Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: P.B.S. "This Old House" needs F.T. help!

This is topic P.B.S. "This Old House" needs F.T. help! in forum Film-Yak at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Will Kutler (Member # 770) on 12-07-2002, 05:10 PM:

I enjoy this show and find it to be most interesting. However, it seems to me that they could use a little assistance in the area of home intertainment! So, I e-mailed them about the F.T. web-site, and hopefully they will take notice. Should this happen, it may give the film exhibition industry some needed exposure into main-stream society?

Posted by Joe Beres (Member # 678) on 12-07-2002, 06:23 PM:

Ok, I am sufficiently confused. [Confused]

Sounds like a job for Matthew Bailey.

Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 12-07-2002, 06:50 PM:

Will - What episode of "This Old House" are you referring to? Were they talking about trying to build a home theatre?

Posted by Steve Kraus (Member # 476) on 12-07-2002, 06:55 PM:

This site is about home "intertainment" ? Who woulda thunk it? I thought maybe you were going to recommend FG as a wood finish.

Posted by Sam Hunter (Member # 1119) on 12-07-2002, 10:52 PM:

Great Scott!
You can stomach Steve Thomas??? [puke]

So he made a boat, big deal. He is still about as boring as they come.
Bob Vila can kick his ass anytime.

Posted by Tim Reed (Member # 137) on 12-08-2002, 02:38 AM:

quote:
You can stomach Steve Thomas???

I've had the chance occasion to chat with the principals of this show, when they visited State Farm Insurance headquarters several years ago for more funding. My wife worked there as an executive secretary, and I happened to stop by for lunch.

I found Steve Thomas to be much the gentleman. He's a good conversationalist, too.

Norm Abram, however, was stuffy and aloof. Maybe he was having a bad day, who knows, but since they were there asking for money, I would've thought he'd be more sprite...

Completely the opposite as I'd expected.

Posted by Andrew Duggan (Member # 1302) on 12-08-2002, 02:45 AM:

The thing is, apparently Bob Vila is completely useless in reality, and was only chosen to host the show because he was well liked by test audiences, not because he had any real background in home repair. It actually makes watching him on shows & TV commercials kinda funny. Especially when he turns to a random carpenter or electrician and goes "Need a hand with that?"

Posted by Ron Lacheur (Member # 1126) on 12-08-2002, 04:35 AM:

Bob Vila looks like he just annoys the contractors on his show....some professional.

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 12-08-2002, 09:27 AM:

Thats why Bob Villa has been relegated to just doing commercials for Sears. I was never impressed by him either......Norm is a hell of a carpenter and true artist....may artists are prima donnas....
Mark

Posted by Frank Angel (Member # 248) on 12-08-2002, 10:01 AM:

I always had a problem with Villa because whenever he was discussing a technique with an electrician, plumber, whomever, it was almost like he wasn't listening to what they were saying because he would impatiently jump on the end of their sentences and at times even interrupting them with his own explanation. I found this very annoying and eventually abandoned the show because of it. I guess in the light of Andrew's post, ole Bob was in a hurry to "get on with it" because he didn't have a clue what they were talking about. [Smile]

Posted by Barry Martin (Member # 1376) on 12-08-2002, 11:10 AM:

I always liked Norm on New Yankee Workshop, especially when I was in my "carpentry phase" in high school. Even tried a couple projects from his show in my high school workshop which came out pretty good, mostly due to his instruction and my teacher's patience. Vila always just got to me, don't know why. Maybe I was subconciously recognizing this apparent lack of practical knowledge you are all talking about.

There was a show on TLC I watched for a while too which was pretty entertaining with a man and woman hosting, cannot remember the name for some reason but it was about home repair/improvement.

Posted by Joe Beres (Member # 678) on 12-08-2002, 12:07 PM:

Barry, I think you are referring to HomeTime. I agree also that Bob Vila is pretty annoying. Norm Abram can work wonders with wood. (And a shop full of the best tools that he most likely gets for free)

Posted by Sam Hunter (Member # 1119) on 12-08-2002, 02:12 PM:

