America Can't Get Enough of Ty

In Costco today, I stopped to read a magazine that was all about one man. That man is Ty Pennington, the host of ABC's hit show "Extreme Home Makeover" and a pitchman for Sears, and many other brands. He's a one-man conglomerate and has a finger on the pulse--why else a whole magazine about him?

Ty is famous for yelling into a megaphone and for making America weep during the sappy show that pours sudden largesse on sad and unfortunate yet deserving families. At the end, everyone in the audience and on screen is wiping away tears.

The magazine was in a popular category known as shelter mags. Shelter, like health and videogames, is one of the most popular topics in publishing, and the magazine was unrelenting in its love of all things Ty.

There was Ty-tech, where new gadgets are reviewed. There was Ty-books, where we get a glimpse at the tomes on the big guy's bookshelf. And of course, Ty-style, where we get a look at how he socializes with cool LA guys and gals.

There was a feature about his ADHD Gallery, which is a dual anagram for the affliction that Ty takes pride in having, attention deficit disorder, and for Art, Design, Home Decor, which is how he makes his living. The groovy gallery is located in Venice, near where Ty and his attractive gal pal Drea Bock make their home.

What does it take to be so popular that an entire magazine is devoted to what you read, what you do, what you think and who you choose as your girlfriend? It has to do with being able to sell products...and damned if Ty isn't a master at that.