These days there are oodles of remodeling shows on television. Today we’re gonna “flip this” and give that a dramatic “makeover.” For the cable-equipped home there need be no end to the do-it-yourself, vicarious adventure. Suddenly the hammer and chisel in the garage start gleaming just a bit brighter, like the pearly smile on the latest, and strapping, DIY-Network host.

But are these shows any good? What do they really show you with 5 minutes of introduction to a project, then a warp-speed, time lapse foray into the actual work, and finally a happy resolution full of homeowner smiles as big as nail guns–a wonderful, custom makeover finished and done for less than the cost of the tools used to make it. But how does this help? What good is a DIY show that deals in fantasy?

These shows are not for me. Even as a member of the Pneumatic Generation, the relative youngsters in carpentry and remodeling who’ve never known building without a nail gun, I just can’t get behind shows in which entire houses are built during a commercial break. These shows may be full of excellent and creative ideas, but where does it lead the viewer other than to the telephone to call for an estimate?

To be brutally honest, I have never learned much of anything from a television show. And I don’t watch much TV in general. I was taught, and believe still, that you learn best by doing (i.e. DO-it-yourself). And, especially considering the format of today’s fast-paced TV shows, I don’t see how you can watch, do, and learn at the same time.

That being said, I do enjoy and recommend the classics of television remodeling. “This Old House” and “Bob Vila’s Home Again” are household names for a good reason. These guys really know what they are doing and make a concerted effort to teach, not just show in fast-forward. From such shows as these you are unlikely to learn how to build a house during a commercial break, but you can learn some very useful and specific tips and tricks for everything from plumbing to landscaping.

Perhaps I’ve ranted a bit too much here. In the interest of fairness, I usually don’t turn any of these shows off when they come on in front of me. For their part, these shows are just trying to veer away from the dry, monotonous reputation of traditional remodeling shows. And for the avid DIY voyeur, William Grimes of the New York Times was brave enough to take on the daunting task of watching the DIY Network for 24 hours straight. His review of the network’s lineup is well done and, essentially, I agree with him.

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