Mar
18
Coming Soon: HGTV Dream Home Winner Answers Your Questions
If you remember, a couple of weeks ago I asked for questions that you would ask the HGTV Dream Home winner. Stay tuned, because we’ll have videos ready this week where HGTV Dream Home 2008 grand prize winner Stephanie Dee answers some of the questions you submitted! Here’s a short profile of the Iowa mother of two, and what she was doing Sunday night when HGTV’s Lauren Lake dropped by.
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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Surprise looked FAKE . . . very little astonishment, excitement. Also, if it were a true surprise, wouldn’t HGTV have knocked at the door instead of walking right into the home?? Winner could have been more enthusiastic!! But good luck to winners anyway, and to HGTV . . . not bothering to enter the next contest, but when you do the 2009 live, on-air “surprise” announcement, make it look REAL next time around!!!
I am extremely disappointed with HGTV. I thought the entire so called “surprise giveway” was so fake and phoney. According to Lauren Lake there was no prior notice to the winner. So tell me why did Lauren Lake just walk right into the house without one of the occupations opening the door??? Lets hope next year you do better.
I am blown away by how many people are upset with the winner. Imagine, you’re at a strange party that’s kinda for your birthday and an overexcited lady bursts into your home and tells you she’s changing your life completely…a little hard to digest in 5 minutes, I would say. And this is a sweepstakes people. That means it’s random. No story of heartache, pain, disability or intention to do good will increase your chances of winning. And as for “choose a more diverse winner”- random means there is no “Choose”. And given that minorities are just that, in the minority, a middle american white person is likely to win purely based on statistics. Don’t be so bitter.
What a blessing! We hope you and your family enjoy the new home and wish you well in all plans you have for it. Your reaction was fine — I’d be stunned if a camera crew walked into my home that late at night too! Your tears showed the depth of what this home means to you. Congrats!!
What a joke! If you are going to call it a surprise, then even family and friends should not be told about the winner. The winner should be surprised for real, and it should not be staged as it always has been.
Congrats on your win. I hope that you are happy about it. I really couldn’t tell by your reaction to the news.
I read in the Ottumwa Courier that you grew up in the Eldon, Agency area. I live just south of Ottumwa in Bloomfield so I know how nice that Florida sunshine is going to feel. Best of luck to you and your family and I hope you are able to enjoy that beautiful home.
The Dream Home contests have been great and definitely inspirational – but I really think that HGTV needs to completely overhaul the contest & the homes that are built. WHY NOT build at least SEVERAL homes each year, in different spots around the US, instead of just ONE overly extravagant home that few winners can actually keep??? More people could win each year and the homes would be realistic in location & costs – winners could AFFORD to live there!
Also agree with other posters here that HGTV could forgo the usual DH contest for a year or 2 and build a LOT more homes for the same $$$ – for those who REALLY NEED homes after the hurricanes in New Orleans, MS & TX. Now it’s 2008 and there are STILL THOUSANDS of families in these areas who have been totally failed and forgotten by OUR GOVERNMENT/FEMA and are STILL living in trailers & temp housing. Think of the homes that could be built to truly help those who’ve been through so much.
Are blogs set up only for positive comments? If that is true, there’s hardly a point in having them. Honest responses (sans crudeness, etc) is the fair way to run a blog. I do not agree that those who responded to their odd behavior to winning such a monster contest were showing sour grapes at all. I think it was just confusion.
(There are 1,092 published comments on Sunday’s blog post. Not all are positive, by any means. fc)
i would like to know if hgtv contacts the winners family to make sure they will be home? it seems her friends knew in advance to have a to early birthday party on a late sunday night. last years winners family was takin to a restaurant were all his family gathered. i prayed that i would have won cause it would have changed me and my two sons lives for the better but i am thilled that someone deserving with children won.god bless you and your family.i would like to see hgtv build smaller less expensive homes and give them away quarterly.its just some thing to think about cause if i would have won that dream home i would have been heartbroken to find out that i could not afford to keep it and then have to worry about selling it and if i could not find a buyer would they foreclose on me? sometimes i think it is better to win enough then to win to much which can destoy who you are.
