Semi-liking "Makeover"

There are many reasons for a self-respecting TV critic to dislike "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition." The show is manipulative, repetitive, maybe deceptive.

Still, we can't dislike a show that gave a deserving Holt family a new house. (An OK house on the outside and a great one on the inside.) Or one that reminds us that most people everywhere are good.

(For comments on cheerier matters, please read the blog that follow. It views "Bolt" and "Jack and the Beanstalk" and other youthful matters.)

The "Makeover" flaws are obvious: The show tries way too hard to manipulate emotions; at the slightest urging, heart-tugging music returns. It repeats the same things over and over within each hour and from show to show. And in this one, at least, it sort of deceived people. In truth, the Nickless family's farmhouse looked great from the front; it was a classic brick structure dating back to the Civil War. That may explain why the show constantly filmed it from the side or back.

All such flaws are instantly forgiven, though. Rounding up a brigade of volunteers, this show has given the family a terrific house.

From the outside, it looks so-so, sort of too busy. Inside, the boys' rooms seem overdone at times; these guys may tire of them in a hurry.

But the main inside rooms look spectacular, with a wondrous use of natural material -- wood and stone and such -- to create free-flowing beauty.

There were some favorable references to Lansing along the way. That included Ele's Place and the best possible glimpse of Lansng Community College, with its health-sciences building as a backdrop. And, of course, Mayberry builders.

I've especially liked the Mayberry spots at the Parade of Homes. One all-Mayberry neighborhood has a wonderful sort of small-town charm. These people are great at creating family-size charm. Now they've been part of something very big and (flaws and all) very good.

Comments

[pirate_king]

I did really get to like this family and grieved along with them for the cool Dad they lost. But I do agree the boys' rooms are a bit much. Wait till the little one is in his teens and has to explain to his girlfriend why he sleeps in an airplane.....