LOOKING FOR HOUSTON ON LAST NIGHT’S EXTREME MAKEOVER: HOME EDITION? 
The efforts of all those local volunteers rushing madly to finish a new home for the Johnson family in South Union were supposed to be featured in last night’s season premiere of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. At least that’s what ABC was saying up until the middle of this month. C’mon, you say that to all your markets, don’t you? But — surprise! — a Baltimore build completed just a couple of weeks ago was featured in the 2-hour special instead. The Houston show, featuring construction work coordinated by HHN Homes and featuring a select group of comedians, has been rescheduled for October 10th. Photo: Candace Garcia
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If one’s main motivation for volunteering on this project is to be shown on TV for maybe 2 seconds (in the background) on the season premiere of this show, well then, I can’t empathize too much with your feeling of being let down.
There’s tons of volunteer work being done every weekend the Houston area. I’ve never seen Habitat For Humanity turn down volunteers willing to get their hands dirty. You won’t be building mansions, but in many cases, you’ll be building somebody’s first house they’ve ever lived in.
Maybe ABC did a little more digging into the nonprofit this couple runs, Optimum Lifestyle Unlimited. This is a nonprofit organization which promises, on its online donation page, that “[f]or your gift of at least $5 you will receive a finance packet full of money secrets that will enhance your financial future.”
Money secret #1: convince a network looking for feel-good stories and cute kids to build your new house and send you on a trip to Paris.
I wondered what happened. I tuned in and was confused. Thanks for the update.
Maybe Houston didn’t pony up enough Gatorade for this ‘beg-fest’ and were punished accordingly.