Behind the scenes of “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” reveals the magic of television

By Vicky Jenkisnon

Savannah will be in the national spotlight once again as Jim and Carmen Simpson with their three children Isaac, Katelyn and Zoe return to their new home on the Jan. 16 episode of “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.” The show’s producers selected the Savannah family last November after a search through thousands of deserving applications. Local builders J.T. Turner Construction managed the six-day, 106-hour build of the 3,300-square-foot, four-bedroom, three-bathroom home.

The new house replaced the dilapidated 1940’s-era carriage house in Ardsley Park that the Simpsons were in the midst of renovating to accommodate the physical therapy needs of their youngest son. District photographer Vicky Jenkinson kept a photo diary of her experience among the hundreds of spectators, supporters and volunteers that showed up at the construction site each day to document the construction process from demolition to the moment host Ty Pennington yelled, “Move that bus!”

TOP