Ty Pennington: No more tears?

Ty Pennington says there will be one noticeable difference on the new season of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. “I’ve had my tear ducts removed,” the sensitive handyman-host jokes to EW. “I saw myself crying so much on television that I went to a doctor in L.A. and had them taken out.” Just kidding. Pennington says he’ll probably be crying again when he watches the show on Sunday nights just like the rest of us sitting at home on the couch. He says: “It’s the families’ stories. You can’t help it.”

The new season kicks off Sunday night on ABC with Ty and the gang helping a firefighter’s family in Wisconsin. Actress Patricia Heaton lends a hand and Five For Fighting performs in the two-part episode (7 and 8 p.m. ET). For the season premiere’s makeover, Ty’s not just taking on a kid’s room or a special hangout, but the main living room. “We’re switching it up this season, I’m taking on bigger rooms than before,” the carpenter/design team leader says. He won’t reveal too much about the room’s look other than to note: “I recycled a bunch of stuff.”

One thing that isn’t likely to change this season is the ol’ bus used during the big reveal…and we had to confess to Ty that we’re getting tired of the “Move That Bus” chant. Ty defends the bus — “moving the bus is symbolic, it’s moving forward” — but then adds with a laugh that he could send the bus “on vacation” if we came up with a great alternative. He says: “I could use any new slogan, as long as it’s having a laugh.”

How about…Here’s a Kleenex! PopWatchers, post your “Move That Bus” replacement catchphrases in the comments.

Photo Credit: Donna Svennevik/ABC