Antonio Sabato Jr. is gonna “Fix It & Finish It”

Antonio Sabato Jr.

Antonio Sabato Jr.Fix It & Finish It, a new syndicated series debuts on September 8 and features Antonio Sabato Jr. and his crew traveling the country to help families fix and finish their homes. Every weekday, the team will be in a different city finding homes with rooms needing a full makeover. The contractors and designers will take on the challenge and go in and create magic by turning the rooms around in 16 hours or less. “We do it quick, we do it right,” promises Sabato Jr.

I chatted with Antonio (who I had a major crush on when I was a teen and he played sexy Jagger Cates, a bad boy with a heart of gold on General Hospital) while he and his crew were on location in Mississippi. The love for his latest project was evident even across the miles and through the phone. “This show has been such a great journey and a blessing from day one,” he gushed. (and today, Sabato Jr. has even more to smile about; he’s just been named as a Season 19 participant on Dancing With The Stars!)

When he set out to create a TV show, he originally though about focusing on a different passion of his, “I’ve always worked on my own home and different places that I’ve owned. I really enjoyed it. But I’m a mechanic, a motorcycle and car builder,” He reveals. Producer Scott Steinberg told him, “instead of doing a racing show or a car show. Let’s do something else. You’re passionate about designing and rebuilding homes, why not take your expertise on the road so people can see it?” And with over 50 shows later, Sabato is happily road tripping around the U.S. meeting interesting and inspiring people.

Some of the people Sabato Jr. has enjoyed meeting are the local tradespeople, builders and designers that he works with in each city. “The local community is coming together to give back to all of the homeowners and it’s been amazing.” But of course, the highlight of each episode is the people whose lives the show is benefiting. “Every single day is a brand new episode with its own kind of flavor, and a history and a story to go with it. They all have been amazing,” he says. Despite a plethora of moving experiences, a few renovations have stood out.

“I was doing a teenager’s room and this kid was 15 and he’d never had his own bedroom. He had been sleeping on a sofa for many years. This house was almost destroyed by Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. And we built this teenager a brand new room. It was hip. It was awesome. And to see his reaction when he walked in was quite incredible,” mused Sabato Jr.

“We also met a man who was 83 years-old and whose home had been broken into 15 times. He had to barricade his door. And we came in, and we fixed it, and redid his living room.”

Fix-It-and-Finish-It-LogoAntonio admits that it’s extremely rewarding to help people, the families whose lives he effects, affect him too. He told me, “we change their lives forever, but at the same time, they change ours too. Because my crew and myself, we’re just so blessed to be here. We never have a bad day. We’re so pleased to do this; there’s nothing better. I’m just so happy to be a part of this.”

To find Fix It & Finish It on your local TV station, click here. To apply to be on the show, click here!

Fix It & Finish It > Syndicated > Daily, starting Sept. 8

 

Chef Jeff Henderson also has a new syndicated series, Flip My Food that will join Fix It & Finish It to make an exiting programming block! Read more about Chef Jeff’s new show here!

images courtesy of Bellum Entertainment/ photographer Andrew Doyle

19 Comments

  1. my mother was in the flood in johnsonville sc 29555 her mobile home was heavly damaged it was a 1998 she is now in a 1978 it has popcorn cealing in it, it is in bad condition if you could possibly help her it wouldbe deeply appreciated her address is 314 north first neck road
    she doesn,t have the means to fix it thank you so much she is 90 years old thank you so much doris arnold loris sc 29569

  2. hi Antonio i just want to tell you i wish there was alot more people like you a very hard worker with alot of compassion. A good friend of mine Joe Hatcher he lives in kentucky is in dier need his roof is leaking his gutters falling down took out 1 ceiling in his house needs help with his electrical he lives paycheck to paycheck he doesnt have the funds to do the repairs it is also a pride thing he wont ask for help either, i deeply worry for him he is a great guy with a big heart and always gave to the community, please try to help my dear friend Joe it would be so nice for him to seek the help love you Antonio pls do something to make it right with living conditions for him that is all i can pray for he is going thru hard times now and could really use a helping hand his name is Joe Hatcher lives in glasgow Kentucky 1 270 670 5844 ty so much God Bless you and your family keep up the great work that you do !!!!! his close friend Caren

