The Toys That Built America | |
---|---|
Genre | Historical |
Country of origin | United States |
Original language | English |
No. of seasons | 3 |
No. of episodes | 26 |
Original release | |
Network | History |
Release | November 28, 2021 – present |
The Toys That Built America is an American nonfiction docudrama series that premiered on the History Channel on November 28, 2021. Each episode outlines the development of a popular toy, invention, or company in the United States, typically focusing on their rise and any rivals or struggles. Historical events in the relevant timelines are re-enacted for dramatic effect and interspersed with commentary by toy historians, business experts, and toy enthusiasts. [1] [2]
It is the ninth installment of the That Built franchise.
No. overall | No. in season | Title [3] [4] | Original air date [3] [4] | Prod. code [3] | U.S. viewers (millions) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1 | "Masters of Invention" | November 28, 2021 | 101 | 1.11 [5] |
The beginning of Slinky, Silly Putty, and company Wham-O (with Hula hoop), all born by chance. | |||||
2 | 2 | "Clash of the Toy Titans" | December 5, 2021 | 102 | 0.97 [6] |
The beginning of Mattel and Hasbro, with most of the episode focusing on Barbie and G.I. Joe. | |||||
3 | 3 | "Toy Car Wars" | December 12, 2021 | 103 | 0.87 [7] |
The rise of Matchbox, and later on, Hot Wheels. | |||||
4 | 4 | "Board Game Empires" | December 19, 2021 | 104 | 0.88 [8] |
The start of two board game empires: Milton Bradley and Parker Brothers. |
No. overall | No. in season | Title [3] [9] | Original air date [3] [9] | Prod. code [3] | U.S. viewers (millions) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
5 | 1 | "Masters of the Toy Universe" | October 23, 2022 | 201 | 0.49 [10] |
This episode focuses on action figures, in particular the toys related to Star Wars, Battlestar Galactica and Masters of the Universe. | |||||
6 | 2 | "The Birth of Video Games" | October 30, 2022 | 202 | 0.54 [11] |
The history of video games, from the moment Ralph Bear starts working on Pong to the video game crash of 1983. | |||||
7 | 3 | "The Idea Man" | November 6, 2022 | 203 | 0.56 [12] |
The legacy of Marvin Glass. | |||||
8 | 4 | "Brick by Brick" | November 13, 2022 | 204 | 0.43 [13] |
The history of Erector and Lego, both allows user to build what they want. | |||||
9 | 5 | "Order Out of Chaos" | November 20, 2022 | 205 | 0.48 [14] |
The birth of Rubik's Cube, Jenga and Tetris. | |||||
10 | 6 | "Cabbage Clash" | November 27, 2022 | 206 | 0.50 [15] |
From Martha Nelson's design, come Cabbage Patch Kids, and later on, Garbage Pail Kids. | |||||
11 | 7 | "80's Tech Toys" | December 4, 2022 | 207 | 0.67 [16] |
The birth of Teddy Ruxpin and Super Soaker. | |||||
12 | 8 | "Plumber Bros vs. Hedgehog" | December 11, 2022 | 208 | 0.42 [17] |
Continuation of episode 2, this episode talks about the revival of video game industry, with the console war between Nintendo, Sega, and later on PlayStation. | |||||
13 | 9 | "Christmas Crazes" | December 11, 2022 | 209 | 0.41 [18] |
The toys that used to be sought out a lot: Cabbage Patch Kids, Tickle Me Elmo, Beanie Babies and Furby. Along with that is a brief history about Black Friday. | |||||
14 | 10 | "Gross Out Icons" | December 11, 2022 | 210 | 0.37 [19] |
Most notable gross out toys, like Whoopee cushion, Slime, Madballs, Garbage Pail Kids,... and more. |
No. overall | No. in season | Title [3] [20] | Original air date [3] [20] | Prod. code [3] | U.S. viewers (millions) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
15 | 1 | "Transforming Toy Invasion" | October 15, 2023 | 301 | 0.40 [21] |
16 | 2 | "Mind Game Masters" | October 22, 2023 | 302 | 0.31 [21] |
17 | 3 | "Video Game Visionaries" | October 29, 2023 | 303 | 0.45 [21] |
The history of Nintendo and its three famous franchise: Mario, The Legend of Zelda and Pokemon. | |||||
18 | 4 | "Game Night Legends" | November 5, 2023 | 304 | 0.26 [21] |
19 | 5 | "Mighty Mutant Mayhem" | November 12, 2023 | 305 | 0.34 [21] |
20 | 6 | "Old Games, New Twists" | November 26, 2023 | 306 | 0.27 [21] |
21 | 7 | "Happy Accidents" | December 3, 2023 | 307 | 0.31 [21] |
22 | 8 | "The Santa That America Built" | December 10, 2023 | 308 | 0.44 [21] |
23 | 9 | "90's Fad Toys" | December 10, 2023 | 309 | 0.36 [22] |
24 | 10 | "Hottest Wheels" | December 10, 2023 | 310 | 0.33 [22] |
25 | 11 | "The Prank Toy Race" | December 17, 2023 | 311 | 0.29 [21] |
26 | 12 | "Most Valuable Toys" | December 17, 2023 | 312 | 0.29 [23] |
Sistas is an American comedy drama television series created, written and executive produced by Tyler Perry that premiered on October 23, 2019, on BET.
Family Karma is an American reality television series that premiered on Bravo on March 8, 2020.
Tyler Perry's Assisted Living is an American television sitcom created and produced by Tyler Perry that premiered on BET on September 2, 2020. David Mann and Tamela Mann reprised their roles from Meet the Browns.
The Food That Built America is an American nonfiction docudrama series for the History Channel, that premiered on August 11, 2019. Each episode outlines the development of a popular type of food or restaurant in the United States, typically focusing on the rise of two major companies that become rivals. Historical events in the relevant timelines are re-enacted for dramatic effect and interspersed with commentary by culinary historians, business experts, and food enthusiasts.
Dr. Sam Srauy's study of video games led to a television appearance on The History Channel's "The Toys That Built America" series.
Perhaps nowhere is that more apparent than in this Sunday's Season 2 finale of The HISTORY Channel's The Toys That Built America.