing. Folks worked around the clock- many slept in their RVs for a few hours, then came back to put in another 16+ hours. Rarely did tempers flare, and there was an amazing sense of purpose throughout. It was quite an experience.

We were fortunate enough to work on one of the kids' special project rooms.....and I'm proud to say I was there to lend a hand. Won't tell you what we worked on....the show hasn't aired yet. But I will say I have a new appreciation for PlayDoh!

Ok- it's a "reality tv" production, which ultimately exists to make the network money, and maybe the family will face new challenges in paying different bills, but in the end, we really build a home from scratch in less than 6 days, and were involved in something special. For me, it was a day well spent.
p.s. Preston is a very cool guy! :o)

[Jan]

I used to love this show unitl hearing about the fiasco in Port Orchard WA. I now feel duped by ABC.

[M. Holiday]

Though I have not seen them in many years, I am acquainted with the Kirkwood family. I am also a fan of Extreme Makeover -- I think that this family, who share strong Christian values and have worked very hard to keep their children in Christian schools are very deserving of the blessing they have received. I know Dawne and Michael to be people who live frugally and watch their budget.They are people who skimp and save. I am sure they are appreciative of their new home and all that came with it. I am also sure that if the first electric bill is "out of sight" that they will hold a family meeting and impose some rules on electrical usage. -The Kirkwoods are the type of family that would have been very appreciative if the show had chose to just remodel their old home. It is certainly not their fault that the show chose to do something that might seem to some viewers to be "over the top." As a Christian, it was a testimony to me that the God I serve is still in the miracle making business. And this particular miracle hit very close to home because, unlike most of the Extreme Makeover shows, I actually know the people who received this special blessing. -- I am tremendously happy for them and the other people who have also receive new homes on the show. A need is a need.

You all need to also keep in mind that Dawne's positive attitude and faith (coupled with that of dad Michael)are what motivated daughter Jael to write the show in the first place. -- How many 11 year old girls actually look at their mom as a positive role model in this day and age? I hope that Dawne has an opportunity to get out and share what is working in her family with other moms. And I wish her and Jael success with their books. Middle class people are just as deserving of homes as the working class.

[leg2006]

To Inspire Legislatures

I applied for my home to get an extreme makeover because my mother, who is 71-years old cannot climb stairs as much anymore to go to and from the cellar to do the laundry and also because she has adopted my two nieces, who are 6-years-old and 10-years-old. I myself have some disabilities, such as legal blindness and also hard of hearing and sometimes help out my mother with supervising my two nieces, when they get home from school so she can finish up her errands that she has to do. I sent in the application last May, because, at the time, I was also participating in a sacrifice of my own, which was trying to work with and inspire the Massachusetts Legislature to pass laws that would require Health Insurance Companies to cover the costs of audible devices that would enable a person with a visual impairment to read labeling of the small print only medication label, (SB 558, filed by Senator Steven A. Baddour, December 2004). The reasoning behind this legislation is because over the years, many a people, because they had not been able to read the small print only labeling on a prescription label had ended up mixing up their medication and had either ended up very sick and hospitalized or had died.

It has also been a difficult task being able to supervise my two nieces given the condition that I have, due to the fact that, in the past and is sometimes so true in the present, they tend to not listen and get into dangerous things like hitting, using utensils, such as knives unsupervised and leaving stuff on the floors where someone could trip over it. There were also some things that needed repair in where I live, that could potentially lead to safety hazards, if the children were sneaking without me knowing it. This prompted me to be in contact with my legislators, of which I actually wrote the bill for, a law that would require the Department of Social Services to obtain unanimous consent from all adults living in a household who are 18-years of age or older, before the Department of Social Services could place any minor child into one’s home either for foster care or adoption, in order to make sure that things are safe, effective and that the duties are being carried out in a responsible manner, (SB 62, filed at the request of a petition of Brian J. Coppola, bill filed by Senator Steven A. Baddour, December 2004). The companion piece of legislation filed by the same senator that I am also trying to get passed, and which was reported out favorably by the committee on Children and Families, in December of 2005, is a piece of legislation that would prohibit the Department of Social Services of accusing someone of abuse, child endangerment and or neglect of a child based on solely one’s disabilities and or any adaptations that one may need to use in order to safely supervise and or care for a minor child, (SB 63, filed at the request of a petition of Brian J. Coppola, filed by Senator Steven A. Baddour, December 2004). This law if passed would mean that the Department of Social Services would only be able to accuse one of neglect or abuse of a child if an actual situation of abuse exists, such as bruising, beating or starving a child for instance exists, (Ibid).

