Canada's Worst Handyman
Encyclopedia
Canada's Worst Handyman is the 2006 season of the reality television
series Canada's Worst Handyman
airing on Discovery Channel Canada
, produced by Proper Television. The show and its format is based on Britain's Worst Driver
, and is considered to be a sister show of Canada's Worst Driver
(itself an adaptation of Britain's Worst Driver
).
The show is hosted by Canada's Worst Driver host Andrew Younghusband
, and shares much of its production crew with Canada's Worst Driver.
's worst handyman. Unlike Driver, however, none of the contestants are eliminated; instead, at the end of each episode, one will be named the most improved, while another will be named the worst. Also, the time frame for Handyman is much shorter, lasting only two weeks, instead of the eight weeks for Driver; and each episode chronicled one or two days, instead of a week for Driver. On the sixth episode, the five contestants will work together to refurbish an apartment in ten hours, with the one with the worst individual performance being named Canada's worst handyman.
Like Driver, the contestants are accompanied by their nominators, who are allowed to assist them in their various tasks. Each episode (except the finale) also features a "group challenge", which is done by the five contestants as a group. Except for the first group challenge, each of the group challenges has a contestant named as the project's foreman, and the foreman designation is given to the most improved contestant for the previous week; this particular twist was added when the judges saw how badly they performed at the first group challenge without a designated leader. The contestant named the worst in each show is obligated to "hang their head in shame" and nail a picture of themselves along a "wall of shame", and be personally tutored by Younghusband on an aspect leading to their nomination.
The show takes place at the Handyman Rehabilitation Centre, a building of the Regent Park
public housing complex in Toronto, Ontario. Located at the corner of Dundas and Parliament, it was demolished following the filming of the first few seasons.
Reality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...
series Canada's Worst Handyman
Canada's Worst Handyman
Canada's Worst Handyman is the 2006 season of the reality television series Canada's Worst Handyman airing on Discovery Channel Canada, produced by Proper Television...
airing on Discovery Channel Canada
Discovery Channel Canada
Discovery Channel is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel devoted to nature, adventure, science and technology programming. Discovery Channel is currently owned by CTV Specialty Television Inc...
, produced by Proper Television. The show and its format is based on Britain's Worst Driver
Britain's Worst Driver
Britain's Worst Driver was a British television series created and hosted by ex-Top Gear host Quentin Willson made by Mentorn and shown on Five in the United Kingdom from 2002 to 2003. In 30-minute episodes, the worst drivers chosen by viewers "earned back" their driving licences by performing...
, and is considered to be a sister show of Canada's Worst Driver
Canada's Worst Driver
Canada's Worst Driver , is a reality television series first aired on Discovery Channel Canada, based on the UK Channel 4 Television Corporation's Britain's Worst Driver...
(itself an adaptation of Britain's Worst Driver
Britain's Worst Driver
Britain's Worst Driver was a British television series created and hosted by ex-Top Gear host Quentin Willson made by Mentorn and shown on Five in the United Kingdom from 2002 to 2003. In 30-minute episodes, the worst drivers chosen by viewers "earned back" their driving licences by performing...
).
The show is hosted by Canada's Worst Driver host Andrew Younghusband
Andrew Younghusband
Andrew Younghusband is a Canadian television personality, writer and journalist, best known for his most recent appearances as host of the reality shows Canada's Worst Driver and Canada's Worst Handyman, as well as the documentary series Tall Ship Chronicles.-Career:Younghusband began his career...
, and shares much of its production crew with Canada's Worst Driver.
Format
Like Driver, Handyman has five contestants trying to not become CanadaCanada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
's worst handyman. Unlike Driver, however, none of the contestants are eliminated; instead, at the end of each episode, one will be named the most improved, while another will be named the worst. Also, the time frame for Handyman is much shorter, lasting only two weeks, instead of the eight weeks for Driver; and each episode chronicled one or two days, instead of a week for Driver. On the sixth episode, the five contestants will work together to refurbish an apartment in ten hours, with the one with the worst individual performance being named Canada's worst handyman.
Like Driver, the contestants are accompanied by their nominators, who are allowed to assist them in their various tasks. Each episode (except the finale) also features a "group challenge", which is done by the five contestants as a group. Except for the first group challenge, each of the group challenges has a contestant named as the project's foreman, and the foreman designation is given to the most improved contestant for the previous week; this particular twist was added when the judges saw how badly they performed at the first group challenge without a designated leader. The contestant named the worst in each show is obligated to "hang their head in shame" and nail a picture of themselves along a "wall of shame", and be personally tutored by Younghusband on an aspect leading to their nomination.
