Extreme Makeover: Home Edition is getting a reboot. The iconic program, formerly on ABC, has moved to HGTV, where it will continue to showcase great stories, inspiring volunteers and gorgeous home renovations for families who give back to their communities. The whole-home overhauls will include interior, exterior and landscaping—all completed in record time while the family is sent away.
Hosted by award-winning actor Jesse Tyler Ferguson and leveraging the talents of designers Breegan Jane, Carrie Locklyn, and Darren Keefe, the rebooted seriesfollows the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition team and thousands of volunteers as they complete stunning home overhauls for 10 deserving families.
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition Photo courtesy HGTV
The new episodes are produced by Endemol Shine North America with Sharon Levy, DJ Nurre, Michael Heyerman, Brady Connell and Jesse Tyler Ferguson serving as executive producers. The company also produced the original version of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition for ABC. The March 1 episode focused on high school teacher Jeff Holtzclaw, who despite suffering from a personal injury, strives to change the lives of troubled teens. This local everyday hero is now on the receiving end of all the good he has given to his community.
Partnering with the show is Peet’s Coffee, which is stocking several of these new kitchens with coffee and brewing equipment, as well as fueling the hundreds of volunteers with delicious java…112,000 volunteer hours, that is. That’s a lot of coffee.
“It was great having Peet’s Coffee on-site to fuel the volunteers who were landscaping and building the new homes, especially on ‘Move In’ days which run about 24-hours straight,” said Mickey Laughlin, Co-Executive Producer, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. “The Production team and camera crew were also grateful.”
“Peet’s Coffee is proud to partner with Extreme Makeover: Home Edition to change the lives of deserving families,” said Gretchen Koch, Senior Director of Marketing of Peet’s Coffee. “Uplifting our local communities is at the core of Peet’s and we enjoyed working alongside the community, volunteers and the full Extreme Makeover: Home Editionproduction team to upgrade the homes of these inspirational people.”
It will be nice to see what good this partnership generates.
During the fall and winter seasons, you are most likely doing all of your reading indoors, commute included. When the weather gets warmer in New York, reading is something that many people choose to do outdoors, whether at the beach, at a park or on a rooftop. In turn, Downtown has some books to recommend to its readers:
Well-known to reality TV watchers of HGTV, Robert and Cortney Novogratz known how to redesign living spaces of all kinds. This hardcover book offers up plenty of design tips, no matter the size, locale and/or climate of your home.
A unique cookbook, Salad For President is a wonderful collection of inventive recipes and conversations with architects, musicians and all sorts of artists. Artist spaces all over the world are visited by Julia, as Laurie Anderson, photographer Willie Wegman, The Boredoms’ Shinji Masuko, and ceramicist Yui Tsujimura all participated.
Hal David co-wrote some of the biggest love songs of all time, including “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head,” “What The World Needs Now Is Love,” “There Is Always Something There To Remind Me,” and “To All The Girls I’ve Loved Before.” Hal’s wife Eunice has written a book in tribute to her late husband, offering insight into how some of his biggest hits were written and what it was like being married to the legendary lyricist.
It is often said that without The Sex Pistols, there would be no punk rock, and as the founding guitarist of The Sex Pistols, a lot of rock music’s roots go back to Steve Jones. In this memoir, the host of Jonesy’s Jukebox covers all facets of his life — he has done plenty as a musician, producer, actor and host since the Pistols disbanded for the first time in the late 1970s — and fortunately, for our entertainment, he writes just like he speaks.
Chef Nikki Dinki has a major fanbase as a result of her many appearances on television. But unlike many chefs, she has a wonderful story about learning how to eat well. Meat On The Side isn’t preaching for anyone to become a vegetarian — quite the opposite — but it does show how anyone can easily start eating more vegetables and wind up loving it.
Asterios Kokkinos is a prolific podcaster and writer, and this faux-catalog has hundreds of jokes within its 56 pages. Anyone who read toy catalogs — or even classified ads — during their formative years will love the attention to detail shown in Toys “4” Cheap. As an aside, Asterios’ followers on Patreon can get a podcast made exclusively for them.
