Two locals on HGTV’s ‘All American Handyman’: Scott Clark, Rodney Boyden
Rodney Boyden arrived in Atlanta less than a year ago but hopes the show helps his custom furniture business. CREDIT: HGTV
HGTV’s “All American Handyman” is for folks who practically live at Home Depot, use their garage as a place to tinker, not a home for the car, and take pride on never having to call the repair guy.
It comes back for a third season featuring two locals: Rodney Boyden, 46, of Atlanta, and Scott Clark. 38, of Powder Springs. The winner gets a $10,000 Sears shopping spree. That’s not exactly the $1 million the “Survivor” winner gets or even the $100,000 that Lifetime bestows its “Project Runway” winner. But you could get a decent amount of Sears tools for $10,000 (or closer to $5,000 after taxes.)
Boyden, a West Virginia resident who moved to Atlanta just eight months ago, said he did it sign up for the prize but for the experience. In fact, he could actually be on BET’s “Sunday Best” since he’s a veteran musician, singing and playing the piano. But a decade ago, he got the carpentry bug and hasn’t been able to let go.
“I don’t brag about my singing,” he said, “But dag-gone it, I will about my handyman work!”
The experience on the show, he said, “was the most nerve-wracking experiences of my entire life. They tell us to do this, do that, in two minutes and fifteen seconds. It was insane to say the least.”
As a self-taught carpenter, Boyden said he was able to learn so much from the other contestants and the experts. It was like three weeks of free school for him.
Boyden is now a custom furniture maker but doesn’t yet have a website so folks can see his wares (he’s working on it.). The people in Atlanta, so far, he said, have been very open-minded about his designs.
Scott Clark of Powder Springs is one of the 10 competitors on "All American Handyman," season three, debuting Sunday on HGTV at 10 p.m.
The publicist wasn’t able to reach Clark so here’s his bio from the website:
Scott “Sarge” Clark’s curiosity about construction was sparked early on when he helped his mother fix things around the house. In addition to being a handyman, Scott is a retired U.S. Army Recruiting Station Commander and a criminal justice student at Columbia Southern University. Scott says he is fun-loving and enjoys doing automotive work in his free time. Originally from Ohio, Scott now lives in Powder Springs, Ga., with his wife and two children.
Here is Boyden with a Renaissance chest he created:
And here he is singing:
Join my Facebook fan page and Twitter.
By Rodney Ho, Radio & TV Talk
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26 comments Add your comment
DanJ
August 18th, 2012
5:43 pm
Maybe I’m blind but Rodney Bowden looks like the doppleganger for Ice T!
Fred ™
August 18th, 2012
8:32 pm
If and WHEN this guy gets a website, all I can say is that anyone who buys anything will get what they deserve…….. crap.
There isn’t a REAL carpenter 5000 miles from this show. It’s like those stupid shows where they build a house in a week.
Steve
August 18th, 2012
8:56 pm
Fred…. How the heck do you know what this guy can or can’t do????? You sound like a bad carpenter who’s been out of work to long.
Skillman
August 18th, 2012
9:06 pm
Everyone on these shows has talent. Don’t knock it if you have never experienced the being on the show. Good luck , I know what it takes.
David
August 19th, 2012
12:23 am
Fred (TM – ha!) – you’ve obviously never watched the show, but little facts like that don’t stop stupid people from showing their ignorance anyway.
And, yes, I’ve been involved in one of those “stupid shows” where they build a house in a week. They really do it in a week – it’s good quality – and I’m sure they’re nicer than the dump you live in.
Mountain Man
August 19th, 2012
12:44 am
Fred, if you’re who I think you are, then you’re the idiot who fell through your ceiling and into the living room trying to put 50 cents worth of insulation over a soffit vent that was supposed to be open anyway! If you’re not the Fred I’m thinking of, you’re an idiot anyway.
I’m no craftsman, but have built a house or two and I’m pretty damn good under the hood of a car. When Rodney explained how much he learned from being with other craft persons in the competition, that’s yet another mark of a talented professional. So Fred, what exactly do you do, if anything, to keep the lights on in your trailer?
Rodney D. Boyden
August 19th, 2012
9:34 am
Hello everyone! I am Rodney Boyden. You can see my work on YouTube to get a great idea of what I do and my skill level. YouTube (rboyden12) let me know what you think. Thanks and have a super day!
Don’t forget to watch the show.
Rodney D. Boyden
August 19th, 2012
9:41 am
This is Rodney again. YouTube my name or (rrboyden12)
Donna
August 19th, 2012
9:48 am
Hey Rodney, I’ll be glad to make you a website in exchange for some cabinets.