I am also in the process of inspiring the legislature to pass a law in my state that would eliminate handicapped accessible housing on college campuses that receive state funding from college or university’s “housing lottery and housing meritocracy policies,” (SB 760, filed at the request of a petition of Brian J. Coppola, filed by Senator Steven A. Baddour, December 2004). I was the actual victim of the hazing of my roommates at a prominent Christian Catholic college, as a result of three non-handicapped students, twice my size were placed in with me and did not know me from a hole in the wall, as a result of such “policy,” (Ibid), which I tried with letters to the college to have the housing eliminated from such policy to prevent this from happening again. The final piece of legislation that I am trying to inspire is to have the prison sentences increased for hazing against disabled students for the purpose of gaining the access of the housing for personal uses, such as easy access to bring in alcoholic beverages and the like. Finally, on the legislative end of things, I am also trying to increase the penalties for hazing against disabled students and also trying to require that the colleges’ resident life staff report such incidents or do room switches when there appears to be a problem, (SB 761, filed at the request of a petition of Brian J. Coppola, filed by Senator Steven A. Baddour, December 2004).

While working on my legislative activities, my mother went in for a cornea transplant, and just within the past few months, my sister was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer, which resulted in paralysis, of which when my sister who has the cancer goes to visit some of my family members, she has to be carried upstairs and downstairs. I would like to see her have at least one more visit at my house before she dies. I did put in a call to Extreme Makeover Home Edition to get some information on updating my application by sending a letter with the additional information so that I could hopefully have one of my big wishes come true and that would be to make my house accessible for my sister to have a visit or more before she dies. It would be a lasting tribute to the disabled as well as the able-bodied population to see that our lord does not tolerate discrimination of any sort, of which I believe Extreme Makeover Home Edition is portraying in its episodes. By them helping families to better help the community at large, just makes for stronger communities. Of course there is going to be a lot of emotions from the families who receive the makeovers, because their lives have been changed and transformed. It is of my hope that it will inspire legislatures in our country to make funding available for necessary home repairs for those who truly cannot afford to make the repairs necessary for the safety of our children, the accessibility of the disabled and to place everyone on an equal footing as God had intended. I myself believe that there is one more commandment. 11. Thou shall not discriminate against the creatures of god. I would hope that someone would call me so that I can make one more big thing happen for my sister before she “passes” on.

As some of you people who have posted, had said that they think that ABC is making a profit off of the show, by having the families say lots of thank you's and showing the emotions. I tend to believe that it is not the case. The whole purpose is to inspire stronger communities and accessiblity as well as help those in need.

To have the Oscars run in its place or a sporting event run in its place is more like looking for profits. And the Oscar should go to Extreme Makeover Home Edition for what it portrays about humanity, sacrifice and the true meaning of christianity. The show is better than lots of these other shows on tv that portray violence, killing people and to manufacture criminal activity. The academy rewards such programs that portray violence, killing people and manufactures more criminal activity, which there is enough of today. THE MOTION PICTURE INDUSTRY SHOULD NOT HAVE THEIR MOMENT IN GLORY IN PLACE OF EXTREME MAKEOVER HOME EDITION UNLESS IT CAN PRODUCE FILMS THAT PROMOTE PEACE AND STRONG COMMUNITIES.

[linda]

The first episode of EMHE showed a social worker who gave the small amount of space she owned to help out foster kids.

Families like this who demonstrate a consistent pattern of sacrificing time, energy, money and space for others seem deserving of the incredible gifts this show offers. ABC could become "part of the solution" by rewarding other Americans who share their own limited gifts like this family. (There has to be others...)

Lately, however, it seems high household body counts are on top of EMHE's list of chosen ones instead of more philantrophic families.

Until/unless they get back to basics, I've had it with this show. I'll be working on my own church and community volunteer activities from 7 - 9 on Sunday nights instead of wasting precious time watching EMHE.

I completely agree w. this show being assessed as "Overdone" The SUPERSIZED element driving the show has made me feel synical and jaded over a concept that started out as good-intentions. These made over homes are too often obscenely large. Bigger, better, shinier, over-caffinated, HUGE-ER and GI-normous as the driving aesthetic forces. There's vitually no element of moderation or of being 'grounded' (Ironically all the families they've helped seem so humble and grounded to begin with. These giant homes seem to clash with their values. Will these homes help or hinder those values?) While the intentions are respectable, the grandious nature of the final products ends up making these homes nearly laughable in their over-the-top-ness. And to all you dreamers our there how about "reality" of what must it take to clean and maintain all that new square footage?!?!? This new home will also have a SuperSized utility bills. EXTREME Wastefullness ends up being the unitended byproduct of these homes. I don't even want to think about the tax increase these families have w. their new home. (ABC doesn't give them an Extreme Makover on their INCOMES, do they?)

