I was on a tech reality TV show

[linux-works]

Hope its ok to toot my horn a little ..

For a 4 month period, I worked at Intel on a special project; the project was the Intel/TBS joint reality TV show called "America's Greatest Makers".  This is currently airing now on US TV, Tuesday nites.  Its about mid-way thru with the season.

Here I am, looking, uhm, confused (LOL) while on camera.  This was filmed at Tech Shop in San Francisco over the last half year or so.  I was hired as a software (and occasionally hardware) 'mentor' for the 24 contestants that were selected to compete for the million dollar final prize.



The projects all had to use the Intel Curie module, some in arduino mode and some in Intel's own rtos.  The drama is unfolding now on TBS and I'm not allowed to say much more; and I had to wait until I saw myself (their rules) before I could even say anything.

Anyway, its a step forward to help the non-makers get a feel for what being a maker is about.  Time will tell if this kind of show helps motivate new makers, but its nice that the idea of DIY is getting more prime-time visibility.

This was definitely the most fun I ever had on any 'job'


Photo from the AGM website, showing many of us mentors in the San Fran Tech Shop work area:

https://americasgreatestmakers.intel.com/agm/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2015/12/DSC01661-02-1280x490.jpg

[EEVblog]

Hope its ok to toot my horn a little ..

No one else will toot it for you!
For those who haven't heard it, Joe Grand talking about the reality TV show experience (TLDL not good)
http://www.theamphour.com/the-amp-hour-60-pancyclopaedic-prototyping-polymath/

[calexanian]

I will need to DVR them.

[linux-works]

fwiw, I tried to wear one of the 'I only give negative feedback' shirts while on the air, but they refused ;(  I so wanted that to see airtime.  oh well.   they have a lot of rules.

[linux-works]

For those who haven't heard it, Joe Grand talking about the reality TV show experience (TLDL not good)

wish I could talk about it, but we are not allowed to stay what goes on.  sucks, but there are huge fines.

I can say: I never went hungry.  and I eat a lot

[ez24]

Keep us up to date.  I do not have cable so I do not get that station

thanks

[linux-works]

funny you say that, I don't get cable - and most of the people I know also don't get cable-tv.  we get cable-internet.  but no tv packages added to it.  I have to ask a friend to make a dvr copy so I can watch it

[SL4P]

That mentor / engagement role would have been pretty good fun.
Unlike (some*) online forums, which, being two-way... there are often 'haterz' trying to rip down those with years of experience!

*not EEVblog!

[Shock]

https://www.americasgreatestmakers.com/video/americas-greatest-makers-ep-1-full-episode/
https://www.americasgreatestmakers.com/video/americas-greatest-makers-ep-2-full-episode/

[edy]

Awesome! I hope they have it available up here in Canada. I'll have to check my listings to see if we subscribe to TBS or not.

I hope it's finally some good reality TV... most of the genre is just horrible. I often see that to make things entertaining for TV's general audience, producers focus on the "drama" and "conflicts". I hope that this show has more education and tech problem solving... from what I see by the YouTube preview, it looks like it does! 

I know you're not allowed to say much, but my friend's wife was on a show in Canada similar to the one called "Take Home Chef" or "Surprise Chef". She meets a professional chef and camera crew in a grocery store and if she agrees, they come back to her home and prepare a meal for the husband, who is surprised by the gourmet meal he receives at home. They made her "fake act" like she has no clue around the kitchen, burned something, etc.... because it makes it a more fun show to watch. 

Here's what I found on YouTube:

[Shock]

Internet failure, must read all previous posts.

[BravoV]

Congrats ..  .. too bad can't watch it yet here.

[ez24]

Congrats ..  .. too bad can't watch it yet here.

You can see this thanks to shock


https://www.americasgreatestmakers.com/video/americas-greatest-makers-ep-1-full-episode/
https://www.americasgreatestmakers.com/video/americas-greatest-makers-ep-2-full-episode/

[BravoV]

Thanks ez24 ! 

[linux-works]

I don't do facebook, but a friend told me that all the mentors were on this one:

s

so I guess I'm in there somewhere.

they have not shown the mentors, as a group on the tv show.  not sure what newegg is doing with this video, though (lol).

[zapta]

For a 4 month period, I worked at Intel on a special project; the project was the Intel/TBS joint reality TV show called "America's Greatest Makers".  This is currently airing now on US TV, Tuesday nites.

Found it on my TIVO, subscribed.  Reality TV experience can take you places.

[Shock]

The latest episodes are on their website free and they seem to be adding more as they air.

https://www.americasgreatestmakers.com/video/americas-greatest-makers-ep-1-full-episode/
https://www.americasgreatestmakers.com/video/americas-greatest-makers-ep-2-full-episode/
https://www.americasgreatestmakers.com/video/americas-greatest-makers-ep-3-full-episode/
https://www.americasgreatestmakers.com/video/americas-greatest-makers-ep-4-full-episode/

[linux-works]

I think there is one episode left.

fwiw, I was on again this week, for the 2nd time, with 'handsOn' an american sign language (ASL) sensor glove project team that, I must say, did an incredible presentation (brendon and mira, you two surprised us all!)