Rodney D. Boyden
August 19th, 2012
10:35 am
Hey Donna! Email me rodney@rodneyoyden.com
Boo
August 19th, 2012
11:44 am
So the article spelled Boyden incorrectly? I love the barter system….go Donna and Rodney!
Brenda
August 19th, 2012
8:32 pm
I have seen pics of Rodney’s craftsmanship and it is beautiful. He is not only a true craftsman, he is an unbelievable musical talent. I only hope he found some way to combine his musical talent with his craftsmanship for the show, but if, not he can do that when he gets his own show on HGTV!! Reaching for the stars for a REAL Star!
Tina
August 19th, 2012
9:03 pm
I noticed that Fred has never told us what he does??? I have also seen some work that Rodney has done and it is Beautiful and shows that he is overflowing with talent!! When someone degrades someone elses talent,it usually comes from jealousy. Anyone that says that they are doing something to get even more experience at something that they are already VERY good at is a true professional.
Judy
August 19th, 2012
9:19 pm
Hey Fred, don’t you be bad mouthing my friend, Rodney. He has so many different talents that you would not be able to count them…He is quite an accomplished singer, musician, teacher, speaker, along with his talent of building. I would venture to guess that he has more talent in his big toe than you have in your entire body…so put a lid on it….
louis hernandez
August 19th, 2012
10:18 pm
maybe the girl making the introductions could work on pronouncing scott mcgillivray’s name correctly. someone tell her it’s not mcgill – very, it’s mcgilliv-ry. made for a poor start to this year’s competition which is all about getting the job done RIGHT.
Rodney Ho
August 19th, 2012
10:33 pm
Sorry Rodney that I misspelled your last name there. Fixed it.
Rodney D. Boyden
August 20th, 2012
1:40 am
Thanks Mr. Ho for the article. Cant wait to talk to you some more about the show.
COUGARGONEWILD
August 20th, 2012
11:56 am
@RODNEY D.BOYDEN-~NEVER HURTS TO ASK..ARE YOU MARRIED. I LOVE FIX-IT SHOWS AND NEED A FEW LESSONS..NO SERIOUSLY~
Kat
August 21st, 2012
7:52 pm
Good luck to the Atlanta contestants! Bartering is incredibly smart – we traded technology help for landscaping help before. Everyone is happy.
Why can’t a house be built in a week? I see them working through the nights and so on. We are just so used to homes taking a long time – why rush? – that when something is done efficiently, it freaks us out!
Scott Heeres
August 22nd, 2012
12:27 am
I hope everyone enjoys watching the show on HGTV, I had the pleasure of meeting and working with Rodney, this guy is something else! He’s got talent, I’m not sure I would have him install a toilet for me (HaHAHa), but for anything you would find in Fine Homebuilding, he is the man! I really hope I have the opportunity to spend more time learning from him.
On a side note, the man can walk miles in alligator skin shoes! He’s a riot. I miss ya, and have many great memories.
Watch us both compete on HGTV’s All American Handyman, but vote for me, Scott H.
» A couple of my HGTV buddy’s The Golden Hammer Workshop
August 22nd, 2012
12:43 am
[...] http://blogs.ajc.com/radio-tv-talk/2012/08/18/two-locals-on-hgtvs-all-american-handyman-scott-clark-... [...]
Dennis
August 22nd, 2012
11:12 pm
Vote for Rodney on HGTV.com, the helpful handyman show. Folks can vote up to 10 times per day on every internet device they own. Including video game systems, iPods, laptops, smart phones & Internet ready TV’s.
Anthony H.
August 24th, 2012
9:46 am
I am very impressed with your work Rodney! The unit you built for the couple in New York is awesome!. Good luck on the show and I hope to get on the next show. I have been doing some custom work for quite a few years and am always looking to improve my skills. We craftsmen need good work like yours to keep the quality at a high level for our customers. I will contact you soon. Again, love your work!
Rodney D. Boyden
August 24th, 2012
11:38 am
Thanks so much Anthony. All of my skills come from trial and error and I have learned a lot of tricks over the years. I would say that my real gift is imagination. It is the one thing that I would say makes the difference in my designs.
I am on FB as well and you can see more designs there and on YouTube.
Look forward to meeting you and all of the great artisans here in the Atlanta area.
Maybe I will set up a place for all of us to get together.
Thanks again!
Rodney Boyden
August 24th, 2012
11:52 am
http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&feature=endscreen&v=vLw0udz5ryQ
diana jones-bell
August 24th, 2012
3:50 pm
congrads to rodney and i am so proud of you and the work you are doing. if i could afford to hire you to do some work for me, i would. so i guess this wva girl will keep on voting. keep up the good work and let the devils talk out of there buts. you are the bomb………………………