Imagine Top Chef except instead of participants competing on food preparation, the participants are engineers competing on engineering projects. That’s the premise of this new Discovery Channel program, The Big Brain Theory. Ten very bright engineers are competing for $50,000 and a plum job. Every week, one of the young engineers will be sent home. I’ll support any program that encourages young people to study science and math. The Big Brain Theory premiers tonight at 10 P.M. EDT. Check your local listings for times in your area. Check out the trailer below.
I think I have seen this mentioned on the BBC channel. I wish they would bring the art compeition back competition
Patti, everything is ratings driven. Science and art are hard sells.
Kumar!
Yes, Jeff, Kumar is the host of THE BIG BRAIN THEORY. I’d prefer Padma.
Isn’t this the second season? I thought I saw this last season, unless it was a full length preview of some kind.
Rick, the ads say “Premiere” so I’m guessing you saw an extended teaser. The real program airs tonight.
I’m fed up with “You are eliminated” competition shows, of whatever sort. I think more worthy of note is that tonight is the first episode of the tenth season of Mythbusters (which Discovery is using as lead-in to Big Brain Theory, whose producers are as original in picking a title as they are in picking a format). Mythbusters is one of the two great science shows of this century (the other was Good Eats, regrettably canceled — I suspect in part, so that Alton Brown would be available to host a you-are-eliminated cooking show). Though, admittedly, Mythbusters has been scrambling to find useable “myths” for several seasons — becoming way too dependent on demonstrating that Hollywood action pictures (and viral YouTube videos) are full of special effects fakery (I’m shocked, shocked!).
Art, you’re right of course. But the pickings on cable TV are slim. MYTHBUSTERS is the Gold Standard. I just hope to be diverted by THE BIG BRAIN THEORY.
As usual, the Emperor of the Universe, Art Scott, says it all. I don’t watch any shows that have the You Are Eliminated format other than Mariner games, in which they are eliminated from the playoffs very early in the season.
I watch very little TV, Bob. Watching THE BIG BRAIN THEORY just shows you how desperate I am.