What Happened to Ty Pennington?

By Lillian Smith On Jan 3, 2023

Fans were outraged earlier this year when it was revealed that Ty Pennington, the legendary presenter of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition from 2003 to 2012, will not play a major role in the show’s relaunch. Indeed, when you think of Extreme Makeover, you immediately think of Ty.

Jesse Ferguson of Modern Family has replaced Ty. While Ty is not entirely absent (he has previously made a guest appearance), some viewers feel that the show is not the same without him.

Ty Pennington was a household figure in the early 2000s, when makeover and home improvement shows were all the rage. He hosted TLC shows Trading Spaces and Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, and his engaging demeanour and genuine concern for his guests shone through. Because of its groundbreaking nature and its commitment to charitable causes, the latter went on to win a slew of accolades, including two Emmys and ten nominations.

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Who is Ty Pennington?

Tygert Burton “Ty” Pennington (born Gary Tygert Burton) is an American TV host, artist, carpenter, author, former model, and actor.

His rise to notoriety began with his job as a carpenter on the TLC home repair reality series Trading Spaces (2000–2003) and continued with his hosting of the ABC reality series Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (2003–2012), for which he received two Primetime Emmy Awards.

Pennington has focused on various other projects after the show’s cancellation in 2012, including hosting ABC’s short-lived discussion show The Revolution in 2012, TNT’s On the Menu opposite Emeril Lagasse in 2014, and The Food Network’s American Diner Revival with Amanda Freitag from 2015 to 2016. On September 13, 2017, it was revealed that Pennington would be participating in the return of Trading Spaces, which premiered on TLC on April 7, 2018.

Preceding His Career in Home Improvement, He Was a Model

Pennington started modelling for major fashion brands like J.Crew and Levi’s at a young age, thanks to his good looks and big physique, as stated on his website. A model scout “convinced me to give my looks a shot in the spotlight” after he graduated from college, though he won’t say when. “I know, I know, it was a bit of a wild turn in my career at the time,” he continued.

And as an added bonus, he got a taste of the jet-set lifestyle by posing for the camera all around the world: “Looking back, I can say that it was my work as a model that inspired me to see the world and introduced me to countless new experiences. Suddenly, I found myself jet-setting throughout the globe, “said Pennington.

Modeling also aided in broadening his perspective; he began to see things in a new light. “All of a sudden I was travelling everywhere and experiencing everything, including art, furniture, and architecture, in a whole different way,” Pannington said. This sparked the beginning of a newfound enthusiasm for design on his part. As a result, “several of the places I’ve travelled and/or lived in have provided me with ideas for designs that I’ve used in various projects.”

Ty Pennington Had to Deal With Some Problems on a Personal Level

Ty Pennington’s heartwarming grin couldn’t save the TV personality from the consequences of his heavy drinking. The well-liked carpenter was arrested for DUI on May 5, 2007, in Marina Del Rey, Los Angeles County, California. People reports that Pennington had a blood alcohol content of.14 percent, when the legal limit in his state is.08.

The TV star said in a statement (reported by Cleveland 19), “A mistake in judgement was made by me. True, we’re all fallible, but that’s not the point. Having any amount of alcohol in your system while behind the wheel is dangerous. Thank goodness no one was injured or killed because of my carelessness, because it would have been a tragedy. For me, this was the alarm clock.”

I also want to apologise to my fans, ABC Television, and my design team for my error of judgement and the embarrassment it has caused me and them.

Pennington, now 42 years old, was given a three-year probationary period, a $1,500 fine, and a 90-day alcohol education programme.

Ty Pennington’s Career Revivals Failed

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition was cancelled in 2012 after airing for a total of 10 seasons and positively impacting the lives of numerous families. Naturally, Ty Pennington had some thoughts on the conclusion of his claim to fame.

Extreme “taught me that what you produce with your hands has a lasting influence and genuinely makes someone’s life better,” Pennington told Parade in 2012. I can say with confidence, “It’s something I’ll always be proud of.”

In the same year, he tried to transfer his makeover skills to daytime television on the ABC talk show The Revolution with Tim Gunn, Harley Pasternak, Dr. Jennifer Ashton, and Tiffanie Davis, but the show was a flop. The show only lasted for six months, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.

