Ty Penningtonnever thought he’d end up on television.
Since the original “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” ended in 2012, the carpenter has been busy.
We got the chance to chat with this star for the ultimate inside look into his life today.
I know you first were in modeling and graphic design.
I mean, let’s see.
I guess I’ve always done a little bit of everything.
I think for me, I just seem to always be gravitated toward working with my hands on anything.
But I think for me it was just sort of naturally what I was drawn to.
What made you want to audition and be involved in that show?
That’s what I’m doing.
They’re looking for a carpenter that’s half funny and half knows what they’re doing."
And I was like, “Well, I’m half of that.”
And so I went and auditioned.
I could tell he was going to ask me to do the same thing.
And he’s like, “So why don’t you build me a box?”
So they could just tell we had a good chemistry, and then I got the show so yeah.
It all sort of changed after that.
Who does Ty Pennington still keep in touch with from Trading Spaces?
Is there anybody that you still keep in touch with from the show?
Oh God, yeah.
And I was like, “Oh, my God.”
So yeah, it was amazing.
I still am blown away by that, because the reruns still air on Discovery Family.
I’m like, “Oh, my God.
I remember this episode.”
It’s just crazy.
And the crazy thing is we were doing two at the same time.
Because I think we were all changed from being part of something like that.
I know there’s a lot to choose from.
Ah, that’s so hard.
It’s one of those things where you sort of have to separate it into categories.
So there’s a couple of rooms.
A lot of people don’t even realize this, because my room was a secret room.
You never really saw what I was working on, which is, in many ways, a shame.
I really wanted it to be special.
And if you know anything about brain cancer, it’s so horrible.
It was just really, really tough.
And I told the mom and the family, “Look, we don’t have to do this.
You do not have to share your story with us.
I also built this rock ‘n’ roll hutch that he could put albums in.
So we were hoping that he was going to be coming home.
And then we found out he wasn’t going to be strong enough to come home.
But the biggest reveal, I think the most powerful reveal happened in that show.
But then I was showing the family the house and I took them into another room.
I don’t think I’ve ever cried more in my life.
And I was like, “My God.”
That’s what I’m saying about “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.”
There are moments that there is nothing that can compare to just how [much emotion you feel].
When you see somebody react to it.
To this day, it’s hard to even put into words how you feel.
I wish this guy could see this,” you know?
It was a whole bunch of mixed emotions, but there’s a lot of stories like that.
And that’s just it.
It’s hard to say what is the best, because there’s so many families I connected with.
You get connected with them, and it just rips your heart out.
So yeah, I probably needed therapy, to be honest with you.
1 show at that time.
And that’s what I mean by the most beautiful things in life sort of just spontaneously happen.
And I think that’s what “Extreme” was like.
Well, I mean, yeah.
This is amazing."
But I mean look, there’s all kinds of things that happened.
I ended up breaking my ribs, and I broke my nose on the camera.
Because I was crazy, I would do anything.
I just love the thrill and the excitement of it.
Was there anything that happened that you wish was included in the show?
Look, I’m one of those people who absolutely wishes we could tell more of the behind-the-scenes story.
I mean, those are the things that would happen almost every fourth episode.
For some reason, we’d still forget like, “Oh, yeah.
It’s not going to fit.”
It’s those kind of moments that are hilarious.
I mean, look, there were moments.
And I was hanging onto a tarp and literally blowing in the wind.
We just never imagined that’s real, but it was for sure.
Oh, my goodness.
It was a lot of fun.
Because you spent a decade of your life on the show.
Well, it wasn’t just that.
And her and I were like family, and then she had just a freak sort of accident.
I think we even did three or four seasons after that.
And so to be able to keep the show going through all that is just amazing.
And that’s what it was.
It had been a decade of just amazing stories and journeys.
But then I think what actually happened was the President of ABC They somehow switched.
He wanted to just do all new shows.
To be honest with you, I think it ran its course.
So I think it lasted as long as it needed to, you know?
And so it was a blast.
It was so much fun.
And then with “Extreme,” too.
