Discovery Channel announced today that actor, producer, and civil servant Kal Penn will serve as host of its new competition series "The Big Brain Theory." Penn, who starred in the hit film franchise "Harold & Kumar" as well as worked in the White House, began taping episodes earlier this week at WET in Los Angeles. The series, set to debut in the spring of 2013, will feature a seemingly impossible engineering challenge to be solved by the contestants each week.
"With the death of Steve Jobs, I think we all have wondered about the future of American innovation, and who will be the next great technological mind that will have serious impact on our lives. This show seeks to find that person, along the way revealing and celebrating the level of innovation that exists within our scientific community," said Nancy Daniels, executive vice president of production and development for Discovery Channel.
There are countless television shows in search of the next breakout singer, dancer, chef, fashion designer and business executive. However, there is nothing quite like this. Competitors will have just 30 minutes to come up with a solution using their own intellect to complete the challenge.
Based on logic and design, the expert panel of judges will determine the best engineering concept and select two captains to lead their team to execute the project. The team with the best design will remain safe, but the losers will face the judges who will determine which member will be eliminated.
The cameras will not only capture the tension and pressure in the design workshop, but will also go inside the living quarters where all the competitors must reside - dealing with each other's quirks and habits.
The winner of the competition will earn $50,000 and a one year contract to work at WET, the industry leader behind some of the world's most innovative water-based designed environments and experiences including the Fountains of Bellagio in Las Vegas.
"The Big Brain Theory" is produced by Pilgrim Studios for Discovery, with Pilgrim's Craig Piligian and WET CEO Mark Fuller serving as executive producers. Kal Penn also serves as a producer for the series. Craig Coffman serves as executive producer for Discovery.
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