For one short and exciting week, the Fresno City College community received a visit from ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.” In true Fresno fashion, thousands of local citizens flocked to the site, whether they be spectators or volunteers. Part of the fascination behind this story was the mystery behind it all. Many questions were raised as production and coverage of the story began. Who is the Riojas family? What was it about their story that caught the eye of ABC producers? The citizens of Fresno (and soon the entire nation) were about to find out.
The Riojas family lives only a few blocks away from the FCC campus. Their house was just like most others in the neighborhood. The problem with this is the fact that the mother, Mary Ann Riojas, is disabled. She was born with only one full arm and another that extended to her elbow. Members of her family saw the risks and troubles that came with living in a home that did not meet her special needs. One family member submitted their story to ABC. The rest is now history.
Slowly, the community started hearing about the possibility of the show hitting Fresno. The neighbors were told only a few weeks before the crew arrived to their neighborhood. They were sent letters stating that ABC may be coming to the area. Maryanne Celis, a neighbor of the Riojas, said that she received a letter and a parking pass. Once she received tips on who the lucky family was, she became excited for them. “She made something of herself,” said Celis, regarding Ms. Riojas’ past and how she overcame her disabilities.
The surrounding neighbors were not sure what to expect. It was reported that the family knew at least two weeks in advance in order for Mary Anne Riojas to make accommodations with work. She was also given time to choose where she would like to go during her time away. Usually, families choose to go to such places like Disneyland. In this case, the Riojas family chose to go to Denver in order for Mary Ann to visit a rehabilitation center for the disabled. By the time the bus came rolling through the neighborhood, a lot of planning had already gone into effect.
Brooke, a neighbor who lives across the street from the Riojas family, was excited about all of the events taking place. “It’s amazing! I’m so excited for them!” she said. “We felt like Christmas morning when we woke up that Thursday.” She knew that the crew was on their way to her neighborhood when the city came by and started to trim all of the trees in the area. Brooke allowed the production crew to set up a VIP tent on her front lawn. She was not worried about the fate of her property. She was told that once filming was over, her lawn would be replaced and everything would be as good as new.
An interesting aspect of the show is that the crew relies on locals to make the show happen. Over 3,800 local volunteers signed up to build the house, serve food, and act as staff. It was evident that everyone knew someone who was involved with the creation of the Fresno episode. Everyone in the spectator section had some gossip to add to the ever-growing story of the Riojas family’s life and new home.
Wilda Ross of Kingsburg knew she had to come out to the site to see things for herself. A self-proclaimed hard-core fan, Ross was full of joy to see all of the work that the volunteers were putting into the project. “In today’s economy and everything, it’s nice to know that we can still pull together as a people,” she said.
Many people were anxious to see how the house will accommodate the family. However, most of the changes are inside the house. The general public will not be able to see what is actually inside until the show hits the air on March 8. It is known that everything in the house will be lower to accommodate Mary Anne. Many people wondered why the crew would plan on building the family a two-story house, but it should be known that once the family settles in an elevator will be constructed.
Once the unveiling day arrived, many came out to witness the family see their new home for the first time. Gates for the event opened at 8:00 a.m. while the family did not arrive till roughly 4:00 p.m. The production crew used this time to film some takes of the highly anticipated moment of the show. The crew shot a few takes of limo driving up to the house. The crowd was asked to cheer as the empty limo drove past them. Many people thought that these scenes were the real deal.
In order to keep the crowd happy and excited, CVS, which will be opening pharmacies in Fresno, gave out gift cards and letters expressing their joy over the Riojas family’s new home. They also provided water to the crowd.
At about 4:00 p.m., news of the family’s arrival was spreading. Suddenly, host Tye Pennington made an appearance, sparking cheers from the crowds begging for autographs and pictures. Unfortunately, it was time for Pennington to get to work. The crowd began to cheer anxiously as the limo carrying the family began to pull up and Pennington took his place in front of the bus. The minute the limo door opened, cheers and screams could be heard throughout the neighborhood. This was the moment that everyone was waiting for.
As the family stood in front of the screaming crowd, they could barely hold back the tears. Once the crowd yelled out the trademark phrase “Move that bus!,” the crew waved to the family with eager anticipation.
In usual TV fashion, viewers get to see the unveiling condensed in roughly ten minutes. For the shoot, the crew had to capture the family’s reaction, the unveiling, and the family entering the house multiple times. The spectators did not mind, however, because repeated takes meant a better chance to actually make it on television. Once the family entered the home, it was time for the crew to shoot the interior shots. This was a cue for the spectators to go home if they wished. The long, exhausting day had come to an end for those wishing to be on the show.
The selection of the Riojas family obviously marked a special event for Fresno. Many people wanted to show their support and donate to the cause. The show acted more than just a television show; rather it was a way for the community to help a family. It was evident from all the tears and cheers that this mission was truly accomplished.
