The New Yankee Workshop
The New Yankee Workshop | |
---|---|
Created by | Russell Morash |
Presented by | Norm Abram |
Country of origin | United States |
Original language | English |
No. of seasons | 21 |
No. of episodes | 284 |
Production | |
Production locations | 41 Pleasant St, Lexington, Massachusetts, USA |
Running time | 30 minutes |
Production companies | WGBH-TV Morash Associates |
Original release | |
Network | PBS |
Release | January 7, 1989 October 16, 2009 | –
The New Yankee Workshop is an American half-hour woodworking television series produced by WGBH Boston, which aired on PBS. Created in 1989 by Russell Morash, the program was hosted by Norm Abram, a regular fixture on Morash's television series This Old House.
Format
[edit]Each episode of The New Yankee Workshop features master carpenter Norm Abram sharing his woodworking skills. Another segment of the show features Norm visiting many places relating to the project, showing interviews of people talking about their work and other contributions.
Theme song
[edit]The theme music for The New Yankee Workshop was composed in 1988 by Peter Bell and David Mash of Musictech Productions, consisting of an acoustic guitar tune in a fast-paced rent, with a harmonica sound.
Set design
[edit]The set for The New Yankee Workshop looks like a real workshop, where the show was taped, produced, and owned by Morash, located on his property even though the viewer was given the impression that it was in Abram's backyard. When The New Yankee Workshop taped the first season in 1988, the sliding workshop barn door wasn't here, so Norm Abram had to build the workshop barn door, in order to open the workshop at the beginning of the show, and to close the workshop at the end of.
The concept for the set was to bring the audience into some aspect of the woodworking industry, so we made to look like a real workshop. We had the sliding workshop barn door, we had the back bench, we had the drill press, miter bench and storage unit, and the radial arm saw. Also, the set was not seen in episodes such as a computer, a TV, and a small office area. The wall of the shop has a staircase consisting of a loft area, jig storage, horizontal edge sander, and dust collector. The set also features sheet goods, router table, bar clamps, wide belt sander, planer, jointer, band saw, and various mobile tools. The center area of the workshop consists of the table saw and associated outfeed tables as well as a large assembly table. In the northeast section of the building is a separate finishing room.
Cancellation
[edit]On October 16, 2009, WGBH Boston announced that no further episodes of New Yankee Workshop would be produced.[1] In remarking on the end of the show, Abram stated, "We've had a great run, built challenging projects, met wonderful woodworkers and received loyal support from millions of viewers." Abram later claimed that the entire duration of the show was fully funded through underwriting and could have kept going, but he decided he had accomplished everything he wanted to do and wanted to spend more time with his family.[2]
Until September 5, 2022, episodes of The New Yankee Workshop were available to stream on NewYankee.com and through the This Old House Insider subscription service. Project plan PDFs were also available with the Insider subscription. It was announced that the license agreement between Morash Assoc., Inc. WGBH Educational Foundation, Linnor, Inc. and This Old House Ventures, LLC (parent company Roku, Inc.) had expired and episodes would no longer be available through This Old House.[3]
On January 13, 2023, the New Yankee Workshop YouTube channel posted a video of Russell Morash announcing the availability of episodes on YouTube. After giving a tour of the New Yankee Workshop Morash ended the video by stating, "We are thrilled to know that YouTube is now showing The New Yankee episodes to a whole new generation of people who may have somehow missed out the first time it was around, and now they're available anytime you tune to YouTube and want to watch a feast of woodworking. It's all there and it's all for you to enjoy and I certainly hope you do."[4]
Award nominations
[edit]- Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Service Show, Russell Morash (1997, 1998, 2000)
- Daytime Emmy Award for Single Camera Editing, Gary Stephenson (1999)
Episodes
[edit]284 half-hour episodes were produced.
Season 1 (1989)
[edit]- The closing credits for the first eight seasons of The New Yankee Workshop consisted of an exterior shot of the workshop with a sign in it, as we see Norm Abram closing the workshop door, and gets ready to go home and have dinner with his family.
