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Bachelorette 5 star Jillian Harris is joining Extreme Makeover: Home Edition as a designer this fall, after guest starring on an episode this spring. Also joining the cast: rapper Xzibit and Leigh Anne Tuohy, the basis for Sandra Bullock’s character in The Blind Side. Jillian’s Twitter profile says “Once Bachelorette. Always a Designer,” and before …

Read More about Bachelorette’s Jillian, rapper Xzibit joining Extreme Makeover: Home Edition cast

Hosting Extreme Makeover: Home Edition cost the city of Fresno, Calif., $115,000, but the crew spent an estimated $750,000 to $1.25 million at local businesses. Besides “[waving] permit and plan-check fees totaling $1,287 for the home, and [donating[ $750 worth of service from its film and entertainment commissioner,” the Fresno Bee reported that the city …

Read More about Fresno spent $115,000 on Extreme Makeover but crew spent $750,000 to $1.25 million

HGTV is responding to the economic situation and recession by airing four new series that it says “focus on ways to make the most out of the real estate market during the sluggish economy,” and they have titles such as The Unsellables and Desperate To Buy. But what happens to a home-building series that depends …

Read More about Extreme Makeover producer on economy: it’s “harder for us to find builders and materials”

Even as more houses constructed on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition suffer from financial problems–like one that’s in foreclosure, while one in Orlando now has a lien against it due to unpaid county fines–the production continues to produce brand-new, often mansion-like homes for deserving families. The New York Times’ Key Magazine went behind the scenes during …

Read More about Extreme Makeover shoot involves “countless retakes”

Two Sunday reality staples both lost large numbers of viewers compared to their debuts last fall. Ratings for Sunday’s debut episode of The Amazing Race 13 were down from last year, when the show had its best debut ever last November for season 12. Sunday, 10.29 million people watched, down significantly from the 13.8 million …

Read More about Amazing Race 13 debut down 25% compared to last fall, Extreme Makeover down 20%

Over the past few days, the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition home outside of Atlanta that is now in foreclosure has gotten a lot of press, primarily because of its association with the show. But the home isn’t in foreclosure because the family wasn’t able to afford their massive new house. Instead, it’s because Milton and …

Read More about Atlanta Extreme Makeover home in foreclosure after owners used it as collateral for a loan