‘Extreme Makeover: Home Edition’ to Visit Cal State Fullerton Campus Dec. 8

ABC’s hit show “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” will be at Cal State Fullerton on Wednesday, Dec. 8, to film a special tribute to CSUF student Rodney Anderson.

The 6 p.m. taping in Titan Gym will feature Titan basketball players and supporters of Anderson, a former Titan basketball player who was shot and wounded in spring 2000 while visiting his family in Los Angeles. While Anderson’s life was spared, the shooting ended a promising basketball career. Today, he attends games (and classes) in a wheelchair and is scheduled to graduate in June with a bachelor’s degree in human services.

Anderson and his family were selected to be featured on ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” which attracts 20 million viewers each week. The show features a family whose lives are changed when their home is selected for an extreme makeover. The makeovers range from remodeling living space to complete demolition of the home and subsequent rebuilding. The families are not aware they have been selected until the crew shows up on their doorstep.

The Anderson family was alerted on Saturday, Dec. 4, and whisked away for a week’s vacation. In the meantime, during the Wednesday night on-campus taping, Anderson’s jersey will be retired in a special ceremony.

Portions of the evening’s highlights will be screened for the Anderson family while they are on holiday. Footage from the campus event, as well as Anderson’s reaction, will be part of the televised program that is expected to air early next year.

Show designers Preston Sharp (“Big Ideas”), Tracy Hutson (interior designer), Paige Hemmis (carpenter) and Ed Sanders (project manager and new designer) are scheduled to be in Titan Gym during the campus tribute and taping.

The Dec. 8 taping in Titan Gym is open to the public, as well as to students, faculty and staff members. Refreshments will be served. Audience members are being encouraged to arrive by 5:30 p.m. to enjoy pre-show festivities and get a good seat in the bleachers.

Media Contacts:

Valerie Orleans, Public Affairs, at 657-278-4540 or vorleans@fullerton.edu
Mel Franks, Sports Information, at 657-278-3981 or mfranks@fullerton.edu.