Find Out Who Wins Tonight!
It’s Sunday, and that means we’re announcing the grand prize winner of the HGTV Dream Home Giveaway! Be sure to watch the live HGTV television special tonight at 9pm ET/6pm PT to see who’s moving to the Florida Keys. And remember, we’re also giving away a special prize to a home viewer: a trip for two to the Florida Keys.
Thanks everyone for your enthusiasm for the 2008 HGTV Dream Home Giveaway and for all of your comments on the live winner giveaway. We have received thousands of comments and we greatly value your opinions. In the interests of time and space, we have had to turn off the comment feature for this thread. Be sure and come back Wednesday when we will have a new video with Stephanie answering some of the questions you submitted in an earlier blog post.
Thank you!
HGTV DREAM HOME AND MORE
- HGTV Dream Home Central »
- Official Rules: HGTV Dream Home Live Giveaway Home Viewer Drawing
- HGTV Dream Home 2008 Online Tour
- Share Photos/Videos of the Florida Keys »
- The Shore at Islamorada: Site of HGTV Dream Home 2008 »
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Hey, for all of you who are “sick of seeing caucasian people winning” – where on the entry form did you specify your race so you be excluded from winning? You think by your name and email they determined you’re not caucasian and drew a different name? You people make me sick!
We were in midst of a tornado coming through last night, til this AM. As I prayed to be safe, also prayed to win dream hom in Keys. Guess that’s not the case as saw lady won today, but am very happy for her. Dream come true. I am wondering how to enter the 2008 Green Home? Hilton Head is down right beautiful, too and would love to be anywhere an ocean is. The house is just lovely and would be fantastic for a single lady, as myself. I am having kidney failure,as well as combined problems that people really don’t care to hear about, and tring to live somewhere close to Cleveland Clinis (FL) which would’ve been the wonderful home you just gave away, or Duke University Hospital, closer to Hilton Head…I just keep on praying and this house would be perfect, and smaller and I love the layout, more my speed (but I would’ve taken in some really good peope with me to the Keys, and shared, if knew how to contact them through you all!). Thanks for this opportunity. Storms never last…as was in a song. Keep starting over. God Bless the builders and workers that buld these houses.Love this floorplan. Joyce
I missed the show so I have been reading the blog for info. I do hope that the show will be aired again or added to their internet site so that people like me that missed it will have the opportunity to see it.
Whether I saw the show or not, everyone has to admit that in a “true” contest – no one knows who will win. Also think about it – if the show is to be aired live at a certain time, HGTV has to let someone in the family “in on it”. When it comes to surprising the winner that is one thing; but when you plan on surprising the winner on live tv it involves the whole crew – in other words a lot of people. So let’s be happy that HGTV is having “true” contests. Since it is “true” contests, HGTV is not being racial, it is luck.
For some people it seems like every time they do not win, they want to blame it on someone or some thing. Hey, this is suppose to be fun. Finally people – some people have houses & some do not – there is a whole lot of reasons & all different as to whether people have houses or not. This is a contest, not a give away to people who are in need. There are organizations that help those in need. Finally, Finally the people who are whining about needing a home, have you been listening about all the people that have won – how many still have the house? When you own a home, you have to pay taxes each year. If you do not own a home because you can not afford it? How are you possibly going to pay taxes on the HGTV home each year? The amount of taxes that have to be paid for these homes is so much that the house has to be sold. The taxes are not included in the prize. So whoever wins can hopefully have two weeks to a month vacation & put it up for sale. People
quit bickering & just have fun.
Let someone from Texas win next time. A Texan will show everyone how to be excited about winning and show their appreciation too. If our family had won I would have given my current house to my son, wife and their four children, called my husband in Iraq to give him our new address and would have loved living in Florida where our son will be attend college this year. It would have been a dream come true for our family and we would have made HGTV viewers proud that we won. It just was not in Gods plan for us to win. Hope the winners make the best of their situation. It will be hard for them to get past the media. Best of luck to them.
