Smash Lab

Smash Lab (Courtesy Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

Smash Lab was a reality television series that premiered on December 26, 2007, on the Discovery Channel. The idea of the show is to take everyday technology and test it in "extraordinary ways."

Cast

The Smash Lab team is composed of Deanne Bell (scientist), Chuck Messer (engineer), Nick Blair (designer, season 1 only), Kevin Cook (creative expert, season 1 only), Reverend Gadget (fabricator, season 2 only), and Nathaniel Taylor (artisan, season 2 only). Blair has a degree in industrial design, and both Bell and Cook have degrees in mechanical engineering. Messer has an undergraduate degree in industrial engineering as well as a graduate degree in industrial design. It is currently being shown on Discovery Channel UK with Tony Hirst as the narrator.

Seasons

First season

Smash Lab premiered on December 26, 2007. The Smash Lab team for season one was composed of Deanne Bell, Chuck Messer, Nick Blair, and Kevin Cook.

Second season

Smash Lab was picked up for a second season with episodes beginning August 5, 2008. For the second season, two team members changed: Nick Blair and Kevin Cook were replaced by Reverend Gadget and Nathaniel Taylor (artisan). Gadget has appeared on other Discovery Channel shows, including Big! and Monster House. This season is narrated by comedian Ben Bailey, host of Cash Cab. The show was not renewed for a third season.

Episodes

See List of Smash Lab episodes for more information

Criticism and controversy

Smash Lab received extremely negative reviews. An article from "Daily Illini" criticizes the show heavily, saying: "Have you seen the show 'Smash Lab' on Discovery Channel? If you haven't, you're lucky. If you have, I'm sorry. It is possibly the dumbest show I have seen in a long time.". It has also been harshly reviewed on sites such as IMDb.

A Canadian-based online design and marketing firm called smashLAB claimed that its reputation had been tarnished because of its similar name.