Season 3 Premiere: Rodriguez Family

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
Season 3, episode 2
The Rodriguez Family
Recap By J.G. Bird
9-25-05

Finally, the premiere of Season Three. Many people denote EM:HE as one of their favorites. The members of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences recently honored it with the “Emmy ®.” The home-renovation show’s format stays mostly the same, yet its endurance also demonstrates a hunger for rebuilding hope in a time when so many struggle. This recap covers the back-to-back episodes of Sunday night on the Rodriguez family of Clarksville, Tennessee. It’s not the first time the producers have edited the seven-day action into a two-hour special for spreading the icing of generosity on thick. It is not the first time this show has documented the plight of armed forces personnel and their families.

This time, however, the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition audience is given more than a snapshot of an American soldier. It is a well-balanced story of transformation. You can wish for this career soldier’s future triumph as you witness the rapid achievement of Luis Rodriguez in this slim account of his rehabilitation. He and his family hope to bring solace and resolute honor to other career soldiers, fully aware of some of the sacrifices those men and women make in Iraq, and other places in the world.

The start-up of the show has changed. The theme music has changed and a focus on the families, rather than the designers is the most obvious change. Blended into this is a sunshiny, bubbly screen effect and the on-screen message “hope” “transform” “believe.” People who haven’t seen the show before will probably think this is how the show was always conceived and packaged. Those who have watched it from the beginning know that the rewards of the work have transformed the whole focus away from the designers’ egos and a stress-fest. Producer Tom Forman still says it’s just a home renovation show. But what, or who, really transforms?

Army Medic Luis Rodriguez has been a soldier for fifteen years. He lost his right leg in a roadside bombing in Iraq in late November of 2003. Master Sergeant Rodriguez describes himself as a NCIC (Non-commissioned Instructor Commander); he trains other medics. Luis, Lillian, Michelle (9) and Melanie (6) Rodriguez now need space and changes in their modest home to make getting in and around easier for Luis. He has been provided with a prosthetic leg, but the use of it can be painful. He gets around the home on crutches. But some walkways are cramped, and he has to move sideways on those crutches through much of the normal maneuvering in the house.

Ty and the other designers greet the Rodriguez family in front of their cute house.
Stairs and doors must be “a problem” Ty notes and queries Luis right away. Luis says, “A challenge, a good challenge.” He tells the doctors and the design team that he likes to keep active. He has a goal to run a ½ mile to a mile; yet use of his prosthetic is painful. He used to run 4-5 miles regularly. Lillian is in college to complete coursework for becoming a licensed Social Worker.

The designers revel in getting to know the sweet Rodriguez girls. All agree that we are celebrating this family’s being together. The family vacation is a bit different. In Akron, Ohio, the Akron Hilton and a special prosthetic company has welcomed the family for the week away from their Tennessee home.

The designers are finding the young daughter’s art projects throughout the house. An abundance of art supplies is the starting point for little Melanie’s room, and Paige is eager to go extreme. Since older daughter, Michelle, enjoys reading, Michelle’s room becomes Paul’s project and Dr. Seuss’ Green Eggs and Ham, the inspiration. Both girls seem to like fish (Probably wild for Finding Nemo), so, a fish/underwater-theme playroom accented by a large aquarium is put into the design.

“The Final Inspection” poem hanging on the wall at the back door of the home inspires Paige and Ed to redo and reframe the inspirational piece. So, an approximately 2300 sq. ft. Craftsman-accented cottage is the finalized exterior plan. There’s no discussion of landscaping, paint or color scheme in either hour about the exterior of the house. Odd, but not unheard of, the audience is left in the dark about the final look of the home until the point of “Move that bus!”

Prior to the full demolition, Ty calls up Luis to request that certain appliances, doors and windows from the house be saved and donated to a non-profit that assists other armed forces families. The donations go to John Gonzalvez’ non-profit, “Homes for our troops” (866-7TROOPS). Those windows, doors, lighting fixtures, etc., go for building projects benefiting other veterans.

