Creativity and ingenuity! Those are the most important factors for success on American Inventor, a fresh new entrant in the reality TV genre. Stir up some inspiration in yourself by watching on satellite TV as average Joes and Janes turn their ideas into revolutionary new products.

 American inventor, the name of the show, is a giveaway for the general idea – inventions made by entrepreneur Americans – but it doesn’t totally explain the whimsical appeal of the show itself. Inventing new products becomes a competition, as 12 players, selected from hundreds of entrants, try to make their own invention the best of all.

The program’s format allows for a close understanding of each personality and project. The group of inventors selected are split up into groups of three, and each show then focuses on one group at a time as the three people compete against one another. Every individual on the show is given a budget of $50,000 dollars to enhance their invention – an amount that can be huge or tiny depending on the techniques and materials required for each product, tool or toy. At the end of each show some are sent home while others advance one step further toward their dream.

Although the name of the show is all-American, it’s actually the brainchild of a group of UK-based producers. It was created by Peter Jones, who participated in a similar version in the UK, and produced by Simon Cowell and the producers of American Idol. Their success with other reality shows should be a clear indication that this show has got a lot to offer. It’s been just two seasons, and with any luck they will treat viewers with a third season soon.

The inventions featured on the show range from the weird to the everyday. Some are so brilliantly simple as to be a real contribution to society. One of the first season’s inventors created a training vest that helps athletes learn to catch a football, particularly aimed at helping receivers. The product is getting an endorsement from Jerry Rice and will actually get manufactured and be available for purchase in the future.

There are other excellent ideas: Who doesn’t want a clip to use when the lock on a bathroom door is broken? And no doubt the world would benefit from a toilet that stopped the spread of bacteria when it flushed. In season two there was a truly exciting and unique invention that certainly deserved to win – a convertible and backless bra by Elaine Cato. Happily, even without winning it still piqued the interest of several manufacturers and is now sold by Maidenform. That’s the beauty of the show – although there is always one person who carries away a cool million in business resources and support, most of the inventions are compelling enough that they get picked up by big brands and are successfully developed into reality.

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