- On early episodes of this season, with the workshop door already opened, a dog is visible running away while Norm puts his tools away. For the rest of the entire season, after Norm puts his tools away, he moves the table, and the corner cupboard out of the way, and closes the workshop door.
- When The New Yankee Workshop first released their projects on VHS in 1989, its first toll-free phone number was "1-800-843-0048", because "The New Yankee Workshop" projects were now available on home video, which featured a measured drawing and a material's list, with all of the dimensions you will need to build your project.
Season 2 (1990)
[edit]Season 3 (1991)
[edit]- When The New Yankee Workshop still released their projects on VHS, the toll-free phone number was changed to "1-800-272-0280" at the start of the season.
Season 4 (1992)
[edit]- Beginning with this season when The New Yankee Workshop still released their projects on VHS, the toll-free phone number was changed to "1-800-892-0110" at the start of the season.
Season 5 (1993)
[edit]- Beginning with this season, Norm Abram's beard is matted down considerability.
Season 6 (1994)
[edit]- This was the last season to use the News Plantin credits font, which had been used since Season 1, also, Norm Abram's beard became thinner starting with this season.
No. overall | No. in season | Title | Original air date | Prod. code | Project Page |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
66 | 1 | "Easel" | January 1, 1994 | 601 | https://www.newyankee.com/product/easel/ |
67 | 2 | "Doll House" | January 8, 1994 | 602 | https://www.newyankee.com/product/doll-house/ |
68 | 3 | "Toy Chest" | January 15, 1994 | 603 | https://www.newyankee.com/product/toy-chest/ |
69 | 4 | "Cradle" | January 22, 1994 | 604 | https://www.newyankee.com/product/cradle/ |
70 | 5 | "Trundle Bed" | January 29, 1994 | 605 | https://www.newyankee.com/product/trundle-bed/ |
71 | 6 | "Marble Roll" | February 5, 1994 | 606 | https://www.newyankee.com/product/marble-roll/ |
72 | 7 | "Storage Units: Bureau/Cupboard and Bookcase" | February 12, 1994 | 607 | https://www.newyankee.com/product/storage-units-bureau-cupboard-and-bookcase/ |
73 | 8 | "Student's Desk" | February 19, 1994 | 608 | https://www.newyankee.com/product/students-desk/ |
74 | 9 | "Rocking Chair" | February 26, 1994 | 609 | https://www.newyankee.com/product/rocking-chair/ |
75 | 10 | "Alphabet Wagon" | February 5, 1994 | 610 | No Project Page |
76 | 11 | "High Chair" | March 12, 1994 | 611 | No Project Page |
77 | 12 | "Playhouse (Part 1)" | March 19, 1994 | 612 | https://www.newyankee.com/product/playhouse/ |
78 | 13 | "Playhouse (Part 2)" | March 26, 1994 | 613 | https://www.newyankee.com/product/playhouse/ |
Season 7 (1995)
[edit]- Starting with this season, the end credits are shown in a Copperplate font, which is the same font used for The New Yankee Workshop sign to announce the first season of the show in 1989.
Season 8 (1996)
[edit]- Beginning with this season, Norm Abram is credited as master carpenter in the closing credits, also, this was the last season to use Norm Abram's original glasses, which he had worn since the first season.