With Emeril Lagasse as judge, the TV personality debuted On the Menu, a cooking competition show, in 2014. The hosts’ obvious enthusiasm for cuisine was a positive sign, but the presentation ultimately fell short. After only 10 episodes, it was abruptly cancelled and never seen again.

Pennington gave another food show, American Diner Revival, a shot the following year, but it was cancelled after only 22 episodes.

Why Didn’t Ty Pennington Host Extreme Makeover’s Next Season?

According to an interview he gave to TMZ, Ty has finally decided to step aside after nine seasons of “hogging the spotlight” and allow someone else take over. We also respectfully disagree with his assessment that he is “too old” for the show, which he also made. After saying, “Don’t give me all the feels; I can’t possibly deserve them. True, honest, and good [television] is hard to come by.” “Besides, I’m too old for that, man,” he laughed.

He enthusiastically approved of Jesse’s plans for the revamped show, telling him, “This is, without a doubt, one of the best shows of all time in terms of the impact it has on viewers’ lives. We can only hope that [Jesse] will have the same opportunity. Because it’s so rewarding to see the recipient’s face light up after receiving a gift you worked so hard on designing. That’s the crux of the matter. Being a part of the show is the nicest thing that could possibly happen to him, period.”

It appears that HGTV wanted a change of pace and decided to place less emphasis on the technical aspects of house repair and more on the personalities involved. When asked how HGTV will put its own creative spin on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, network president Jane Latman said, “Jesse’s participation as host is one of the ways that HGTV will put its own creative lens on the series.”

In continuation, Jane said, “We’ll make some adjustments to creative components of the programme, but it will always offer the fantastic storytelling that has made it one of the most iconic and popular properties in television history.” Aside from the fact that Jesse is hilarious and genuinely kind, the fact that he will lead us to see the good in any circumstance is what will set this show apart from others.

Jesse, the actor, has expressed his own enthusiasm for the role. Jesse expressed his excitement about taking over as host of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, saying, “I was so inspired by the first series and now I can’t wait to help families.”

Ty may no longer be hosting, but he will still be a familiar face. Jesse shared promotional images on March 27 with the caption, “This Sunday at 8 p.m., catch an ALL NEW episode of #HGTVExtreme! We’re planning a big surprise for this amazing family, and we’ve invited two of our closest friends to help us pull it off: @thetypennington and @anthonyanderson. You should definitely check it out.”

Frequently Asked Questions…

Why Did Ty Decide to Quit Extreme Makeover?

In an interview with TMZ, Ty acknowledged that, after nine seasons, he’s ready to relinquish control of the show to someone else. Additionally, he stated that he is “too old” for the event, which we respectfully dispute.

What is Ty Pennington Doing Now?

Pennington joined the HGTV remodelling competition series Rock The Block as host for its second season, which began on March 8, 2021, and continues in this capacity for the upcoming third season, which is scheduled to broadcast in early 2022.

Does Ty Pennington Have a New Television Programme?

Ty Pennington will return to television with an all-new show. The popular TV host, who is well known for Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, is launching a new renovation series called Ty Breaker.

Is Ty Pennington Presently Married?

Ty Pennington is currently married. The HGTV personality popped the question to his fiancée, Kellee Merrell, in July 2021, and they wed in November of the same year.

Conclusion

Pennington was a household name in the early 2000s when makeover shows were popular. He hosted Extreme Makeover: Home Edition from 2003 to 2012. Pennington will be participating in the return of Trading Spaces, which premiered on TLC on April 7, 2018. Ty Pennington was arrested for DUI on May 5, 2007. He was given a three-year probationary period, a $1,500 fine, and 90-day suspension.

Pennington says his modelling career inspired him to see the world in a new way. His makeover show was cancelled in 2012 after 10 seasons. He gave another food show, American Diner Revival, a shot the following year, but it was cancelled after only 22 episodes. HGTV has announced that Jesse will host Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Ty Pennington is no longer hosting, but he will still be a familiar face.

Jane Latman says the network will put its own creative spin on the series with Jesse’s involvement. Ty Pennington has quit Extreme Makeover after nine seasons. The popular TV host will return to television with an all-new show called Ty Breaker. Pennington is currently married to his fiancée, Kellee Merrell, and they wed in 2021.