I just want to post a comment to all those who critiziced Stephanie’s reaction. I have known her for 10 years. She is the nicest, most honest person I know who would do anything for anyone. She is also very quiet and very calm. Always has been, always will be. She is VERY appreciative of all this. She is not used to a lot of attention, and this was a TOTAL shock. When she gets nervous, she pushes her hair behind her ear, and gets VERY quiet. She is sooooo deserving of this, and I feel a lot of people are jealous. The producers of the show were told this ahead of time, that her reaction would be shock and some tears, not jumping up and down and all around (in my entire lifetime I’ve NEVER seen her do this – ever). I think we all know people that are calm like this. Total shock makes some speechless. Please watch in the coming weeks to learn a little more about her once the shock has worn off. She does not deserve this criticism.
You don’t know how you would react to winning The Dream Home. It is all in the moment. So do not critize anyone for their reaction and who they are for winning it.
Wow! I wasn’t sure I wanted to post again after reading the hate blogs!
Yes indeed, congratulations to you and your family Stephanie. I hope whatever you decide to do, you come out of it money ahead. College isn’t getting any cheaper! (I have 4 kids, so I know!!)
My one question , and I don’t mean to be rude, is were you actually surprised, did someone leak it to you, or even did you know 15 minutes before?
I personally did not care for the format of the show, and was a bit let down at the end. But when I rewatched it on video, (which I almost dreaded doing), I was floored by the Lake person’s OVER the TOP performance. Very off-putting. After mulling it over, I probably would have reacted like Stephanie did,and that horrible bright light glaring in her face.
God Bless you and your family, they truly are lovely.
For those of you saying no one of color has ever won!
Meet Kathi Nakao and family who won in 2005 St. Mary’s Ga.
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/dream_home_archive/text/0,1783,HGTV_11536_18961,00.html
Congratulations! I hope you and your family are very happy in your new home. (Your children are adorable, by the way…) The Florida Keys will be a nice change from Iowa. I have family from Iowa, so I know how frigid those winters can be. Good luck to you all.
I don't agree with the comments about the last blog being home of just jealousy. It was just utter disappointment at the reaction of the winner that we as an HGTV nation were rooting for and were looking forward to jumping up and down in comradery. Of course, we don't know the winner personally, I'm sure she's a lovely person who entered as equally as we all did, but of course, first impressions are just that. If we were just jealous and selfish, we would've switched to another channel as soon as we realized that the neighbourhood Lauren Lake was in was not ours.
I'm glad Stephanie's friend posted here, explaining her lack of excitement was not that of apathy but because that's her personality.
And of course, after the anticlimactic end and initial {lack of} reaction of the couple has blown over…I for one, wish them joy {expressed or not}and many happy years with the house OR the immense windfall it brings
Dear Bloggers,
The negativity is overwhelming. All can try to dictate what our emotions will be in a positive or negative situation that will impact or lives, but the truth is our logic flies out the window when we are actually thrust into said environments.
If you can’t remember the humanity of paying it forward by simply congratulating Stephanie and her lovely family, think about the young impressionable girl’s will want to look back one day at the legacy their parents have built and it will be shadowed with dark insensitivity of so many.
If bloggers really had the wish,desire,drive and passion to own Albright and the disappointment of not winning steered you lash out so badly , maybe you should direct all those emotions to accomplish a more realistic dream for you and yours.
I was one of the 40 MILLION that enter everyday. So many times we don’t see the result of sweepstakes etc…, but HGTV has gone way beyond to put the resources out there for ALL of us to be involved.