No. overall | No. in season | Title | Original air date | Prod. code | Project Page |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
92 | 1 | "Bedside Cupboard" | January 6, 1996 | 801 | No Project Page |
93 | 2 | "Chestnut Coffee Table" | January 13, 1996 | 802 | https://www.newyankee.com/product/chestnut-coffee-table/ |
94 | 3 | "Paymaster's Desk" | January 20, 1996 | 803 | https://www.newyankee.com/product/paymasters-desk/ |
95 | 4 | "Long Table" | January 27, 1996 | 804 | https://www.newyankee.com/product/long-table/ |
96 | 5 | "Double Dresser" | February 3, 1996 | 805 | https://www.newyankee.com/product/double-dresser/ |
97 | 6 | "Chestnut Desk" | February 10, 1996 | 806 | https://www.newyankee.com/product/chestnut-desk/ |
98 | 7 | "Irish Hutch" | February 17, 1996 | 807 | https://www.newyankee.com/product/irish-hutch/ |
99 | 8 | "Wine Storage Unit" | February 24, 1996 | 808 | https://www.newyankee.com/product/wine-storage-unit/ |
100 | 9 | "Three Turned Table Lamps" | March 2, 1996 | 809 | https://www.newyankee.com/product/three-turned-table-lamps/ |
101 | 10 | "Garden Shed and Recycling Center (Part 1)" | March 9, 1996 | 810 | https://www.newyankee.com/product/garden-shed-and-recycling-center/ |
102 | 11 | "Garden Shed and Recycling Center (Part 2)" | March 16, 1996 | 811 | https://www.newyankee.com/product/garden-shed-and-recycling-center/ |
103 | 12 | "Nest of Drawers" | March 23, 1996 | 812 | https://www.newyankee.com/product/nest-of-drawers/ |
104 | 13 | "Router Table" | March 30, 1996 | 813 | No Project Page |
Season 9 (1997)
[edit]- Starting with this season, The New Yankee Workshop introduced a new closing sequence. It shows an exterior shot of the workshop. Then, Abram opens the workshop door, and walks out to get some fresh air. Then, Abram walks back in the shop. It was also used for reruns of older episodes on HGTV. Also during this season, Norm Abram's glasses gained a new look.
Season 10 (1998)
[edit]- Season 10 marks Norm Abram's 10th anniversary season as the host of The New Yankee Workshop. To celebrate the 10th anniversary of The New Yankee Workshop, new projects were built. So Norm celebrates his 10th anniversary season as the host of The New Yankee Workshop, since the show premiered on PBS on January 7, 1989.
Season 11 (1999)
[edit]- Starting with this season, the closing credits reverted back to an exterior shot of the workshop with The New Yankee Workshop sign, and Norm Abram closing the workshop door, which was used in Seasons 1-8 (1989-1996).
Season 12 (2000)
[edit]- Starting with this season when The New Yankee Workshop still released their projects on VHS with the measured drawing, the toll-free phone number was changed to "800-892-0110".
Season 13 (2001)
[edit]Season 14 (2002)
[edit]- Starting with this season, The New Yankee Workshop continued releasing projects on VHS with a measured drawing, and the toll-free phone number was changed to "866-545-9708". Also at the beginning of this season, the announcer's opening and closing spiel was "Funding is provided by...", which was used on original PBS airings.
Season 15 (2003)
[edit]Season 16 (2004)
[edit]Season 17 (2005)
[edit]Season 18 (2006)
[edit]No. overall | No. in season | Title | Notes | Prod. code | Project Page |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
222 | 1 | "Colonial Style Mantel" | TBA | 0601 | https://www.newyankee.com/product/colonial-style-mantel/ |
223 | 2 | "Plantation Shutters" | TBA | 0602 | https://www.newyankee.com/product/plantation-shutters/ |
224 | 3 | "Workshop Helpers" | TBA | 0603 | https://www.newyankee.com/product/workshop-helpers/ |
225 | 4 | "Poker Table" | TBA | 0604 | https://www.newyankee.com/product/poker-table/ |
226 | 5 | "New Yankee Shop Clock" | TBA | 0605 | https://www.newyankee.com/product/new-yankee-shop-clock/ |
227 | 6 | "Router 101 (Part 1)" | Continuation of a series of tool-specific episodes that provide instruction and techniques for using a particular shop tool. | 0606 | No Project Page |
228 | 7 | "Router 101 (Part 2)" | TBA | 0607 | No Project Page |
229 | 8 | "Corner Table" | TBA | 0608 | https://www.newyankee.com/product/corner-table/ |
230 | 9 | "Greek Revival Bookcase" | TBA | 0609 | https://www.newyankee.com/product/greek-revival-bookcase/ |
231 | 10 | "Storage Shed" | TBA | 0610 | https://www.newyankee.com/product/storage-shed/ |
232 | 11 | "Wall Hung Console" | TBA | 0611 | https://www.newyankee.com/product/wall-hung-console/ |
233 | 12 | "Corner Chair" | TBA | 0612 | https://www.newyankee.com/product/corner-chair/ |
234 | 13 | "Wall Paneling" | TBA | 0613 | https://www.newyankee.com/product/wall-paneling/ |
Season 19 (2007)
[edit]Season 20 (2008)
[edit]Season 20 varied slightly in format from previous seasons in that the first nine episodes were devoted to a single, larger project. This project involved a kitchen remodeling and focused on cabinet construction. The kitchen being remodeled belongs to Morash. Season 20 also represented the last season in which original projects were constructed for the show.
