The Toys That Built America

*The Toys That Built America*
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

Last updated August 21, 2025

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]

Episodes

Series overview

Season	Episodes	Originally released
Season	Episodes	First released	Last released
1	4	November 28, 2021 (2021-11-28)	December 19, 2021 (2021-12-19)
2	10	October 23, 2022 (2022-10-23)	December 11, 2022 (2022-12-11)
3	12	October 15, 2023 (2023-10-15)	December 17, 2023 (2023-12-17)

Season 1 (2021)

No. overall	No. in season	Title ^[3]^[4]	Original release date ^[3]^[4]	Prod. code ^[3]	U.S. viewers (millions)
1	1	"Masters of Invention"	November 28, 2021 (2021-11-28)	101	1.11^[5]
The beginnings 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 (2021-12-05)	102	0.97^[6]
The beginnings of Mattel and Hasbro, with most of the episode focusing on Barbie and G.I. Joe.
3	3	"Toy Car Wars"	December 12, 2021 (2021-12-12)	103	0.87^[7]
The rise of Matchbox, and later on, Hot Wheels.
4	4	"Board Game Empires"	December 19, 2021 (2021-12-19)	104	0.88^[8]
The start of two board game empires: Milton Bradley and Parker Brothers.

Season 2 (2022)

No. overall	No. in season	Title ^[3]^[9]	Original release date ^[3]^[9]	Prod. code ^[3]	U.S. viewers (millions)
5	1	"The Birth of Video Games"	October 23, 2022 (2022-10-23)	201	0.49^[10]
The history of video games, from the moment Ralph Baer starts working on Pong to the video game crash of 1983.
6	2	"Masters of the Toy Universe"	October 30, 2022 (2022-10-30)	202	0.54^[11]
This episode focuses on action figures, in particular the toys related to Star Wars , Battlestar Galactica and Masters of the Universe .
7	3	"The Idea Man"	November 6, 2022 (2022-11-06)	203	0.56^[12]
The legacy of Marvin Glass.
8	4	"Brick by Brick"	November 13, 2022 (2022-11-13)	204	0.43^[13]
The history of Erector and Lego, which both allow the user to build what they want.
9	5	"Order Out of Chaos"	November 20, 2022 (2022-11-20)	205	0.48^[14]
The creation of Rubik's Cube, Jenga and Tetris.
10	6	"Cabbage Clash"	November 27, 2022 (2022-11-27)	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 (2022-12-04)	207	0.67^[16]
The birth of Teddy Ruxpin and Super Soaker.
12	8	"Plumber Bros vs. Hedgehog"	December 11, 2022 (2022-12-11)	208	0.42^[17]
Continuation of episode 2, this episode talks about the revival of the video game industry, with the console war between Nintendo, Sega, and later on, Sony's PlayStation.
13	9	"Christmas Crazes"	December 11, 2022 (2022-12-11)	209	0.41^[18]
The toys that used to be sought out a lot: Cabbage Patch Kids, Tickle Me Elmo, Beanie Babies and Furbies. Along with that, is a brief history about Black Friday.
14	10	"Gross Out Icons"	December 11, 2022 (2022-12-11)	210	0.37^[19]
Most notable gross-out toys, like Whoopee cushion, Slime, Madballs, Garbage Pail Kids and more.

Season 3 (2023)

No. overall	No. in season	Title ^[3]^[20]	Original release date ^[3]^[20]	Prod. code ^[3]	U.S. viewers (millions)
15	1	"Transforming Toy Invasion"	October 15, 2023 (2023-10-15)	301	0.40^[21]
16	2	"Mind Game Masters"	October 22, 2023 (2023-10-22)	302	0.31^[21]
17	3	"Video Game Visionaries"	October 29, 2023 (2023-10-29)	303	0.45^[21]
The history of Nintendo and its three famous franchises: Mario , The Legend of Zelda and Pokémon .
18	4	"Game Night Legends"	November 5, 2023 (2023-11-05)	304	0.26^[21]
19	5	"Mighty Mutant Mayhem"	November 12, 2023 (2023-11-12)	305	0.34^[21]
20	6	"Old Games, New Twists"	November 26, 2023 (2023-11-26)	306	0.27^[21]
21	7	"Happy Accidents"	December 3, 2023 (2023-12-03)	307	0.31^[21]
22	8	"The Santa That America Built"	December 10, 2023 (2023-12-10)	308	0.44^[21]
23	9	"90's Fad Toys"	December 10, 2023 (2023-12-10)	309	0.36^[22]
24	10	"Hottest Wheels"	December 10, 2023 (2023-12-10)	310	0.33^[22]
25	11	"The Prank Toy Race"	December 17, 2023 (2023-12-17)	311	0.29^[21]
26	12	"Most Valuable Toys"	December 17, 2023 (2023-12-17)	312	0.29^[23]

