This Old House - Definition and Overview

This Old House is a television program on the American public broadcast network PBS that follows remodeling projects of houses over a number of weeks. This Old House and its sister-series Ask This Old House are often broadcast together as The New This Old House Hour. Both shows are owned by This Old House Ventures, Inc. The shows are underwritten by GMC, The Home Depot, Kohler, and State Farm Insurance.

Started in 1979 as a one-time, 13-part series on the Boston PBS station, it has grown into one of the most popular programs on the network. It has produced spin-offs (notably New Yankee Workshop hosted by Norm Abram), a magazine and for-profit web sites. It was even able to survive a rift with the original host, Bob Vila, who left in 1989 following a dispute about doing commercials and created a similar show.

This Old House was the inspiration for the American television sitcom Home Improvement, in which Tim Allen played a Vila-like character.

Cast (as of 2004)

• Tom Silva
• Kevin O'Connor
• Richard Trethewey
• Roger Cook
• Norm Abram

Former hosts

• Bob Vila
• Steve Thomas

External link

• Official Website (http://www.thisoldhouse.com/)
• The IMDb entry on the series (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078701/)
• The TV Tome entry on the series (http://www.tvtome.com/ThisOldHouse/)