Post-Wrap of the Pilot Episode - Response to TV Show Viewers: Post 46

Response to TV Show Viewers: Post 1 - January 23, 2026

Response to TV Show Viewers: Post 45 - May 4, 2026

In the spring of 2014, I was making an effort to put on a faithful face, to be an example of hope and optimism. But on the inside, being sensible, practical even, I had to own up to the truth that I hadn’t knocked this opportunity over the fence.

And it was getting even further away from me.

I’m not being overly rough on myself now as much as I am sharing details to satisfy those still curious. To more than a few, I come off as supremely certain within the episodes, and some feel they need to set me straight. Perhaps, in sharing this response series, I’ll make it a little clearer that I realize I don’t have all the answers.  

Even now, over ten years down the road, there’s a whole lot I don’t know about what happened after the producers left South Carolina. However, in May of that first year in TV, I had post-filming involvement in the form of voiceover work and am able to write some about that.

Within the two weeks of the filming and interviewing to create the pilot that would eventually kickoff all of the American Rehab series, I learned that producers had much more quantity than they’d anticipated. The introductory half hour episode we’d all been working on would be paired down to twenty-one minutes. However, the math of it all showed that they’d actually accumulated enough footage to produce the six episodes after only ten days!

An expectant producer had let me know that they were ready to “fast track” the first segment, requiring executive producers and editors to comb through what they had to make a compelling initial seven minutes. That creation would take a week or so, they’d get anticipated approval, then circle back so we could finish the house and filming before August.

However, by mid-April, I was again being reminded of how dissatisfied producers had been with me, how despite their professionalism, I’d witnessed expressions and posture that served as feedback. I hadn’t been delivering as hoped. Weeks after their exodus, it became clear that the quantity wasn’t equating to quality. And as a result of my ineffectiveness, they needed me to begin logging time in a local recording studio to provide usable dialogue to bridge gaps and sew up holes.        

These sound booth sessions brought back comparable satisfaction felt while filming the first day of the test reel on November 7 of 2013. I had producers in other parts of the country coming through my headphones, listening to me repeat many of the things I’d said back in March, but this time I was alone, talking into a microphone in a soundproof room with audio technicians behind the glass partition. I was living out a scene I’d watched in movies and television, with the highlight of this experience being the session when my star-eyed daughter came along to watch and listen.

This voiceover work spilled into May, telling me without saying so that they would not be returning before our kid’s schools let out for the summer. These studio sessions then carried over into June, solidifying even more substantially some of my natural, privately held evaluating over my performance on camera at the end of March.

Through the headset, producers directed and encouraged me. Although unable to read expressions, I could hear their tones of voices. They seemed taken aback— unexpectedly surprised in a good way—as if I was coming through beyond what they’d anticipated or been prepared for. This was the opposite of how I’d felt filming for the two weeks, an ease inducing, necessary moment. And this collection of hours added up to an uplifting end to my part in creating the pilot episode.

Although I was encouraged that they'd be able to cobble together enough, as the weeks of summer formed months, I began to once again think that our chances of getting onto HGTV were back to slim. 

Response to TV Show Viewers: Post 47 - Coming Soon

Wrapping Up the Detached Garage - Response to TV Show Viewers: Post 45

Response to TV Show Viewers: Post 1 - January 23, 2026

Response to TV Show Viewers: Post 44 - May 1, 2026

In home rehabbing, the value of extra space to work out of and store materials in is immeasurable. A garage, basement, and detached outbuilding like a barn or shed make a reno easier, which over the course of the project, whether it’s weeks, months, or longer, saves time, which likely also benefits the budget. And these are major biggies.

I’d overlooked this value early in my career, until I had a rehab with nowhere to overflow into.  This meant moving things around my available space on the inside a lot, more than would have been necessary if I’d had space that didn’t need to be reworked and rebuilt.

Eventually, this asset on prospective properties was just one of others that I learned to factor in as I combed through listings and cruised for next projects. And by 2013, it was something I no longer had to be hyper-aware of.

The Summerville property had two garages: a detached one-car in back under the live oak that was older than the house, and the other next to the kitchen that was enclosed as part of filming the pilot. Although it was supposed to have been completed, time ran out and it was ready for me to finish. It wasn’t a lot of work, but enough to keep me busy throughout the month of April 2014 as I waited.

The completed effort had included a sweet new garage door replacing an old one that dramatically fell from its tracks while pilot cameras had been rolling. Along with this fancy unit, the two-sides of this building facing the back of the house had been painted yellow. But that was it. The rest was ready, beckoning me to freshen it up.

