The New Yankee Workshop (1989–2009) User Reviews

Norm Abram & Russel Morash

[patrick_squires · 10/10 · 13 July 2006]

Norm Abram is #1 on my tivo and they are set to never delete. Norm is a great teacher and role model. I love his show and teaching techniques. If I could afford it I would buy every show and plans and build every one of his projects. He maintains approachable project and skill set but keeps things just interesting enough to never get old show after show.

I wish he was my neighbor but since he is not - I will just have to try to live up to the standards he has set. You never know - someone just may be proud to call me their neighbor - even if they can hear my saw running at 2am.

He may not like his plaid shirts but he has definitely branded himself true master carpenter in the most honest fusion. Although figured with a few brands he still has his favorites and they make their appearances on the show regardless if its a competing product.

No one knew what a DIY / PBS powerhouse Russell Morash would have started 25+ years ago. But selecting Norm Abram as the Master Carpenter has to be one of the best decisions he ever made.

Almost as much fun to watch as to build the stuff!

[Perkunas · 19 August 2002]

I'm rather surprised I'm the first to write in on this show, as it is one of my favorite Saturday treats. NYW is a show hosted by Norm Abrams, the master carpenter from "This Old House" (as well as being the "model" for the character of Al Borland of "Tool Time" -- ur, "Home Improvement" -- fame). Like TOH, it is produced by the WQED folks in Boston, and appears on various PBS stations (at differing times) as well as (currently) 7:30am ET on HGTV.

Each show is typically a weekend project that Norm builds, using his wonderful assortment of power tools and his spacious workshop that most of the viewers can only dream about having. What he does in a weekend, of course, takes most of us MONTHS to build... but even so, it is very useful for picking up different tricks, tips and techniques.

Most of the projects are furniture, very often Shaker or Quaker style as found in his area of New England. The shows I've found the most interesting are when he actually builds stuff to use in his workshop, designed for the "weekend warrior carpenters" (like me).

Mr. Abrams gets a lot of grief from other woodworkers, from his use of "shortcuts" and his "mass-marketing" of woodworking, but he has definitely gotten more people interested in the hobby and he does demonstrate that you can get very good quality results from the proper use of power tools (for example, dovetail joinery using a router and jig, rather than hand-cut with a saw).

His "acting" leaves a little to be desired, but most of the time it's really just him, doing what he loves. A little "sawdust therapy" never hurt anyone....

A very fair assessment

[dstreeter · 15 June 2006]

I am also somewhat surprised there aren't more comments here. Norm (along with that home improvement oberlord, Bob Vila) should be thanked for spawning many DIY shows (the TOH franchise family, home improvement, etc.) and even whole networks (HGTV, DIY, etc.) As a side note, We can also thank Home Improvement for introducing Ms. Pamela Anderson to all us grunting males.

There is a vicarious joy that one gets watching the Yankee Workshop. You can imagine yourself going over to your friend who's "good-with-tools" to see what he's building today. It has inspired me on numerous occasions to get down there in the shop and finish building that bird house (or spice rack if you're Homer Simpson!) While I agree that Norm is something less than dynamic as a character on a show, I think his easy-going style is what gives the series its charm (and longevity - almost 20 years!) Good stuff.

Perfect mortises in half the time??

[ftorresgamez · 12 June 2003]

I love Norm! I love the show!

My amateur woodworking hobby started after watching a few shows of NYW, where one gets to watch in awe as His Normness builds a perfect piece of furniture without any mistakes, in just (apparently) a weekend!

Actually, it takes Norm a bit to build a Missionary-style cabinet, but the tips one picks up - not to mention the sheer envy of seeing him working with all those cool tools! - make the whole experience worthwhile and very entertaining.

Norm is one of the best TV-woodworkers there can be, and all the stuff he builds can actually be build by just anyone with a few of the tools he has... Of course, he has $15,000.00 worth of tools and I only have about $500.00 cheap Chinese tools, but hey what the heck! I can still tape the shows and maybe do some of those projects when I upgrade!