America’s Greatest Makers

America’s Greatest Makers is a 2016 reality TV show on TBS that chose 24 teams from thousands of inventors and creators to compete for a $1 million prize. The judges are Intel CEO Brian Krzanich, game show host Kevin Pereira and radio and TV personality Carol Roth. In its first season the show featured guest judges Kenny Smith, Mayim Bialik, Shaquille O’Neal, Massimo Banzi and Mike Rowe. Sponsored by silicon chip maker Intel and produced by Mark Burnett (of Survivor fame) and MGM Television, America’s Greatest Makers also enjoys a large viewership on its website, with video segments hosted by Cara Santa Maria and guest correspondent Chris Hardwick, of Nerdist.

WithMe co-creators Rebeccah Pailes-Friedman and Bryan Wong saw their product through the fourth of 8 episodes, outlasting half of the 24 teams that began the competition. Intel says the show exists in large part to foster a collaborative relationship with the maker community — the hackers and inventors whose creations are likely to drive the evolution of the Internet of Things. A second season was announced in May 2016.