I was very disappointed by how the show was presented last night to meet the winner. I knew before the winner would be announced that the winner would be at some sort of party. Someone in that house knew they were winners. It seemed like a set up to me. Where was the surprise element? The winner looked sheepish, not surprised at all…."like I know I am the winner but I don't really want to be." What winner has been able to keep the dream home?
What is the deal with the contest on figuring out Kim Myles’ previous job before design star? Hello??? I live on the west coast in Oregon. By the time I saw the show 9pm Pst the phone lines were closed. I am very disappointed this year just like last year when they did the same thing. How are any viewers on the west coast suppose to get a chance on the vacation contest if the phone lines are closed when the show airs???? Does anyone know why they do this???
By the way congratulations to the Dream Home winner.
Lauren Lake scared the crap out of the winner!
TOO FUNNY!!! WHAT WAS SHE ON?????
It was like a Saturday Night Live skit – too halarious!!!!
BEST HGTV show yet!!!!
I will be laughing all night long…
FCole, Whats up with all the bloggers tonight? I feel like They are more like little kids, disapponted little kids!
Wow, after reading so many of the comments, you guys are so cruel. I am sooo happy for the winner. I agree with another person who commented that people react to things in different ways. Staged or not, was it not fun having the dream of it being you? Again I write: The odds of winning are about 200:40,000,000 in most cases. You would probably have a better chance winning a lottery, come on! Then all of you guys out of jealousy say rude things about an individual you have no clue about. Stephanie Dee, you go girl!! Enjoy your dream home!! I will never stop watching HGTV. I love all the programs on there. HGTV is awesome!!!
I got it…She was exhibiting that nervious behavior because she’s in the witness protection program, and her cover has just been blown on national TV. Iowa: “Corn capitol, and a good place to hideout, because no one cares to look there.”
I have to wonder, what about someone like me? There is NO ONE for HGTV to contact ahead of time on my behalf, I am all alone! Does this take me out of the running? HGTV could not easily stage it if I won. Tough to get into an apartment complex gate without giving it away lol.
Anyway I fell asleep before the show came on…from reading the blogs am glad I did.
I think that HGTV should revamp the dream home projects. Build dream homes that someone other than a current millionaire can afford to keep. Give away 2 or 3 at the same time for the same cost.
Wendi, Thank you for your comments concerning your cousins winning the HGTV Dream Home. Sometimes when people are nervous they have little things they do to get their minds off being nervous,ie. speakers pushing up eyeglasses on their nose, hair twisting, laughing at inappropriate times,snapping fingers,etc. This “could” be one explanation of Stephanie scratching her head in addition to being shy. I would ask all who have posted—-”what is the standard for the word deserving”? What’s perceived as deserving by one person is not always seen as deserving by another. I’m sorry for the negative posts. It’s just wrong for any of us to assume to know why Stephanie reacted the way she did/didn’t.
To HGTV:
1.Please CHANGE THE FORMAT of the “Live” giveaway! Unless one is extremely visually impaired, you could see that everything is staged.
2.Please change the format to return Joan Steffend as the one who surprises the winner.
3.Clarify that in the “live” program, the winner has been selected AND NOTIFIED by a specific date so that so many people are not given FALSE HOPE. How important is a TV rating over giving people false hope? Even if people know beforehand they haven’t won, many who have watched the whole process of the building, decorating, etc are still going to watch to see who did win and where they’re from.
Apologize to your sponsors as THEY will receive
the major negative impact from viewers and fans. Without them, you would not have the “empire” that you do on Home AND Garden programs. Fans that feel like they’ve been suckered or duped or skunked will turn off the HGTV channel then where are your wonderful sponsors going to go?
DO NOT ALLOW THE WINNER’S ADDRESS AND PHONE NUMBER TO BE POSTED ON THESE BOARDS! That violates the “permission to use images, comments, etc” of the winner’s privacy. After reading each of the comments on here, I’d say the winner’s are in for a preventabile rough few days.
