First appearance of Kevin O'Connor 2003 

The Kevin haters don't understand his role on the show, especially early on. He was there to be the relatable "every man" who's not afraid to ask the questions that the viewer might be thinking of. Bob, Norm, Tom, Richard, Roger, Electrician of the week, etc. are all grizzled professionals who have seen everything and it might be intimidating to a first time home owner watching the show to see them. Kevin gets to ask the simple questions and over the years has become a very knowledgeable and handy person himself.

Kev is the man. Never understood the hate. Dude is a legend.

Kevin's been a great host for TOH. I like when Tom calls him "sonny boy"!

Keven O'Connor in my humble opinion is the best host in the history of This Old House. I love the guy.

I love how comfortable Kevin was on camera from his very first appearance. His ease and witty banter evidently got him the job!

TOH should've hired Kevin's wife to host. She seems like the prime motivator of that couple! LoL

1:47 the way he smoothly hit his head. He was born for the TV role

Funny how us who've been watching TOH for ages always associate it with Bob but Kevin's been hosting longer than anyone.

Finally I looked everywhere for this video and could never find it thanks TOH

I remember this episode like it happened yesterday. He was very photogenic. The All American boy look. Reason they called him Sonny boy!!! He was the best choice to take TOH to its next level. Glad to see he's still hanging onboard. Always wondered how their house looks after all his time on the show.

To be honest I'm not sure how Kevin's wife didn't get the job lol

I like Kevin and I think he does a great job as host.

Kevin tends to get a lot of flack for not being a tradesman. He isn't supposed to be the tradesman, he is the host and as the host, Kevin asks the questions a homeowner would ask to the experts. He also goes to different places to learn things that have more of a science background that isn't limited to a single trade. Examples include going to a place that studies and duplicates the forces of a hurricane, a place that sets fire to everything to know how people can stop or escape from fires, and a place that pre-makes concrete walls for foundation add-ons. Kevin helps where he can, which makes him more as an additional apprentice or journeyman, but he is the bridge between the experts and the audience.

So he was a customer first how cool.

O'Connor worked for Fleet Bank as a Vice President in the Sports Finance Group, then worked for Bank of America as a Senior Vice President in the Commercial Real Estate Group.[1] The producers of This Old House approached him to become their new host following the departure of Steve Thomas. O'Connor and his wife, Kathleen, had appeared on an episode of Ask This Old House (Season 1, Episode 22), in which painting contractor Jim Clark assisted them with a wallpaper-removal project.[2] O'Connor, also the host of Ask This Old House and Inside This Old House, holds a position on the editorial board of the This Old House magazine, published by This Old House Ventures, Inc. In September 2011, O'Connor debuted as the author of his first book, The Best Homes from This Old House.[5]

"Sounds good, I'll put Kathleen on it right away" got him the job

Kevin looks like a boy and much younger than his wife.

I think Kevin was the perfect host. Asks lots of questions, not intimidating to the viewer, and relatable

Kevin hasnt aged a day since 2003 lol.

Based on this first audition I think you should have hired Kathleen LOL

Kevin: What's in this stuff, there's a little smell to it. Jim: Yeah, it's sort of an enzhyme Kevin: hmm.. let's hope so.... I hope they hired him because of this reply! nice repartee

Do you ever think TOH shows up to the wrong house and the residents are like “shhh 🤫 don’t say anything “😆

Rumor has it that Tom Silva screwed Kevin’s toolbox (that’s visible at bottom right of the video at 1:07) to the floor as a practical joke that day.

He Looks just like that dude that hosts This Old House. Same name too.

I believe Kevin was a banker before becoming host. Such an interesting transition...

Heck Kevin's wife is pretty hot!

Kevin and Steve Thomas were the best hosts in my opinion.

Who the hell is this guy? And why did this pop up in my recommendations?

Kevin O'Connor is the best host since This Old House started way back

I went over my stubborn wallpaper with 1/4 inch drywall!

I always liked him and i think he the best one they have. I remember that he replaced Steve Thomas who i also liked because I think Steve wanted to concentrate on an acting career. either one of them was much better than Bob. I think his wife is pretty cute and i liked their dog. I wonder if they still have the dog. :)

She sounds like George’s fiancé on Seinfeld

Kevin is such a cool guy. He is very humble and very intelligent. Every tv host are due our respect, but because of Kevin's qualities, he is one of the best.

The wetter the better, l agree with him

Kevin is a wonderful host but I think we need to see Kathleen on the show again!

Kevin hasn't aged a day in 20 years. But leaning off the scaffold like that against the opposite wall would age me 20 years in a day lol

Is Kevin still living at the pink house?

