Photo
by Jim Daly, Salem News
Makeover Madness: Hundreds on Hand in Peabody for Unveiling of TV-show Renovated House
Photo
by Jim Daly, Salem News
Story by Jamie Jamieson , Salem News, Staff writer
PEABODY — Overwhelmed with joy, Diane and Richard Famiglietti and their four kids screamed and laughed and cried when they saw their new home for the first time yesterday afternoon. The Famigliettis are being featured on "Renovate My Family," one of Fox TV's new reality makeover shows. The television production crew swept into the tightly packed Raymond Circle neighborhood 10 days ago with hundreds of workers and all but demolished the family's modest two-story home. Before the makeover, the family of six made do with just one bathroom, and struggled to maintain the house, which didn't even have a street number. In its place yesterday stood a handsome, brick-red house that looked to be twice as big, with a smooth lawn replacing the former dandelion patch, a front porch, and in the back yard — a year-round ice skating rink.
"Awesome," said Richard, climbing the front steps onto the new porch while the video cameras rolled. "You always wanted a porch," he shouted, turning to Diane and hugging her. Because producers want to keep many of the home's extravagant features secret until the show airs in January, the Salem News was not able to tour the house or talk with the family. But you can bet there will be at least two dream bathrooms in the new home.
The Famigliettis shared this special moment yesterday with the whole neighborhood. A crowd of more than 100 neighbors and dozens of young children cheered, clapped and whistled when they pulled up in two black stretch limousines for the unveiling. The scene couldn't have been more moving, or more "real." But the screaming and clapping was anything but spontaneous.
Raymond Circle neighbors stood in the cold and cheered on cue for more than four hours yesterday, patiently getting ready for the moment when the Famigliettis would arrive. Producers had set up an enormous photo of the family's old house. The plan was to whisk all six in by limo, then have them stand in front of the photo, which blocked the house. After extended teasing, the photo would be removed and the family would turn to see the house.
The crowd gathered in the street at 11 a.m., and stood by until the "reveal" at 3:30 p.m. Even then, many stayed for one more take when the producers announced they wanted to re-enact the scene just one more time.
Not just a house.
The house wasn't the only surprise. Both Diane and Richard and all four kids were treated to makeovers. The crowd went wild when 14-year-old Justin emerged from the limo in a bright red shirt and black jacket with his hair spiked like a rock star. Ten minutes later they went wild again when his sister Arianna, 18, stepped out of the car. She had traded her sweatshirts and ponytail for purple crepe and a shaggy hair cut with lots of highlights. Cody, 11, and Marc, 20 also looked terrific, but Arianna amazed her friends and neighbors.
But the crowd was just warming up.
Nothing could match the screams for Diane, who looked trim and polished as she emerged, at least one dress size smaller than they had last seen her, according to makeover expert Jude Alcala. She started crying almost immediately. Alcala hovered between takes, daubing under her eyes and re-applying lipstick. The show's experts also worked with family members on various "issues," which will remain secret until the show airs, sometime during the week of Jan. 5. Neighbors couldn't help but leak a few details. The show will deal with Diane's heart attack a few years ago, and will include an appearance at a Heart Association dinner.
The crowd was filled with friends and neighbors, including Cindy Gagnon, who lives one street over. She had come because her daughter, Leighan Hennigan, was driving the limousine for the show. Hennigan, who lives just a few doors down from the Famigliettis, had the spunk to ask producers if they would use a local limo service.
Many in the crowd had watched the old house come down and the new house go up over the past 10 days. Gayle Dullea was there late Sunday night, for instance, when the crew started to put finishing touches on the home. They wanted to take the soccer ball out of the branches of the maple tree out front, Dullea said. "The neighbors wouldn't let 'em," she said, laughing. "No! That's been there for years. Don't take it down," they told the producers.
By 1 p.m. Phil Goodrich pulled the crowd in tight and started to rehearse them for the arrival of the limousines. "Action," he shouted, waving his arms in the air as if he were conducting an enormous chorus. The neighbors yelled, whooped, whistled and cheered. "That was the best first try we've ever had," Goodrich told them. Before the day was over they would cheer on cue more than a couple dozen times. Twenty minutes later someone said, "look at the sky," and the crowd gave out a collective gasp. There was a beautiful rainbow over their heads. It seemed like a sign of good things to come.
Crowd pleasers
At 1:40 p.m. the crew started placing potted mums on the new porch, while the crowd practiced parting for the arriving limousines. Goodrich wanted to make sure no small children were loose in that section of the crowd.
At 2 p.m. crew members checked out everyone's clothing, making sure no logos would show on camera in violation of copyright laws. Dozens of Boston Red Sox caps had to be taped up so the red "B" wouldn't show, causing some consternation.
At 2:15 p.m., the producers moved in a camera on an enormous boom, and started alerting certain fathers who had toddlers on their shoulders that they would have to move.
The stars of the show started to assemble, including the dazzling blonde Dahm triplets, designer Kahi Lee, construction foreman Scott McCray and host Jay McGraw. McCray, a Massachusetts native, said he was going to wear his Red Sox cap on the show without any concealment. The Red Sox fans were overjoyed to hear they could take the tape off their caps.
By 2:30 p.m. taping began for the introduction. "I've got to tell you, this has been an emotional week," McGraw told the camera. "We have truly renovated this family. Under this photo lies a new future and a new hope for Diane and her entire family."
McGraw announced the limousine was coming and the crowd cheered wildly. But it was just the first take. The first limo was still 15 minutes away.
Meanwhile, on the lawn across the street, a Yorkshire terrier leaped up and bit a woman on the leg. Security people swarmed, making sure the woman was OK and collecting information on the little dog.
At 2:45 p.m. the first limo finally arrived, and Justin and Cody emerged.
Meanwhile, Peabody Animal Control Officer Manny Bettencourt arrived to investigate the dog bite incident. Apparently, the woman was not seriously injured, but the little dog would have to be quarantined for 10 days, Bettencourt said, while he stopped to watch the taping.
At 2:50 p.m. Arianna and Marc stepped out and joined their brothers, and the cheering grew louder.
Ten minutes later, the second limo pulled up and the crowd exploded. Surrounded by cameras and a tight ring of well-wishers, the Famigliettis waved, hugged each other and broke into tears.
"Thank you for being here, all of you," Richard said.
It took several takes to get down the moment of removing the photo backdrop of the old home and revealing the new one. By 3 p.m. the moment had arrived and the Famigliettis turned in unison and took it all in. Cameras followed them as they dashed up the front steps to the porch. Not even the numbing cold could spoil the moment.