I admit ole Bob is a little annoying but I believe his claim to fame was a restoration project he did way back when.
I think the guy knows his stuff but since he has to host the show he has to bring out certain points that pertain to whats going on and that may seem pushy to some I think thats the only way to get the show taped with a minimum of interuption.
Norm is just a carpenter who was not bred to be a TV personallity so that why he comes accros like he does. I imagine he would be happy to just do his job and not have to put up with TV. The thing that bothers me the most with Vila is his need to tour other homes, I could care less about that. I want to see the work going on and the how and whys of it. As far as Thomas goes, He too ask if he can give a hand and he may be a nice guy but I don't think he is as good as Vila.
Hometime is pretty entertaining to me, but if you watch closely you can see them mess up on something and pretend it never happens. I have seen them strip out screws half nail something, etc. But I guess once the taping stops they get the real people to come in and fix it up. [thumbsup]

Getting back to the subject, I think it would be nice to see a home renovation with someone building a REEL home theater. With a nice newly restored BX80, 9030 soundhead, Dolby Rack, etc with a state of the art video projection system to back in up so you can veiw your favorite DVD's.

Posted by Steve Kraus (Member # 476) on 12-08-2002, 08:09 PM:

Forget the home theatre and rebuild projectors instead. "This Old Projector" Not for broadcast of course but someone could do a line of DVD's.

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 12-08-2002, 08:23 PM:

This here thread is the reason I yelled and screamed to become a moderator. It belongs in Yak.

Posted by John Walsh (Member # 168) on 12-08-2002, 08:47 PM:

While I'm not a big fan of Bob Vila, I think the reason he was put on the show is to play the part of "Joe Everybody" and ask all the questions the viewers can't ask. He would also fill in explanations when the craftperson he was interviewing got camera shy or wandered off the point. I think I read somewhere he is a licensed architect. So, I do not think he is a dummey. The only reason he is no longer on "This Old House" is because he tried to make a few extra bucks by appering in Sears ads as "Bob Vila from 'PBS's This Old House'" rather than just as "Bob Vila." Being publicly funded, PBS could not allow that, and canned him.

I liked "This Old House" when it first came out, because it showed regular projects regular people might actually do, like put in a window or fix up the basement. But then the big donation/advertising money started rolling in, and the projects became for rich yuppies who viewed their homes as 'investments' to sell, rather than a relaxing place from work or a warm home in which to raise a family.

Posted by Gerard S. Cohen (Member # 994) on 12-08-2002, 09:40 PM:

John W. wrote:

quote:
I liked "This Old House" when it first came out, because it showed regular projects regular people might actually do, like put in a window or fix up the basement. But then the big donation/advertising money started rolling in, and the projects became for rich yuppies who viewed their homes as 'investments' to sell, rather than a relaxing place from work or a warm home in which to raise a family.

I agree, but hadn't realized that was the reason the show lost its appeal for me.

Posted by John Hawkinson (Member # 1135) on 12-09-2002, 12:19 PM:

DVDs? What are you thinking, Steve? 16mm and 35mm!

--jhawk

Posted by Daryl C. W. O'Shea (Member # 1303) on 12-09-2002, 02:49 PM:

Now how are you going to watch the 'rebuild how-to' on the projector you don't know how to rebuild? [Confused]

Posted by William Leland III (Member # 1400) on 12-09-2002, 03:57 PM:

When Bob Vila came to Charleston to do a show on restoration, a guy who attends my parents church was on site with him. The producers asked him to cut some wood or whatever, which they used in the show, but they also told him to give his shirt to Mr.Fix-It. So Bob put on his shirt, and it looked liked he did all the work. It was nothing complicated, but Bob could was unable to anything. [Eek!]

Bob is an ACTOR, not a Carpenter.

Posted by Sam Hunter (Member # 1119) on 12-09-2002, 04:53 PM:

The secret is out,
Bob Vila is an actor being played by an even worse actor.
See link
http://snltranscripts.jt.org/88/88cvila.phtml

Posted by Tim Reed (Member # 137) on 12-09-2002, 05:10 PM:

quote:
I always liked Norm on New Yankee Workshop

Oh, I did too, and had a great deal of respect for him until I met him. Now I can't stand to see him on TV.

quote:
"This Old Projector" Not for broadcast of course but someone could do a line of DVD's.

Already had that idea, Steve. [Wink]

A video I never finished, for the drive-in "fan" crowd...
"This Old Booth" Video
(And yes, the carbon arc shot messed my camera up. It never was the same after that.) [Frown]

Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 12-09-2002, 06:15 PM:

Tim--did you use an older tube-type camera? I thought CCDs weren't supposed to be susceptible to burn-in from bright light sources. [Confused]

Posted by Tim Reed (Member # 137) on 12-09-2002, 07:08 PM:

Scott, no, it was an RCA consumer-cam. Later that night, as I was shooting outside, it died in mid-shot. A TV tech friend said the power supply crapped out, but I think the shock of the sudden super high-intensity, from a previously dark scene, wiped something out.