[Vicky]

I love the show. Don't have much time to watch it anymore, so I haven't seen what everybody else is seeing. I'm in the process though of applying for the show, but I know the wait can be along time. I don't have time. I'm trying to get some major support going. The house that I live in is going to literal fall off the side of the mountain that we live on. My husband is disabled and we really don't have any amount of money to repair, even if repair was possible. I'm truly scared. Because of the way the house is shifting, it is risking breaking a gas pipe, not to mention the other issues. http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/cama87/album?.dir=/366are2&.src=ph&.tok=ph07faGBH8hWGQQL this is a link to my online photo share. In one of the pics you'll see the gas line that I'm referring to. The pile of rocks shown below that pipe is one of the supports and the other supports aren't even doing there job. If it were just a cometic makeover, I wouldn't worry to much. But it's a safty thing and unfortunately, my husband, 2 kids and I don't have any place to go. If you could help in away by getting the word out that I am in DESPERATE need. I don't want something huge just something safe. Any suggestions would greatly be appreciated. I have exhausted ALL options and again I have nowhere to turn. Please help if you can.

[anonymous]

I agree, they do go overboard. I don't know how families can afford the upkeep of these homes, even if they don't have mortgages. I think they need to tone these houses down. The show tonight was about a single mother of 4. There is no way I would be able to afford the upkeep. I rarely watch the show anymore. After they helped the man who had been in prison, that was a bit much for me.

[Zelda]

Tonight on "Extreme Makeover" the family lived on an island off the coast of Tampa, Florida. Their home was destroyed by a plane crash. The pilot died, but nobody in the family was hurt - in fact, only the mother was home at the time. Their eldest son is 21 and in the military. They have another son nearly grown and I think a 12 year old daughter. Yes, it's a horrible thing to happen, BUT come on now- the father owns a pizzeria, the mother owns a beauty shop but they didn't have sense enough for homeowner's insurance? What mortgage company allows that? What about the aircraft company - they always have liability insurance. These kids have both a mom and a dad - nobody is sick - all are able-bodied. Are you telling me there are no families in the United States more needy than this one? I guess everything is going better than I thought. All poor kids have proper daycare facilities and safe playgounds. There aren't any homeless families any more. There are no single parents out there struggling with illness with no health care. Or maybe these really needy people don't have the time or ability (or a movie camera and computer) to submit to ABC. Maybe they aren't pretty enough or politically correct enough. Some of these people are shameless. Of course, it's nice to help people. It's wonderful. Come on though, would it really be that hard to find people that need it more?

[Robert Hatchett]

I agree that the show is getting stale, the money spent on these projects for the one family could help 10 families in need in a community. I don't think any of them could pay their property taxes and I don't think it's right to take someone from living on the edge to living in a mansion. I think the money could be better spent in food banks, helping the homeless and other causes or to upgrade a bunch of houses than to rebuild a home to a top of the line mansion in a poor neighborhood. I'm not watching the show anymore for that reason. It's not right.

[Holly]

I would like to see a follow up of these families some one or two years after their makeover. How many can afford the upkeep of their beautiful new house?

[anonymous]

Really late comment, but I just watched the episode that aired Jan 20, 2008. The family was a mother and her two children who had lost the husband/father recently and contribute to the community by running a riding stable for people with disabilities. While this woman is a wonderful role model and completely deserving of the show's help, the house that they built for these three people was complete overkill. The house was disgustingly huge and took away any warm and fuzzy feelings I may have had by the end of the show.

I'm sure the family would have been perfectly happy with a smaller, less ostentatious house and the new barn/indoor riding arena. The luster of this show is beginning to wear off for me.

[Leigh]

I think this show is truly between a rock and a hard place. Sure, they could do a lot more for a lot more people if they scaled it back, but then who would watch the show and then where would the money come from to do all this good work? You aren't going to get people to watch if you are building 900 sq. foot houses for 10 different families. But build a 3000 sq. foot house for one family and people will watch - viewers don't want to see ordinary houses like the ones they themselves live in. So if they do less for each, they will ultimately have less to give to anyone.
I also agree with the problems of upkeep costs. Maintenance, utilities, taxes - those folks aren't warm and fuzzy when they want their money. I also wonder about the rest of a neighborhood when one of these big fancy houses goes up. What happens to your property value of your crappy normal house when buyers see the mansion next door that yours doesn't measure up to? Is there resentment from the other homeowners? The episode I saw tonight was the one where the grandmother had taken in her four grandchildren and they were living in a falling-down trailer. The trailer was demolished and the big house built in its place - in amongst the other run-down trailers of the other neighbors! You couldn't blame them for feeling left out.
One thing I would like to see is a revisiting of past families. Have any of them sold those houses? Are they taking care of them like they should? I would think that most of them would be difficult to resell - most people aren't in the market for jungle rooms or bathrooms with seven sinks and two showers.
All in all, I think they could tone things down just a bit and still pull the viewers. (And sorry - I still ain't buying the whole idea that they 'surprise' the families one morning and move them into a new house seven days later. In all the shows where they have shown up on the doorstep at 7am, not once has Mom come out in her bathrobe!)