The Big Brain Theory
{{Short description|American reality television show aired in 2013}}
{{Distinguish|The Big Bang Theory{{!}}The Big Bang Theory}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox television
| genre = Reality
| presenter = Kal Penn
| judges = Mark Fuller & Christine Gulbranson
| country = United States
| language = English
| num_seasons = 1
| num_episodes = 8
| runtime = 45 min.
| channel = Discovery Channel
| company = Pilgrim Studios
| first_aired = {{Start date|2013|5|1}}
| last_aired = {{End date|2013|6|19}}{{cite web|title=BIG BRAIN THEORY, THE: PURE GENIUS (DISCOVERY)|url=http://thefutoncritic.com/showatch/big-brain-theory/listings/|access-date=25 October 2016}}
}}
The Big Brain Theory is an American television show on the Discovery Channel that first aired in 2013, hosted by Kal Penn.{{cite magazine|author=James Sullivan |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/news/q-a-kal-penn-on-obama-harold-kumar-and-the-big-brain-theory-20130514 |title=Kal Penn on 'The Big Brain Theory' | Movies News |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=2013-05-14 |access-date=2013-06-24}} Eight episodes were produced.{{cite web|author=Newzware - ICannon |url=http://www.timesonline.com/entertainment/tv/the-big-brain-theory-pure-genius/article_88843d73-b4b7-579a-a34b-9fcb826f0309.html |title=The Big Brain Theory: Pure Genius - Timesonline.com: TV |publisher=Timesonline.com |date=2013-06-19 |access-date=2013-06-24}}
Format
Each week the contestants enter the blueprint challenge, where they are given 30 minutes to solve an engineering problem using only an electronic blackboard.{{cite web|last=Wiegand |first=David |url=http://www.sfchronicle.com/tv/article/Big-Brain-Theory-Pure-Genius-review-4470699.php |title='Big Brain Theory: Pure Genius' review - San Francisco Chronicle |publisher=Sfchronicle.com |date=2013-04-29 |access-date=2013-06-24}} The 2 contestants with the best solutions are chosen by the judges to be the leaders of the blue team and the red team, who now have to build a working solution.{{cite magazine|last=Spangler |first=Todd |url=https://variety.com/2013/tv/reviews/tv-reviews-the-big-brain-theory-pure-genius-karmas-a-btch-1200409963/ |title='The Big Brain Theory: Pure Genius,' 'Karma's a B*tch!' |magazine=Variety |date=2013-04-25 |access-date=2013-06-24}} The team leaders pick their members one by one, and they are given a certain time and budget to finish the task; workshop time is limited to 12 hours a day.{{cite web|url=http://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/the-big-brain-theory-pure-genius/500019 |title=The Big Brain Theory: Pure Genius Episodes - The Big Brain Theory: Pure Genius Season 1 2013 Episode Guides - Watch The Big Brain Theory: Pure Genius Episodes |publisher=TVGuide.com |access-date=2013-06-24}}
Their builds are then tested and the team that fails will face elimination. If both teams fail then nobody is safe from elimination. The judges will determine who leaves the competition. Once eliminated, one competitor can get back in if he/she wins the wild card, decided by the judges.{{cite web|url=http://makezine.com/2013/05/08/makers-on-tv-big-brain-theory/ |title=MAKE | Makers on TV: Big Brain Theory |publisher=Makezine.com |access-date=2013-06-24}}
The winner of the competition gets US$50,000 and a one-year contract to work for WET Enterprises, founded by Mark Fuller.{{cite web|last=Holmes |first=Linda |url=https://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2013/05/01/180325016/discoverys-big-brain-theory-not-that-kind-of-nerd-tv |title=Discovery's 'Big Brain Theory': Not That Kind Of Nerd TV : Monkey See |publisher=NPR |date=2013-05-01 |access-date=2013-06-24}} Contestants who have been eliminated cannot participate in the blueprint challenge any more, but they can still be picked for the teams and are eligible for the Judges' Prize, which is US$20,000.{{cite news|last=Genzlinger|first=Neil|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/01/arts/television/big-brain-theory-and-brain-games.html?_r=0|title=Gray Matter in Moments of Triumph and Defeat|newspaper=New York Times|date=2013-04-30|access-date=2013-08-04}}
