Fix It & Finish It, a new syndicated series debuts on September 8 and features Antonio Sabato Jr. and his crew traveling the country to help families fix and finish their homes. Every weekday, the team will be in a different city finding homes with rooms needing a full makeover. The contractors and designers will take on the challenge and go in and create magic by turning the rooms around in 16 hours or less. “We do it quick, we do it right,” promises Sabato Jr.
I chatted with Antonio (who I had a major crush on when I was a teen and he played sexy Jagger Cates, a bad boy with a heart of gold on General Hospital) while he and his crew were on location in Mississippi. The love for his latest project was evident even across the miles and through the phone. “This show has been such a great journey and a blessing from day one,” he gushed. (and today, Sabato Jr. has even more to smile about; he’s just been named as a Season 19 participant on Dancing With The Stars!)
When he set out to create a TV show, he originally though about focusing on a different passion of his, “I’ve always worked on my own home and different places that I’ve owned. I really enjoyed it. But I’m a mechanic, a motorcycle and car builder,” He reveals. Producer Scott Steinberg told him, “instead of doing a racing show or a car show. Let’s do something else. You’re passionate about designing and rebuilding homes, why not take your expertise on the road so people can see it?” And with over 50 shows later, Sabato is happily road tripping around the U.S. meeting interesting and inspiring people.
Some of the people Sabato Jr. has enjoyed meeting are the local tradespeople, builders and designers that he works with in each city. “The local community is coming together to give back to all of the homeowners and it’s been amazing.” But of course, the highlight of each episode is the people whose lives the show is benefiting. “Every single day is a brand new episode with its own kind of flavor, and a history and a story to go with it. They all have been amazing,” he says. Despite a plethora of moving experiences, a few renovations have stood out.
“I was doing a teenager’s room and this kid was 15 and he’d never had his own bedroom. He had been sleeping on a sofa for many years. This house was almost destroyed by Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. And we built this teenager a brand new room. It was hip. It was awesome. And to see his reaction when he walked in was quite incredible,” mused Sabato Jr.
“We also met a man who was 83 years-old and whose home had been broken into 15 times. He had to barricade his door. And we came in, and we fixed it, and redid his living room.”
Antonio admits that it’s extremely rewarding to help people, the families whose lives he effects, affect him too. He told me, “we change their lives forever, but at the same time, they change ours too. Because my crew and myself, we’re just so blessed to be here. We never have a bad day. We’re so pleased to do this; there’s nothing better. I’m just so happy to be a part of this.”
To find Fix It & Finish It on your local TV station, click here. To apply to be on the show, click here!
Fix It & Finish It > Syndicated > Daily, starting Sept. 8
Chef Jeff Henderson also has a new syndicated series, Flip My Food that will join Fix It & Finish It to make an exiting programming block! Read more about Chef Jeff’s new show here!
images courtesy of Bellum Entertainment/ photographer Andrew Doyle
•• Josephine Hunter
I have been a single parent raising a loving son (Eddie J. Clark), whom now lives in Latham, NY. He signed up for the Navy E-5 right after Hampton High School for boot camp at age 17. I never felt so alone since that day but he promised to help me financially because he knew that he had a dead bit dad something which he never intended on being. He always promised me that he would be a better man then his father and a loving and devotional son to his mother. After boot camp he called me and said “mom I am a man” and sent me $500.00 to pay my bills, which I had already downgraded to a one-bedroom-apartment to ensure that he wouldn’t have to worry about my expenses. Then he called me again saying that he was going to be deployed to Bahrain my heart dropped with worrying and then volunteered to be deployed to meet up with him in Kuwait because he often thought of me with worries and need to be reassured of my presence to strengthen him. We both served 5 years out of country and he made be proud to know that of his return in California that he had meet a blessed young lady, in which they today have twins (Victoria & Noelle) and Cornelius age 2 with grandma Glenda Tillette, who was banded by her spouse. Insomuch, he took on more responsibility to care for his mother-in-law as well and purchased a home in Latham, NY to accommodate such a large family in a home which requires so much work! However, his church members and family tried to help restore the home fixtures to make it live able and presentable; but it needed more materiel in order to expand it for a family now of seven (mother-in-law) niece, who just got out of the Navy and needed a place to stay. My son is very religious and believe in God’s grace is sufficient and he will make a way. I love my son so much that every bit of money that I have ever earned deployed overseas. I gave to his family to help raise our family. Today I am retired 31 years 2011 sick with diabetes and Lord know what else to hinder my ability to work anymore out of the country to support him. Nevertheless, I have sacrificed so much now to have a family not “unbroken” to economical probity. Please call Eddie J. Clark at 224-627-6556 to help him build his home! A family who prays!!!” Is a family to come home to from Huntsville, Alabama, when I am no longer able to live on my own….