Meanwhile, Yanke Bionics, Inc. is fitting Luis for a new prosthetic leg, while the “girls” get (seemingly endless) spa treatments at the Hilton.

Demolition is accomplished rather routinely by the arrival of the volunteer crew in blue. Clay Powers is the charismatic force/contractor authority provided this time by Tennessee building company, Clay Powers, LLC. There is a bit of excitement – Ty gets clocked on the forehead by a flying cabinet wall. Ty’s usual Handy-cam coverage of interior demolition documents the hit as Paul sledgehammers toward Ty. After he’s patched up, Ty is tailed by Paul, acting like an apologetic puppy.

Major Morgan shows up to talk with Paul DeMeo about the day in Iraq when Luis lost his leg in the bombing. The Major speaks of the “ambiguity of this war” that made the men targets. Sgt. Rodriguez’ ability to keep his head in that worst of situations is praised.

Ty’s redesigning an outdoor shed – but it’s the “Secret Project” and a 6’ tall block wall keeps it that way.

Paige’s design for the “Crayon room” is underway. Dresser drawer faces will be cut out in crayon shapes and will look like stacked crayons. She also asks us to imagine a 5’ tall 4-poster bed that’s crayon-themed.

Preston and Ed collaborate. Preston wants a seating area with chairs and a coffee table that recreates Stickley furniture. This is the style that fits with the Craftsman home design developed by the Stickley Company at the end of the Nineteenth Century.

A peek at Luis’ progress with the technologically advanced prosthesis shows him in discussion with a doctor. The doctor explains that this is about more than getting the equipment, it’s a process of “getting better,” and Luis is eager to do the necessary training to gain strength. At the therapy session, we see him taking steps and balancing to properly hop wearing the bionic leg.

He is considered to be a hero for all he has endured. He was wounded in Iraq when his convoy was just leaving their Army compound on a mercy mission. Despite the immediate and obvious loss of his right leg and a couple finger tips, shrapnel in his left leg and hearing loss in his left ear, Sgt. Rodriguez was focused on his men, on saving lives, and leading his soldiers even when he was hit. He spent 4 months at Walter Reed Hospital in the amputee ward. Bobby Isaac, a young soldier of 23, from North Carolina, lost both legs in Mosul. The “Homes for our troops” representative takes Preston along to meet disabled veteran Isaac. At his home, they place the refrigerator donated from the Rodriguez’ home. A videotaped greeting from Bobby Isaac to thank The Rodriguez’ is quite emotional for Luis.

We enter Kindergarten again as the next segment opens on Paulie obsessing over the Green Eggs and Ham room. He’s reciting Seuss’ famous book, and clarifying how frustrating it is for the fellow who isn’t getting any peace from “Sam,” the little guy trying to push the eating of green eggs and ham. Maybe they didn’t give Paul enough projects for once. For example, Ed has quite an intricate set to complete. It’s funny, when the piecing together of the coffee table by Ed is complete, Paige compliments the work as “very impressive.” Ed smoothly quips, “I only have one setting, and that is, “very impressive.” Not fazed by Ed’s lack of modesty, Paige shows off her own bit of obsession – a storage bin that has 64 individual boxes to hold large quantities of crayons.

Apparently, no one has tired of Ty’s way of closing up the first hour segment by stomping all around the build site – shots that are worked to make it appear everyone has left – just so Ty can yell, “Come back! Where’d everybody go? We still have another hour, people!” You know, I could be wrong, but I really think I only saw the megaphone used for the first shout out to the family - My, how refreshing, even in hindsight.

Paul and Ty go through some combat training at nearby Fort Campbell to see how Luis trains combat medics; the simulation room is a dark and noisy battle scene in which a medical emergency needs to be assessed. The guys know there’s much to respect in the soldiers that really do this work.

