In the early 2000s, when everyone was obsessed with home improvement and makeover shows,
Ty Pennington was a household name. He was an attractive carpenter with a charismatic aura
and caring personality that shone through while hosting TLC'S Trading Spaces
and Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. The latter went on to earn numerous awards,
including two Emmys and 10 nominations for its innovation and philanthropic ties.
The poster boy for all this good, of course, was Pennington himself. He clearly loved what he was
doing and all reports indicate that he pushed himself extremely hard in order to help as many
people as possible with renovation projects and changing families' lives in the process.
"Move that bus!”
At the same time, however, his personal life was treading water. Pennington has since gone on to
a number of lukewarm television projects, and continues to be a positive force in the world,
even if he hasn't returned to the same levels of fame as before.
Pennington was known for his charming smile and personality,
but his positive outward appearance may have been masking some personal demons. On May 5,
2007, the beloved carpenter was arrested in Los Angeles for driving under the influence. According
to People, Pennington's blood-alcohol level was .14 percent while the state's legal limit was .08.
In an official statement, the television star said:
"I made an error in judgment. We all make mistakes; however, this is about accountability.
Under no circumstances should anyone consume alcohol while driving. I could have jeopardized
the lives of others and I am grateful there was no accident or harm done to anyone.
This was my wake-up call. [...] I also want to apologize to my fans,
ABC Television and my design team for my lapse in judgment and the embarrassment I have caused."
Pennington was sentenced to three years of probation, fined $1,500,
and mandated to attend a 90-day alcohol education program as a result of the incident.
After 10 seasons and countless families changed for the better,
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition was canceled in 2012. Of course,
Ty Pennington had words for his claim to true fame ending. Speaking with Parade, he said:
"I think what Extreme taught me is that as an artist,
what you create with your hands has a lasting difference and actually
makes someone's life better [...] It's something that I'll always be proud of."
That same year, he attempted to take his makeover magic to daytime television with
the ABC talk show The Revolution, alongside Tim Gunn, Harley Pasternak , Dr. Jennifer Ashton and
Tiffanie Davis; however, they failed to capture an audience and the show only lasted six months.
In 2014, the television star launched a cooking competition show called On the Menu
with celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse . While the hosts clearly had a passion for food,
the show just wasn't strong enough. It was canceled after just ten episodes.
The following year, Pennington tried his hand again at another cooking show,
American Diner Revival, but it only lasted for just over 20 episodes.
Ty Pennington clearly has a love for helping others,
and that hasn't changed since his television days. In 2014, he teamed up with Sears to launch
the Building Community Together initiative. It was a perfect project for Pennington's
handyman skills, as it brought together volunteers to find and repair homes and
community buildings that needed some rehab. Speaking about the project, Pennington said:
"What I think is amazing about the 'Building Community Together' initiative
is that you have local people helping to improve the lives of their neighbors [...] Hopefully,
this will inspire people around the country to volunteer in their communities
and support what Sears Home Services is doing."
That same year, he also worked with Abōd Shelters Foundation,
a charitable organization whose mission is to provide sustainable,
quality housing to areas in need around the world. Many people sang his praises
about his contribution to the organization although he never came forward himself.
Pennington also continues to try his hand at television success. Although he isn't the
permanent host of the reboot of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, he is involved with the show.
He is also involved with Deluxe Corporation's series Small Business Revolution: Main Street.
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