I witnessed very shy, modest, family oriented person, that I’m sure was concentrating on just taking each breath let alone wrapping her minded around the flurry of media depending on here home that was celebrating her only minutes before. Shame on all that thought the Dee family should have acted like circus side show to convience you how appreciative the were to receive a gift from HGTV, GMC ,HGTV FAMILY of host and all generious sponsors involved.
Thank HGTV family for the entertainment and knowledge may of us gain from the services you proved.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE DEE FAMILY. SUPPORT IN WHAT EVER YOU DECIDE TO DO WITH YOUR GIFT!!!
: )
Congrats for sure to the family, very lucky indeed. Seriously HGTV, get your act together, why go to such lengths,spending millions on the house etc, and screw up so bad in the delivery. My God, we muted the TV, I couldn’t take the “host” screaming and asking the most stupid questions. We all watched it at the office the next and laughed so hard at the whole thing, redicolous. Why not cut away for 2 minutes and let them collect their thoughts? Maybe if you didn’t wait so late in the self promoting prize show, it would be more effective. Why not have someone that knows what they are doing deliver the good news? If that had been me, I would have asked her to either shut up, lower her voice or get out. It was as bad, if not worse then last years, lame put together restauratn scene. You produce great shows, why is so hard to do this right? The end result, the thing people remember most, has been horrible, it’s a multi million dollar project, maybe you should think about finishing it with a little class.
Hello Dee Family,
I would like to one to apologize for any bad blogging regarding your reaction. It’s true as I don’t know how I would react until hopefully one day that will happen to me and my family. It’s true if you haven’t seen all the BAD blogs, you may want to ignore and not read them. Good luck to you and your family in your new Dream Home. I do want to say one thing though as someone out there still insists this contest is racial. That for one is not pssible unless HGTV checks out the random drawn name and decides they don’t like you for what ever reason. It’s random. That means no race, size, money,etc., Maybe it’s just there are more caucasians entering is why. But really it’s a chance just like winning the lottery. HEY F.COLE, THANKS FOR ALL YOU AND THE HGTV GANG DO FO RUS AND OUR DREAMS.
good luck with the big move ? may you live their for many years to come. IT was may dream home also ,sence i have two grandson only that moved their 5 YRS ago ,and ican only see them twice a year on thier birthdays , this would of been a dream come true for me to have won. good luck posted 3/19/2008 marshan.
Congratulations Stephanie and family. You have been truly blessed.I am happy for you and your family. Enjoy your blessing. I love the floor plan of the dream home so much,I would love to have a copy of the plans. God Bless.
CONGRATS to Stephanie & Tom Dee! Our family is happy that you won! Our family sincerely wishes you the best of luck. Whatever decision you and your family makes would be the BEST for YOU…don’t let anyone put you down!!!We feel so sad that all the ‘negativity’ some people post here can really hurt…just remember, if someone points a finger at you, they have three of their own fingers pointing back at them! You have a beautiful family, you look like a hard-working family, like many of us out here, so take it and run!!! Enjoy your home with your husband and your cute little girls! It goes to show that every-day, hard-working families has a chance to win, just like you have! Thanks HGTV!
Congrats! Dee family – God has bless you with this Great gift! so enjoy every minute of it! May God Bless you and whole family always.
Congradts!! God Bless you and your family!
I watched the winner being notified on tv. She did not even seem surprized or happy about winning.
Did she know ahead of time? She was the most unconcerned winner I have ever seen. The children were beautiful.
Just to quote Mandy “The producers of the show were told this ahead of time”
That answers all the questions for me. Not sure why they play it up that the winners were not previously notified. It only leads to other speculation that its all fixed.
That about sums it up for me.
I just happened to be looking through here and need to elaborate on the previous comment. Stephanie knew nothing – but a friend did and was to set up the whole party.
Congratulations to the Dee family! When HGTV first announced where you are from, I thought they said Kolona, Iowa instead of Solon. Seeing that I have so many relatives there (my mom’s ancestors, the Miller/Erb clan, were some of the first pioneers to the area), I thought that maybe we could be related. No, I do not want anything from you! I am just happy for you. I hope that you do not let this windfall change your family. God bless!