The 700 pound (3 ton when filled) salt water aquarium is the baby of company, Indoor Oceans, who will maintain the tank regularly for the family for a couple of years

Paige visits a crayon factory, scoops up handfuls of colors and also sees the production process. Some camera time is devoted to Lillian and the girls being pampered at the Spa. She is very appreciative for the relaxing time. As the house moves into final stages of completion, the furniture projects also near completion. Paul, on his Seussian furniture creations, demonstrates the flexibility of “Wiggle board” With it, he has built the oddly twisted stovepipe hat of the Cat in the Hat. He also has created multicolored arms out of painted pipe fittings capped with white glove cut outs – these are part of the crazy side tables. Together, Paul and Preston call and tease the Rodriguez girls with silly rhymes about the house.

Before the family has returned home, Sgt. Wagner (a neighbor), appears and presents a flag that flew July 4th in Iraq to be raised now at the Rodriguez home.

The Rodriguez’ are brought in by limo. Luis exits the door of the limo to greet Ty and the gathered spectators – all the designers comment about his getting around well on the new prosthetic and no longer relying on crutches. Following the reveal, it’s kinda sweet, Ty calls the design team, “My family,” as they bound out to welcome back the Rodriguez family.

Rather than any stairs at the front door, a smooth graduation makes entry to the house easier. There are astonished looks on the little girls’ faces, then mom’s then Luis’ especially, as the front door is opened. Lillian immediately sees that movement around the house will no longer be difficult for her husband. There are 3 or 4 custom stained glass windows illuminating the dining nook A large entertainment center with the plasma screen is acknowledged as such a luxury for a military family. Just the way they fawn over each appliance in the kitchen, shows the awe and appreciation. It doesn’t take long for Luis to select one of the large, lovely Stickley tradition chairs to sink into for a few moments of taking it all in.

The girls start taking in the splendor of the huge fish aquarium. Ty then directs them specifically to the room on the other side of the aquarium “wall.” Here, an ocean blue playroom, with comfy terry sling chairs and a sea chest of soft toys await. Not only that, but a dimmer switch changes the lighting to more shadowy and reflective and the boat bottom that is attached to the ceiling helps the room take on an underwater feel.

The master bedroom suite is very wide open and has a soothing palette of blues and white accented by one black wall. The tile work in the bathroom around the spa tub is a beaut. The bright blue tile is sized at about half-inch slivers, laid like brickwork, but it had to be time-consuming. The shower is a direct walk-in and has a built-in sitting ledge.

Ty’s surprise is a Puerto Rican inspired backyard oasis. It is populated with billboards, a bar/café, a wrought-iron ornamental wall that holds a dozen or more candles and large dance floor. Ty encourages the couple to show off their lessons. I guess, in their time away, Mr. & Mrs. Rodriguez received dance lessons. (It’s listed in the “As Seen On” page from the show’s website.) This man is the kind of career army Sergeant in real life that filmmakers used to love to depict in war films. He’s not gung-ho for war, he may not even be solely standing up to defend his country – he’s there to support troops. His message shines brightly in his conviction that freedom is paid for in lives and sometimes a leg. Ultimately, his job is to teach other soldiers and help them come home alive.

Tom Forman, the show’s Producer, states that he not only gets to report these families’ stories, but gets to help turnaround the situation. As in previous episodes, the Rodriguez’ also receive the payment of their mortgage and scholarship money. It’s not just a news story, where you document and turn away. This show’s growing success may be catapulted further if the show can bring even a small amount of relief related to the current devastation in 2005’s hurricane season. In upcoming episodes, two new designers will be added to the available roster of design crew. Also, the ABC website has been improved. The header image for the EM:HE page is up-to-date; a montage of individual shots of the designers rather than the old group shot. The Photo Gallery windows seem easier to navigate and include more candid shots of crew activity. I think these improvements are a testament to all the show’s fans and the outlook that it’s only going to get better from here.