As the mother of Foo Fighters founder (and Nirvana drummer) Dave Grohl, Virginia Hanlon Grohl helped raise one of rock’s biggest names. For this book, Virginia speaks to the mothers of Dr. Dre, Amy Winehouse, R.E.M.’s Michael Stipe, Maroon 5’s Adam Levine, The Beastie Boys’ Mike D, and the Haim sisters, sharing a lot of heart-warming tales in the process. And of course Dave wrote the book’s foreword.
California native and photographer Michael Zagaris photographed nearly every big name in rock that came through San Francisco in the 1970s and 1980s, including The Clash, The Grateful Dead, Blondie, Eric Clapton, and Led Zeppelin. This collection — which awesomely-features Lou Reed on the cover — contains a lot of previously-unseen work and is said to be the first in a series of collaborations between Michael and Reel Art Press.
Black Sabbath may have recently wrapped its farewell tour, but the British quartet remains popular as ever in 2017. This coffee table book looks beautiful, containing over 150 photos within its glossy pages. The whole pre-farewell history of Black Sabbath is tracked in What Evil Lurks, which contains a foreword from Machine Head’s Robb Flynn.
If Black Sabbath isn’t as heavy as your metal goes, then check out the debut comic from the band Slayer. The story was based on Slayer music videos. Available in print, Kindle and comiXology formats; beyond this comic series, the band will be on tour with Lamb Of God and Behemoth this summer.
During the holidays, I had the pleasure of meeting Ray DeForest at my dear friend Nick’s holiday party. Ray and I talked for most of the evening about his acting career, personal life, living downtown and family. Before the evening was over, he had invited me to his then-upcoming holiday show, The Doris Dear Christmas Special.
Nick and I trekked up to Feinstein’s 54/Below, excited to settle in for dinner and Ray’s show. For a few hours, I felt like I had time-traveled back to my childhood in New Jersey; watching my own mother bake holiday cookies from scratch, as my brother and I would wait patiently to lick the beaters and mixing bowl. Spending some alone time with mother as my brother was in kindergarten class. We had our daily routine, walk my brother the few blocks to school, then off to the shops. Once a week we would stop at the fabric shop to see what new patterns would tempt my mother. I had a blast hiding in the large rolls of fabric, and excited to return home so that I could hold the material as my mother cut from the McCalls sewing pattern to make our clothes.
I left the play with a smile from ear to ear and that warm and fuzzy feeling of a life far less complicated than the fast paced one of today. Thank you, Dear Doris!
Ray DeForest: After my debut show Doris Dear’s Girl Talk was so successful, Feinstein’s/54 Below agreed to bring me back under contract for several shows. I’ve always wanted to do a Christmas special like the ones I grew up watching on TV with my family. Good, wholesome fun with great singing, some comedy and lots of guests hanging out with me. I wrote an outline and presented it to my director and musical director. They were reluctant at first, thinking that having people on stage “hanging out” was not the normal way to present cabaret, but after I walked them through the how’s and why’s, they were onboard. My main goal was to bring something back that was fun and at the same time emotional so the audience could go on a journey with us. All shows have to tell a story. They must have a beginning and end.
It’s based on your mother, how accurate is the show?
RF: I would say about 99% of the stories I tell are based on truth. I occasionally tie in something from the pop culture world, or a book from the time to strengthen the storytelling. Taffy truly was the “perfect housewife.” Most of it writes itself! The character of Doris Dear is based on my mother. My stories are a combination of my life with Taffy, Duke and my sister. In the “Doris Dear World,” my sister Nancy doesn’t exist, but if you knew my sister, you would see her story and self all over Doris Dear’s stories!
Your costume is fab, did you have your hands in the design of it?
RF: My designer Ryan Moller and I have a great creative relationship. We spend a lot of time working on the look, feel and design of the costumes. I go to him with ideas of designs, colors, textures and such, and he draws up some designs which we then work on until we both agree. He often is out shopping for fabrics for one of the many other shows he designed and sees something and takes a picture and messages me immediately to say, “Hey, I think this is a Doris Dear print!” Especially important is the scale of things. I am a 6’4″, 210-pound, broad-shouldered man. At 7’2″ in heels and hair, everything from the length of the skirt to how high the collar on my blouse stands up counts. From a distance, it should be hard to tell exactly how big I truly am. The hair is also important. I have my wigs handmade and styled by my hair designer Gerard Kelly. He does an amazing job. Again, it is about scale and form so it fits the character. We base most of my hair on my mothers pictures from the time.
