The Big Brain Theory

Season

2013

USA

7

TV-PG

THE BIG BRAIN THEORY: PURE GENIUS searches for America's brightest, boldest, out-of-the-box thinkers and pits them against one another in seemingly impossible engineering challenges. Host Kal Penn tasks competitors with building secure yet portable bunkers, triathlon-competing robots, and more. The winner will receive $50,000 and a one-year job contract.

Episode List

S1 • E1

The Next Great Innovator

Ten of the country's brightest minds begin a competition designed to discover the next great American Innovator.

S1 • E2

Seek and Destroy

The contestants face their toughest challenge yet: stop a missile with a missile. But when Dan storms out of the shop after a heated fight and the opposing team struggles to complete an improbable design, will either team complete their build?

S1 • E3

Three Little Pigs

After Joe and Joel are eliminated, the contestants now face a real-world challenge: build a personal shelter to keep a rescue worker safe from extreme wind, water, and fire. Can the teams keep their cool or will clashes over design derail both builds?

S1 • E4

Triathalabots

Competitors take on an Olympian challenge: design a robot that can tackle three athletic events. The threat of failure looms when one leader fails to manage his team's talents and later, a shocking elimination leaves one competitor in distress.

S1 • E5

Waterfall

The competitors must harness the power of a waterfall to build an elevator. While one team works together to get their idea off the ground, the other falls apart when tensions between Gui, Amy and Dan reach an all time high. Can they put aside their diffe

S1 • E6

The Wildcard

An explosive wildcard winner is brought back and the contestants are given the challenge of creating an automated machine that can prepare a meal for the masses. Stakes are higher than ever with a double elimination for the losing team, who will survive t

S1 • E7

Catching Cars

Check out new episodes of Property Wars, Thursdays at 10PM E/P. Four semifinalists face off in a contest to bring a speeding car to a safe stop. And in the closest elimination yet, the judges must choose between innovation and simplicity.

S1 • E8

Bridge Battle

In the season finale, the final two contestants go head-to-head in a challenge to build a deployable bridge. While one team goes with complexity and creativity, the other goes with simplicity. Which method will win its team leader the $50,000 grand prize?