HGTV’s All American Handyman recently cut three contestants, leaving the top five competitors—one of whom will become the All-American Handyman.
We spoke with Andrew Kowalyshyn, the most recent contestant eliminated. He made it to the top six but was sent home after struggling with a door-hanging challenge.
Despite his elimination, Andrew graciously answered questions about his experience on the show and what it was like competing for the title of All American Handyman.
C&H: Hi Andrew. Congratulations on being selected as a contestant on HGTV’s All American Handyman. You made it quite far. How do you feel about your performance?
Andrew: Thanks, Timothy. I was definitely disappointed to be sent home, but proud to have reached the top six. Dennis and I had great chemistry during the team challenge and I was thrilled with what we accomplished. Working with Carmen De La Paz was also a lot of fun. I struggled most with the door-hanging task because I didn’t have much experience with it. Although the door didn’t close perfectly, I was glad to get it hung and swinging. Mike and Scott judged that challenge fairly, and it was clear my install was the weakest that round.
C&H: The challenges on the show look tough, especially with the time limits. Tell us about your background—were you prepared for those challenges?
Andrew: I have a BS in Engineering from the University of Hartford, with a focus on acoustics, which I’ve pursued professionally. My hands-on handyman skills came from renovating a loft I bought in Denver. To save money, I learned to do many upgrades myself rather than hire contractors. A friend who does fix-and-flips gave me a lot of guidance. Over the years I’ve tackled big projects like installing hardwood floors and wainscoting, building custom shelves and a desk, and smaller jobs like plumbing repairs, drywall patches, installing light fixtures, running in-wall wiring for a home theater, and hanging a custom closet door.
Most of my work is done in my spare time and on a budget—more weekend warrior than full-time tradesperson. I often rely on friends and online how-to videos for guidance. That background helped, but the show’s strict time constraints made tasks more difficult. For example, my idea of hanging a door would normally involve a relaxed Saturday and a few beers—not 60 minutes with Mike Holmes and Scott McGillivray watching over you.
C&H: Having those two watch would certainly add pressure. What was your impression of the judges—Scott McGillivray and Mike Holmes—and did you learn anything from them?
Andrew: Scott and Mike were great with the entire cast. On camera they had to be strict, but off camera they were friendly and approachable. It was an honor to work alongside them for a few days. I picked up a few practical tips, but there wasn’t much time for instruction—their role was to assess how we performed under pressure and to judge our skills as presented.
C&H: Without revealing the winner, who were your favorites going into the show, and do you think anyone was eliminated too soon?
Andrew: It was difficult to get to know everyone when the cast was 20 strong, but by the top 10 I had gotten to know them better. The top 10 was a solid group of people. I felt Flagg might have been at a disadvantage during the team challenge; paired with Caitlin, his ability to move heavier items quickly was limited by their pairing and the time constraint, which affected their rhythm. From talking to him, it was clear Flagg knew his stuff.
I was also sad to see Matt go. He was my roommate at the hotel and very talented—he built an incredible table in the first challenge but froze during the shapes challenge. I think he would have shown more of his carpentry talent had he stayed. Everyone else—Dennis, Peter, Elliot, Rich, and Dee—were all passionate and skilled. Dennis was especially impressive during the team challenge; he knew a lot off the top of his head, which helped us move quickly and assign roles effectively. Overall, the group was fun and enthusiastic, and the experience is one I’ll remember for a long time.
C&H: If you had won and been named All American Handyman, what would your next steps have been? Would you pursue your own HGTV show?
Andrew: The prize included a $10,000 shopping spree at Sears and a development deal with HGTV. A development deal isn’t a guaranteed TV series, but it offers a chance to pitch or develop a show idea with the network. That opportunity alone is invaluable.
If I had won, I would have used the Sears shopping spree to upgrade appliances to match the concrete countertops and sheet-metal backsplash I’m working on. Then I’d move forward with renovations I’ve been planning for my bedroom, closet, and laundry room. The $10,000 would have been a big help completing those projects.
Thanks, Andrew!
When he’s not renovating his loft, Andrew works as an acoustical engineer at D. L. Adams Associates in Denver, CO, a firm that offers services including LEED-certified acoustic design. No doubt his home theater sounds great.
A note Andrew shared that wasn’t on the show: Sears donated the Craftsman tools used on the series to rebuilding efforts in New Orleans, so those tools are now helping volunteer projects like Fifty for Five. A commendable contribution from Sears.
Photos courtesy of Andrew Kowalyshyn