How is the Doris Dear Holiday Special different from what other broadway holiday show? Why was it one-night only? It was packed…
RF: Well, this is “cabaret.” Cabaret shows are not “Broadway shows.” They are smaller, more intimate and it is a different form of singing and storytelling. In The Doris Dear Holiday Special, I wanted to bring back an old-fashioned, feel-good show that left people with a smile on their face and a few tears in between. Especially since lately the world seems a bit “darker,” I wanted to keep things light. When you book a show, it is up to the performer to propose how many shows. Since I only started performing at Feinstein’s/54 Below in April, I thought a one-show performance would be a good starting place. I hope next year we can do more. The audience really seemed to love it. As a performer you hope for the best, that the audience will “get” what you are trying to say and for me get the humor and believe I am “America’s Perfect Housewife.”
Do you prefer playing a female and do you find it less or more challenging?
RF: Performing as “Doris Dear” is very different than performing as “Ray.” Doris gets away with much more on-stage than Ray can. I always say that “she” is a much nicer, gentler being than “Ray.” (laughs) Playing a female character has its difficulties. People come to cabaret first and foremost for the singing. Singing in a tight steel-boned corset, which doesn’t allow deep breathing as most singers are used to, takes different technique than if I was singing as “Ray.” Playing “Doris Dear” gives me a broader latitude for storytelling than Ray could ever do. I still perform and act as Ray in many shows and concerts, but Doris has brought something very special to my life. It keeps my parents alive and I get to share some of the amazing stories of my powerful “housewife” mother who changed the world one woman at a time!
The play took me back to a time when life was effortless and safe. Do you get that feedback often?
RF: Yes, the goal of this show in particular, was to take people back to a time that “seems” gentler. Although it was a period of time that women and others were fighting for rights, it does seem to provide us all with a piece and quiet and warmth in life we need right now.
Who else performed with you?
RF: I was lucky to have so many agree to perform with me and share their memories, talents and anecdotes with the audience. My musical director and piano player was Rick Jensen. My director and part of my “three girls” was Lina Koutrakos. The other two girls were the talented Maree-Johnson Baruch and Meg Flather. Both award-winning vocalists. My “drop-ins” were the swinging singer Terese Genecco and guitarist and Windham Hill recording artist Sean Harkness. On bass was Steve Doyle.
How do you usually go about preparing for any show, up until the last hour before?
RF: I start writing the show about six months out. After I have a definite outline and songlist, I go to my musical director and director and walk them through it. We discuss the overall feel of the show and talk pacing etc. Then the rehearsals begin on the music with Rick, my musical director. I pick guests for the show — if the show is having any — and secure the dates with them. I music rehearse every week and continually rewrite the script. The show is finally “set” the week before. In fact, I cut two numbers from the show the week before because I felt they didn’t really forward the story or the show in a positive way; they will be used on another show!
The week of the show, we have a full-band rehearsal and do the entire show start to finish. My director Lina — who also sang in this show — writes a lighting chart and decides transitions and directs the cast as to where to enter an exit and stand during numbers. She also suggests any last-minute edits that she thinks strengthens the overall storytelling. The day of the show, we do a tech run through for two hours in the afternoon at the club. Then we all break and meet back at the club an hour and a half before the show. We talk through any rough points, and luckily at Feinstein’s/54 Below there is a piano in the dressing rooms, so we are able to run through any numbers. I tend to get very nervous beforehand. But then when the lights go down and I set myself in place, I take a deep breath and know we all did our best and now it’s time to “perform” for everyone who spent their hard earned money to see us.
Where did you study acting and singing?
RF: I studied at the University of Maryland and then left college to work for Disney productions as a “Kid of the Kingdom.” I spent five years at Disney learning my craft. Talking dance classes, singing lessons and acting. Disney gave me the work ethic and strength to have a working career my entire life. I have worked solely in the entertainment business for over 35 years now!
What is it that specifically draws you to theater? What age did you know you know that you wanted to be an actor?
RF: I love being onstage. It seems natural for me to stand in front of a crowd and perform for them, make them cry with a song or laugh with a story. It’s really the only work I know so I just know it’s where I should be. I really didn’t think about being in theater until college. The minute I stood on stage in my first main stage production as a freshman in college, I knew it would be my life.
What was your first break? Or are you still waiting?