And so yeah, it was a bit challenging because I wasn’t in my regular role.
It’s rare that I do.
You know what I mean?
Because I’m an artist, I’m creative.
I like doing things that I haven’t done before.
What does Ty Pennington want to do next on TV?
What is something that you haven’t done before that you would still like to do?
Because I mean, you’ve hosted cooking competitions and obviously home renovation shows.
You were on a lifestyle show for a while.
You have your own show.
I mean, what’s left that you would like to do?
That’s a really good question.
I even did shows in the UK.
I don’t know.
I think for me, I like the process.
I like creative problem-solving.
I kept asking the guy, “Why do you guys keep hiring me for these commercials?”
We’ve got to have him as a sixth person in line."
You know, it’s not like I was the lead guy.
And I was like, “So what’s the deal?
I’m just curious.
Why do I keep getting booked with you guys?”
I’m like, “What?”
He goes, “See that girl over there?”
And I was like, “Yeah.”
He’s like, “She’s our main character.
And I was like, “Oh, my God.”
And if you think about reality TV, that’s the most important thing, right?
Is to make people feel comfortable.
But yeah, creatively, I’m always working on something that’s on television and off.
But I mean, I’m constantly working on something.
And I think as an artist, that’s the way you always are, you know?
You’re only as good as your last piece.
Yeah, but for TV, I’m always open.
I was like, “Yes!”
I’m like, “This is what we do, man.”
When I heard about that, I was like, “Of course I want to be involved.”
There’s where we all want to live.
Who haven’t you worked with that you would jump at the chance to?
Who haven’t I worked with?
“Ford versus La Tigra.”
It’ll be great.
I can’t wait!
No matter who you are, you bring something different to the table.
And so for me, I love a variety, you know?
And that’s what “Trading Spaces” was so great at.
Every designer was like a variety pack of chips or cereal that you get in the variety pack.
Oh, my God.
Here’s what I can tell you [about] “Battle of the Beach.”
I didn’t think I was going to survive it, okay?
So here’s the behind the scenes of “Battle on the Beach.”
By the way, my designer co-stars are amazing.
I had so much fun with Taniya and Alison.
So I knew I really had some stiff competition.
But I ended up having the sweetest couple.
They just happen to have zero experience on flipping.
And so every other couple had so much experience.
But as a mentor, I couldn’t physically do the work for them.
In the end, we still ended up having this amazing beach house.
And here’s some things that nobody else knows.
I’m not going to tell you who won or what house sort of walked away with a win.
But I will tell you this.
And I was like, “Yes, that’s awesome.”
But it’s because it was the homeowners themselves.
But anyway, I think what’s great is there’s just so much entertainment with this show.
So yeah, I think it’s going to be a great show.
I’m excited just because I get to relive it.
Because we were in the middle of nowhere.
You couldn’t get anything, much less food and water.
I think you’re going to like it.
I think the biggest is where they spend their money.
And sometimes you have to keep the cabinets you have, but just focus on a new island.
And maybe it’s not even the same color as the original cabinets or countertop on the other side.
But I think the thing is you have to get creative.
And I think balancing the budget is always the biggest thing.
And so a bit of a no-no.
What is this?”
You have to schedule things, but you have to make plans to not be there.
That’s just the reality.
Can you talk about this a little bit?
I think Season 2, it was crazy.
We had huge crowds that were ending up in cul-de-sacs in neighborhoods all across America.
And I was just going like, “Wow!
But I guess it had just blown up.
And I was like, “Well, what is it?”
And they’re like, “Well, you’d be sort of a bachelor.
So I’m like, “Oh, this is going to go over well with my girlfriend.”
So I told him, “Let me get back to you on that.”
I’m like, “Yeah, that would be the end of everything that I know.”
But it is interesting, right?
Thank God I said no.
What a huge change my career would have taken.
Just crash and burn.
You know what would’ve been funny, though?
But that being said, I cannot stop watching that show.
There’s something about it, it’s like watching a train.
You just have to watch.
“Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” is streaming now ondiscovery+.
