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I see my two favorite guys are coming back -- Scott and Mike. I like this show a lot.

The promo asks the question: Who will be the next All American Handyman? which prompts me to ask...anyone know what's happened with the first winner>

I never did watch the first season of this show and I like both Mike and Scott. I'll have to make it a point to DVR these shows, which I'm sure will be on at a really odd time or day. Do you know when it will start?

I just don't understand the scheduling. Labor day is Mon 9/5 so they air the first episode on Sunday 9/4 when a lot of people are with friends and family. Why would they start a new series on a holiday weekend?

Didn't it start last year on Labor day weekend too? Wasn't too impressed with last year...not expecting much from this years but will watch for Mike & Scott.

quote:

Originally posted by clbselah:
I see my two favorite guys are coming back -- Scott and Mike. I like this show a lot.

The promo asks the question: Who will be the next All American Handyman? which prompts me to ask...anyone know what's happened with the first winner>

I was wondering the same thing! I know he was awarded a rather ambiguous prize (an HGTV deal or contract or something like that... but not necessarily a show)... but I had expected to hear something from him before now.

I didn't know who won, so I did some googling and found this -- from SEPTEMBER!
He's certainly cute enough for TV. And HGTV could use a handyman type of show. It hasn't had one for years. But s many of us know HGTV doesn't care what we want.
========================================
'All-American Handyman' winner Peter Wong awaits word on next step from HGTV
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
By JIM DEEGAN
The Express-Times
The idea seemed far-fetched to Peter Wong.

Four months later he's become something of a celebrity, recognized in public places and perhaps on the cusp of a television deal.

Wong, 39, of Forks Township, is the nation's "All-American Handyman." He earned the title Sunday night when he was crowned winner of the reality-type show of the same name on Home & Garden Television.

Wong will receive a $10,000 shopping spree at Sears, which was a major sponsor of the show, and will meet with the network's development team about possibly working with HGTV on other shows, said network spokeswoman Sheena Eustice. ((My comment: Well that's non-committal, isn't it?))

"All-American Handyman" featured 20 contestants from around the nation in different home improvement challenges, such as building decks and installing toilets.

Three judges critiqued their work, including home improvement guru Mike Holmes, whose own "Holmes on Homes" show is one of HGTV's most popular programs. The judges declared Wong tops.

"It's been really exciting," said Wong, who works as a senior equipment engineer for Anadigics Inc., a company in Warren, N.J., that makes semiconductors for cell phones and the cable television industry.

"I have everyone and their brother e-mailing me, calling me and Facebooking me," he said. "It was really stressful during the process. But it was one of the best things I did."

At the urging of his brother, Wong said, he applied in the spring to compete on the show. He hesitated, he said, because he didn't know anyone who had ever been on a TV show and figured he wouldn't have a chance.

After sending producers a tape of some of the handiwork from his renovated Hoops Lane home -- a sunroom, deck, cabinetry, finished basement -- he got a call.

Wong and the others taped the show during a week in June. He had to keep his secret under wraps since then....

Why does the winner have to get a show? I figure HGTV can produce a show simply to have a show to show (hows that for double talk? But you know what I mean).

It is nice to see a show where they have to use their brains and their hands... where evcerything does not depend upon the amount of money you have to purchase something. I just enjoy it for what it is and do not expect any more.

I had kind of expected that they'd use him for those in-between-the-regular-shows commercials with tips on decorating/home improvement. Or that they might have pulled him in as the regular carpenter on another show.

But I guess with a non-committal prize, if it isn't right for him then he could always say no to HGTV.

I had just expected something

I watched the program last year halfway through, as a handy person the challenges were unreasonable and Way too fast, I tried some challenges here, was timed by my DH and there was no way under that type of time limit,needlees to say I failed miserably,
they need to put less pressure on these poor people and let them show us what they really can do!!!!!!!!!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: CC-IMO,

Oh, yeah. Now I remember him. Yes, he certainly is telegenic enough for a show! I think we need to lobby TPTB.

I'm looking forward to the new show this week. Some of the projects were a bit harsh. I guess they had to do a time challendge because they have to fit all the projects to fit into an hour show.

Once again this season I'm requesting that they include a section (video) where they explain the correct methods for doing the challenges.
I've never built a swinging gate either and they are pointing out flaws which I'd like to see the correct way.

I saw the show this morning on my DVR...
If it's a HANDYMAN show, why are they mainly doing WOODWORKING? Both challenges were with wood and I see that the next one is too!
One of the guys who was let go even said that wood wasn't his strong suit but put him to work with drywall, molding, etc...

When I think of Handyman, I think of way more things than their wooden imagination.
How about a bathroom or kitchen renovation, a stone or concrete walkway, etc...
I guess those are too complicated for a short show?

Still wondering what they will come up with next!
I did enjoy seeing what their wood projects turned out to be, but there should be more variety!

There should be more variety. There was last year as they got into the rest of the shows.

I liked this show. No drama, just straightforward projects. I liked that when something was wrong, Mike and Scott told how it should have been done. I also liked that they really sat down and discussed who did a good job and who would be eliminated.

