When HGTV/DIY Asked Me to Call Them - Response to TV Show Viewers: Post 22

(Response to TV Show Viewers: Post 21 - March 11, 2026)

I’ve already described how rehab addict Nicole Curtis made a tiny comment on my blog, and because of that gesture I began writing posts that might lead to an opportunity in television. So, there’s no need to go over all that again. Eventually, this goofy plan more or less worked, culminating in me receiving an email from HGTV/DIY, an invitation to submit a pair of introductory videos with my family.

These two recordings were far from buttoned up and silky smooth, and I wasn’t even sure these attachments would be openable by the recipient. Rather than following up, I only wondered as I shifted my focus to reach an agreement to buy my next project house just outside of Charleston, South Carolina.    

Because of the wishy-washy circumstances, Diann and I didn’t tell anyone about the email or us and the kids making the videos for the networks—not with friends, family, neighbors. Not anyone. On one hand, I’d been passively after some chance to work with HGTV or DIY. But it was so subtle, it hardly made sense that it might have actually led to some undefined opportunity.

“What are you sending in a video for?” my wife Diann had asked.

My best answer was a shrug. And the truth was, I didn’t know or care about specifics on what we were submitting for. It was just exciting to receive the email and I was growing more curious if it would lead to a response coming back to us.

I hadn’t directly made the first move. I’d made overtures in my own way. And my twisted ipso facto logic made me think it had led to the director of programming in New York City reaching out. And that made it not completely 100% random, and along with my faith, this behind-the-scenes history caused me to not be as worried as if it had come completely from out of the wild blue. The bottom line was that I thought any and all of it was exciting and cool, a great story to tell grandchildren someday if nothing else.  

There was no sureness on my part about how I’d come across on camera. But I knew Diann looked beautiful, sounded really sweet when she’d spoken, and the kiddos were cute and fun and entertaining. I was pleased with how I’d been able to deliver my thoughts, and the way I’d managed to block out distractions of toys getting tossed from the backyard treehouse while addressing the director’s questions. If what I’d sent could be opened, I held some strange confidence that the video would generate a positive response of some sort. I just wasn’t sure what that would mean though.

A couple weeks later I received an email. It was from the programming director who sent the original letter, asking for a call on their cell phone. After a year and a half of subtle attempts to make contact with someone with HGTV or DIY, the Director of Original Programming and Development was emailing with a two-sentence message. “Would love to talk to you! Can you call me on my cell?”

What?

Someone wearing hats representing both home improvement networks wanted to speak with me? And they were providing their cell number?

I took a second to soak in the reality. Then I dialed the number.  

(Response to TV Show Viewers: Post 23 - Coming Soon)