Hi, Antonio I had the opportunity to see the show where U repaired a back yard for a single father of two. I’m the wife of Retired Army solider who was was a proud man. Until 2007 when he was diagnosis Multiple Scerlois this career solider has become a home bound person who totally depends on care givers and my self to take care of him . I would love to have my garage turn it to a room for my husband to give him the fill of a his own man’s cave room. Put a smile back on his face. Daily I see a man turning in to a bitter old man . Due to him being so activity before he was diagnosis with MS. My home is not a happy home because there’s no space for him tocall my space . I know u get letters every day with someone needing your help. But I personally feel my situation is so needed . I’m shared my story if You feel I deserve your assistance you will reply back .
Thank you for allowing the opportunity to hope ..You will assist me in my need. To put a smile back on my husband face and peace in my home.
Judy Church
Hi, Antonio I had the opportunity to see the show where U repaired a back yard for a single father of two. I’m the wife of Retired Army solider who was was a proud man. Until 2007 when he was diagnosis Multiple Scerlois this career solider has become a home bound person who totally depends on care givers and my self to take care of
hello Antonio and crewI would like to say first that I love your show and I think you all are awesomeI have been trying to figure out how to sign up and maybe become a winner to get help with my home my home belong to my grandparents who raised me from the age of 2 years old I lost my mother at the age of 2 my grandparents raised me as their ownso I called a mom and dadmy dad was hurt really bad in the war which damaged his back and legsand he was unable to finish this house years ago he passed away December the 6 2010 my mom passed away in 2003 this ole house is barely standing but it is home to me and I can never leave it it gives me comfort and joy there is a laundry room here that my dad started many years ago and never got to finish because he was hurt and no one has ever did itAntonio I need your helpreally badI don’t have a washer and dryer yet but I plan to get one one day and I want that laundry room to be decent enough to use itI’m just having a hard time I am single two grandchildren and I work at Dairy Queen is a fast food place I am 46 years old and it is really getting rough on me I do my best ,Antonio again will you please help me ? I hope I get the opportunity to share with you my story thank you and God bless
Good Morning Mr. Sabato;
My family could use your help. Four years ago, we became the full time care givers to my Mother in Law (age 97) who suffers with Alzheimer’s which required us to invest a large portion of our saving to create a living space for her. We hired a local contractor to do the work. Needless to say, the job was not completed and we’ve never seen him again or our money. The job was done very poorly. In September this year, we learned that we would become the full time care givers of 4 children (ages 1-6) who’s parents are no longer able to care for them. My husband and I are in our mid 60’s. We are now in desperate need of completing the basement renovation which would include a living space for the entire family as well as function as a play room for the children. Our bedroom is now in the basement as we had to provide bedrooms for the children (2 boys and 2 girls) which left no bedroom for my husband and myself. Our current bedroom use to function as a storage/craft room.
We need to level the floor of the room (paid for leveling) but the contractor we hired to do the job took our money and never completed the job, so we’re stuck with a floor that does not allow us to place furniture in it without putting something under it to level it.
My husband and I are not handy, and do not know how to hang wall board mix floor leveling compounds etc., or install cabinets.
If you have the time and are in our area, please consider taking a look at our project and determine if you are able to help us. We also gave the contractor money to lay a brick patio but again we didn’t get it. They just took the money and ran.
We are member of the so called “sandwich generation, caring for an aged parent and are kinship care givers to four young children who have spent a year in the foster care system.
Please let us know if you can help us give them a nice safe playroom.
Thank you for all that you do to help others.
Warm Regards,
Angie
i am a 63 yr. old lady nearly 64,i bought my home 3yrs. ago dec. 20th.my neighbors to my left have harrassed me constantly for 2 yrs.now.i have had them cut my plants down to trying to poison my little beagle,last aug. i bought a pit bull mixrd puppy from the human society,since then they have tried to break the chains secured to my gates and pad locked,their recent harrassment was to blow their leaves under my fence-and i had already blew my leaves to the curb!
you can probably guess how hard this is on a person of my age!
part of my yard has a 6 ft. privacy fence,and i was wondering if you could help me by finishing this fence and extending it,down the drive way? i don’t have the money,or i would do it myself!!!
sherry stockman
toledo,ohio 43612
419-944-2904
I have a 3 bedroom, 2 bath mobile home which desperately needs help!!! I have 3kids2 boys 1 daughter which is special needs if you can help us PLEASE contact….thank you… We’re in the outskirts of Charleston SC,I see that your suppose to visit this area soon,if I had the money to do ALL that needs to be done,God knows I would have done it,it is just hard!!!
