Durangoan Tim McClellan almost said “No” when Ellen DeGeneris’ new show “Ellen’s Design Challenge” came calling.

He told Arizona Central that his daughter, Riley, said, “It’s Ellen, Dad. You can’t say ‘No.’”

The six-episode competition pits six furniture designers against each other with furniture-making challenges. They have less than 48 hours, assisted by the show’s carpenters, to construct a piece that “wows the judges,” HGTV says. McClellan won Week 1 and was named Carpenter of the Week in a show that aired Jan. 26, with his campaign desk featuring a built-in stool, removable briefcase drawer and an oversized dovetail top.

While he didn’t win the next two challenges, he’s still in the running. The winner takes home $100,000.

HGTV will air repeats at 4 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. Sunday before the new episode airs at 7 p.m. Monday.

To learn more about the show, visit www.hgtv.com/shows/ellens-design-challenge. To learn more about McClellan and the business he founded, Western Heritage Furniture, visit http://westernheritagefurniture.com.

Herald Staff