Just in Time for Father's Day, ServiceMagic.com Conducts Nationwide Survey to Find America's Favorite TV Handyman

Just in Time for Father's Day, ServiceMagic.com Conducts Nationwide Survey to Find America's Favorite TV Handyman

Tim Allen aka 'Home Improvement's' Tim Taylor Named 'Top TV Handyman of All Time'

GOLDEN, Colo., June 17 /PRNewswire/ -- In celebration of Father's Day, ServiceMagic.com conducted a nationwide survey to find who Americans would look to as their favorite TV handyman. The tradition of television has always respected its handyman and fathers everywhere have been heavily influenced by television portrayal for more than three generations. On the brink of Father's Day, more than 500 Americans were asked to narrow down their favorite TV handyman in an early June vote.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090617/LA33915)

With the results of that vote, ServiceMagic.com, the leading national website connecting homeowners to pre-screened service professionals has now named, "Home Improvement's" Tim Taylor, aka comedian Tim Allen, as "Top TV Handyman of All Time."

The Tim Taylor character nabbed the "Top Handyman of All Time" award grabbing 22 percent of the vote, beating out "Extreme Home Makeover's" reality star Ty Pennington with 20 percent and well-known handyman Bob Vila coming in third place with 17 percent of the vote.

"Over the years, sitcoms have largely been replaced by reality television. But 18 years since 'Home Improvement's' initial debut, our survey discovered that a new generation still recognizes fictional character Tim Taylor as America's most beloved handyman," says CEO Craig Smith.

Interestingly enough, there was a four-way tie for the bottom ranked spot between Mr. Roper and Mr. Furley from "Three's Company," Eb Dawson from "Green Acres" along with Dwayne Schneider from "One Day at a Time," all falling at two percent. With Tim Taylor ranked "Top Handyman of All Time," beating out many classic TV characters and famous reality stars, it is clear that no matter how tool-belt challenged one might be, you can still be considered a top male role model.

"How handy dad has been judged to be has been a product of TV role models. These actors and personalities have set the bar by and large for the American father. We thought they should be paid respect," says Smith.

More than 500 respondents were asked to pick their favorite TV handyman choosing from the following TV classics and current series:

1. Tim Allen (Tim Taylor) "Home Improvement:" 22%
2. Ty Pennington "Extreme Home Makeover:" 19%
3. Bob Villa Home Personality: 17%
4. Steve Thomas "Renovation Nation" and "This Old House:" 6%
5. Nate Berkus "Oprah/Linens & Things:" 5%
6. Richard Karn (Al Borland) "Home Improvement:" 5%
7. Dan Ackroyd Infamous Plumber's skit on "Saturday Night Live:" 3%
8. James Denton (Mike Delfino) "Desperate Housewives:" 3%
9. Pat Harrington Jr. (Dwayne Schneider) "One Day at a Time:" 2%
10. Norman Fell (Mr. Roper) "Three's Company:" 2%
11. Tom Lester (Eb Dawson) "Green Acres:" 2%
12. Don Knotts (Mr. Furley) "Three's Company:" 2%

About ServiceMagic.com

ServiceMagic.com is the nation's leading website connecting homeowners with prescreened, customer-rated home service professionals. Since 1999, ServiceMagic.com has made more than 12 million matches, resulting in billions of dollars in home improvement projects. Each of ServiceMagic's 60,000 professionals are screened through our rigorous 10-point screening process, including criminal background checks, state-level licensing and insurance. Headquartered in Golden, Colorado with 950 employees, ServiceMagic draws nearly four million unique visitors to its website each month. ServiceMagic is an operating business of IAC/InterActiveCorp (NASDAQ:IACI). For more information, visit http://www.servicemagic.com/.

Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090617/LA33915
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: ServiceMagic.com

CONTACT: Erin Bronner, ebronner@jmprpublicrelations.com, or Lacey
Thornton, lthornton@jmprpublicrelations.com, both of JMPR Inc.,
+1-818-992-4353, for ServiceMagic.com

Web Site: http://www.servicemagic.com/

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