The show began airing back in 2002 on Thursday nights on ABC and became an immediate hit.

Borrowing heavily from the reality television genre, individuals would volunteer to receive an extensive makeover in Hollywood, and the show would depict ordinary men and women undergoing extreme makeovers involving plastic surgery, exercise regimes, hairdressing and wardrobing.

Each episode ends with the subjects return to their families and friends, showing the reactions of their loved ones, who have not been allowed to see the incremental changes during the subjects absence.

A year later, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition debuted as a spinoff. As we often worship the homes we live in more than our own bodies, the home edition eventually became more successful than the plastic surgery edition. Then came Extreme Makeover: Wedding Edition, another spinoff, which became a one-time special due to poor ratings. Then last May, Extreme Makeover was officially cancelled by ABC.

But the show about rehabilitating our homes soldiers on, in the United States and about 20 other countries, in places as far afield as Bulgaria, Estonia, Finland and France, where its called Relooking Extreme.  and in the next few weeks the producers touch down in Alexandria,where theyre searching for a hometown hero whose home deserves an Extreme Makeover. 

The shows host, Ty Pennington, and his crew now want to drive that infamous bus to Alexandria. We are looking for inspirational families that America can really root for, said Casting Director Quintin Strack.

What does it take to be picked for an Extreme Makeover?  We are in search of real heroespeople that have amazing strength and who have put their own needs aside to help someone else, Stack said.

To be eligible, a family must own their own single family home and be able to show producers how a makeover will make a huge difference in their lives. 

In addition to heroics, the producers say theyre looking for families whose homes in Alexandria are in dire need of help.  We dont want to tear down a nice looking house, Stack said. We want to see houses that look like they might fall down on their own!

The deadline for entries is March 7. So dont delay, the producers urge. Help for your home may be on the way.

Log on to www.alextimes.com for details on how to nominate a home in need.