Republication of Live Blog and Recap of ABC's American Inventor: Episode 201

by Seth Plattner

Part 4:

So, Steven Cousineau and his wheels. Wow. This guy is the definition of intensity. For what, though, I'm not really sure. Sure we can all respect him for his dedication and enthusiasm, but can someone tell me what his "invention" is? A wheel that delivers a message? What? He seems more concerned with showing how much he loves his invention rather than explaining what that invention was. I felt like we were all just watching this guys breaking point. When they all said no I was sort of cowering just waiting for him to start lashing out. Again, this guy is just another facet of the community of people out there who think they have the next greatest invention. Too bad he didn't. I don't think I would have told him that just because he scared me...

Part 5:

Bridgette Camarena had these paper or plastic or something graphics that you put under your toilet seat that change colors when your potter training kid pees on them. It's supposed to be a training device - Ok, does this not remind anyone of that mean prank you'd play on your friends when you stretched saran wrap over the toilet so when they drowsily stumbled in the bathroom during the night they peed all over themselves? This is what I picture happening with this invention. Lots and lots of splatter....

Richard Kopelle? Again? Those therapy buddies are a little scary with that voice. They sound like something possessed. And, yes, we all need a touch, but he seems like he is making these dolls as an excuse for a lack of human contact. That's sort of sad, yeah? I mean, i hate to get down on the guy, but perhaps he should be putting his energy into finding someone and not making someone. However, I will say that if it was tweaked a couple of degrees it might be ok for smaller children, because--without the voice--they are sort of cute. He's gotten three judges to say yes... we'll see how he does in the next round.

Part 6:

Greg Chavez was a great ending to tonight's episode of American Inventor, but I hate the sob story introduction...it just sets me up for heartache. Thank God this time was a little different. He had the great idea called "The Guardian Angel." The device is basically a Christmas tree angel that also serves as a sprinkler system for when dried out Christmas trees catch on fire.

And WOW! How fast did that tree go up in flames? Remind me to put extra water in my tree this year.

Anyway, this guy seems to have his heart in the right place. His idea is well founded and potentially life saving. I think with financial backing he could do good things with this. I'm glad to see someone with a thought-out invention. I'm rooting for this guy.

Overall Thoughts

So, what a start to this season of American Inventor, eh?

We unfortunately saw a lot more crap than cool, but you can't expect everyone to have great ideas, right? The good always comes with a hefty entourage of the bad. I'm excited for next week's episode when we will surely get to see more painfully bad, yet very entertaining inventor; and those few out there who know what they are doing.

Tonight's premier episode of American Inventor certainly got us started out on two left feet. This certainly wasn't anything unexpected; as with any talent competition the bad far outweighs the bad. We saw a device that held your hat on, a doggy barf bag, urine activated color changing toilet training pictures, and much much more.

I can see why the show's first episode starts with the crazies: it grabs our attention. Of they maybe 15 contestants they previewed tonight only 3 made it through to Los Angeles, but that doesn't mean we weren't entertained as we watched someone self-proclaim he re-invented the wheel. The three inventions that proved worthy for the judges were the Auto-Bib, to keep you clean while eating in the car, the Teraphy dolls, which reassure you when you need to hear it that "Everything is going to be Alright," and the Guardian Angel, which is a sprinkler system for your Christmas tree in case it catches on fire. We'll see how they all do with some financial backing and another round in front of the judges in L.A.

But, from the start, it should be an entertaining season so I encourage everyone to keep watching and talking.

See you next week for Episode 202 - Season 2 Episode 2 of ABC's American Inventor.

You can join in the forum discussions for American Inventor here .

We've just been nominated for the Best Hobby Blog for the Blogger's Choice Awards. It would really help us out, if you would go sign up and vote for us at http://www.bloggerschoiceawards.com/blogs/show/17958

Seth Plattner
Featured Blogger - My Blog
InventorSpot.com

Read: Update on Season 1 Finalists of American Inventor
Read: Update on Anecia Survival Capsule (Baby Seat)
Read: An Average Inventor's Audition Experience

Subscribe to our feed

If you like this article, could you please send it to a friend, or send out a Tweet, or Stumble it?

