The Toys That Built America

The Toys That Built America
GenreHistorical
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons3
No. of episodes26
Original release
NetworkHistory
ReleaseNovember 28, 2021 (2021-11-28) –
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.

Episodes[edit]

Series overview[edit]

SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
14November 28, 2021 (2021-11-28)December 19, 2021 (2021-12-19)
210October 23, 2022 (2022-10-23)December 11, 2022 (2022-12-11)
312October 15, 2023 (2023-10-15)December 17, 2023 (2023-12-17)

Season 1 (2021)[edit]

No.
overall		No. in
season		Title [3][4]Original air date [3][4]Prod.
code [3]		U.S. viewers
(millions)
11"Masters of Invention"November 28, 2021 (2021-11-28)1011.11[5]
The beginning of Slinky, Silly Putty, and company Wham-O (with Hula hoop), all born by chance.
22"Clash of the Toy Titans"December 5, 2021 (2021-12-05)1020.97[6]
The beginning of Mattel and Hasbro, with most of the episode focusing on Barbie and G.I. Joe.
33"Toy Car Wars"December 12, 2021 (2021-12-12)1030.87[7]
The rise of Matchbox, and later on, Hot Wheels.
44"Board Game Empires"December 19, 2021 (2021-12-19)1040.88[8]
The start of two board game empires: Milton Bradley and Parker Brothers.

Season 2 (2022)[edit]

No.
overall		No. in
season		Title [3][9]Original air date [3][9]Prod.
code [3]		U.S. viewers
(millions)
51"Masters of the Toy Universe"October 23, 2022 (2022-10-23)2010.49[10]
This episode focuses on action figures, in particular the toys related to Star Wars, Battlestar Galactica and Masters of the Universe.
62"The Birth of Video Games"October 30, 2022 (2022-10-30)2020.54[11]
The history of video games, from the moment Ralph Bear starts working on Pong to the video game crash of 1983.
73"The Idea Man"November 6, 2022 (2022-11-06)2030.56[12]
The legacy of Marvin Glass.
84"Brick by Brick"November 13, 2022 (2022-11-13)2040.43[13]
The history of Erector and Lego, both allows user to build what they want.
95"Order Out of Chaos"November 20, 2022 (2022-11-20)2050.48[14]
The birth of Rubik's Cube, Jenga and Tetris.
106"Cabbage Clash"November 27, 2022 (2022-11-27)2060.50[15]
From Martha Nelson's design, come Cabbage Patch Kids, and later on, Garbage Pail Kids.
117"80's Tech Toys"December 4, 2022 (2022-12-04)2070.67[16]
The birth of Teddy Ruxpin and Super Soaker.
128"Plumber Bros vs. Hedgehog"December 11, 2022 (2022-12-11)2080.42[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.
139"Christmas Crazes"December 11, 2022 (2022-12-11)2090.41[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.
1410"Gross Out Icons"December 11, 2022 (2022-12-11)2100.37[19]
Most notable gross out toys, like Whoopee cushion, Slime, Madballs, Garbage Pail Kids,... and more.

Season 3 (2023)[edit]

No.
overall		No. in
season		Title [3][20]Original air date [3][20]Prod.
code [3]		U.S. viewers
(millions)
151"Transforming Toy Invasion"October 15, 2023 (2023-10-15)3010.40[21]
162"Mind Game Masters"October 22, 2023 (2023-10-22)3020.31[21]
173"Video Game Visionaries"October 29, 2023 (2023-10-29)3030.45[21]
The history of Nintendo and its three famous franchise: Mario, The Legend of Zelda and Pokemon.
184"Game Night Legends"November 5, 2023 (2023-11-05)3040.26[21]
195"Mighty Mutant Mayhem"November 12, 2023 (2023-11-12)3050.34[21]
206"Old Games, New Twists"November 26, 2023 (2023-11-26)3060.27[21]
217"Happy Accidents"December 3, 2023 (2023-12-03)3070.31[21]
228"The Santa That America Built"December 10, 2023 (2023-12-10)3080.44[21]
239"90's Fad Toys"December 10, 2023 (2023-12-10)3090.36[22]
2410"Hottest Wheels"December 10, 2023 (2023-12-10)3100.33[22]
2511"The Prank Toy Race"December 17, 2023 (2023-12-17)3110.29[21]
2612"Most Valuable Toys"December 17, 2023 (2023-12-17)3120.29[23]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Dr. Sam Srauy appears on 'The Toys That Built America'". oaklandpostonline.com. The Oakland Post. 2022-11-16. Retrieved 2022-12-10. 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. 2022-12-09. Retrieved 2022-12-10. Perhaps nowhere is that more apparent than in this Sunday's Season 2 finale of The HISTORY Channel's The Toys That Built America.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i "The Toys That Built America Episode Listings". The Futon Critic.
  4. ^ a b "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.
  9. ^ a b "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.
  20. ^ a b "The Toys That Built America Season 3 Episode Guide". Zap2it.
  21. ^ a b c d e f g h i "The Toys That Built America". USTVDB. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  22. ^ a b "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.

External links[edit]

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