Please have your blog administrator censor the vulgar words on this blog.
Congrats again Wendi for being bold enough to come on this blog with “truth” not “speculation”.
I have been in this house twice on a tour and believe me, it is truly magical. This winner has no idea what she has won. The money charged for the tour went to the Florida Keys Children’s Shelter. These children have no home. That is some consolation for me that these children hopefully will benefit from this money. Even if she has to sell it, she will still be a millionaire! What was all of the unenthusiam about? A million dollars is an enormous amount of money. Who knows, maybe she is already a millionaire. Kind of a shame, really. The biggest disappointment for me is how HGTV deceived the public by saying this was going to be a live surprise for the winner. It was so obvious that is wasn’t a surprise, with the lady simply walking in the front door, (people get shot doing this) and the comments of the husband hinting that he knew, the “early” birthday party. You should give the American public more credit for having the brains to be able to see right through this. I have read these blogs tonight and so many people were sitting on the edge of their seats, looking out of the window, hoping and praying that they might win this house because the man kept building it up that it might be “you” that will win. This is wrong to deceive millions of people like this and I think you will probably feel their bite. I for one will not waste another hour watching HGTV. There is enough fraud and dishonesty in the world as it is now. Moving on to better and more positive things!
well everyone has said all u can say negative about tonights winner..so ill say something positive. at least i know for sure the winner is a random pick because hgtv wouldnt choose her on purpose! also, people are too cruel. maybe this women is very shy and it scaes her to be on tv.
for those people who complain about winners always being white…think about it…it is a random contest and so chances are a minority will win seems less only because of the numbers…everyone has equal chance to win. its just the chances were 1 in 40million!
finally, i dont care what anyone else says i still had fun watching. especially when they said it was somewhere cold! brrr im cold here in CT and would have loved that trip to FLA. i wish i could have at least got through to a voicemail when trying to call for that trip! i wish i could have txted my entry in for that trip. phone calls never get through even to radio shows. or even better…they call me from my online entries!
I must admit I was very dissappointed. I knew I wasn’t the winner when they showed the ice on the ground, but I wanted to see the winners reaction. I think she was probable told minutes before the show was broadcasted live and she was in shock. At least thats what I figured since she was scratching her head and she looked very confused and out of it. I was at work in the er with my friends waiting and watching for them to come into the breakroom and announce me as the winner. we had a spread and had all kinds of signs posted to welcome HGTV just in case. I can assure you had they came to my job, it would have been difficult to tell who the winner was. we were all very pumped up and excited. neverthe less, non of that stuff really matters now, I just hate the fact the way everything happened.I know it was planned, her husband had to be notified and thats not a bad thing, but my husband was notified he would have been jumping up and downand all over the place. I will just say Stephani goodluck and may God bless you and your family. HGTV I hope that next year, it will be much better. It would really be exciting if you could pay all the taxes next for the 2009 Dream Home Winner
Lauren Lake was good but I do miss Joan. She made the show. It just didn’t seem the same.
There are many different types of people in this world. Stephanie Dee may not have shown much enthusiasm but different people react in different ways. Congratulations to all winners.
I would have loved to have been “the one” but I’m not a sore loser!
HGTV doesn’t have to give anything away. Give them a break!
Wow, watched the show tonight. I have spent months dreaming about this home, loved every inch of it. When I found out I didn’t win (it was still light here in Cali.) I just decided to be really happy for the winner. I’ve got to say sorry HGTV for ingratitude, what you do is awsome! Thank you for the chance..I enjoyed just dreaming.
The last time someone tried to come into our home w/o knocking like that, ended up with their face up against the wall and a free ride in a police car.
Who knows if this was staged or not? Kinda reminds me of last year when the whole family was out to dinner at 10 pm on a Sunday night, and I do mean the WHOLE FAMILY!
HGTV needs to find a better way to do this. I say go back to the finalists having a key to unlock the door. At least there would be some surprises.
I feel bad for the '08 winner. Can you imagine the GRIEF she will get at work today?
