TV: Everyday Edisons

I have to admit that even though PBS in high-definition is pleasant to watch, there sometimes isn't very compelling content available. A borderline concept for an HD show is "Everyday Edisons," a sort of reality TV feature that follows inventors who are helped through the process of obtaining a patent, designing a product, and going to market. See for yourself:



Frankly, it's kind of an odd show for HD. There aren't any stunning vistas, fast action, or even dramatic closeups. Still though, the concept is a good one, if only to make you realize how crushingly expensive it is to get a product on store shelves. Other invention contests (most notably ABC's "American Inventor") seem to be less detailed and less interesting, at least from a practical perspective.

Some of the actual inventions are of course unimpressive, but some are fairly neat (the Murtagh cement mixing hoe is so simple that it's a wonder no one's made something like that before). The USPTO is stuffed to the gills with frivolous patents and copycat ideas, so it's no surprise that some clunkers are featured on the show.