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
I need help with the house call me 859-444-7521
I have a front porch that I have wanted to closed in to make my kitchen dining room and living larger. It is straight across the front of my house that was build on to the house it in good just needs to be built in with walls and flooring. That would me a great deal to get much done to it. Thank You Pamela Sessoms
Hi Mr.Antonio, first let me say that it is really great what you are doing for people. Your actions tell me exactly who you are, besides the good looks God blessed you with. My mom is 101 year old retired nurse. Married twice both marrieges failed. Afterwards my mom dedicated her whole life to people and loved doing so. God has always been the center of her life, family the next importantance of her life. Her home needs to be remodeled, its 30 years old. She has not walked since 2007. I’d love for you to come in and just make it comfortable for her. Ramps, restroom etc. My mother has worked hard all her life and does not believe in charity. So if you find it in your heart to help me make this happen I’d be thankful. By the way if you decide to do so don’t tell her I asked. Thanks for reading this and I hope God continues to bless you and all you seek in life. God Bless.
We FINALLY have our FOREVER home after multiple moves and downsizing in the last 2 years. There are SO many things that we need/want to do, it is daunting. Since we live at a beach, my first wish would be a great screened porch, but, would welcome any help to make this our PERFECT FOREVER home!
THANKS!
I have a small laundry room and have to walk under the hot water heater to enter the laundry room. I feel that is so dangerous for myself and family. Please help us.
Hi Mr. Antonio My Mom House in need in Repair real bad. she is sick with The Big C, it rain in the master bedroom closet. it have a big hole in the roof. and the ceiling about to fall in. she ask for help with different foundation. but no one will help. the house need fix real bad. so I pray that you can help her. she go to the doctor a lot so do I. so I hope you can come and see the house. or can send you picture? and I saw all of your show. and Movies. love you….
HELP…..We have a whole basement that is just not livable. We have a small ranch in Ohio and we only live on the main floor. WE ARE DESPERATE and NEED your help. Please come and rescue us so my husband and I can start to live in our whole house again. What do we have to do to apply for the show? Thank you.
My husband started building our house 5 years ago.(doing everything himself.)We are both retired & have had multiple surgeries. We have 2 rooms left;a bedroom & office. Although it doesn’t sound like much,when you have arthritis & limited movement,it’s a little more than you can take on! He initially wanted to finish our house HIMSELF, not accepting help.(Plumbing,carpentering,EVERYTHING)I’m not trying to make anyone feel sorry for us; but a little help at this stage would go a long way!We live in a small community of Milam,Texas!
I love my house and the location. However a life changing disease ( MS ) which caused the lost of my walking abilities I’m traped in the house because the torain in my backyard is so ruff that I can’t ride my wheelchair out there. That makes me feel more lifeless I love nature and the ability to really enjoy it to the best of my ability is impossible with my yard as it is. I just want to wheel out there and feel alive again. Instead of staring out the window. Help Antonio.
Will Va.
Im in desparate need of my den and kitchen being painted, which is all one big room. I have borrowed furniture. My husband recently died and
he was in an electric wheel chair, he hit the walls in the hall going to the kitchen, needs minor repair, and please I need furniture in den. Please
could you find it in your time to help me. Thank you so much.
Yes my name is Jackie Hughes i just got a house my father passed away. Come to find out i need a roof im a single mother of two and trying to keep up with the taxes everything else a float. Can u help me? Contact at my email soon as you can.
Hello, I’m a 58 year old disabled man and a great deal of pain almost always and I really need some help I don’t need a whole lot of work but it would be really nice if someone could help me need a little help on the floor and maybe the kitchen I don’t expect my house to become beautiful just usable.I don’t really expect a response but you never know and if you don’t ask you don’t ever get and thank you in advance no matter what happens
Hello Mr. Saboto Jr., Cast and Crew,
My name is Daphne. I dicovered you on Goodmorning America @GMA, just this morning. I work third shift so I’m rarely up to watch anything. Here’s my story. All my life I believed in fairytale type of love relationships. I’ve kissed many frogs, but never met my price charming until I gave my life to Christ. I married him 09/02/2009, and I’ve never grown tried of kissing him. His first wife met her maker, “god rest her sole”. But prior to her death he dropped out of nursing school to take care of her and their infant son, who was born 04/08/2004. Which was the same year they invested in the home we live in right now. It is a beautiful doublewide, when the installers moved it onto the lot, they dropped it causing structual damage to the roof, walls, and floors throughout. And with her dying of cancer at that particular time, his focus was more on her and less on sueing the company which gave that company time to bail out, and foreclose so they wouldn’t be held accountable. So sad because this was their very first home together as well as baby. I have been investing my time, energy, finances, and love into this home to the piont of exuastion. I have not an once of energy left not to mention money. I told my hubby “Kris Antonio Hughes” is his name. That whatever I get back on my taxes this year would be my last effert to make this house a home. So far since I’ve lived here I put a metal roof on. But what I would love more than anything is to turn the great room into our Master Bedroom and turn our Master Bedroom into a den, so I can create my own memories in this home full of sad memories. Please help if you can. So many failed attempts to get my hubby motivated. I feel like I’m stuck between a rock and a hard place, literally…..
Antonio, I watch your show every day and just love the ideas you come up with, and wandered if there is any hope for our kitchen. We live in a 50+ yr. old home with a kitchen that has a brick hearth in it (100 yr old brick).
It takes up a lot of space and the cabinets are the original ones with no space for any thing. It would be a dream come true if we could get your help with our kitchen. We just retired one year ago and love staying home
and cooking together. Thanks!
my sister just died in dec 4, 2014 therefore I have the chance now to live in my mother house. the house has had problem before with the kitchen floor that always fall in the middle. we have had this problem fix several times but it always comes back . I have no money to repair this floor and I have to move in to keep the homeless people from trashn the house will you please try to consider helpn me I have very little access to computer so I have to use my boss computer when I can. it might take a few days before I can read the reply. but please know I will check my email. you may contact me at 334-322-7444 to discuss more information. thanks very much bertha allen
I like the way you do your thing. Antonio Sobota jr.I would like to go around and with you to help people fix their homes handsome day and hope that I own my own home through your help and your TV show
I need help with my living room. My wife past away 2 years ago and I would like a room make over for her. What would it cost me?
Help! We need bathroom help. We have 1 & 1/2 bathrooms. The main bathroom is only 4 x 4. The ceiling is falling. All the wood is rotten. And it is so small you can’t turn around in it. Please help!
Please help me make over my living room and kitchen in my trailer
I have a small kitchen i would love a better kitchen how do i apply for this make over i live ib hinesville ga