In regards to the suggestion by Zac Flick:
HGTV please do NOT start charging $1 per entry! That would effectively transform this into a lottery. Many of us are morally opposed to lotteries. I personally would never enter and would most likely stop watching HGTV.
May I remind you all that HGTV has stated that they do not intend for the winner to necessarily keep the house. It is their intention to create a house that the winner can easily sell, pay the taxes and then still have plenty to create their own dream. If the winner happens to be able to keep the house then that is nice for them but it is okay to have to sell the house to pay the taxes. That is exactly what I would do and I would be grateful for the opportunity.
Congratulation! It is a blessing and I am happy for you and your family. When you win, you deserve it. Enjoy!
First of all bloggers or should I say jealous accusers. Why don’t you grow up! Such selfish people out there. She, Mrs Dee, put in her vote, just like the rest of us. Mrs Dee, was the lucky one. (**THE WINNER**) CONGRATULATIONS & HAPPY BIRTHDAY BLESSINGS TO YOU, MRS DEE. which birthday will you be celebrating in the keys? What will ever top this birthday gift for you? I FOR ONE AM SO HAPPY FOR YOU AND YOUR ADORABLE LITTLE GIRLS! I can just see them building sand castles with mom and dad and cousins…. I hope that you the DEE FAMILY AND FRIENDS WILL BE ABLE TO KEEP THE HOME AND ENJOY IT FOR YEARS TO COME. But IF You HAVE TO SELL IT THEN GO FOR IT DEES! MAKE ALL YOUR FAMILIES DREAMS COME TRUE IN ANOTHER WAY. You now have an easier way for making your kids futures easier: Mom can possibly stay home with them now, college (trusts)educations, big weddings, new cars, new houses for them and you.
Remember everybody you cast your votes amongst millions and knew you had a big and very long chance to be that lucky one. Why can’t you just be happy for the winner. We all know that only one person can and will win any of these sweeps. There is always next year “sore loosers!
Come on! Lets lighten up everybody! It’s fun to dream big even when things didn’t go your way and to just have a chance for it even when you loose! I am so Thankful that hgtv etc. cares enough to give away such a fabulous home every year. Even though some of the voters obviously are amoung the ungrateful possible winners for next year.
Thanks everybody I had fun on the 2008 dream home chase. God bless everybody in you real life dreams and hopes for a happy life right where you are.
DID ANYONE SEE THE ECHANNEL SOUP EPISODE BAGGING ON "THE MOST BORING ANNOYING SWEAPSTAKE WINNER EVER" THEY STATED SHE WAS MORE ANNOYED THAT THEY WERE IN HER HOME AND TAKING UP HER TIME INSTEAD OF BEING HAPPY THAT SHE WON SOMETHING FREE. THEY COMMENTED THAT SHE LOOKED AS THOUGH SHE WAS MORE CONSUMED WITH "DID THEY GET MY FLOOR DIRTY..YOUR INTERUPTING ME..LEAVE" GOTTA SEE IT..MADE ME LAUGH. SO TRUE. THIS WAS THE BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT. SHE NEEDS A PERSONALITY..HUSBAND LOOKS LIKE HES HAPPY. SHE NEEDS TO PULL THE STICK OUT AND ENJOY LIFE.. DID YOU SEE THE OLDER COUPLE WHO WON THE MEGA MILLION..NO EXPRESSION EITHER..MAYBE THIER FROM THE SAME FAMILY…POOR HUSBAND..DIVORCE HER FIND SOMEONE WHO CAN SMILE AND ENJOY THE HOME..HGTV PICK A DIFFERENT WINNER
It is wonderful to see the winners so deserving of the award. ENJOY and to all the negative comments. Grow up and don’t hate………
Be happy someone with a few million in the bank already didn’t win. ENJOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
When I saw the reaction of the HGTV Dream Home winner, I was baffled by the reaction. She seemed bothered. Maybe she already knew and “the reveal” was staged? The host didn’t help. The host was overly excited creating a vast contrast to the winner. Anyway, I guess everyone expresses excitement differently. So on that note congratulations Dee family! I hope you appreciate the gift, share, and enjoy memories in your new home!