Marylee

I just around to watching Sunday's episode and I think I'm through with this show.

Contestants given projects with unrealistic time lines, smug condescending judges.

All in all, not a very good or interesting show.

We enjoy the lack of drama plus seeing some more intense challenges. Agree, however, we really wish they'd lighten up on the time schedules and add more episodes. It's very difficult to learn the contestants' names and get behind them/root for anyone when it moves so quickly, i.e. 2 challenges and 2 bounced contestants per episode, minimum.

In short, it's 2 x 2 and too much!

I think the show should be called All American DIY (do-it-yourselfer). They don't have any professional handymen on the show, just people who like to do projects in their spare time. Unless someone's a fame whore, I don't see them giving up their regular job for a chance at some guest TV spots. I think that also explains the short season. The contestants probably can't take much time off.

That being said, I still enjoy the show. They've had more variety this year. It also doesn't seem like a long commercial for Sears. Yes, there's product placement but they dropped the whole "let's show off our latest tools" vibe.

They did the tool thing in one episode, Slab. Can't remember the challenge but if they weren't familiar with the neato gizmo on the Sears saw, they were at a disadvantage. Plus they've had several Sears judges along the way.

At least this last one was the first episode with the throw the Sears junk in the new closet routine to finish off the challenge. Have a feeling we'll get a heavy does of Sears appliances this next week when they do their kitchens.

Sounds like they define "handyman" for purposes of the show as a non-professional, DIY type. It was obvious last year the winner wasn't going to give up a good job to throw his hat into the HGTV rind.

It'd be nice if they did something, however. Otherwise, what did they really win? (Yeah, I know, some cash or gift cards and bragging rights. Nice but it's not an HGTV series like DS.)

This message has been edited. Last edited by: bballdays,

I can't believe the winner of this season was the person who, in every episode, was identified as the person who knew how to make the final results "look pretty" while the underlying structure and build may have been substandard.

Really??? Make-it-right-Mike Holmes selects the person whose linen closet trim would have hidden an improper header support? He's our role model for the kind of handyman we should hire and/or aspire to be???? I'm disappointed. Allison and Shaun did better work than Jared, based on what we saw in the content of the episodes.

I agree with other posters that each episode passed too quickly and showed us too little detail. I also think, in the end, these folks were held to a general contractor standard, beyond a handyman level of detail. I hire a handyman for small jobs, and generally don't impose time contraints like these challenges presented.

I always learn something from these programs, however. I would like a little less focus on the drama and more on conveying construction and remodeling tips and techniques. Like door hinge placement 7" from the top and 10" from the bottom-- that's the kind of thing I want these shows to illustrate to me.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Lucyr2,

Aren't Mike & Scott both Canadian? The irony of the show's title always befuddled me.

quote:

Originally posted by Ohsquared:
Aren't Mike & Scott both Canadian? The irony of the show's title always befuddled me.

"All-American" anything reeks of an earlier time when the term meant white, southern US male, IMHO. I don't care for it at all.

quote:

Originally posted by Lucyr2:
I can't believe the winner of this season was the person who, in every episode, was identified as the person who knew how to make the final results "look pretty" while the underlying structure and build may have been substandard.

I was blindsided by that one, too. Shaun was the best overall candidate. But, I got it wrong last year, when I thought the fireman had the best skills.

They way they were talking up Allison's kitchen, even though she royally screwed up the sink placement, seemed to be an indication that they were pressured to have her win at any cost.

Don't really understand your post, Slab. Pressured by who? If you believe it's like DS and the winner's predetermined, they were pressured to give Jared the trophy.

WRT Allison, she won the shed challenge and they said she had the fewest mistakes on the kitchen challenge. We didn't care about the sink placement - in fact, we believed it's location optimized the counterspace (IIRC) and would have made it easier to work on the plumbing.

Out of the 3 kitchens, I preferred Allison's. Shaun's appliance placement was unbalanced. IMHO, Jared was lazy when he decided to simply reduce the number of cabinets instead of utilizing all of the space and either adapting a cabinet to fit or building something to fill the extra slot.

Got the impression they considered the entire competition when judging instead of the candidates' progress and improvement. We wanted them to wipe the slate clean at the beginning of the finale and award it to the winner of those last two challenges.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: SurfNow,

I'm new at this...I have a man who I'd like to see enter into the next American Handyman contest. How does he enter? drjerryh@gmail.com

quote:

Originally posted by clbselah:
I see my two favorite guys are coming back -- Scott and Mike. I like this show a lot.

The promo asks the question: Who will be the next All American Handyman? which prompts me to ask...anyone know what's happened with the first winner>

I have a man that I'd like to see compete in the American Handyman contest. He was laid off last January 2nd and has been doing odd jobs to support his family. I believe he has talent to do ANY type of home repair/remodeling. How and when does he apply?

DrJ, try allamericanhandymancasting.com or do an online search on the show name (comma) Casting or Casting Call.

IIRC, they shot this in April this year (spring break) after wrapping the casting in January. They held 6 open calls in major cities.

Don't know your location but you might also check out Canada's version, too.

Good Luck!