Season 21 (2009)
[edit]Season 21 stood out from other seasons in that it had approximately twice the number of episodes of any previous season. The season also varied from previous seasons in that no new projects were built. Instead each episode rebroadcast a project built in a previous season. All of the rebroadcast episodes were from either the ninth or tenth season. Each "new" episode consisted of the original episode prefaced by a newly recorded introduction by Abram.
No. overall | No. in season | Title | Notes | Prod. code |
---|---|---|---|---|
261 | 1 | "Planter's Desk" | Original episode #901. | 0901 |
262 | 2 | "Turkey Table" | Original episode #902. | 0902 |
263 | 3 | "Nantucket Settle" | Original episode #903. | 0903 |
264 | 4 | "Tiger Maple Washstand" | Original episode #904. | 0904 |
265 | 5 | "Dough Box" | Original episode #905. | 0905 |
266 | 6 | "Garden Gate" | Original episode #906. | 0906 |
267 | 7 | "Serving Trays" | Original episode #907. | 0907 |
268 | 8 | "Carousel Table" | Original episode #908. | 0908 |
269 | 9 | "Seven Drawer Chest" | Original episode #909. | 0909 |
270 | 10 | "Hat Rack" | Original episode #910. | 0910 |
271 | 11 | "Greenhouse (Part 1)" | Original episodes #911/#912. | 0911 |
272 | 12 | "Greenhouse (Part 2)" | Original episodes #911/#912. | 0912 |
273 | 13 | "Fireplace Mantle" | Original episode #913. | 0913 |
274 | 14 | "Irish Table" | Original episode #9801. | 0914 |
275 | 15 | "Linen Press" | Original episode #9802. | 0915 |
276 | 16 | "Walnut Table" | Original episode #9803. | 0916 |
277 | 17 | "Library Ladder" | Original episode #9804. | 0917 |
278 | 18 | "Old Pine Bar" | Original episode #9805. | 0918 |
279 | 19 | "Morris Chair" | Original episode #9806. | 0919 |
280 | 20 | "Cupola" | Original episode #9807. | 0920 |
281 | 21 | "Mesquite Bookcase" | Original episode #9808. | 0921 |
282 | 22 | "Chop Saw Station" | Original episode #9809. | 0922 |
283 | 23 | "Whirligig" | Original episode #9810. | 0923 |
284 | 24 | "Chaise Lounge" | Original episode #9811. | 0924 |
285 | 25 | "Roll Top Desk (Part 1)" | Original episodes #9812/#9813. | 0925 |
286 | 26 | "Roll Top Desk (Part 2)" | Original episodes #9812/#9813. | 0926 |
References
[edit]- ^ Potter, Tony. "Norm Abram Closes 'Yankee Workshop' - Roger Catlin | TV Eye". Blogs.courant.com. Retrieved 2011-02-16.
- ^ "Festool Connect 2013 - Norm Abram". youtube.com. 2013-03-21. Archived from the original on 2021-12-13. Retrieved 2013-03-21.
- ^ "Important Update: New Yankee Workshop". This Old House. 1 September 2022. Archived from the original on 3 September 2022. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
- ^ "A Message from Russ". YouTube. 13 January 2023.
External links
[edit]- The New Yankee Workshop Official Web site which includes a shop tour, a program guide and other features including a Webcam
- The New Yankee Workshop at IMDb
- A Norm Abram Fan Site features documentation of tools used in the series and a comprehensive program guide
- TV.com Information about the show; includes Original Air Date and project dimensions.