CRIT-O-MATIC.Byline: - David Kronke American Inventor American Inventor is a reality television series based on a search for America's best inventor. It was conceived by UK entrepreneur Peter Jones, who appears on the somewhat similar British program Dragons' Den, and produced by Jones alongside Simon Cowell and the producers (ABC ABC in full American Broadcasting Co. Major U.S. television network. It began when the expanding national radio network NBC split into the separate Red and Blue networks in 1928. , Channel 7; 8 tonight; thereafter 9 p.m. Thursdays) Logline: "American Idol" for eggheads, courtesy of " A.I." judge Simon Cowell, who serves as an executive producer but doesn't appear. No problem, as the four judges (as opposed to three, making it completely different from any other TV talent competition) rival him as curmudgeons, and don't mind bickering bick·er intr.v. bick·ered, bick·er·ing, bick·ers 1. To engage in a petty, bad-tempered quarrel; squabble. See Synonyms at argue. 2. among themselves. (One is a dead ringer for Wallace Shawn.) Pros: Like " Idol," the show certainly seems to draw the crackpots, like the guy who introduces "The Bladder Buddy," something in which you wrap yourself to urinate urinate /uri·nate/ (u´ri-nat) to discharge urine. u·ri·nate v. To excrete urine. urinate to void urine. in public when there are no restrooms around, and the "Space Be e tle Utopia," an ant farm on whatever it is Barry Bonds was taking. So the early rounds should offer some amusement. Cons: Have you ever noticed how every opening for every reality series introducing the premise (loony/desperate/maybe-talented aspirants risk all/little/nothing to pursue victory/dreams/TV face time) is pretty much the same? The c razy , whipsaw Whipsaw A condition where an investor's security transaction is quickly followed by an opposite reaction. Sometimes referred to as "being whipped". Notes: An example would be buying a stock and, shortly after, the stock falls substantially in price. editing Cuisinarts maudlin maud·lin adj. Effusively or tearfully sentimental: "displayed an almost maudlin concern for the welfare of animals" Aldous Huxley. See Synonyms at sentimental. , wacky and confrontational moments before you can register them, which doesn't inspire much confidence that the rest of the show's going to be any more distinctive, does it? And it's as heavily padded as "Idol," which is saying something. In a nutshell: Former boy-band singers are accepted on an extremely dodgy dodgy - Synonym with flaky. Preferred outside the US concept, suggesting the jig is up and the judges were forced to cast some conventionally attractive faces on the show. Elsewhere tonight, a corrections officer with a portable exercise system offers inspirational uplift and a 14-year-old kid gets shafted. When contestants move on to the second round, their next challenge is refining their ideas, which doesn't seem to offer as much drama as "Idol," where each week, anyone's performance can be hit - and - miss. Our rating: Two and one half star CAPTION(S): photo Photo: ABC's ``American Inventor'' debuts tonight. |
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