References

↑ "Dr. Sam Srauy appears on 'The Toys That Built America'". oaklandpostonline.com. The Oakland Post. November 16, 2022. Retrieved December 10, 2022. Dr. Sam Srauy's study of video games led to a television appearance on The History Channel's "The Toys That Built America" series.
↑ "'plumber Bros Vs. Hedgehog': Inside The Console Wars Of 'the Toys That Built America' Season Finale". syfy.com. sy fy. December 9, 2022. Retrieved December 10, 2022. Perhaps nowhere is that more apparent than in this Sunday's Season 2 finale of The HISTORY Channel's The Toys That Built America.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "The Toys That Built America Episode Listings". The Futon Critic.
1 2 "The Toys That Built America Season 1 Episode Guide". Zap2it.
↑ Metcalf, Mitch (December 1, 2021). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 11.28.2021". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
↑ Metcalf, Mitch (December 7, 2021). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 12.5.2021". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
↑ Metcalf, Mitch (December 14, 2021). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 12.12.2021". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
↑ Metcalf, Mitch (December 21, 2021). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 12.19.2021". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
1 2 "The Toys That Built America Season 2 Episode Guide". Zap2it.
↑ Metcalf, Mitch (October 25, 2022). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 10.23.2022". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
↑ Metcalf, Mitch (November 1, 2022). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 10.30.2022". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
↑ Metcalf, Mitch (November 8, 2022). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 11.6.2022". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
↑ Metcalf, Mitch (November 15, 2022). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 11.13.2022". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
↑ Metcalf, Mitch (November 22, 2022). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 11.20.2022". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
↑ Metcalf, Mitch (November 29, 2022). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 11.27.2022". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
↑ Metcalf, Mitch (December 6, 2022). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 12.4.2022". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
↑ Metcalf, Mitch (December 13, 2022). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 12.11.2022". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
↑ Metcalf, Mitch (December 13, 2022). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 12.11.2022". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
↑ Metcalf, Mitch (December 13, 2022). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 12.11.2022". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
1 2 "The Toys That Built America Season 3 Episode Guide". Zap2it.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "The Toys That Built America". USTVDB. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
1 2 "History Channel Ratings Report (December 4-10, 2023)". Nielsen Media Research. December 12, 2023.
↑ "History Channel Ratings Report (December 11-17, 2023)". Nielsen Media Research. December 19, 2023.

External links

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[1] "Dr. Sam Srauy appears on 'The Toys That Built America'". oaklandpostonline.com. The Oakland Post. November 16, 2022. Retrieved December 10, 2022. Dr. Sam Srauy's study of video games led to a television appearance on The History Channel's "The Toys That Built America" series.

[2] "'plumber Bros Vs. Hedgehog': Inside The Console Wars Of 'the Toys That Built America' Season Finale". syfy.com. sy fy. December 9, 2022. Retrieved December 10, 2022. Perhaps nowhere is that more apparent than in this Sunday's Season 2 finale of The HISTORY Channel's The Toys That Built America.

[The_Futon_Critic-3] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "The Toys That Built America Episode Listings". The Futon Critic.

[Zap2it_Season_1-4] 1 2 "The Toys That Built America Season 1 Episode Guide". Zap2it.

[5] Metcalf, Mitch (December 1, 2021). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 11.28.2021". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved July 2, 2023.

[6] Metcalf, Mitch (December 7, 2021). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 12.5.2021". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved July 2, 2023.

[7] Metcalf, Mitch (December 14, 2021). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 12.12.2021". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved July 2, 2023.

[8] Metcalf, Mitch (December 21, 2021). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 12.19.2021". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved July 2, 2023.

[Zap2it_Season_2-9] 1 2 "The Toys That Built America Season 2 Episode Guide". Zap2it.

[10] Metcalf, Mitch (October 25, 2022). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 10.23.2022". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved July 2, 2023.

[11] Metcalf, Mitch (November 1, 2022). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 10.30.2022". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved July 2, 2023.

[12] Metcalf, Mitch (November 8, 2022). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 11.6.2022". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved July 2, 2023.

[13] Metcalf, Mitch (November 15, 2022). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 11.13.2022". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved July 2, 2023.

[14] Metcalf, Mitch (November 22, 2022). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 11.20.2022". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved July 2, 2023.

[15] Metcalf, Mitch (November 29, 2022). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 11.27.2022". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved July 2, 2023.

[16] Metcalf, Mitch (December 6, 2022). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 12.4.2022". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved July 2, 2023.

[17] Metcalf, Mitch (December 13, 2022). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 12.11.2022". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved July 2, 2023.

[18] Metcalf, Mitch (December 13, 2022). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 12.11.2022". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved July 2, 2023.

[19] Metcalf, Mitch (December 13, 2022). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 12.11.2022". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved July 2, 2023.

[Zap2it_Season_3-20] 1 2 "The Toys That Built America Season 3 Episode Guide". Zap2it.

[ustvdb-21] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "The Toys That Built America". USTVDB. Retrieved October 24, 2023.

[nielsen-22] 1 2 "History Channel Ratings Report (December 4-10, 2023)". Nielsen Media Research. December 12, 2023.

[23] "History Channel Ratings Report (December 11-17, 2023)". Nielsen Media Research. December 19, 2023.

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