Along with addressing rotten wood and buttoning up the paint job, this shed needed soffit, fascia, and new trim. But there was potential to make a larger, more impactful splash. So, while I was completing this part of the property’s makeover, I decided to move the man door from the back corner to a new spot that lined up more ideally with a rogue section of concrete jutting out from the pad under the grand tree. Not only was I able to capitalize on a mysterious, inherited quirk, it would also allow me to make better use of the space inside. In addition to moving this door, I installed another entrance on the back side and popped in some windows. Then to top this enjoyable make-work off, I installed what would be a brick border up to the relocated door and then mixed up a little over a yard of concrete to complete the walkway.     

In the wake of the time spent waiting, and the two weeks of filming the pilot, I appreciated the authenticity of completing the detached garage, on my own, without anyone needing my narration and commentary or to be feeding me dialogue that may be used to tie scenes together in post-production. More than when the people from LA and Minnesota had been working with me, I felt comfortable, assured, and like my old self. And that time, in a great town, under the canopy of the beautiful tree on my property with so much potential, was a good place to be.  

Response to TV Show Viewers: Post 46 - Coming Soon

Pride in the Dumpster - Response to TV Show Viewers: Post 44

Response to TV Show Viewers: Post 1 - January 23, 2026

Response to TV Show Viewers: Post 45 - April 29, 2026

Answering the biggest questions generates more curiosity. Here’s a logical follow-up to me sharing how I failed to adequately respond to learning that the carport, side porch, and reroof had been surreptitiously nixed.

I could, and maybe should have responded with, “Your bosses said that you would be doing Plan C, but you’re doing Plan D instead, sidestepping the big three things I really need after waiting three months? No thanks. I’m sorry to have to tell you that we’re not going to be making a pilot after all.”

But then what?

That had been a gamble I was unwilling to take. Even though they’d not done what they’d said up to that point, I still trusted the dual networks and their Minneapolis production company. I really wanted to believe in them. I needed for those who were capable to get me on HGTV, even if it was one time, one episode.

Knowing now, what I didn’t know then, I had leverage I could have used that would have helped everyone involved. As much as I didn’t like or appreciate it, downgrading to the pilot episode first would have actually been the best thing if we’d gone with Plan C. I thought we’d made a minor breakthrough when I laid out the value of a potential win-win scenario. As I explained it, as I sincerely felt about it, gutting the interior, building the side porch and carport, and replacing the leaky roof would have been ideal for everyone. Now I know it for sure.  

Although I thought we’d ended this conversation in logical compromise territory, it may have changed when the other side had time to consider what we’d settled on. I realize that for some people, win-win feels uncomfortable, because they genuinely believe that in order to come out ahead, the other party must decidedly not get all that they’re after. But I know from experience how that doesn’t work in the long run.

I thought it was clear how Plan C would be the best for all, but once again, I didn’t tie them down because I had an inflated regard. But more importantly, I feared that doing that would scare them into not showing up at all.

Instead, I rolled the dice with my fingers crossed, and that was on me. I suppose deep down I felt that I deserved to live with Plan D, the exterior spruce up in lieu of what had been discussed and orally landed on over the phone since I had been more trusting than was prudent.

This is on me. I’d messed up again. And the reason we started on the outside, as much as I hated it then and cringe about it even today, and as detrimental as it was to my chance to renovate my houses on television more substantially, circles back and points to me. And as I’ve already said, I’m sorry to the people I let down and all those who had high hopes and big plans for me.  

*

Besides me taking my lumps for rolling the dice on the lead producer, something slightly magnanimous is also worth understanding.

The crew on site was not to blame. They were just doing what they’d been directed to do by the people they answered to.  They’d told their friends and families how they would be working in Charleston, South Carolina for two weeks. They’d passed on other jobs in order to come work with me, to help me have a chance at the series pickup that would finish the rest of the house.

If I sent them home when I realized what was happening, they’d likely feel as if I was to blame. Right or wrong, this was where my mind went since I lacked the background to fully understand the consequences and implications if I took a hard line. In that way, I was in too far. I didn’t know what to do other than to try to keep my head above water and get a little further along with this opportunity.

At this point, regardless of how screwy and unappetizing this process had become, I had to do whatever I could to squeeze out a time slot featuring me on HGTV.

Response to TV Show Viewers: Post 43 - Coming Soon