  3. Can you please do something about the insulation of my house? I’m a disabled Vietnam Veteran and my wife of 51 + years has passed away and I would appreciate any help you could give me
    Marvin Stewart
    51 A Pecan Oak Lane
    Poplarville, MS. 39470

  4. Hi Antonio, I love watching your show fix it and finish it. It would be wondeful and quite surprising to see you knocking at my front door to help me to get my backyard bar and kitchen set up for my annual Christmas party next month on Dec 19. I have hire people who claimed that they do construction work and the ending result is disappointing. It would be an answer prayer from GOD to see you and the crew here helping me. The only thing about being on tv is that I’m a little shy. So, If you have to contact me. Please! Contact me at flo_whiting@yahoo.com I’m located in New Orleans. Hope to see you soon!

  5. Hi Antonio, my name is Constance Anderson I was watching your show I was just wondering could you come and fix and finish all kitchen in Jackson Mississippi your help will be very appreciated thank you.

  6. Could you please come fix my home?I live in a single wide trailer that needs some repairs for the winter.Please contact me at 318-385-9276. My address is 395 Maple st. Bienville LA 71008. Please contact me. Thanks Carrie Roberson,

  7. Can really use you guys help. Kitchen needs work but, need to work on the roof first. Had an accident or fell off roof and can’t or ain’t suppose to climb ladders anymore need to finish roof and do kitchen over. It really need help…

  8. I like this I am a person always helps everyone else now I am having some problems and in a wheelchair trying to get back in my feet with physical therapy.I live beside my mom in a little place which actually was a barn it is in bad shape something pushing my kitchen floor up I sure wish my dream come true to fix this stuff and make nice so I could stay here by my mom.don’t know how much longer that I will be here.prayers always.good show.

  9. I always wanted a nice house growing up in Mississippi as a little girl.And said if I ever grow up and move away from home and come back I would. Build me a nice home well I did and it did not turn out as I hope problem s with lights master bedroom to small closet to small water stand on shower floor and tub too small can u help me please fix it and finish it Thank u in advanc . Olevia Liberty Mississippi 39645

  10. I enjoyed you on Dance With Stars. I really don’t know where to start It is difficult to write this I am 62 & so is my husband I. Have nothing normal physically. It started in1989 with emergency back surgery that has changed my life & my families instructed not to return to work. Icould not nor should ( as my doctors all told me). But being a nurse “I ” knew what t could do. So I tried to keep on doing it. With3 children less than 4 years old. I knew I had to keep working. Now with my abilities & my husbands health challenges we live down stairs in smallest room in our house. I sleep either chase loung in our den or in loung chair since ’89. All medical bills etc. my beautiful home that at one time it was dressed in side & out Williamsburg blue. But no we have had to re finance our home so many times We probably will not live to see it paid for. My small kitchen needs a complete re do & both baths also The in side of my home & out I am ashamed of!!! Really my home has not been totally painted ever. But my kitchen & bathrooms need help in the worst kind a way. Every thing is a mess because We had a break in on my husbands shop so our foyer is mor of a storage even with a small security system he still has a shop in the foyer , can’t get in or out! I can’t go up & down stairs if I do I pay for it with worst pain that last for days It’s been ? Close to a year since I’ve been there. Help Antonio I just wish you did all-over fix its. But my kitchen & baths are the worse??? I am so proud of what you do & what you stand for God told me it will come to thoes who wait it will be done on his time. I pray he tells you it is our time. If not I will ask for continue of. The kindness
    you do for others!! You really not just touch “stuff” but you touch peoples lives. Have a blessed day. Oh I also watch Cheff Jeff that comes on right after you He also touches people. A program with both of you together could fix more than a day would allow you to do your hard work but he could help with meals , snacks etc but also lay out of kitchen it self. Some time. The designer plus Cheff Jeff could pull off two types of miracles Kitchen lay out & how to use it with good foods. Thank you for helping to make people actually be proud &feel good about the problem you have taken away!!! Thank you again. Carolyn

  11. My backyard is cold an uninviting to the point that me and my family refuse to go out back to use it. I would love to have my backyard redone by fixitandfinishit. I am the youngest of ten children and the first to purchase my own home. I have become ill in the last few years with kidney disease and don’t have the energy or the finances to do my yard.