Judges
In addition to the full judges, there is always a third guest judge that changes every week. The two full judges are:
- Mark Fuller, founder and CEO of WET Enterprises{{cite web|url=http://wetdesign.tv/ |title=WET TV | The Big Brain Theory: Pure Genius |publisher=Wetdesign.tv |access-date=2013-06-24}}
- Christine Gulbranson, founder and CEO of Christalis{{cite web|url=http://christinegulbranson.com/ |title=Dr. Christine Gulbranson * Innovation Strategist * Renewable Energy Innovator * Entrepreneur * Judge on The Big Brain Theory |publisher=Christinegulbranson.com |access-date=2013-06-24}}{{cite web|url=http://christalis.com/ |title=CHRISTALIS, LLC is a strategic advisory firm |publisher=Christalis.com |access-date=2013-06-24}}
Overview
= Contestants =
- Winner: Corey Fleischer, mechanical engineer{{cite web|author=Gerri Miller|url= https://www.mnn.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/stories/corey-fleischer-wins-discoverys-big-brain-theory-competition |title= Corey Fleischer wins Discovery's 'Big Brain Theory' competition |publisher=mnn.com |access-date=August 12, 2018}}
- Runner-up: Amy Elliott, engineering grad student{{cite web|author=Jacob Demmitt|url= https://www.roanoke.com/arts_and_entertainment/tv/engineering-student-ends-run-on-big-brain-theory/article_b73bff10-599a-58a0-a94f-cc8a1815dd0b.html |title=Student ends run on 'Big Brain Theory' |publisher=roanoke.com |access-date=2013-06-24}}{{cite web|url=http://www.amytheengineer.com/ | title=Amy Elliot |publisher= amytheengineer.com |access-date=August 12, 2018}}
- Judges' Prize: Tom Johnson, mechanical engineer
- Eric Whitman, robotics grad student{{cite web|url=http://www.nj.com/suburbannews/index.ssf/2013/05/engineer_from_westfield_compet.html |title=Engineer from Westfield competes on Discovery Channel's 'The Big Brain Theory' |date=24 May 2013 |publisher=NJ.com |access-date=2013-06-24}}
- Andrew Stroup, defense systems engineer[http://newsok.com/the-big-brain-theory-pure-genius-former-oklahoman-among-contestants-on-discovery-channels-new-reality-competition-show/article/3802747 ""The Big Brain Theory: Pure Genius": Former Oklahoman among contestants on Discovery Channel’s new reality competition show"]. newsok.com. April 24, 2013.
- Dan Moyers, space systems engineer
- Gui Cavalcanti, robotics engineer
- Alison Wong, product designer
- Joel Ifill, welding engineer
- Joe Caravella, rocket scientist
Bold denotes team captain.
= Episodes =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
! style="background:#4B0082; color:#FFFFFF" | # ! style="background:#4B0082; color:#FFFFFF" | Title ! style="background:#4B0082; color:#FFFFFF" | Guest judge ! style="background:#4B0082; color:#FFFFFF" | Winner ! style="background:#4B0082; color:#FFFFFF" | Eliminated ! style="background:#4B0082; color:#FFFFFF" | Original airdate |
| style="background:#F2F2F2; text-align:center" | 1
| style="background:#F2F2F2" | "The Next Great Innovator" | style="background:#F2F2F2; text-align:center" | Michael J. Massimino | style="background:#F2F2F2; text-align:center" | — | style="background:#F2F2F2; text-align:center" | Joe | style="background:#F2F2F2; text-align:center" | {{Start date|2013|05|01}} |
| colspan="3" style="vertical-align:top;border-bottom:3px solid #4B0082" | Keep a box full of explosives from blowing up when two trucks collide. Both teams fail. | colspan="3" style="vertical-align:top;border-bottom:3px solid #4B0082" |
|
| style="background:#F2F2F2; text-align:center" | 2
| style="background:#F2F2F2" | "Seek and Destroy" | style="background:#F2F2F2; text-align:center" | Bobak Ferdowsi | style="background:#F2F2F2; text-align:center" | Red team | style="background:#F2F2F2; text-align:center" | Joel | style="background:#F2F2F2; text-align:center" | {{Start date|2013|05|08}} |
| colspan="3" style="vertical-align:top;border-bottom:3px solid #4B0082" | Build a device remote-controlled from a bunker to hit a missile in the air.