The images from it do not look as good as they did before I did that.

Posted by John Hawkinson (Member # 1135) on 12-09-2002, 11:37 PM:

That's why you have it in both 16mm and 35mm. Watch the 35 while
fixing the 16 and vice versa...

--jhawk

Posted by Don Sneed (Member # 955) on 12-10-2002, 03:14 AM:

Speaking of Bob Villa....I (as we all do) are often asked how did I get started in the service biz...I say... "I Saw Bob Villa Do It Once On TV, Thought I would give it a try !!" [Big Grin]

Posted by Bruce McGee (Member # 131) on 12-10-2002, 10:54 AM:

I totally agree with you guys. This Old House is not for the basic (poor) do-it-yourselfers anymore. I used to love to watch it when they showed us how to replace an outlet, or replace a sink or toilet, etc. Now, they go into these mini-mansions that are really nice to begin with, and rip them apart!

I really like it when they are examining the heating plant, and telling us what a pile of junk it is. I'd love to have some of those systems in my home! My system is nearly 50 years old, and runs flawlessly.

Bob Vila is irritating. Steve Thomas is dull. Norm is brilliant, and I'll bet, expensive.

I'd love to see PBS go back to more moderately-priced homes for restorations now and then. But, since the money is pouring in, I can bet that they won't.

Posted by Ian Price (Member # 14) on 12-10-2002, 01:03 PM:

I always wanted them to do This Old Trailer Park or This Old Apartment. [thumbsup]

Posted by Tim Reed (Member # 137) on 12-10-2002, 01:32 PM:

"In Living Color" did a bit with Daymon Wayans as a homeless person, in "This Old Box"

Posted by Barry Floyd (Member # 385) on 12-10-2002, 01:50 PM:

Too bad you didn't finish that video project Tim, I would've bought several for myself.

I'd still be interested in buying whatever you did get finished with....

I have an entire barn full of drive-in equipment, and don't even know how to play with it!!

Posted by Tim Reed (Member # 137) on 12-10-2002, 04:54 PM:

[Smile]

There will be things to come, Barry, I promise. Much to be announced at the UDITOA convention. [Wink]

Hope to see you there!

Posted by Will Kutler (Member # 770) on 12-10-2002, 07:22 PM:

I thought that it may be interesting for This Old House to see what a REAL "home intertainment system" is, aka the screening rooms of F.T. members!

I also thought that they might be able to use some advice regarding theater architecture.

I have no doubt that their clients won't be interested in a 35,, system...but they could use help in other areas...as mentioned above.

There was one project they worked on where the client wanted a music room. The client consulted with an acoustical consultant only after construction was well under way...only to learn that he was screwed!

A few other episodes that I saw where it seemed as though they were somewhat clueless on what it takes to put a "media room" together.

I find the show to be intersting as to being able to see the latest high tech construction techniques. However, I dought that many of the products they show off are used in reality...or at least in AZ. In So. AZ, new homes are cheap crackerjack construction where if the framing is within 6 in tolorances...that is acceptable standards....seriously, the quality of new home construction in So AZ really sucks!

Norm seems to be a talanted carpenter/furniture maker. the down side is that he has all the latest tools on hand with a decent sized shop. So now many people might think that all this equipment is a must to accomplish a project.

For those of you who wish to see an artist in action, check out The Woodwright's Shop on P.B.S.this guy does all that Norm is capable of, only using a small workbench and a minimum of hundred year old hand tools.

Posted by Ray Brown (Member # 1449) on 12-10-2002, 07:59 PM:

quote:
Bob Vila is irritating. Steve Thomas is dull. Norm is brilliant

How about Bob Ryley? He kicks ass! It looks like he is telling Villa where to go in this pic.

Looking at Vila's website, I see he now has his own line of paint. Geeeeeze!
Bob Vila.com

Posted by Tim Reed (Member # 137) on 12-10-2002, 08:52 PM:

quote:
check out The Woodwright's Shop on P.B.S.this guy does all that Norm is capable of, only using a small workbench and a minimum of hundred year old hand tools.

That guy is good, but I find it hard to watch him any length of time. He just about kills himself on every episode, sounds like he has asthma! I get out of breath just watching him! And, if not that, he'll be spraying blood all over from cuts, etc. (ala Mad TV and "Paul Timberman's Workshop")! [Eek!]