  12. I really need help redoing the awful job a contractor did on my master bathroom. I took him to small claims court, won a small amount not enough to redo the bathroom and I found out I can’t make him pay unless I hire a Lawyer and sue him again. I can’t afford to hire a Lawyer so this person is getting away with cheating me out of a lot of money. He is a nice looking young man with a wonderful personally but hidden under the outward appearance is also a liar and a cheat. I’m 78 year old and I always believe in the goodness of people until now. There are a lot of people asking you for help and I know you can only do so much but thought it wouldn’t hurt to ask. All You can do is say no or ignore my request and I’m so worse off then I am now. Regardless of your decision I want to add I think you and your crew are caring, wonderful, helpful people and have done a lot of good for those in need of your help
    Sincerely, Sandra Gafford, Huntington, Texas 75949

  13. Antonia, your show is wonderful !!! I recently turned 66 . I’ve been in thi apt for 3 yrs now . I got my one bedroom apt till the day of my reconin shall we say . Got my furniture one piece at a time . How do I enter? Please give an ole’ lady happy for the time I feel will be very happy and Greatfull my ph 3344678070. Well that is how Johnny Paychech got his 1 st Cadilac Just one piece at a time.

  14. I wrote on a different comment section, but I will tell my story 100 times if it helps. I am 63 years old, and I am sitting in my house with two collapsed ceilings. I had a MASSIVE roof leak 3 MONTHS AGO, on June 8th, and still have not fixed it. We have no ceilings, insulation hanging, I can send you pictures if you wish, because no one would believe it without seeing it. The insurance co. would only pay $10,000 and their estimator came in with a fix it figure of $28,000 plus a roof. I am physically sick, don’t sleep, cry, walk the floors trying to figure out how I am going to fix this house. I know you must get millions of requests, and I don’t need my house prettier, I need ceilings and a roof. The mold is beginning to grow, and this home was $310,000 when I bought it, it’s now destroyed. I believe in angels, I believe in miracles, I just don’t know where to look. I was hoping you were the answer to my prayers. Please let me know if there is anything you can do to help before I take out a cash advance, if they will let me, for 23%. God bless us all, Joan

  15. I wish you all could do my kitchen. the house was buildt in The fiftys and Im on disability and can’t do it. but i still use it and make cup cakes for everyone. love to cook. well if you can call let me know. thank you

  16. Hi.i just watch yur show.i really don’t know how this works.but his mom.said he always wanted his own .home he just gt it.nd every day he is trying to fix the yard .the drive way has been done over nd over.nd he works on it every day after work..I really think he deserves it so much..please help him..sincerely his friend angela wilcox

  17. I would like help with my den/ kitchen I can’t afford to pay to get any thing done. I’m a heart patient and my husband is a cancer patient . I pray before I leave this world I can get this done. I get disability and my husband get SS

  18. Well, I had wanted to ask for help, but after reading some of these stories I would feel guilty. I thought I could use help, but I will continue to do what I have been doing and leave it up to God, if he sees fit, the help will come. But, since I finally found you I want to thank you and your staff for all the wonderful things you do for those in need. You are a blessing, you are honest and sincere and that is important, because it is hard to come by. I have to record your show because I clean houses to make ends meet. And I love your show. It makes me happy to see you make people happy, God will bless you for the kindness. I try to learn from your program, but I am almost sixty nine yrs. old and I am afraid to start a project and not be able to finish it. Anyway, you and your staff keep up the good work, and God bless to each one of you. Thank you for a wonderful show and a compassionate heart. Sincerely, Barbara Wise Savannah, GA.31406

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