Rod the Builder in a Christmas tree decorating challenge

Business Editor Rod Meloni will take on the experts at English Gardens in Royal Oak Friday

It's a Local 4 tradition newsroom staff looks forward to every year: The day after Thanksgiving, Rod Meloni turns in his reporter notepad and dawns his Rod The Builder apron.

While taking his one-day break as a reporter, Meloni takes on a new challenge up against some experts.

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Last year he tried his hand at gift wrapping up against the owner of Lisa's Gift Wrappers in Royal Oak.

In 2013, he did a three-plate food challenge against a chef from the Great Lakes Culinary Center in Southfield.

In 2012, he built gingerbread houses versus the owners of Taste Love Cupcakes in Royal Oak.

In 2011, he competed against Landscape Services, a professional lighting company, to put on Christmas lights.

In 2010, he battled a mechanic from Bob Maxey Ford to build a Cadillac Escalade Ride-on Toy and in 2009 he competed against a 15-year-old to build a Lego City.

This year, "Rod the Builder" will test his skills at Christmas tree decorating. He will be competing against professional decorators from English Gardens in Royal Oak.

"I'm actually pretty good," Meloni said.

In a "Chopped-style" challenge, Meloni and the English Gardens team will have the same type of decorations to trim their pre-lit Christmas trees.

"I think he has a good chance, but we're going to make it difficult. We've been here for a lot of years 61 years at this business so it's going to be a challenge," Rick Vespa, VP of merchandising and shareholder for English Gardens.

They will begin on Local 4 News at 4 p.m. Friday by putting the trees together, shaping them, then decorating them. Each team will have until 6 p.m. to finish. On Local 4 News at 6 p.m. we will have the big reveal and see which tree looks better.

Meloni's daughter will be assisting him with the challenge. 

Vespa's team consists of Brittany Ross, a floral designer and Lynnette Walker, merchandise manager at English Gardens.

"I think we have a legitimate shot at making this thing look as every bit as good as anything they do," Meloni said.

Meloni said  his family decorates their trees with white lights and then they have a theme, usually red and green.  He also said they have decorated 20' trees in years past.

Vespa had a bit of advice for Meloni.

First, take the time to shape the tree before decorating it.

"When you open them up out of the box take, you need to spend some time on shaping.  That's basically arranging these tips," Vespa said.  "These branches will come in somewhat compacted like this.  You want to open these up and kind of keep your lights exposed and I like to tell people to keep the bottom of the branch flat -- that gives you the most natural look."

As for decorating, these days, anything goes.

Vespa encouraged Meloni to take a look around their store for ideas and inspiration.

"Take a look at what we're doing and see if you can rob and duplicate," Vespa said.
Local 4 will have live coverage of the Rod The Builder challenge Friday beginning on Local 4 News at 4 p.m. and will continue through Local 4 News at 6 p.m. We will also live stream the event on ClickOnDetroit.com.