Filed under

Comments

Therapy Buddy? What the Hell!

Submitted on July 4th, 2007 by Anonymous (not verified)

I'm going to rant for one second - I watched last season and thought it was interesting, but the best inventions didn't get to the finals. The judges picked inventions that they liked, but things that won't rock the world immediately.

I'm starting to watch this season, but I don't think I'm going to anymore - outside of George saying he likes everything (which he might, but it's not worth a million bucks), they put the "my therapy buddy" through to the next round. What the hell! I thought this show was taking undiscovered, undeveloped talents and inventions and giving them life on this reality show? My therapy buddy has a web site, pretty much is developed (silly idea anyway) and is already being sold! New invention? How about oversized tickle-me-elmo doll that gives false sences of reality! If I had a therapy buddy and listened to his dribble, I would be in a whole heap of trouble in life!

What I did like was the firefighters idea for the safe ChristmasTree (however, I think it makes a stronger push for fake trees). Maybe I'll see what happens.

Opps, sorry, my therapy buddy (my wife) is talking to me - oh, and everything isn't "all right", I'm in trouble for not taking out the trash!

My Therapy Buddy already got

Submitted on July 7th, 2007 by AmericanCynic

If you didn't like the first episode, you really should stop watching. It doesn't get any better this season. On the plus side, My Therapy Buddy already got kicked out by the second week. They probably just threw him a bone so he would stop bothering them. As others have noted here, the Guardian Angel is too similar to several ideas that have been patented over the years. He had a good "story," but it's not that great an invention. In fact, nothing this season has been great. They really need to retool completely if they actually get a third season. Dump the love for sob stories, toilet gadgets and toys. Hire some research assistants for the auditions who can quickly knock out the concepts that have already been patented by others. I'm just waiting for the first time an AI contestant gets sued for infringement. Get rid of George Foreman and bring back Doug Hall, who's much more than just a smiling "I'd buy that" robot. No more kid contestants on screen just to get their dreams stomped on then patronizingly told to "keep punching."

I think a big factor in this

Submitted on July 8th, 2007 by Michelle

I think a big factor in this is the quality of submissions. They can only work with what they get. From my readings in the forums, the contracts are really tough for many inventors so they exclude themselves. So the great inventions probably never even try for the show and thus, they do not have much to work with to come up with great story lines.

I Agree That The Submissions Are Lousy

Submitted on July 8th, 2007 by Anonymous Getting Wackier (not verified)

IF the submissions were likely to get better than last year's, Doug would still be with the show. I think he knew there weren't going to be (m)any worthwhile inventions presented and bailed out to avoid what is becoming wackier. The advertisements for this week are also focusing on the ridiculous/borderline insane.

Quality of submissions

Submitted on July 8th, 2007 by AmericanCynic

On the other hand, other forum postings from auditioners say that there were plenty of better inventions at the auditions. The pre-judges just weeded them out because the people are too boring or they're too far along. I'm more inclined to believe they just want a freakshow for the home audience, just so the couch potatoes can say "Ha! I can do better than that." I mean, does anyone think they really can't get better submissions than a funnel for the toilet? Or that poor schmuck with the foam and paper towel tube "helmet"? If they really wanted to, I'm sure they could make this a real contest of decent inventions. On the bright side, the TV listing for the next episode does mention a hurricane-resistant home. If that's actually workable, it may finally be a finalist worth cheering on.

BTW, Seth, please fix your recap. The first entrant isn't something to keep your hat on your head. It's to keep your head from flopping over while you try to sleep sitting up. Which is just as silly, if not more so, but it's a real difference.

Pre-judged out inventions

Submitted on July 9th, 2007 by Anonymous (not verified)

I think they need a show showing the sucessfully marketed inventions knocked out in the initial stage. I bet they are more successful in that no one from last years toip four has made it yet; and the way it looks no one from this years top six will either!