From the Garage to the Store, Science Channel's ALL-AMERICAN MAKERS Offers Opportunity to Amateur Inventors
Series Devoted to the "All-American" Entrepreneur World Premieres Wednesday, January 21, 2015 at 10 PM ET/PT
January 12, 2015
America's do-it-yourselfers, innovators and entrepreneurs are getting the opportunity of a lifetime - to turn their big ideas into big money on Science Channel's all-new series ALL-AMERICAN MAKERS, world premiering Wednesday, January 21 at 10 PM ET/PT. Every week four top makers from around the nation pitch their products to a panel of three experts featuring Printrbot founder and owner Brook Drumm, mechanical designer and robotics expert Brian Roe, and venture capitalist Marc Portney.
Each maker's homegrown product is put through a series of rigorous tests by Drumm and Roe to find out how it works and if it lives up to its claim. Should the product make the grade it's then subjected to the scrutiny of real consumer focus groups. Based on the feedback of Drumm and Roe plus the focus groups, Portney decides if he wants to invest his own money in the maker's business and help bring the product to store shelves. From dog toys, thermal radar and grill gadgets to personal robots, hybrid recreational vehicles and stain repellent, the products featured on ALL-AMERICAN MAKERS span the everyday to the amazing.
"This series is something brilliantly new for Science Channel," said Rita Mullin, General Manager of Science Channel. "ALL-AMERICAN MAKERS is our twist on celebrating dreamers, doers and disrupters - those people who are innovating and pushing to make their incredible visions reality. In the way only Science Channel can, we're focusing on the science behind the inventions using Brook's and Brian's expertise, but also making sure there is a tangible business opportunity for the products. The stakes are high on each decision as Marc is writing a personal check."
Upcoming Episodes Include (All Times ET/PT):
"Heat Is On"
World Premiere
Wednesday, January 21 at 10 PM
Brook, Brian, and investor Marc Portney test out motorized roller skates users can strap to their shoes, a water filter that works like a French press, a 360º infrared surveillance device, and a gun that lets people shoot flies with table salt.
"Fight Night"
World Premiere
Wednesday, January 28 at 10 PM
Marc, Book and Brian scrutinize four big claims: a bike that can ride on the water; robots with programmable personalities; a device claiming to improve the speed of boxers; and a product claiming to give that user a healthy amount of sun without getting burned.
"Off The Leash"
World Premiere
Wednesday, February 4 at 10 PM
Experts Brook and Brian help Marc decide if he should invest in a brain-controlled toy helicopter; a non-toxic, liquid stain repellant; a fetch toy that dogs can control by themselves; or an airbag vest for motorcyclists.
"Zero Hour"
World Premiere
Wednesday, February 11 at 10 PM
Brook and Brian help Mark vet four innovative products: a remote controlled lawn mower; a revolutionary digital guitar; an indestructible flashlight that can power your electronics; and a bike helmet that records brainwaves while you ride.
"Blood, Sweat and Tears"
World Premiere
Wednesday, February 18 at 10 PM Brook and Brian help Marc vet the claims of four new products: as shirt that claims to change colors as muscles heat up; a non-glue that dries at your command; a robot that clears disaster areas for first responders; and a product that hopes to revolutionize prosthetics.
"Up In Flames"
World Premiere
Wednesday, February 25 at 10 PM
Brook and Brian help Marc vet four new products: a vehicle that allows cyclists to reach highway speeds; a robot that automatically helps its owner; an electric fan that promises scorching charcoal in minutes; and shoe laces that might be the first-ever indestructible shoelace.
ALL-AMERICAN MAKERS Hosts:
Marc Portney is an American entrepreneur, investor and business advisor. His street smart insights and deep knowledge of the retail landscape are invaluable when assessing the commercial viability of new products. As president of Chelsea Home Imports, an international player in product development, manufacturing and sales, Portney works diligently to bring new products to market. He is director of new business development and a special advisor to the Board of directors for Red Cardinal Holding Corp., a multi-national corporation with holdings well over a billion dollars. Portney also heads a group of venture capitalists who will participate in any size deal that he feels is worthy.
Brook Drumm has been making and creating things for as long as he can remember. He is the owner and founder of Printrbot, one of the leading 3D printing companies in the world. When he first put his product on Kickstarter he hoped to reach $25,000, but was blown away by receiving more than $800,000 in less than 30 days. Give Drumm a problem and he will solve it, the harder the better. He can make, build and tinker through any sticky situation.
Brian Roe has 25 years of experience in manufacturing and computer aided design. Along the way, Roe has created prototypes for defense and aerospace contractors, major automobile companies and private inventors. His diverse career even took him into Hollywood film production where we assisted with the design of 3D camera systems used in the production of the film "Avatar", and he worked as an animatronic character designer for movies including: "A.I.: Artificial Intelligence", "Bicentennial Man", "Sphere", "Charlie's Angels", "Scooby Doo 2", "Virus" and "Species II". Roe was also an integral part of a successful combat robot team for the TV show "Battlebots". His invention, Roy the Robot, was voted one of the top ten prototypes of 2013 by Popular Science Magazine. Currently he works as a mechanical designer on the 10,000 Year Clock for The Long Now Foundation, funded by Jeff Bezos.
ALL-AMERICAN MAKERS is produced for Science Channel by Bray Entertainment. For Science Channel, Rita Mullin is General Manager, Bernadette McDaid is Vice President of Production, Joshua C. Berkley and Neil Laird are Executive Producers, and Lindsey Foster Blumberg is Producer. Chris Bray is the CEO and Dan Miller is Executive Producer of Bray Entertainment.
About Science Channel
Science Channel, a division of Discovery Communications, Inc, is home for the thought provocateur, the individual who is unafraid to ask the killer questions of "how" and "why not." The network is a playground for those with audacious intellects and features programming willing to go beyond imagination to explore the unknown. Guided by curiosity, Science Channel looks for innovation in mysterious new worlds as well as in its own backyard. Science Channel and the Science Channel HD simulcast reaches over 75 million U.S. households. The network also features high-traffic online and social media destinations, including ScienceChannel.com, facebook.com/Science Channel and twitter.com/ScienceChannel.
About Discovery Communications
Discovery Communications (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) is the world's #1 pay-TV programmer reaching nearly 3 billion cumulative subscribers in more than 220 countries and territories. Discovery is dedicated to satisfying curiosity, engaging and entertaining viewers with high-quality content on worldwide television networks, led by Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Investigation Discovery and Science, as well as U.S. joint venture network OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network. Discovery also controls Eurosport International, a premier sports entertainment group, including six pay-TV network brands across Europe and Asia. Discovery also is a leading provider of educational products and services to schools, including an award-winning series of K-12 digital textbooks, through Discovery Education, and a digital leader with a diversified online portfolio, including Discovery Digital Networks. For more information, please visit www.discoverycommunications.com.
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