Auditions set for 'American Inventor'

Attention, inventive Americans: ABC's "American Inventor" is embarking on its second-season search for you. The prize for the "ultimate in homespun ingenuity" is $1 million and the chance to market the winning product, series producer FremantleMedia North America said Tuesday.

Tryout dates were announced for March and April for Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, New York, Orlando, Fla., and Houston.

The contest is open to both individuals and teams, who may enter a sketch, a prototype or simply a concept. The invention must be something that can be mass-produced and sold in retail outlets, the producers said.

"American Idol" judge Simon Cowell and British businessman Peter Jones are also involved in producing the show. FremantleMedia produces Fox's "American Idol."

Last year's winner, Janusz Liberkowski of Los Gatos, Calif., created an infant car seat dubbed a "survival capsule." He has entered into a partnership with Evenflo to develop the product, FremantleMedia said.

The audition locations and dates: Los Angeles, Los Angeles Convention Center, March 18; San Francisco, Regency Center, March 25; Chicago, Navy Pier, March 31; New York, Broad Street Ballroom, April 4; Orlando, Fla., Contemporary Resort, April 9; Houston, location to be announced, April 13.

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FremantleMedia is the production arm of RTL Group, a division of media company Bertelsmann AG.

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On the Net:

http://www.AmericanInventor.tv

http://www.fremantlemedia.com