I can’t speak for the rest of the bloggers who were upset about Ms. Dee’s reaction, but my feelings had nothing to do with jealousy or disappointment at not winning the house. Sure, like millions of other people, I could have used it. (I’ve never owned a house.) But I don’t make judgements about her “deservedness” either.
No, it’s like this…. Most human beings like to share in other people’s joy. We would have all felt good to see SOMEONE overjoyed at getting that home. And nothing in Ms. Dee’s initial reaction or her followup videos leads me to believe she has any real joy at winning the house. Shy? Tired? I’m sorry, that’s bull… I think she should have realized how fortunate she is, and “tired Mom” or not, summoned enough energy to paste a big smile on her face for a few moments for the benefit of the other 250,000,000 Americans who DIDN’T win a house.
Congratulations to Stephanie and her family. I felt bad for her though, because she seemed to be in shock, and Lauren Lake was really annoying! Why is Joan Steffend not doing this anymore? No one can replace her – she is the best. She has class and is sweet and softspoken. Lauren Lake was screaming at the poor girl! Please bring Joan back next year to surprise the winner. Thanks.
Joan Steffend has the best voice on HG TV. Nothing agains Lauren. She’s fine, but Joan has an exceptional voice and she comes across very well. Also, Mrs. Dee appears to have a scalp problem because she’s always scratching her head. Maybe she should have been awarded some Head and Shoulders.
If you were entering while at work is not your employer entiled to at least half of the prize.
The winner of the home was not surprise a bit, not even happy she won!
I’m so happy for you and your family… but sell that house and enjoy whatever profit you make. After the hundreds of thousands of dollars you’ll owe in (prize and property) taxes, you may get about $800,000. That will be pretty nice (as long as the house sells quickly)!
Next time you pick a winner of a “dream home” make sure they’re alive. She was a real disappointment.
Lauren Lake did a great job! She was excited like the NONwinners were. It may have seemed as if her excitedness was exaggerated because the winner was GROSSLY UNDERexcited!!!
Stop hating on Lauren!!!
I am an introvert by nature and I would have been overwhelmed if that woman had come into my house and screamed at me for five minutes. They need a better host next year. Congratulations, Stephanie.
all the excitment leading up to the big day….and then it was a bust. it’s too bad for HGTV and its sponsors. maybe it would be wise to come up with a different contest for the next Dream House. Why give such an extravagant home away? Keep the future ones more affortable so the majority of people could keep the house . Just a thought.
for me…i guess there was such a feeling of watching the disappointment show (and not just because i didn’t win!) i invited my entire family over to watch the show with me and they are the most positive people i know and they couldn’t believe the reaction…i guess i felt a little embarrassed that i hyped the show to them…in retrospect i would never have promoted the show…believe me i won’t next year!!