| colspan="3" style="vertical-align:top;border-bottom:3px solid #4B0082" |
|
| style="background:#F2F2F2; text-align:center" | 3
| style="background:#F2F2F2" | "Three Little Pigs" | style="background:#F2F2F2; text-align:center" | Burt Dalton | style="background:#F2F2F2; text-align:center" | Red team | style="background:#F2F2F2; text-align:center" | Alison | style="background:#F2F2F2; text-align:center" | {{Start date|2013|05|15}} |
| colspan="3" style="vertical-align:top;border-bottom:3px solid #4B0082" | Build a shelter to protect a human life under the most extreme conditions.
| colspan="3" style="vertical-align:top;border-bottom:3px solid #4B0082" |
|
| style="background:#F2F2F2; text-align:center" | 4
| style="background:#F2F2F2" | "Triathlabots" | style="background:#F2F2F2; text-align:center" | Jason Bardis | style="background:#F2F2F2; text-align:center" | Blue team | style="background:#F2F2F2; text-align:center" | Dan | style="background:#F2F2F2; text-align:center" | {{Start date|2013|05|22}} |
| colspan="3" style="vertical-align:top;border-bottom:3px solid #4B0082" | Build a robot that can do the 100-yard dash, the javelin throw, and the standing long jump. Bryan Clay demonstrates the 3 athletics events. | colspan="3" style="vertical-align:top;border-bottom:3px solid #4B0082" |
|
| style="background:#F2F2F2; text-align:center" | 5
| style="background:#F2F2F2" | "Waterfall" | style="background:#F2F2F2; text-align:center" | Dezso Molnar | style="background:#F2F2F2; text-align:center" | Red team | style="background:#F2F2F2; text-align:center" | Gui | style="background:#F2F2F2; text-align:center" | {{Start date|2013|05|29}} |
| colspan="3" style="vertical-align:top;border-bottom:3px solid #4B0082" | Harness a waterfall to power an elevator. Dr. Gulbranson is absent from this episode. | colspan="3" style="vertical-align:top;border-bottom:3px solid #4B0082" |
|
| style="background:#F2F2F2; text-align:center" | 6
| style="background:#F2F2F2" | "The Wild Card" | style="background:#F2F2F2; text-align:center" | Brian David Johnson | style="background:#F2F2F2; text-align:center" | Blue team | style="background:#F2F2F2; text-align:center" | Andrew, Dan | style="background:#F2F2F2; text-align:center" | {{Start date|2013|06|05}} |
| colspan="3" style="vertical-align:top;border-bottom:3px solid #4B0082" | Design an automated food delivery system. Dan wins the wild card but gets eliminated again. | colspan="3" style="vertical-align:top;border-bottom:3px solid #4B0082" |
|
| style="background:#F2F2F2; text-align:center" | 7
| style="background:#F2F2F2" | "Catching Cars" | style="background:#F2F2F2; text-align:center" | Carl Edwards{{cite web|url=http://www.nascar.com/en_us/news-media/videos/2013/6/10/sprint-cup-series-carl-edwards-big-brain-theory.html |title=Edwards on The Big Brain Theory: Pure Genius |publisher=Nascar.com |date=2013-06-10 |access-date=2013-06-24}} | style="background:#F2F2F2; text-align:center" | Blue team | style="background:#F2F2F2; text-align:center" | Eric, Tom | style="background:#F2F2F2; text-align:center" | {{Start date|2013|06|12}} |
| colspan="3" style="vertical-align:top;border-bottom:3px solid #4B0082" | Stop any car that doesn't stop at the checkpoint without injuring the passengers. | colspan="3" style="vertical-align:top;border-bottom:3px solid #4B0082" |
|
| style="background:#F2F2F2; text-align:center" | 8
| style="background:#F2F2F2" | "Bridge Battle" | style="background:#F2F2F2; text-align:center" | Buzz Aldrin | style="background:#F2F2F2; text-align:center" | Blue team | style="background:#F2F2F2; text-align:center" | | style="background:#F2F2F2; text-align:center" | {{Start date|2013|06|19}} |
| colspan="3" style="vertical-align:top;border-bottom:3px solid #4B0082" | Build a bridge for a 3400-pound truck to cross.
| colspan="3" style="vertical-align:top;border-bottom:3px solid #4B0082" |
|
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|https://www.discovery.com/tv-shows/the-big-brain-theory-pure-genius/}}
- {{IMDb title|2865850}}
{{Discovery Channel programming}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Big Brain Theory, The}}
Category:2013 American television series debuts
Category:American English-language television shows