Hi ,Mr Sabato & Staff. I am requesting your help in completing 2 homes used for Missions in our inner-city. We are out of funding and saw the awesome work you are doing to restore lives , giving hope. Can you help us finish this needed Mission? Thank you for your consideration.
Hi there I love ur show especially the smiles
One their faces when finished. I have a big project that I can’t afford to finish my husband started a addition on house
And it’s suppose to be bedroom and kitchen
It’s all up roofed and started the inside but
Past away 3 yrs ago of heart attack so I have a unfinished
Back addition I work for school by the time I pay bills
And take care of my 8 yr old grandson I’m broke thanks for all u do
If u could help please
To Antonio Sabato Jr. or to may it may concern. I,am a 63 year old female, a widow as of two years ago. I am on a fixed income and unable to work due to medical conditions. The outside of my house is falling apart the most.I have no money and no one to help me.House was built in 1987 and my husband and I bought it in 1988.I need help so bad.I need a new heat pump,roof,shingels are falling off.Inside needs work to. I am worried about outside more.My house will be paid for in 4 years. Please help me or where can I get free help. I weigh 75 pounds. Not good. Your show is in my area now,the first week of DEC.2014. Would love for someone to take a look and tell me what to do. I can call WWBT 12 with my info. Richmond,VA.Diane Walker works there,and is in charge of things like this.Please,Please help me. Thanks Fix it & Forget it. Love the show.Thanks GAIL C.
IM 67 year old i have adopedtwo childen age 6&8 I would like my living room kitchen or backyard i don!t know one but erther one would but good. please help.
I need help with my backyard and garage, I am 50th years old and very active; I’m a cosmotolgist and part time wedding planner. I always find time for others and not myself, however things are breaking down and getting ahead of me. Please help or give me some sound advice. Thank you
I really love what your show does for people and the fit it and finish product is beautiful. I purchased my house in 1985 when I was 25 years old, both my parents were killed in a automobile accident, 10 days before my 18th birthday, so, I did not have any adult help on the house. The house turn out to be a nightmare. It leaked on every floor. It rain harder in the house than out side. I had a some health issues, 6 knee surgeries and neck fusion. I could tell you more. I really would love to have my kitchen finished for the 1st time. Are you doing another season. I would so much like to be part of fit it and finish it!! your greatest fan Carla Olson
We would appreciate a little help. We watch your show and what we need is a drop in the bucket to what you have been doing. Our toilet keeps giving us problems. Leaking causing water under the (fake) tile. I am 80 and my wife 75 and neither in good enough health to do the work. We thank you for your time.
Hello how r u I am a man of God trying to be a blessing to people but my home needs help can u please help me please I live in Alabama my number is 2052433601 i am praying u help me cause my the who own lift it to me to fix and I got the rights to redo it. It needs u touch ,please respond to me. God bless
Dear tony, I’m a caregiver for my mother who is my81 years old. We live in Hazlehurst, ms. The home we live in has a drainage problem around the back side of the house. When it rains the water is like a swimming pool. The appearance of the patio and the back yard is like looking into an open prairie with no concept of life or activity. We are both on fixed incomes. And as problems arise I am unable to do anything about the situation at hand. We need your expertise. God bless you.sincerely rosemary brown.
I would like to have Fix it and Finish it come to my house. I have a family room that I don’t know how to do it. We have had our home on the market and can’t sale it. Every one that looks at it says, it’s the family room. ” HELP” My husband works in AFG and isn’t home very often. Any help or advice would be wonderful.
Can you please help me my husband want a out side kitchen we save and saved for it his moms got sick and we had to use that money so now he don’t have his outside kitchen and he is a woundfor loving husband help help help
I love this show. It is a very good thing that Antonio is doing. I would like to enter myself in the next season. Please inform us if there will be another season, when and how to enter.
Thanks, Janice
I love this show. I would like to enter myself for the next season. Please let us know if there will be another season and when and how to enter.