New territory: PBS show ‘This Old House’ films in Wasilla for Alaska debut

WASILLA — Local fans of the popular PBS show “This Old House” may recognize the locale of one episode set to air in the show’s companion series, “Ask This Old House,” this fall.

Last week, “This Old House” cast member and master electrician Scott Caron came with a film crew to Alaska for the first time in the show’s 37-year history to shoot two segments for the upcoming season of “Ask This Old House,” which features smaller projects than the main series.

The group’s first stop was the home of four-year Wasilla resident and father of nine Lt. Col. Bill Kays, a longtime fan of the show.

“I grew up watching it,” he said.

Kays said he sent in a maintenance question to “Ask This Old House” this spring, not expecting it to be answered. Not only was his question answered, he received an offer to be featured on the show and have another question answered on-screen this summer.

On Wednesday, Aug. 3, Caron showed Kays how to wire a portable home generator into his house’s electrical panel, allowing the generator to power appliances that don’t plug in — such as his boiler and well pump — as well as critical circuits like lighting, refrigeration and television when the main power goes out.

Production coordinator Sarah Violette said it was about time “This Old House” made it to the northernmost state, having traveled to all but three, and now two. She said the trip to Alaska was a first for her and the rest of the five-person team personally as well.

Senior producer Heath Racela said he was pleased with the warm, sunny weather and the rest Alaska had to offer in the crew’s 48-hour whirlwind tour of the state — the only hiccup was having the checked bag containing their audio equipment lost somewhere between Boston and Anchorage.

Fortunately, the team was able to find a temporary alternative and get the cameras rolling in Wasilla just an hour or so behind schedule.

The crew returned to Anchorage on Thursday to film some scenic Alaska shots and a second segment for “Ask This Old House,” in which Caron visited another home to diagnose a problem with a three-way switch configuration, where two light switches control a single fixture.

A specific air date has not yet been set for season 15 of “Ask This Old House,” but archived episodes can be viewed at www.thisoldhouse.com/watch/ask-old-house-tv

Contact reporter Caitlin Skvorc at 352-2266 or caitlin.skvorc@frontiersman.com.