NAMES IN THE NEWS : ‘This Old House’ TV Host Evicted

Bob Vila, host of one of public television’s most popular shows, won’t be calling “This Old House” home any more.

The veteran host is being shown the door because his numerous commercial endorsements don’t fit the image of public television, officials at public television station WGBH in Boston said.

WGBH officials downplayed the parting, saying it was an amicable end to nine months of negotiations with the do-it-yourself home show host.

But Vila’s agent, Ron Feiner, said the move came as a surprise. “Bob first knew about it when he read a copy of the press release,” Feiner said. “Sure he’s upset about it.”

Producers had asked Vila about the possibility of ending his commercial contracts, but the veteran TV personality declined to cooperate, WGBH spokesman Christopher Ridley said.