# Sometimes cancelling a tv show hurts a lot of people. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 14, 2012, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-cancelling-a-tv-show-hurts-a-lot-of-people/609467 "2012-01-14T03:01:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Strainger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/strainger/32/244_2.png) [@Strainger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Strainger)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2012, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-cancelling-a-tv-show-hurts-a-lot-of-people/609467/21 "2012-01-17T00:16:06Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > But ten years from now those houses will still be there. Hopefully most of the people found a way to pay the taxes and kept the house. [Not so much.](http://www.azcentral.com/style/hfe/decor/articles/2009/10/03/20091003extremehome.html) ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2012, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-cancelling-a-tv-show-hurts-a-lot-of-people/609467/22 "2012-01-17T00:22:46Z")
They did a home in my parents’ town too. I was shocked how they handled the ‘donations’ from various businesses, like strong-arm maudlin, “If you don’t help with such and such kind of lumber, little Timmy’s bedroom won’t get finished” type promos on the nightly news. And as was mentioned up thread, they tore down the existing house in a not great neighborhood, to build something really custom (think a Sea World theme in one of the kid’s rooms and bathroom sinks at three feet high), that the folks who now can’t afford to heat / cool and keep it up, won’t be able to sell it. Not to mention, they apparently treated the townsfolk and the surrounding neighbors like shit. Very disappointing from where they started to how they ended up. I agree there were much better ways to go about how they did this that would’ve been infinitely more beneficial to the entire community in general and the people they did the renovations for specifically. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2012, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-cancelling-a-tv-show-hurts-a-lot-of-people/609467/23 "2012-01-17T00:46:05Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > If you’re concerned for these needy families, why not donate (timewise or moneywise) to Habitat for Humanity? Generally not one for the +1s, but +1. Never went to a build that couldn’t use more people of _any_ skill level. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2012, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-cancelling-a-tv-show-hurts-a-lot-of-people/609467/24 "2012-01-17T01:20:25Z")
> [@Strainger](#): > > [Not so much.](http://www.azcentral.com/style/hfe/decor/articles/2009/10/03/20091003extremehome.html) That articles reminded me of a questionable trick the show used. Normally, the families would be liable for the gift taxes on the value of the house, furnishings and the vacation they’re sent on while the house is being constructed. But at least a few years ago, the producers would “lease” the family home for fifteen days at $50,000 and rentals of that short a period were tax free. And then they claim that the improvements are tax-free under an exemption for lessee improvements. The tax issues are discussed in [this paper](http://blogs.gonzaga.edu/gulawreview/files/2011/02/Nasner.pdf) (Warning: PDF) from 2004. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-cancelling-a-tv-show-hurts-a-lot-of-people/609467.md?page=1)