Everyday Edisons
Common Sense says
- Crackle
- Reality TV
- 2007
Parents say
Kids say
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A lot or a little?
The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that the 2020 reboot of Everyday Edisons is like a kinder, gentler Shark Tank. Entrepreneurs pitch product development experts for the chance to be mentored and have their product manufactured. The expert judges are generally very complimentary to the pitches and supportive to the entrepreneurs. The focus is on creating products that will eventually be for sale, but the companies' names and logos are not super prominent. In this show, success is more about following dreams than amassing wealth. Seasons 1 through 4 of this show aired from 2007 to 2012, and had a different format that feels dated now, but is the same in terms of kid-friendly content.
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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?
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
- Premiere date: April 28, 2007
- Cast: Louis Foreman, Chris Ferguson, Kelly Bagla
- Network: Crackle
- Genre: Reality TV
- TV rating: TV-PG
- Available on: Streaming
- Award: Emmy
- Last updated: July 14, 2020
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