The idea for the show was full of promise. A Steampunk Maker show in the vein of Face-Off. That's where the good idea ENDED. Instead of a show committed to casting the very best of the Maker Movement (quite a few Makers declined audition requests or casting offers. One walked out during the first casting audition, saying *&^% this!), it was a show mired in the style of Jersey Shore, Housewives of ______, or Jerry Springer.
Profanity? Yes! Change the rules to keep the bad actors on, while kicking off talented Makers? Yes! Take the most talented Maker on the show and post-edit film to make him look The Villain? Yes! Drama, Drama, ad nausium, Drama? Yes! Oh and they sometimes make cool stuff.
Although there were casting changes right out of the gate to switch the pre-determined "Winner" that was planned, the "Reality Show Drama" focus made this nearly unwatchable. The highlight of the Series was the Nautical Bathroom that was Museum worthy (but ended up in a landfill instead of auctioned off for charity-IDIOTS!). The abundant talents of Ave', JW, Tayliss, James, Charles, Karianne and two others were given hardly a nod. Tragically the cameras were glued to Chain-Smoking, "My buddy is Jack Daniels", Eddie and "I was rejected for Project Runway but I will do ANYTHING and say ANYTHING to be on TV", Toxic Morgan. The production was addicted to highlighting their profane twin tantrums and eye rolls. More than one cast member still has PTSD from these two. It was that bad...
Dita von Teese said it best when she called one contestant "The Real Deal". She wasn't talking about Eddie...It was said in response to JW's exemplary work.
The three Judges did the best they could, and I give them props. All three attempted to put considerable intelligent thought, well-timed humor and brassy lipstick on this pig. They were trying to class up the amateurish camera work, absence of proper Maker supplies, complete lack of catchy theme music, absence of proper Steampunk "Feel" in the show and the Director's steadfast adherence to manufacturing fake drama, at any cost.
All this and the terrible casting of two desperate "Actor wannabes", ruined the show. They couldn't even outfit the Host correctly in Steam-Themed Garb. Her wardrobe looked plucked direct from Rue Paul's Drag Race's rejects.
It's too bad. They could have had a hit show with many quality seasons. We could have marveled each week at Real Makers with Real Talent, showing us HOW it was made. Instead, we got one rushed, sophomoric, glued-together mess, that I hope fades away into history and is erased from everyone's memory.