...
American Inventor was a reality television series based on a competition to be named America's best inventor. It was conceived by UK entrepreneur Peter Jones, who appears on the British version of the somewhat similar programme Dragons' Den, a format originated in Japan where it is owned by Sony. It was produced by Jones alongside Simon Cowell and the producers of American Idol. It premiered on ABC on March 16, 2006. It was organized as a competition between the various Inventors resulting in one overall winner. Janusz Liberkowski, who invented a new type of child safety seat based on the human womb called the Anecia Safety Capsule, was declared the first season's winner in a live episode on May 18, 2006. The second season premiered on June 6, 2007. Firefighter Greg Chavez, who invented a fire suppression system for Christmas Trees called the Guardian Angel, was the winner of the second season, on August 1, 2007. On March 20, 2008, the show's official website was removed, and the series was not included on the 2008 fall schedule, therefore the series was cancelled.
Episode 201, the season premiere for American Inventor's 2nd season, will introduce us to a lot of new faces. Peter Jones will be a friendly face as the only returning judge from Season 1. Joining him behind the table will be Pat Croce, a successful American entrepreneur; Sara Blakely, a womenswear innovator and entrepreneur; and George Forman, of boxing and indoor grilling fame. News anchor Nick Smith, who is replacing Matt Gallant as the show's host in the 2nd season, hosts his first episode of Inventor. In Episode 201, the season begins with open casting calls in Los Angeles and San Francisco.
The open casting calls continue in Los Angeles and San Francisco
The open casting calls continue. Contestants in New York and Chicago vie for the $50,000.00 prize that each city-winner will take to develop their products in the final rounds. Inventions will include an all-ages toy and a heart-pumping device.
The search for America's next big invention continues. Open casting calls continue in Chicago and New York. One inventor from each city will receive a check for $50,000 to develop his or her invention for the show's final rounds. Inventions pitched include yet another bathroom gadget, a roller skating device and "a device to enhance the way couples watch television together," to name a few.
Open casting calls in Houston and Tampa begin! New ideas will include a new board game and a hurricane-resistant home.
Contestants in Houston and Tampa continue pitching their inventions to the judges of American Inventor. Hopefuls will be vying for the $50,000 prize given to the winning inventor of each city. Among other inventions, a gizmo to entertain dogs with and a new lifesaving device will be showcased.
In this two-hour episode, the six winners from each of the six audition cities will develop their inventions. They will watch their products undergo focus-group testing, then meet with advisors to complete their prototypes within their $50,000.00 budgets. Only the top three inventions will continue on to the final rounds, where the American public will vote on their favorite invention.
In the season finale, the audience votes are in and counted and one of the three finalists will win the $1,000,000 grand prize, crowning him or her as the next American Inventor.