I live in a apartment in Florida and didn't expect to win.
Also, I do like the Green Home much more than the Dream Home '08, it has a classier style. Can't wait to see what happens to this one.
and I still love HGTV!
Thank you HGTV — for the contest, for the live surprise, for the upcoming GreenHome contest & info; but, most for the dreaming!
I have to say….the winner’s reaction was so disappointing. (I think the husband and the wife already knew).
HGTV…..please find a better way to surprise the winner next year! (No planned home party weeks away from a person’s birthday. That will totally give it away……. Or unusual family gathering at a restaurant).
To all who think the house should go to someone “more deserving”… hello.. this is a RANDOM drawing.. ANYONE can enter… and just because someone HAS a nice home, doesn’t mean they don’t have dreams of their own. There are lots of people who work hard for THIER dreams to be realized… we have a very nice home ourselves, but would be thrilled to “win” a home like this… for retirement, for investment, for the enjoyment of family and friends… So congradualations to this year’s winner… I hope everything works out for you, whether you keep it or end up selling it…
So, does anyone love the dream home enough to buy it from Stephanie?
my comment isn't posted either. mine was about the home viewer winner
1997 Winner from Tulsa, OK
1998 Winner from Thousand Oaks, CA
1999 Winner from Kingston, TN
2000 Winner from San Antonio, TX
2001 Winner from Gladstone, MO
2002 Winner from Midland, TX
2003 Winner from Lake City, PA
2004 Winner from Sacramento, CA
2005 Winner from Batavia, IL
2006 Winner from Alum Creek, WV
2007 Winner from Johnson City, TN
2008 Winner from Solon, IA
I agree with “Anonymous” and others that they had to be notified ahead of time which would explain the odd reaction of not being surprised. HGTV, who walks right into a house without someone answering the door first and being invited in? When Ellen (from network TV) surprises people at their door, she or her people never just walk right in. That was very fake. It’s also odd to have a birthday for with little ones so late, so must have been a set up. I prefer the format that was done for the NC dream home.
.. so many poor losers. If you were counting on winning this contest as the way to the American Dream, you must be one of those who are waiting for someone to hand it to you instead of continuing to work hard, contribute, and be responsible for the choices you make in life. Yes, I entered the sweepstakes.. no… I don’t “deserve” it… IF I were to win, it is up to ME how to use it, answering, in the end, only to God, not to the millions of entrants that did NOT win.
As others have said before me… RANDOM doesn’t care about race, creed, color, economic status, emotional state, personality type, gender, occupation, demographic, age, or geography (other than in the US – read the rules). IT’S RANDOM!
No matter who “wins” there will be millions of “losers”… the reaction of the winner is seen on TV by millions… but look at the ridiculous reaction of so many of the “losers”… that is what is really disturbing…
I am appauled at the comments that have made about the winner, Stephanie Dee and her family.
What’s wrong with the bloggers here. I believe her actions were from being nervous & shy; the scratching of the head, not making eye contact with Lauren and lack of excitment. Some of you were very mean with your comments. How can you judge someone from first impressions? Also the comment of the rocking baby on the floor, if you have children you would know that is how they start to crawl-SHAME ON YOU!!! The race comments are off the wall. When you signed up on New Years Day, were you asked your RACE? This is not a race card issue . I was also disappointed I did not win, but am happy for the Dee family. Don’t be sore losers, and stop with the ugly comments about the Dee family. CONGRATULATIONS DEE FAMILY, AND BEST OF LUCK WITH YOUR NEW HOME!!!!!
Oh my goodness, Karla. How do you suppose HGTV determines if you are black or white, green, or purple? When you enter the contest have you ever seen a spot for “race”? That’s just silly. With such large odds of winning, perhaps there’s a larger ratio of caucasian people who entered? I don’t know. I would be thrilled for you if you won, whatever the color of your skin, just as long as you seemed appreciative (unlike the winner did). Good luck in the Green House contest!! (I mean that!)
