# Extreme Makeover

Extreme Makeover is an American reality television series that premiered on ABC on December 11, 2002. Created by Howard Schultz, the show depicts ordinary men and women undergoing "extreme makeovers" involving plastic surgery, exercise regimens, hairdressing, and wardrobing. Each episode ends with the participants' return to their families and friends, who have not been allowed to see the incremental changes during the participants' absence, and showing their reactions. The show was cancelled in May 2007.
A spin-off series, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, debuted in 2004. Another spin-off, Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition, premiered in 2011, though in 2013 the show removed the Extreme Makeover branding and was renamed Extreme Weight Loss.

## Episodes

| Season | Season | Episodes | Originally aired | Originally aired |
| Season | Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
| | Season 1 | 6 | December 11, 2002 (2002-12-11) | May 21, 2003 (2003-5-21) |
| | Season 2 | 23 | September 18, 2003 (2003-09-18) | July 21, 2004 (2004-7-21) |
| | Season 3 | 19 | September 23, 2004 (2004-09-23) | July 14, 2005 (2005-7-14) |
| | Season 4 | 4 | October 20, 2006 (2006-10-20) | July 16, 2007 (2007-7-16) |

### Season 1 (2002–2003)

| No. | Title | Original release date |
| 1 | "Stephanie & Luke" | December 11, 2002 (2002-12-11) |
| 2 | "Kine & Tammy" | April 23, 2003 (2003-4-23) |
| 3 | "David & Melissa" | April 30, 2003 (2003-4-30) |
| 4 | "Amy & John" | May 7, 2003 (2003-5-7) |
| 5 | "Karen & Sandra" | May 14, 2003 (2003-5-14) |
| 6 | "Evelyn & Sharon" | May 21, 2003 (2003-5-21) |

### Season 2 (2003–2004)

| No. | Title | Original release date |
| 7 | "Caroline & Catherine & Dan" | September 18, 2003 (2003-09-18) |
| 8 | "Jennifer & Peggy" | September 25, 2003 (2003-09-25) |
| 9 | "Lori & Peter" | October 3, 2003 (2003-10-3) |
| 10 | "Dana & Jackie" | October 10, 2003 (2003-10-10) |
| 11 | "Liane & Paula" | October 16, 2003 (2003-10-16) |
| 12 | "Kenna & Michelle" | October 23, 2003 (2003-10-23) |
| 13 | "Candace & John" | October 31, 2003 (2003-10-31) |
| 14 | "Sarah & Liz" | November 6, 2003 (2003-11-6) |
| 15 | "Deshante & Pam" | November 13, 2003 (2003-11-13) |
| 16 | "Autumn & Jeff" | November 26, 2003 (2003-11-26) |
| 17 | "Jeff & Tammy" | December 11, 2003 (2003-12-11) |
| 18 | "Angela & Cynthia" | January 8, 2004 (2004-1-8) |
| 19 | "Arthur & Kim" | January 22, 2004 (2004-1-22) |
| 20 | "Michael & Susan" | February 5, 2004 (2004-2-5) |
| 21 | "Nellie & Regina" | February 16, 2004 (2004-2-16) |
| 22 | "Battle of the Bulge - Part 1" | February 19, 2004 (2004-2-19) |
| 23 | "Battle of the Bulge - Part 2" | March 26, 2004 (2004-3-26) |
| 24 | "Amanda & Patrick" | March 11, 2004 (2004-3-11) |
| 25 | "Jerry & Manu" | March 17, 2004 (2004-3-17) |
| 26 | "James & Kacie" | April 14, 2004 (2004-4-14) |
| 27 | "Kristina & Mike" | April 28, 2004 (2004-4-28) |
| 28 | "Marilynda & Monika" | May 6, 2004 (2004-5-6) |
| 29 | "Frances & Jennie & Kathryn" | July 21, 2004 (2004-7-21) |

## Nielsen ratings

| Season | Episodes | Timeslot (EDT) | Season Premiere | Season Finale | TV Season | Rank | Viewers (in millions) |
| 1 | 6 | Wednesday 8:00 | December 11, 2002 | May 21, 2003 | 2002-2003 | #41 | 10.80 |
| 2 | 23 | Thursday 9:00 Wednesday 10:00 | September 18, 2003 | July 21, 2004 | 2003-2004 | #133 #56 | 5.48 9.83 |
| 3 | 20 | Thursday 8:00 Thursday 9:00 | September 23, 2004 | July 14, 2005 | 2004-2005 | #109 #116 | 6.19 5.64 |
| 4 | 6 (2 unaired) | Friday 8:00 Monday 9:00 | October 20, 2006 | July 16, 2007 | 2006-2007 | #175 | 4.85 |

## Controversy

Extreme Makeover received criticism on the grounds it was reinforcing unachievable body image goals, valuing beauty over other attributes like behaviour, and implying that idealized beauty can only achieved by cosmetic surgeons. The show was considered to potentially contribute to eating disorders and exercise addiction among people who could not afford surgery to improve their appearance, and to be part of a growing culture of normalizing cosmetic surgery and encouraging unrealistic surgery expectations. In Canada, some cosmetic surgeons caused controversy and drew accusations of unethical marketing after using contests to attract clients, in a move that was considered to be fuelled partly by the popularity of Extreme Makeover.

### Deleese McGee lawsuit

Extreme Makeover faced controversy after contestant Deleese McGee's makeover was canceled. McGee applied as a contestant on the show and both she and her family were interviewed for an episode in January 2004. When asked questions about Deleese, her family initially responded only with positive comments, though producers repeatedly encouraged them to say negative things about her appearance; the intention was to compare the negative comments to their reaction after Deleese's surgery was complete. Deleese was in the next room listening; her shock at hearing the comments was filmed as part of the intended episode. The night before the surgery, however, Deleese was informed the procedures had been canceled on the grounds that her estimated recovery time did not fit with the filming schedule. After the surgery was canceled Deleese's sister Kellie suffered from guilt for making the negative comments; she died from an intentional drug overdose in May 2004. Deleese sued for emotional damages; the case was settled out of court.