Mike Holmes on the Emotional Power of CTV’s HOLMES FAMILY EFFECT: ‘This Was A New Thing To Do That Just Felt So Right’

By BILL HARRIS Special to The Lede It’s a real touchdown for Mike Holmes that HOLMES FAMILY EFFECT is debuting in the coveted post-SUPER BOWL LV time slot, Sunday, Feb. 7 on CTV. “Well, it was unexpected – as we continued through COVID times, we got shut down for three and a half months, went back to it, but then when CTV said, ‘we want to put your show on after the SUPER BOWL,’ that was just wonderful recognition, for many, many reasons,” Holmes said. “It’s so great that CTV felt confident enough to put our show on after the event that gets one of the biggest TV audience numbers of the year,” Holmes continued. “And even better, I myself will be watching that game, and during the game you’re going to see commercials of me, and my son, and my daughter, and then the show comes on. I hope everyone watches it, I really do, because I think they’re going to like it.” HOLMES FAMILY EFFECT follows TV icon and professional contractor Holmes, his daughter Sherry, and son Michael, as they tackle their most important renovation projects to date. Inspired by those who are making a difference in their communities, each episode sees the Holmes family surprising deserving people by transforming their spaces, from schools, to youth centres, and more. “When I first sat down and talked to CTV, and we together came up with a television show idea, this one really struck a bell with me,” Holmes said. “For years on our shows, we’ve been helping one family at a time and saving lives, but his time around, HOLMES FAMILY EFFECT is helping whole communities. It was huge to do, it wasn’t small, we took on a lot of big projects. Don’t get me wrong, I love helping one family at a time, because education is such a big part of it. But this was a new thing to do that just felt so right.” In the first episode of HOLMES FAMILY EFFECT – which begins at approximately 10 p.m. ET on Sunday, depending on when SUPER BOWL LV wraps up – a hard-working and truly inspirational student named Riley nominates her high school in Brampton, Ont., for a much-needed makeover to the home-renovation classrooms. It’s a real feel-good story, and there weren’t many dry eyes at the end of the episode. It’s a good bet that viewers will have the exact same reaction. So who gets the most emotional among the Holmes clan: Mike, Sherry, or Michael? “I have to admit, I think all of us at the end had tears in our eyes on almost every episode,” Mike Holmes said. “When you touch someone emotionally, or a group of people so much, to have that feeling come back, it’s the reason why we do what we do. But I do remember looking over at both Sherry and Michael, and I thought I was going to lose it. We all had the glassy eyes. We were trying to stay straight without, you know, crying like little babies. But this is such a wonderful thing.” Finally, with HOLMES FAMILY EFFECT capping a massive day for television, it had to be asked: who’s going to win the big game, Mike Holmes? “You know, it’s going to be tight, there’s no doubt in my mind,” he said. “I think Tampa Bay is going to take it. It’s just an inner feeling. But it wouldn’t surprise me if Kansas City won. This is the type of game I want to watch.” And HOLMES FAMILY EFFECT is the type of show Canadians need to watch! billharristv@gmail.com @billharris_tv