I didn’t get to see the show of the winner but by reading all the comments I didn’t miss anything. Congrats to the winner anyway.It is cold here in northern MN.but I guess we won’t be going to the keys now.I better unpack. I guess HGTV better read all the negative comments here and hopefully learn something.Will think about entering for the next dream home for sure
Dear HGTV; Dream Home Sponsors; Builders & crew:
Now that the shock and disappointment from last night’s “winning moment” have worn off, I want to say ‘Thank you’ for all you’ve done to TRY to make this an incredible– RANDOM–opportunity for someone.
Like the blogger HCA, I was trying to figure out if MAYBE the winner had something going on in her life that would cause such a stilted and flat affect upon hearing she won a home and package worth 2.2m.
Clearly, most of us would have responded with more enthusiasm and gratitude–even if we would have been “tipped off” this was coming.
To the bloggers who feel slighted because someone in a low-income bracket or person of color didn’t/doesn’t win—I trust this random contest is done fairly and honestly. So, we ALL have a chance! Do you know how many charitable contests I have entered for cash prizes and physicians win?? That’s just life. Keep trying and have faith.
Once again, thank you HGTV. This contest generates so much excitement and awe and hopefully next year will be your “charm” and the Extremely Lucky Viewer will demonstrate a joyous reaction worthy of live t.v.
Becky in Cleveland
At least I’m not the only one. My wife and I watched the show and was very disappointed in the winners reaction to winning a beautiful beach home. Even if she was told before hand you could still have acted appreciative of what you won. She couldn’t even bring herself to look in the camera, maybe she is in the witness protection program. HGTV you did a great job but maybe try to truly surprise the winner…..send out scouts to see where the winner is. By the way if she doesn’t fulfill her obligations give me a call I will be happy to scream and wet my pants on live tv. What a great home, congrats to the winner……
Will the Green Home winner be announced on “Live” television, as well?
Is there a site to go to watch the show of the winner of the dream home?
IT IS RANDOM!!! THAT MEANS IT IS “FAIR” TO EVERYBODY!!! THAT ENTERS. I KNOW I AM HAPPY ABOUT THAT!!! IT IS NOT ABOUT WHAT COLOR YOUR SKIN IS, WE ARE ALL BEAUTIFUL!!! “CREATIONS” FROM THE LORD!!! AND IT IS NOT ABOUT HOW MUCH MONEY YOU HAVE!!! OR WHERE YOU LIVE!!! THAT IS WHY HGTV ROCKS!!! AND THEY DON’T HAVE ANY CONTROL OVER THE WINNERS REACTIONS!!! WE SHOULD ALL BE THANKFUL THAT WE LIVE IN THE U.S.A.!!! AND HAVE THESE VERY FUN!!! CONTEST TO ENTER.!!! I KNOW I AM.!!! THANK YOU! “HGTV”!!!
Does it state in the contest rules that the winners will have no prior knowledge of their winning prior to the announcement on “live” T.V? Last year the person that won had a huge party with all their family & friends at a restaurant. The family did not seem excited or surprised. How did HGTV know that the family was at that restaurant without someone knowing beforehand? Last night the(2008)winner had a party with her family and friends saying it was a birthday party. Does HGTV really think we viewers are ignorant and stupid? Clearly this was a set up, the winner, the announcer, and the entire show was a farce and the network owes their viewers an apology for falsely giving the impression that this is a true surprise. The viewers really have hope that the truck is around their corners and trhey are waiting to be surprised when in reality the winners know beforehand. This is a sad commentary on truth and false hope.The HGTV Network must change the format, this makes the Publisher’s Clearing House Winners announcements shine in comparison.
Wow! What an angry bunch we have here. Get over your disapoitment and be happy for the winner – it makes your heart feel good. I was disapointed too but sitting around bashing the poor girl isn’t going to change the outcome.
It was plainly obvious to me that someone in that house knew what was going on. First, you don’t just walk in someones front door without knocking. Second, the husbands comment of, “I mentioned to her I wondered if this (the fake birthday party) had anything to do with winning.”
