Ty Pennington got his humble start in television as the designing hunk on Trading Spaces in
the early 2000s.
For a while, it was impossible not to see Pennington on television or to hear his interior-decorating advice.
But after two hit TV shows and several bestselling books, the 52-year-old handyman virtually
disappeared from the spotlight.
Is he truly gone?
Or are you just watching the wrong shows?
Here's a look at the real reason you may not hear from Ty Pennington anymore.
'Extreme Makeover: Home Edition' ended
After an astounding 202 episodes, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition was officially canceled
by ABC in 2012.
The show, which grew to tremendous fame, tore down and rebuilt economical and sustainable
homes for deserving families each week.
Pennington told Parade that the show changed the way he views life.
"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."
But while he misses the show, Pennington has embraced the chance to reconnect with the
rest of his life.
"My friend recently said, 'Oh my God, dude.
You look rested.'
Now, I actually have a chance to try to get some of the things in my life in order.
When you're on that show, you're literally traveling every three days.
Everything is on hold until you can get back to it.
So I'm trying to reconnect with my own family."
Battle with ADHD
Pennington is perhaps one of the most animated and active people on television.
But it wasn't until recently that he revealed his energizer-bunny personality is caused
by attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, which he regulates through medication.
According to an interview with The Huffington Post, his ADHD has impacted every aspect of
his life, including his job.
"It affects the way you communicate.
Not only that, but if you can't pay attention to someone who's trying to tell you something
and then you forget that they even said it, they think that you may not even care.
Imagine what that's like with not only your relationships at home, but at work."
Busy with his hobbies
Another reason for Pennington's disappearance from the public view are his cool pastimes.
In an interview with USA Today, he revealed his love of photography, which is also evident
in his impressive online photo gallery.
"People ask me what my favorite tool is, and I'm like, it's not a hammer or a drill, it's a camera.
I shoot everything, I document everything.
We've all become human selfie machines!"
And when he's not taking pictures, he's making music with his vast collection of classic
instruments, which he prefers to digital.
"Honestly the way music has become, I think there's things about the old world you can
use in the new world.
It's just about making sure you're not sticking with one or the other.
We complicate everything by over-thinking and overworking, and sometimes digitally that's
true as well."
The 'Revolution' was no longer televised
In 2012, Pennington joined the ABC talk show The Revolution, which aimed to totally transform
a person's life through style, health, physical fitness, mental health and environment.
Pennington, who helped in the interior decorating area, was joined by fellow co-hosts Harley
Pasternak, Dr. Jennifer Ashton, Dr. Tiffanie Davis and style guru Tim Gunn.
"Our team here is ecstatic about the opportunity we've been given to help you transform your
health, your style, your body, your mind, and your environment, starting today."
Unfortunately, this cast of popular TV personalities got killed in the ratings, and the series
was cancelled after just six months.
Gunn told USA Today that, unlike Pennington, he was thrilled to see the show end.
"To be perfectly honest, it was a matter of too many cooks in the kitchen --- too many
ABC executives with too many different points of view.
When they announced we were canceled, I was the only of the fives hosts who was doing
the happy dance around the studio."
'On the Menu,' off the air
In 2014, Pennington joined Emeril Lagasse to launch On the Menu, which was supposedly
a cooking competition that offered home cooks from around the nation the chance to design
culinary delights for chain restaurants.
So...it was basically less of a competition and more of a giant restaurant commercial
disguised as a cooking show.
Have you ever dreamt about working at Outback Steakhouse?
Well, Pennington has.
"Welcome to Outback Steakhouse!
Working at Outback Steakhouse, sort of a dream."
Do you have any deep, meaningful memories about the California Pizza Kitchen?
You better believe that Ty Pennington does!
"What's really cool about California Pizza Kitchen, is like, I can remember when they
first sorta came on the scene.
And they did pizza differently."
If Pennington seems like a weird choice for a cooking show, well, viewers apparently agreed,
Despite his clear enthusiasm for food, the show was cancelled after just ten episodes.
Then again, maybe if he had tried feeding the contestants from his mouth — and if
the contestants had also been squirrels — he might have gotten better ratings.
Pennington's patio furniture
In 2013, Pennington brought his first-class designing skills to Sears.
He teamed up with the big box store to launch his very own collection of outdoor patio furniture.
It was the first time Extreme Makeover: Home Edition fans could get their hands on a piece
of style created exclusively by Pennington.
And he even got to do a backyard makeover as well for one lucky family.
"My work here is done, my friends.
So enjoy this Ty Pennington style collection, your new Kenmore grill, the Craftsman lawnmower,
the shelves, the accessories…"
Community outreach
That Sears connection is about more than deck chairs, though.
Pennington also teamed up with Sears to launch the Building Community Together initiative,
which renovates local landmarks to better serve communities.
At the start of the project, Pennington lent his handyman skills to renovate a 100-year-old
church and three homes in Tampa, Florida.
Pennington told DoItYourself.com, "People are trying to bring jobs back to the community.
It's not just happening here in Tampa.
We're going to hit Chicago, Sacramento, Philadelphia, and we have the entire year to do other projects
in the community…
I love doing what I can — giving back to the community."
Food Network gig
In 2015, Pennington got to combine both of his previous TV jobs when he and Amanda Freitag
became co-hosts of the Food Network's American Diner Revival.
Together they travel across the nation to renovate diners, with Freitag working on the
menu and Pennington handling the design aspects.
Pennington views it as his patriotic duty.
"What is really interesting is diners, you know, they are the ultimate American icon."
To date, two seasons of American Diner Revival have aired.
So if you've been wondering what happened to Ty Pennington, it turns out you might simply
have been looking for him on the wrong channel.
And if your cable provider doesn't include the Food Network, well, don't worry.
You can always find him at Sears.
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