AS FOR THE NEGATIVITY, I CAN UNDERSTAND. I AM HAPPY FOR THEM. HOWEVER, THE HGTV LIMO WAS HERE AT MY HOME FEB. 1ST 2008. THEY PARKED IN FRONT OF MY HOME WHERE MYSELF, MY HUSBAND,MY SON AND 2 OF MY NEIGHBORS SAW THEM. MY HUSBAND WAS ON HIS WAY TO WORK AND ME TO THE PHARMACY. IT WAS 5:45 PM. I WAS ON PINS AND NEEDLES FOR AMONTH AND A HALF. I AM TERMINALLY ILL AND WORKED AS A HOSPICE NURSE FOR 12 YEARS. I INJURED MYSELF ON THE JOB AND WAS NEVER AGAIN ABLE TO WORK. I THOUGHT FOR SURE I HAD WON AND WAS VERY DISSAPPOINTED TO FIND OUT I HADN’T. THEY WAVED TO ME AND ONCE AGAIN TO MY HUSBAND. WHY ELSE WERE THEY HERE? YOU WERE HERE FOR OVER 20 MINUTES. I DON’T KNOW WHAT’S GOING ON WITH HGTV, BUT STEPHANIE’S REACTION WAS NOT NORMAL. AND HGTV JUST WALKING INTO SOMEONES HOME THAT JUST HAPPENED TO BE HAVING A PARTY WASN’T NORMAL EITHER. I HAD A BREAKDOWN BECAUSE OF THIS. CAN YOU PLEASE TELL ME WHY YOU (HGTV) WERE HERE? MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE DECIDED TO PUT OUR HOUSE UP FOR SALE AND MOVE TO THE KEYS ANYWAY, SO THAT I CAN LIVE OUT MY DREAM WHERE I CAN AT LEAST BE HAPPY.
Checked the blog for the first time today since the winner was announced & wasn’t surprised to read that many others had the same reaction as I did to the winner’s lack of enthusiasm! I normally get teary-eyed watching people win things because I love sharing in their joy, even if I don’t know them. However, I didn’t see any visible joy expressed here. I kept waiting to see just a hint of being excited, even played the video over again to see if I missed something. NOTE TO SELF people: When you win a contest that millions of people would love to win, and you are on national television with those millions of people watching you and wanting to share in your joy, at least show a little enthusiasm, smile, laugh or SOMETHING! It’s just makes good common sense to do so. Anyway, I hope you get lots of enjoyment out of your new home.
A few weeks ago on SNL there was the exact skit of how animated the person was who was announcing the winner, and the totally abysmal reaction of the recipient. Give me a break, no one can be walking around completely DEAD!!! Give her an energy bar/drink. Disappointed totally at her reaction. Her husband needs to give her a break from work, children, housework, etc., so she can feel SOMETHING akin to being alive.
OBVIOUSLY STAGED,,,THE HOSTS ETC,,TERRIBLE,,HGTV DID A LOUSY JOB,,THE WINNER DIDN’T SEEM TO CARE,,HOPE THEY REALIZE WHAT THEY HAVE WON,,,TOO BAD,,BIG HYPE,,,BIG LET-DOWN…
I read Anita comment and I desappoint to, because this is was surprise the winner and case that the winner don’t qualify you going to get another winner and then April 21 you going to put the winner list. I never answer my phone I read the rule and didn’t sad they going to call before they going to your house, I surprise the way they did the show.
It was interesting to hear the various comments bloggers made about the winners as well as other bloggers. I don't think the bloggers were rude, but merely expressing their shock and disappointment over the flat reaction of the winners. It was an exciting moment and everyone was pumped up and expecting to vicariously feel the thrill of winning the beautiful dream house. But when the Dee's acted as though it was an inconvenience, that soured the whole experience for the viewers. Actually, it was embarrassing and uncomfortable to watch. Has anyone asked the Dee's why their reaction was so unresponsive? Maybe they were just overwhelmed. I don't believe Mrs. Dee's flat affect had anything to do with her being a physician assistant, as someone suggested. My daughter is a physician and she was very excited about the giveaway. We had lots of fun talking and fantasizing about what we would do if we had won. We loved watching the dream house shows but this year's culminating event was a downer and I doubt we'll ever watch again. My suggestion would be to tape and edit before showing.
hi anita
read your post so sorry to hear of your illness, i really am . If I may ask , when you stated the hgtv limo was out side. How did you know it was hgtv? Was Hgtv somewhere in writing or was it just you felt in your heart it was. thanks and I really hope you get to the keys soon , bless you and your family.