Season 1

In the premiere of American Inventor, we see the open casting calls in Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York, where inventors of all ages presented their weird, wacky, or wonderful inventions.

Contestants from the cities San Francisco and Chicago get a chance to show their invention ideas to the judges with hopes of making it to the next round.

More contestants from San Francisco, New York, and Denver show their ideas to the judges. But, in this episode, one willing contestant offers to run his truck over a car to prove his invention is worthy.

The nationwide search for America's next big invention continues with open casting calls in our nation's capital, Washington DC, and in San Francisco and Los Angeles.

In this special two-hour elimination episode, the group of 50 are called all together, and have one minute to re-pitch their invention in front of the judges and their fellow inventors. The judges narrow down the field to the top 24. The top 24 make a personal plea to the judges about what the invention means to them, and the field is eliminated down to 12. The 12 finalists are each given $50,000 to make their invention better.

This special edition of American Inventor showcases audition highlights of inventors who did not make it into the final rounds of the show. In this episode, part 1 of 2, most of the inventions have already been aired in previous episodes; however there is a minority of new, previously unaired material.

The search for America's Next Greatest Inventor continues in the first of four semi-final rounds. Ed Evangelista, one of the four judges, mentors three of the semi-finalists as they each use their $50,000 prize money to develop their products.

In the second semi-finals episode (out of four), judge Mary Lou Quinlan mentors three of the semi-finalists as they each use their $50,000 prize money to better their products. In the end, she must select only one to move on to the final round.

This special edition of American Inventor showcases audition highlights of inventors who did not make it into the final rounds of the show. In this episode, part 2 of 2, Matt Gallant counts down through the 10 most outrageous inventors of the series so far.

In the third of four semi-final rounds, three more of the semi-finalists use the $50,000 prize money to develop their inventions. In this episode Peter Jones mentors and judges the three contestants.

In the fourth of four semi-final rounds, three more of the contestants use the $50,000 prize money to develop their inventions. In this episode Doug Hall mentors and judges the three semi-finalists.

Airing right before the original airing of "The Finale", this recap episode summarizes the events of the four previous semi-final rounds ("Episode 106" through "Episode 109").

The four finalists attempt to create 30-second TV commercials for their inventions. The commercials will be aired and viewers will get the chance to see both the finished products and what the contestants had to go through creating them. At the end of the show, viewers are given the chance to vote on who they think deserves the $1 million prize and bragging rights as "The American Inventor".

One week after the finalists' final products and commericials have aired, the winner who receives the most votes nationwide will be announced and presented with a grand prize worth one million dollars.