RF: I continually have “breaks.” It takes never-ending fortitude and work to have a career. You can never stop learning, practicing and moving forward. It isn’t easy. There is a lot of rejection. I have been very lucky in my career. There has been the occasional dry spell, but overall it keeps giving back to me an amazing life. It started with Disney, then I moved to Denmark to write and produce and perform, Paris to model, London to sing, Vegas to perform, then I moved onto hosting my own TV shows on The Food Network, HGTV, Lifetime and a syndicated TV design show when there were very few. It has been a full career and when I look back — which I rarely do — I smile a lot.
Do you your remember your first costar and are you still in touch?
RF: Hmmm, my first co-star…Well, the first person I ever worked with professionally was Valerie Harper! We were “theater family” during the production over the summer. She was kind, spoke a lot about equal rights, and in her own way propelled me to fight for LGBT rights ever since!
Are there any forthcoming theater projects which you are particularly interested in?
RF: I am involved in commercial theater producing and working on several new projects to come to Broadway in 2017/2018! It’s exciting working with some of the most prominent and knowledgeable theatrical professionals in the business. I am also working with Pipeline Theatre Company, which is bringing an exciting new show Beardo by Jason Craig and Dave Malloy. It’s an exciting time for this theater company, and I believe they are posed to become a theatrical force in New York City!
How does TV differ from theater for you?
RF: TV and film are a completely different animal than live stage-performing. Different acting technique is used and it is a very different vibe. I love both. I started in live theater so it will always be my first love. I do love doing TV and film, though. I do as both “Doris” and “Ray.” We are working on having Doris do a regular weekly TV show…More to come soon, we hope!
When not busy with work, how do you like to spend your free time?
RF: I read constantly. I have a collection of period magazines and how-to books from the 50’s and 60’s that I use for material for my shows. I am a foodie, for sure! I love the “art of eating.” Food is social for me. I love cooking at home and having people over and sitting at the table chatting through the evening. I also love restaurants and discovering places I never knew. I grew up in New York City and I love finding places that have that “old school New York” feel. My fav place in the entire city is [The] 21 [Club]. Eating in the Grill Room is a pure New York City experience that takes me to a time I adore. Homey, but elegant, with waiters that care and remember you and your needs. It’s perfection. I recently found The House in Gramercy Park. It’s lovely and New York feeling. The bartender there makes the most amazing hand crafted drinks. Downtown, I love Fraunces Tavern. That place has to be experienced. It is a colonial tavern operating since 1762! Have a scotch egg, some creamy red bliss mash with apple butter and fish fry and I promise you will be happy.
What do you think about the new Ronald O. Perelman Performing Arts Center coming to lower Manhattan? Do you feel that theater will make its way downtown like the many other industries?
RF: I think it’s exciting having this new center coming our way! Any new spaces for the arts to happen is a welcome addition. This particularly is exciting since it will be technologically-advanced and a place for art to be created and produced. I think Broadway will always be the “center” for commercial theater in New York City, but theater happens everywhere in New York City. Thank god for people like Ronald Perelman who believe that the arts must exist for all. Giving 75 million dollars to help create this cultural center is a gift that will bring so much to the city, especially downtown!
If you could have one holiday wish come true, what would it be?
For many dancers, the dream is to be a Rockette at Radio City Music Hall. In the case of Keltie Knight, being a Radio City Rockette for six seasons was only the beginning of an illustrious career. Since 2012, Keltie has been an anchor for the syndicated CBS show The Insider. Keltie’s Insider duties regularly have her covering events all over the world, working the red carpets at the Grammys, the Primetime Emmys, the Vanity Fair Oscar Party, the People’s Choice Awards, and Cannes alike. Her bubbly and fun personality has also been seen in Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No! and as part of the 2016 Miss USA Pageant.
This Thursday, Keltie returns to host the Thanksgiving Day Parade Live On CBS alongside Kevin Frazier of Entertainment Tonight. Keltie spoke to Downtown about what is to be expected from this year’s parade, which will include performances by Sting and Miranda Lambert. The parade is also set to feature appearances by the casts of the Broadway musicals The Color Purple, On Your Feet! and School Of Rock.
Keltie Knight can be visited online at www.keltieknight.com. She can also be followed on Instagram and Twitter, where she is known to post fun multimedia content.
You started off as a dancer. Now, you’re a TV host. How exactly did that transition happen?
