"EXTREME MAKEOVER: HOME EDITION" ANNOUNCES DESERVING FAMILY
IN FRONT OF CHEERING BASEBALL FANS AT NEW YORK YANKEE GAME
During Demolition, Designers and Dancers Join Award-Winning Actress
Kristin Chenoweth in a Broadway-Like Musical Production
"Lutz Family" -- On June 20, "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" gave a different kind of wake up call to the deserving Lutz family of East Setauket, New York. The family thought they had just been invited to attend an afternoon baseball game between the Yankees and the New York Mets. But imagine the family's surprise when, while surrounded by thousands of cheering fans at Yankee Stadium, they realized that they'd be the latest recipients of a new home. Instead of design team leader Ty Pennington's traditional morning wake up call, he stormed the field and announced the good news right before the game. This episode of "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" airs SUNDAY, OCTOBER 3 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET), on ABC.
"New York! New York!" was the theme of this build. During the home's demolition, the designers joined award-winning actress and volunteer Kristin Chenoweth and broke into an original Broadway-like song and dance routine.
Grace and John Lutz were a loving couple who were unable to have children of their own. They gave their hearts to many children, including several with Down Syndrome. After the couple passed away, their daughter, Kathleen, gave up her career and gladly came home to take care of six Down siblings who currently range in age from 20 to 25 years old. Everyone agreed that putting the kids in a group home or institution was not an option. Kathleen's brother, John Jr., willingly sacrificed his successful career as a gymnastics coach to move home, and the two of them are now a team who care for their siblings. Nothing can dampen the spirits of this cheerful group. They love to sing and dance, cook and play games together. But the crumbling condition of their 40-year-old home has become a concern. The Down siblings will not grow up and move away, they will not marry or drive cars; they need their home to be a safe permanent one, with everything to accommodate their special needs.
Show designers for this episode are Ty Pennington, designers Paul DiMeo, Paige Hemmis and Tracy Hutson.
The series is produced by Endemol USA, a division of Endemol Holding. It is executive-produced by Brady Connell and George Verschoor. David Goldberg is Chairman, Endemol North America. This program carries a TV-PG parental guideline.
For more information on "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," visit ABC.com.
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