Maybe she was irritated about the fake party on a Sunday evening and her kids were still awake. I have a sneaking feeling that whoever it was in the house that knew what was going on, was dumping drinks down her throat so she would be calm. All I have to say is no one knows what was going on so give the poor girl a break. Lastly, you do know if it was you that won, all of these people would be judging your reaction because it wasn’t what they thought it should be. I just hope the poor thing doesn’t come reading these blogs.
Karla are you seriously going to make this about someones skin color???
Figures when something doesnt go the way of a black person they pull the “race” card.(no offense)
For the record, I think my dog would have shown more emotion.
What a disappointment! I was more excited when I got back my pap smear results. I would have liked to see someone less jaded win or maybe she is taking anti anxiety meds like Paxil which pretty much kills any real emotion. This was by far the worst Dream Home Giveaway. I too agree with all the other comments, including the Florida winner. Does Air Tran fly that short of distance.
I saved the mony for the taxes but I’m going with my family to a cruses with that money.Are they new that there was the winners, because that lady I think she new already, do they contact the person before they show up, bay phone or mail, the are miss something.
Ya know, this is a drawing. It really doesn’t matter if you are sick, down-on-your-luck, disabled, have fleas, or are otherwise afflicted. For some reason, I don’t believe that GOD intervenes in games of chance. O.K. EVERYBODY wants to win..I understand that – just don’t whine because you think you are more “worthy” than everybody else because of your affliction or situation. Grow up.
What would you think if someone burst into your home acting like that? No one answered the door…she just walked in screeching. If it had been our house …my husband and the dog would have needed a lot of explanation before she got all the way to the dining room! I have never seen that Lauren Lake’s show, but after her behavior last night if it comes on…I’m changing the channel!
What ethnicity is Kim Myles? Didn’t she win her own show? Hmmm. As far as the DH winner, maybe her meds kicked in, I don’t get it either, my wife and I looked at each other and said WTF.
To all these people who are upset that a “black” person didn’t win or has never won. Hello, it’s a random drawing. Are we suppose to put an all ethnic submission drawings in one bucket and all white in one bucket and draw from each bucket, then every other year make sure a “black” person wins. Are you “entitled”? Can’t we all just put all human entry forms in the same bucket and let chance play the game? Get your black chip off your shoulder.
What is this crap about a deserving winner, come on this is a drawing people…. they don’t check out who you are, do you deserve it or what color you are…… for crying out loud get a gripe!! aND do you realize you have to pay taxes on 2.2M$, that’s about half a million out of your pocket. So wise up people and quit showing so much ignorance.
What a bunch of hard people. I don’t think I’d want to win as then I’d have to hear everyone’s comments judging who weren’t there to see what really happened after the cameras were turned off. They get there 5 minutes before the show is done, what kind of a valid reaction can you get from someone in that time span? Come on people, she was in shock. I would have been in shock, too. Yes, maybe she was a little lit. She was celebrating her birthday with her girlfriends. They were probably the ones who worked with HGTV to set it up. What are they going to do? Say “hey Steph, maybe you should lay off the fuzzy navels a little?”. That wouldn’t be suspicious at all now would it. I don’t know this woman even though I work in the same hospital as her. I live within 15 miles of her, as well so the thing that excited me the most was the realization that, yes, it really could have been me that won. But, coming on here this morning and reading the hateful, judgemental posts made me realize that I was lucky NOT to win.
Regardless of whether it’s a scam or the real thing there is a power greater then ourselves that brings these things to pass. We can only hope that this will be a blessing to this family one way or another. Stand in peace and walk in love HGTV audiance. I know sometimes it’s hard.
Wow, such bitterness on this board. Could it be that Stephanie was speechless from SHOCK and that she really didn’t know? I for one am glad the home went to a young family this time- whether or not they “need” it. The contest is open to all which is really nice. Congratulations Dee family!