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Click Here To PrintAmerican Inventor Episode Guide
1 :01x01 - Episode 1
The series kicks off with coverage of open casting calls in Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York. Viewers will see inventors all of all ages present their most prized inventions, featuring everything from the wacky to the heart warming.
2 :01x02 - Episode 2
Contestants from the cities San Francisco and Chicago get a chance to show their invention ideas to the judges with hopes of making it to the next round.
3 :01x03 - Episode 3
The nationwide search for America’s next big invention continues with open casting calls in San Francisco, New York and Denver. Thousands of inventors, tinkerers and entrepreneurs of all ages applied. Viewers will see inventions ranging from the hilarious to the tragic, and inventors from the passionate to the downright crazy. Some highlights include a man who has been working on a child safety seat since he lost his daughter in a car accident years ago. You’ll also see a truck driver so confident in his invention that he’s willing to run a car over it to prove its strength.
4 :01x04 - Episode 4
Open casting calls in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. Inventions include "therapy in a bubble" and protective gear to allow a hemophiliac to safely play baseball.
5 :01x05 - Episode 5
After interviewing thousands of inventors, the judges face the difficult decision of narrowing down their top 50 choices to 24, and then to the final 12 who will be lucky enough to receive a check for $50,000 to further develop their product. The top 50 finalists will be given two minutes to re-pitch their product and wow the judges with their idea. From there, the group will be narrowed down to 24 who will be asked to explain what sacrifices they have made and how winning “American Inventor” will change their lives. The judges have a difficult and long deliberation process and often disagree on who will move forward, but in the end they select the final 12 who will see their dream come one step closer to reality.
6 :01x06 - Best of Auditions (1)
This special episode shows auditions of inventors and their inventions that didn't make the final cut.
7 :01x07 - Episode 6
This week on “American Inventor” we will focus on three semi-finalists to see how they use the $50,000 they’ve been given to finalize their invention. Ed Evangelista, one of our expert judges, will mentor three inventors and guide them through the process of working with product designers, packaging companies, marketing executives and product testing. In an ultimate challenge, the inventors will have their new and improved product tested to see if it delivers, and Ed will face the difficult decision of choosing one of his three to move on to the final round.
The three inventions assigned to Ed Evangelista were: The Sackmaster 2000, The Un-Brella, and the Receiver's Training Pole. Of those, only the Receiver's Training Pole made it through to the final round.
8 :01x08 - Best Of Auditions (2)
The second semi final finds mentor, Mary Lou Quinlan giving advise to three of the contestants on how to improve their inventions.
9 :01x09 - Episode 7
This week on “American Inventor” we will focus on three semi-finalists to see how they use the $50,000 they’ve been given to finalize their invention. Mary Lou Quinlan, one of our expert judges, will mentor three inventors and guide them through the process of working with product designers, packaging companies, marketing executives and product testing. In an ultimate challenge, the inventors will have their new and improved product tested to see if it delivers, and Mary Lou will face the difficult decision of choosing one of her three to move on to the final round, one step closer to winning one million dollars and becoming the next great “American Inventor.”
The three inventions assigned to Mary Lou were: EZ-X Portable Gym, Here Comes Niya, Double Traction Bike. Of those, the Double Traction Bike made it to the final four.
10 :01x10 - Episode 8
This week on “American Inventor” we will focus on three semi-finalists to see how they use the $50,000 they’ve been given to finalize their invention. Peter Jones, one of our expert judges, will mentor three inventors and guide them through the process of working with product designers, packaging companies, marketing executives and product testing. In an ultimate challenge, the inventors will have their new and improved product tested to see if it delivers, and Peter will face the difficult decision of choosing one of his three to move on to the final round, one step closer to winning one million dollars and becoming the next great American Inventor.
The three inventions assigned to Peter were: The Headliner, Word Ace and the Tonerbelt. Word Ace made it through to the next round.
11 :01x11 - Episode 9
This week on “American Inventor” we will focus on three semi-finalists to see how they use the $50,000 they’ve been given to finalize their invention. Doug Hall, one of our expert judges, will mentor three inventors and guide them through the process of working with product designers, packaging companies, marketing executives and product testing. In an ultimate challenge, the inventors will have their new and improved product tested to see if it delivers, and Doug will face the difficult decision of choosing one of his three to move on to the final round, one step closer to winning one million dollars and becoming the next great American Inventor.
The three inventions assigned to Doug were: The Restroom Door Clip (the Bathroom Survival Kit), the Flushpure, and the Spherical Safety Seat. The Spherical Safety Seat made it through to the final round.
12 :01x12 - Countdown to the Finale
In this recap episode of the last four shows, relive the journey that our 12 semifinalists took when they used the $50,000 they were given to finalize their inventions. The final four inventors will be highlighted and shown moving on to the final round, one step closer to winning one million dollars and to becoming the next great American Inventor.
13 :01x13 - The Finale
The Finale Viewers will see the four finalists struggle to make a 30-second commercial that best highlights their invention. The commercials will be shown and America will vote on who should win the one million dollar prize and become the next great American Inventor.
14 :01x14 - The Finale Results Show
The Finale Results Show After weeks of working hard, turning their ideas and inventions into finalized products, our last four inventors will learn who will become the next American Inventor. The inventor who received the most votes nationwide will be revealed -- LIVE -- and will receive the one million dollar prize.
15 :02x01 - Los Angeles
The second season begins with an open casting call in Los Angeles and San Fransisco for inventors. This season will also see new judges in George Foreman, Pat Croce and Sara Blakely.
16 :02x02 - San Francisco
Contestants from Los Angeles and San Fransisco pitch their ideas in hopes of moving on to the next round.
17 :02x03 - Chicago
Contestants in Chicago and New York City pitch their ideas in hopes of moving on to the next round. The tinkerer chosen from each city also receives $50,000 to develop their invention. Pitches include a heart-pumping gadget and an all-ages toy.
18 :02x04 - New York City
Contestants in Chicago and New York City pitch their ideas in hopes of moving on to the next round. The tinkerer chosen from each city also receives $50,000 to develop their invention. Pitches include a bathroom gadget; a roller-skating device; an advancement in how couples watch television.
19 :02x05 - Houston
Contestants in Houston and Tampa pitch their ideas in hopes of moving on to the next round. The tinkerer chosen from each city also receives $50,000.
20 :02x06 - Tampa
More contestants in Houston and Tampa pitch their ideas in hopes of moving on to the next round. The tinkerer chosen from each city also receives $50,000. Pitches include a gadget to entertain dogs and a lifesaving device.
21 :02x07 - Episode 7
The six finalists go through a process of focus-group testing and meetings with advisers to complete their prototype within a $50,000 budget. The three best designs as chosen by the judges will vie for viewer votes in the finals.
22 :02x08 - Finale
The second season wraps up with the three finalists making one last plea for their invention. The contestant who garners the most viewer votes wins the $1 million prize.