Seasons & episodes

Celebrate the 40th season of the groundbreaking PBS home improvement series with this anniversary special. The program includes interviews with hosts and cast members, vintage clips, and favorite moments and renovations from the series that inspired an entire genre of television programming. Learn about the evolution of the series from current and alumni hosts Kevin O'Connor, Steve Thomas, and Bob Vila.

Highlights and chronicles 43 years of Norm's incredible career featuring classic moments, archived footage, interviews and memories from celebrities, friends, peers and those who worked alongside him. Norm's inspiration reached far and wide for a humble man who became a national celebrity through his uncompromising craftsmanship, trademark plaid shirt, impersonations on popular sitcoms, bits on late night TV shows, morning shows, nationally syndicated cartoons and as the ultimate authority in home improvement. Norm appeared in over 1000 episodes of This Old House, worked on over 50 home renovation projects and hosted more than 280 episodes of The New Yankee Workshop.

S1 · E1The Dorchester House - A Tour of the House 1979-01-01＋

Our host, a Boston designer and builder, tours the dilapidated turn-of the-century house in Dorchester, Massachusetts, that will completely renovated in the next 13 weeks. Our host talks with a realtor and a house appraiser to determine the condition and problems of the property.

S1 · E2The Dorchester House - House History and Kitchen Plans 1979-02-01＋

Renovation has begun and the carpenter has find rot in the eaves. The kitchen, one of the hardest remodeling jobs, gets some attention, and we look into the history of the home.

S1 · E3The Dorchester House - Frozen Pipes and a New Kitchen Wall 1979-02-15＋

Work on the house has uncovered some unforeseen problems from the roof to the plumbing, and at a moment, the dream kitchen is a nightmare. But our host has some solutions.

S1 · E4The Dorchester House - Insulation and Plumbing 1979-02-28＋

It's time to insulate the house, remove the old furnace, and replace it with a new-energy-efficient heating system.

S1 · E5The Dorchester House - Leveled Ceilings and Kitchen Lighting 1979-03-01＋

This week the ceilings are leveled and renovated. The bulkhead is repaired and renewed. Our hosts talks about the kitchen lighting and answers some viewer questions.

S1 · E6The Dorchester House - Heating Plan, Kitchen Skylight 1979-03-15＋

How are we going to heat the house? This week our host talks with a heating specialist about baseboard heating, the heating plant in the basement and the water heater. We take a look at the bedroom closets and a new kitchen skylight.

S1 · E7The Dorchester House - Roof Repairs, Kitchen Plaster Work 1979-04-01＋

Plasters, roofers, and carpenters are hard at work. The kitchen walls are plastered, the chimney get some attention, and works starts on the crumbling front porch.

S1 · E8The Dorchester House - Insulation, Historic Paint Colors 1979-05-01＋

The insulation and plasterwork are completed. The new kitchen windows are trimmed and finished. A historic preservation consultant traces the changes made in the past century in the house's exterior paint.

S1 · E9The Dorchester House - Deck Foundation 1979-05-15＋

Work on the deck and its foundation is underway. Our host offers some hints on paint stripping and introduces an alternative to ceramic wall tile around a bathtub.

S1 · E10The Dorchester House - Exterior Planning 1979-05-30＋

Our hosts walks through the grounds with a landscape designer and considers the gardening possibilities. The carpenters put on new red cedar clapboards, and the Mayor of Boston, Kevin White, pays a visit to the house.

S1 · E11The Dorchester House - Flooring Install 1979-06-01＋

Our host demostrates how to lay a parquet kitchen floor. He speaks to a marble expert about the dining room fireplace. The bathroom tile floor is installed, and we consider home security systems.

S1 · E12The Dorchester House - Adding Curb Appeal 1979-06-15＋

The house painter demonstrates how to apply primer. Our host talks about installing an oak floor and sanding floors. A stonemason repairs the stone wall around the house, and the yard gets two new trees.

S1 · E13The Dorchester House - The Finished Product 1979-06-30＋

A look at the nearly finished product, inside and out. And the finishing touches are put on the picket fence, the deck and yard.

S2 · E1The Newton House - 1 1981-01-01＋

Our host introduces the Bigelow House, a rambling 19th-century hilltop home in Newton, Massachusetts, designed by noted Victorian architect H.H. Richardson. The challenge - convert the abandoned structure into five modern condominium units, while preserving its architectural integrity. Vila and our master carpenter talk about the best way to tackle the project.

S2 · E2The Newton House - 2 1981-01-15＋

Our host discusses plans for renovating the barn unit - insulation, demolition and replacing broken windows.

S2 · E3The Newton House - 3 1981-01-30＋

Demolition is nearly complete and our host shows us some of the problems uncovering he's uncovered - including extensive damage from carpenter ants, vandals and rot.

S2 · E4The Newton House - 4 1981-02-01＋

Our host discusses some of the key decisions to be made about condominium sales. Also, plans are made to install woodburning stoves in the ice house and the woodshed.

S2 · E5The Newton House - 5 1981-02-15＋

We're ready to do some plumbing at the house. Our master carpenter shows us how to pour concrete wall and Tom Wirth, our landscape architect discusses the lay of the land.

S2 · E6The Newton House - 6 1981-02-28＋

The exterminator gives us a top-to-bottom bug check. Professor John Coolidge talks about the architect of the Bigelow House, H.H. Richardson - considered the foremost Victorian architect of the 19th century.

S2 · E7The Newton House - 7 1981-03-01＋

Our host discusses plans for a new, historically compatible five-car garage. The electrician begins wiring and a solar energy expert recommends the best location for a solar collector.

S2 · E8The Newton House - 8 1981-03-15＋

Our host and master carpenter gives us a progress report of the house. It's almost time to winterize this energy-guzzling summer home with insulation and fireplace fix-ups.

S2 · E9The Newton House - 9 1981-03-28＋

All radiators are not created equal. Our host shows us an efficient, aesthetic European version. Our master carpenter is busy installing new windows and a lighting expert make some illuminating recommendations.