ABC Announces Season 2 Premiere of American Inventor June 6  5/23/07

SEASON PREMIERE

"AMERICAN INVENTOR," THE GREATEST SEARCH FOR AMERICA'S NEXT BIG INVENTION, WILL HAVE ITS SEASON PREMIERE WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, ON ABC

From Simon Cowell and Co-Creator Peter Jones "American Inventor," from Simon Cowell and co-creator Peter Jones, returns for its exciting, innovative second season in search of America's best new invention, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6 (9:00-10:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

The show -- the embodiment of the ultimate American dream -- will uncover the hottest new product and make one struggling inventor's dream come true. With one million dollars at stake, "American Inventor" will celebrate the best in homespun American ingenuity.

"American Inventor's" panel of expert judges are businessman/former heavyweight champion/ordained minister George Foreman, British tycoon Peter Jones, entrepreneur Pat Croce and Spanx creator Sara Blakely. Nick Smith hosts.

In "Episode 201," the series kicks off with coverage of open casting calls in Los Angeles and San Francisco. Viewers will see inventors of all ages present their most prized inventions, featuring everything from the wacky to the heart warming.

National casting calls were held in six major cities across the country -- Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, New York, Houston and Tampa. Thousands of inventors, tinkerers and entrepreneurs of all ages applied.

"American Inventor" is the biggest search for the next great invention with wide consumer appeal. The panel of expert judges will narrow down the initial entries and choose one finalist from each city who will be given $50,000 seed money to further develop and refine his or her product for the semifinal round. In the end, it will be up to the American viewing audience to call in and vote for one of three finalists and the invention they feel is worthy of the one million dollar grand prize, moving that person one step closer to the dream of mass producing a product. The show will make the American dream come true for one innovative person who dared to act on an idea and was bold enough to go the distance to make his/her unique invention a reality.

"American Inventor" is produced by FremantleMedia North America, Simon Cowell's Syco Television and Peter Jones TV Ltd. Simon Cowell, Cecile Frot-Coutaz, Siobhan Greene, Peter Jones and Clay Newbill are executive producers. Dug James and Tabitha Hansen are co-executive producers. The series is broadcast with Spanish subtitles via secondary closed captioning. A TV parental guideline will be assigned closer to airdate

Source: ABC Press Release