The show takes place at the Handyman Rehabilitation Centre, a building of the Regent Park
Regent Park
Regent Park is a neighbourhood located in Old Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Regent Park is Canada's oldest and largest social housing project; built in the late 1940s. Formerly the centre of the Cabbagetown neighbourhood, it is bounded by Gerrard Street East to the north, River Street to the east,...
public housing complex in Toronto, Ontario. Located at the corner of Dundas and Parliament, it was demolished following the filming of the first few seasons.
Contestants
The five contestants for the first season are as follows:- Darryl Andrews, a professional bodyguard from Warkworth, OntarioWarkworth, OntarioWarkworth is a community in the Canadian province of Ontario in the county of Northumberland. The village of Warkworth, formerly named Benfield , is part of the municipality of Trent Hills, formed in 2001.- Facilities/services :...
, who is shown to be suffering from a confidence problem after being told by relatives that he was not handy. He is nominated by wife Sara Graziano. A recurring theme in the series is the apparent marriage breakdown that ensues whenever Darryl is working, with Sara being incredibly vocal and abrasive, although this has been shown to be only slightly exagerated by the couple who are obviously celebrity wanna-be's. - Merle Auger, is a truck driver from Sucker Creek, AlbertaSucker Creek Cree First NationSucker Creek Cree First Nation is a Cree nation located along the shore of Lesser Slave Lake near Enilda, Alberta. It is a Treaty 8 nation.-Notable members:*Harold Cardinal*Linsay Willier*Lorne Cardinal...
, who believes that duct tapeDuct tapeDuct tape, or duck tape, is cloth- or scrim-backed pressure sensitive tape often sealed with polyethylene. It is very similar to gaffer tape but differs in that gaffer tape was designed to be cleanly removed, while duct tape was not. It has a standard width of and is generally silver or black...
is the answer to all renovation problems. He also rarely measures or uses a level, and leaves much work around the house unfinished for years, having very little motivation to complete them. He is nominated by longtime common-law partner Shelly Willier. - Keith ColeKeith Cole (artist)Keith Cole is a queer Canadian performance artist and political activist. Originally from Thunder Bay, Ontario, he is currently based in Toronto...
, a performance artPerformance artIn art, performance art is a performance presented to an audience, traditionally interdisciplinary. Performance may be either scripted or unscripted, random or carefully orchestrated; spontaneous or otherwise carefully planned with or without audience participation. The performance can be live or...
ist from Toronto, Ontario, who lacks the motivation to do renovation work and is afraid of power tools. He has a tendency to delegate work to others while doing as little work as he can. He is nominated by friend David Hawe, a photographer for Now MagazineNOW (magazine)Now is a free weekly newspaper in Toronto, Canada. It was first printed on September 10, 1981 by Michael Hollett and Alice Klein. Now is an alternative weekly mixing arts and entertainment news with political coverage....
. - Barry Davis, a substitute teacher from Quadra Island, British Columbia, who performs work without regards to safety, including having used a chainsawChainsawA chainsaw is a portable mechanical saw, powered by electricity, compressed air, hydraulic power, or most commonly a two-stroke engine...
indoors and having electrocuted himself while trying to fix a clothes dryerClothes dryerA clothes dryer or tumble dryer is a household appliance that is used to remove moisture from a load of clothing and other textiles, generally shortly after they are cleaned in a washing machine....
while standing in a puddle of water. He is nominated by Scot Hutton, a neighbor who considers Barry a danger to himself and others when renovating. - Jeannie MacCulloch, a retiree from Victoria, British ColumbiaVictoria, British ColumbiaVictoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
, who purchased a house with the aim at restoring it, but as longtime friend and nominator Laurence Headley notes, Jeannie is unable to read and understand instructions.
Experts
The experts for the first season are as follows:- Dr. Julie Hill, a psychologistPsychologistPsychologist is a professional or academic title used by individuals who are either:* Clinical professionals who work with patients in a variety of therapeutic contexts .* Scientists conducting psychological research or teaching psychology in a college...
who has taught psychology in two Ontario universities. - Greg House, a general contractorGeneral contractorA general contractor is responsible for the day-to-day oversight of a construction site, management of vendors and trades, and communication of information to involved parties throughout the course of a building project.-Description:...
with international experience, having managed both residential and commercial projects over a long career - Robin Lockhart, an interior designer specializing in high-end residential and commercial design. She is a graduate of the International Academy of Design and TechnologyInternational Academy of Design and TechnologyThe International Academy of Design and Technology is a for-profit media arts college accredited by a national agency, the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools .- International Academy of Design and Technology :...