"Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" designer Paul DiMeo is philosophical about the ending of the two-time Emmy-winning reality show this week. "I certainly think that moving to Friday night gave us an indication of what was coming," he says of their cancellation after nine years. "Trying to have some type of TV savvy and realizing that all good things come to an end, I think we were pretty prepared."

The show winds down with a two-hour special finale episode Friday (Jan. 13), with the team in tornado-devastated Joplin, Mo., working with 21 builders to raise seven houses in seven days. "If it has to end, so be it, but I'm just grateful this is the way we're going to go out," DiMeo says. "I'm honored to be a small part of this show. There are people I'm going to keep in touch with the rest of my life."

He won't be watching Friday night. He never watches the show. "Why would I? It's an abridged version of what I lived through. It would just make me angry to know all the things that didn't get on the air. We used to shoot 600 hours of video for 43 minutes of television."

Looking back, he notes, "There are things about what we've done over the last nine years that are iconic: 'Move that bus,' hitting all 50 states, having the first lady be part of our efforts." His personal list of standout memories includes LeAnn Rimes singing "Amazing Grace" on the show; accompanying Kermit the Frog on guitar and piano; and interacting with firefighters and the military.

There were innumerable off-camera moments as well, such as: "There was a little boy, 6 or 7 years old, they knew only had a couple more years to live, who wanted to help out. We're not allowed to have kids on the (construction) set, but at that point I said, —— that,' and had him put up a little piece of trim. If you can do something like that, it's a good day."

Such days are not over for DiMeo and the rest of the team, led by Ty Pennington. They'll be shooting an episode next week in Knoxville, Tenn., in fact, for airing late in the year. There may be more specials. And DiMeo points out that even though the cameras may be off, volunteerism continues.

"Joplin is rebuilding. Whether or not we were there, the people would be stepping up. Habitat for Humanity came in and built 17 homes right after we left," he points out. And he expects to be involved some kind of way.

SPEAKING OF FAREWELLS: It'll be interesting to see the progress of "CSI" and Marg Helgenberger, respectively, after the actress parts company with the series after 11 years. Her final, very emotional episodes as Catherine Willows air Jan. 18 and 25, and then ...? Will viewers next year be saying that Marg's departure was a jumping-the-shark event — or will "CSI" roll into its next permutation with Elisabeth Shue joining Ted Danson full of vigorous new life? Will Helgenberger score a new success, or recede into the shadows, away from the spotlight?

Costar Robert David Hall feels that "it's just amazing that the ship keeps charging across the waters, you know? I think our concept is real strong. It has been right from the beginning, and the changes, I don't think, are negative." That's despite the fact he'll miss Marg, who he says has become like a sister.

THE BIG-SCREEN SCENE: "Leverage" actor Aldis Hodge took a busman's holiday during his seasonal hiatus, taking on a big-screen role in "The East" with Ellen Page, Brit Marling, Alexander Skarsgard and Patricia Clarkson.

The story, written by Marling and director Zal Batmanglij, has Marling playing an undercover agent working for a firm that contracts to protect big corporations from radical environmentalists and anti-business extremists. However, she finds herself falling for the leader of an eco-anarchist group (played by Skarsgard) known as The East. Page is his jealous ex-lover.

Hodge plays an ex-military man who has been affected by the poisoned water dumped near his town when he was a child, which is "really what brings him into getting involved," Hodge says of his character. "He's very different from my character on the series, but sort of akin to him because they do some of the same things."

Hodge was thrilled with his cast mates. He finds, "Once you're in the company of good actors, there's some feeling of security regardless of what goes wrong — because something always goes wrong." He laughs. "At least you know the performances will be great. And the script was great."

The Fox Searchlight thriller, produced by Ridley and Tony Scott's company, is due out later this year.

To find out more about Marilyn Beck and Stacy Jenel Smith and read their past columns, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.