LJWorld.com / 'Extreme Makeover' makes wedding dreams come true

Archive for Monday, May 9, 2005

Kevin McDonough

May 9, 2005

Weddings are often associated with June. But TV sweeps come in May, so tonight seems to be bride night. And remember, this show was on the schedule even before last week's "runaway bride" news story.

Look for tear-stained rose petals on "Extreme Makeover: Wedding Edition" (9 p.m., ABC). The "Extreme" team has only three days to whip up a dream ceremony for groom Kyle Garlett, 33, a four-time cancer survivor currently awaiting a transplant to replace the heart destroyed by chemotherapy. He met his bride-to-be, Carrie Riordan, 29, when she was training for a charity run for the Leukemia-Lymphoma Society in 2002. Garlett's medical expenses put their wedding plans on hold, until now.

Despite its spring schedule and California setting, the wedding spectacular will have a "Christmas in New York" theme, complete with a realistic recreation of the ice-skating rink at Rockefeller Center.

And much like the prizes behind door No. 3 on "Let's Make a Deal," this wedding just keeps on getting grander. Who is going to skate on that rink? Why, ice-skating champion Kristi Yamaguchi! The Kansas City Chiefs' Tony Gonzalez and celebrity choreographer Cris Judd also show up. And, because every "Christmas in New York"-themed wedding spectacular needs a singer, they've invited Liza Minnelli. She's always good luck at weddings.

Tonight's other highlights

The new nightly series "ESPN Hollywood" (5 p.m., ESPN2) looks at the cross pollination of entertainment and sports.
A much-needed vacation on "Nanny 911" (7 p.m., Fox).
Behind the drywall on "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition: How'd They Do That?" (7 p.m., ABC).
On two episodes of "Everybody Loves Raymond" (CBS), Ray can't pick up after himself (7:30 p.m.), Amy's mom's big secret (8 p.m.).
The rejected women tell all on "The Bachelor" (8 p.m., ABC). According to my unscientific survey, they are the only people left who still care about "The Bachelor."
A big spender (Jon Lovitz) and his girlfriend (Ashanti) arrive on "Las Vegas" (8 p.m., NBC).
America holds its collective breath on "24" (8 p.m., Fox). We can be glad Chloe didn't "go all fetal position" on us last week, though.