Parents' Guide to

Everyday Edisons

By Ashley Moulton, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 10+

Entrepreneurial kids will enjoy this gentler Shark Tank.

TV Crackle Reality TV 2007
Everyday Edisons Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

  • Everyday Edisons TV Show: Scene 1
  • Everyday Edisons TV Show: Scene 2
  • Everyday Edisons TV Show: Scene 3

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What's the Story?

Season 5 of EVERYDAY EDISONS is a reboot of a show that aired on PBS from 2007 - 2012. The 2020 version is formatted similarly to Shark Tank, where entrepreneurs pitch their product idea to expert judges. That's about where the similarities end though. These judges are kind, are not contributing hundreds of thousands of dollars, and don't boast about their wealth and professional success. Each episode features three inventors. They explain a little bit about their backgrounds and then pitch their products to the judges. The judges deliberate and pick one inventor to become an "Everyday Edison." The winner receives a small cash prize, but more importantly, they get to manufacture their product with help from the show's team. Seasons 1 through 4 have a different format, in that 7 entrepreneurs are followed documentary-style as their product goes from an idea to the market.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

Kids who are always scheming up business ideas will likely enjoy this series, but it's geared more towards an adult audience. It's inspiring to see regular people come up with an idea and follow their dream of bringing it to market. However, while this is a reality competition show, the stakes are somewhat low. Parents who would rather their kids not watch Shark Tank may appreciate that the mentors are kind and supportive and the show is free of drama. Unfortunately, without those dramatic elements, the pure entertainment value of the show also decreases.

Seasons 1 through 4 (which aired from 2007 to 2012) of Everyday Edisons definitely feels dated and is fairly boring through a modern lens. It's still equally appropriate for kids, but they'll probably enjoy it less than the 2020 reboot.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about what kind of ideas are presented in Everyday Edisons. What problem would it solve? How would it work? Do you have any product ideas of your own?

  • Do you understand what the judges mean when they speculate that a product wouldn't be successful? Do you generally agree or disagree with the judges?

  • The judges talk about how products will be marketed to customers. Can you think of the last time an advertisement made you want to buy something? Why do you think the ad worked? What kind of techniques or tricks do marketers use to spark interest in prospective buyers?

TV Details

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