Kevin does an outstanding job. I think of all the Hosts he does the best job.

Heard rumors that Kathleen was the original choice 😆

Love how Kevin hits his head at 1:47 :-D

Kevin is one of the greatest host of This Old House. They made a good choice when they picked him.

So he asks for help to remove wallpaper, then he gets the job of hosting a home improvement show. Now he wears a tool belt. He must be tradesman now.

Nice how today we have an app that removes wallpaper. So much easier

Kevin is more relaxed and natural than a lot of the homeowners who go on camera. Many seem like they're trying too hard and make fake, cheesy comments out of nervousness. I can see why they picked him up.

Do they still have that pink house?

Way to go Kev. The best host of TOH.

I have to admit I didn't like Kevin when he first started but I have grown to really appreciate him. I now consider him my favorite TOH host.

7:06 Kevin's lying against the wall while the scaffolding looks like it could move makes me nervous.

2:16 is it me or is Kevin pulling a face here when he thought the camera wouldn't catch it?

Ha Kevin has a pink house

I don't believe that anyone doesn't like Kevin. He's a good kind man, funny, and is quick on the uptake in a way that's hard to do on camera. I hope he's here until he's ready to retire.

would've been easier to just go over the wall with 1/4 inch sheetrock, yikes what a tedious job

I remember this, it’s so weird now.

I've been looking for this video, thanks for posting!

Cool to see the young Kevin :o) And his lovely wife.

He was just a regular old homeowner who had zero idea, and now we look at this to see a time when he had NOT A SINGLE CLUE that he was about to become the host of both This Old House and Ask This Old House for the next 20 years! I watched this episode when it first came out!

21 years in and I still think of him as the new guy. Even though he's been there the longest!

Wow...history here, granted Kevin is vastly improved over the guy he replaced...that's how forgettable that one guy is...don't even remember his name, Just Bob Vila and Kevin O'Connor.

It's a shame they didn't hire Kathleen to host TOH instead of Kevin. She seemed to be doing most of the work

The clip we've all been waiting for...

Looks like he is hosting already

I'll rather put a 1/4 inch sheet rock right over the wall.

Look at young Sonny Boy!

Wow, who does not know this ??

His wife was a hottie lol.

I’d be worried about lead paint

I can't believe he has been on 20 yrs already!

Whooaa pink house! Oh no Kevin 💅 !! Kathleen was a hottie! This old house really dropped the ball on her (no pun intended).

haha kevin looks like a kid!

5:46 Close your eyes and just listen!

Kevin won the Emmy for lifetime achievement when he got Kathleen

Kathleen is a cutie. how come we didnt end up with her. Would have brought a lot more viewers.

You can really see how much Kevin has grown since his first appearance 19 years ago. On a side note as a New Orleanian I really liked that Tulane University hat that Jim Clark was wearing. I wonder what his connection to the school is.

Because I had heard Kevin O’Connor impressed Tom Silva so much from his appearance, I expected more, but it turns out he stuttered on camera just as much as anyone else. I have a hard time talking into a microphone; I can’t get through two sentences without a stutter. Seeing this gives me hope.

So how did this turn into him being host?

100 to 1 thumbs up to down ratio... welcome to the Hall of Fame Kevin!

So was Kevin a customer first, then became the host?

Absolutely love that front door.

i thought kevin appeared in 2009 i didnt know it was in 2003

She's doing all the work.. How'd he get the job?? LOL love you Kev

Kathleen should have been the one to join the show. She's much easier on the eyes. (Sorry Kevin!)

Kevin O Conner the most beautiful man alive 😍 ❤ 💙 ♥

What a cutie

Kevin is a great host. Steve Thomas was better though. I have no issues with Kevin and like him as a host. How he got the job is interesting because he first appeared as a homeowner needing help, but he’s a great host.

Conner said, " you know what, this remodel is gonna be expensive, ill just take your job" lol

I like Kevin a lot but my favorite host was Steve Thomas. I loved norm he was so talented

Who would hate Kevin? He's a legend!

Kevin and Steve were the best hosts. My experience with Bob was mostly from home again, and it was okay I guess.

Change the title to 1:46 first time Kevin knocked his head on the light fixture!!!

I would just take down sheet rock. Maybe do some electric

Use laundry detergent and water in a sprayer for wall paper

I remember doing this exact project after watching this episode.

I like Kevin......it's a good name.

Getting it nice and wet and keeping it wet is the key.

Kevin lives in a pink house ahahaha

Kevin is thinking “ I want to be the host of toh “

This was before he became a host right?

Finally waiting for this video 😀

they look like brother and sister.

I like Kevin. I've also enjoyed these first time appearances. Thanks a lot.