Keltie Knight: Much to my teachers and choreographers’ disdain, I was the loudest, chattiest and craziest dancer ever. When social media began, I was obsessed with sharing my behind-the-scenes experiences working with huge stars like Taylor Swift and Beyoncé with my followers, and I usually got in trouble. I started a blog so people could follow my journey and it got so big that eventually the TV world took notice. There are bruises, major rejections, and some pretty epic hairstyles in between those 10 years, but here I am!
Looking back, is there a highlight from your dancing career?
KK: Taking my first little tap step on stage as a Radio City Rockette. A lifelong dream for me.
Was it always the goal to doing what you are doing now?
KK: I’ve always been a performer and I’m naturally very curious. I couldn’t have dreamed a dream THIS big, so I’m honestly shocked and still have to pinch myself daily.
KK: Speaking of shock, I was totally shocked when CBS asked me last year, I am friends in real life with the longtime host Kevin Frazier, and we’ve always had amazing, natural chemistry. Last year was the highlight of my year, and to be asked back again was the ultimate compliment. Also, my husband HATES to be in front of the camera, and at the end of the parade we bring out our families, so I am really excited to see him turn all red and shy again this year!
Any idea who will be performing at this year’s parade? Anyone you’re especially excited to see?
KK: Well, we have Sting and Miranda Lambert— no big deal. (laughs) The fact that these major superstars want to spend their Thanksgiving with us is incredible. Do you think I can ask for an autograph? (laughs)
You’ve been part of The Insider for almost five years. What is a typical production day like for you?
KK: I wake up at 4:30 AM and head to the studio, do hair and makeup and look through the show. We film starting at 7:00 AM, and I’m usually out the door by 11:00 AM to run around Los Angeles to do various interviews. In the evenings I am often at Red Carpets, or screening upcoming movies. I work VERY hard. There is an incredible amount of research and preparation to do. I also am on a first-name basis with all the American Airlines flight attendants because I spend half of my life on the airplane to New York and back.
Do you have to travel a lot for the job?
KK: I have almost one million miles THIS YEAR alone. That girl yelling into her phone, running through the airport in sneakers — it’s me! Side note, can we all please sit down until our boarding zone is called? We are just boarding a plane, it’s not The Hunger Games, everyone!
What is your favorite part of working on The Insider?
KK: I would be lying if I didn’t say I really enjoy wearing the fancy gowns and borrowed diamonds! But, beside the material things, being in places like Cannes, France with George freakin’ Clooney one on one, knowing I am having a once in a lifetime experience, is what keeps me going.
Keltie Knight
Is there anyone you haven’t yet interviewed but still hope to?
KK: My two bucket list items: covering Paris Fashion Week, and Michelle Obama!
Do you have any upcoming projects besides The Insider and hosting the upcoming parade?
KK: Yes! This year I co-created a podcast called LadyGang with actress Becca Tobin and fashion designer Jac Vanek. We are almost one-year old, and the response has been incredible. We have launched our site www.theladygang.com, and LadyGang Emojis, and a LadyGang subscription box- trying my hand at multimedia mogul. P.S. I need a nap!
When not busy with your career, how do you like to spend your free time?
KK: My ideal day off is waking up for a late brunch with my husband, a massage, cuddling with my doggie and then watching extended marathons of Fixer Upper on HGTV.
Do you have a favorite restaurant in New York?
KK: My 100% fav in the WORLD: Paesanos in Little Italy. I’ll be eating my Thanksgiving dinner there this year with friends. It’s so small, cozy and the best food in New York City.
What about a favorite neighborhood?
KK: I’m really partial to Greenwich Village in Manhattan, because that’s where I lived in New York City. It was before it was as fancy as it is now, and I have tons of memories of spending my last $100 on BINGO night at Tortilla Flats drinking margaritas. There is so much magic in that area of the city. If you want a kick, read A Freewheelin’ Time by Suze Rotolo. She shared her time being Bob Dylan’s muse in the Village in the 1960’s — you’ll never see that area the same.
Finally, Keltie, any last words for the kids?
KK: It’s certainly a time of uncertainty and change, but I would want them to know that your life truly is what you make it. I have a Gwyneth Paltrow quote on my office wall that says “give yourself permission to be everything.” We have to work hard to make our dreams come true, and fight hard for what we think is right. Don’t give up the first time a door slams in your face, or the tenth time things don’t go the way you thought they would.
