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TV Media Weekly | July 28 - August 3, 2018 By Francis Babin TV Media O nce upon a time, there was an unfair belief held by many that arts and crafts were for little kids and grandparents. It was glitter- covered macaroni art that your kid sister brought home from school or something your nana knitted while watching "Matlock" or "Murder, She Wrote." Times have changed, however. Nowadays, crafts are in and crafts- manship is cool, while DIY is much more than a simple acronym — it's a lifestyle. On Tuesday, July 31, grab your paint, glue gun, hammer and saw, and let the crafting begin with the premiere of "Making It" on NBC. Arts and crafts are big business these days. Not long ago, artisans and builders had limited options if they wanted to sell their wares, but this is no longer the case, thanks in large part to social media and the rise of the internet. Now anyone with a bit of extra time can easily sell their homemade cat toys, key- chains, beads, quilts, frames, chairs and just about anything homespun on Facebook, Instagram, eBay or Etsy with only a few clicks. Items that were made to pass the time on a rainy day can now be found on the walls of a home halfway around the world — and for good money. NBC is looking to capitalize on the popularity of handcrafted goods (and television reunions) with its new, six-episode competi- tion series, "Making It." Three years after the end of the critically lauded "Parks and Recreation," the always hilarious Amy Poehler reunites with her equally funny for- mer co-star, Nick Offerman, to host the competition. The basic premise of the craft- off is quite simple, and it's fun for the whole family. Every week, eight artisans from across Ameri- ca are pitted against one another to try to impress Poehler, Offer- man and the expert judges, Simon Doonan and Dayna Isom Johnson. The contestants compete in themed challenges that are in- spired by crafting and DIY trends that test their creativity, skills and outside-the-box thinking. The talented fabricators have a chance to shine over the course of two rounds: the faster-craft round and master-craft collection round. The former is a timed challenge that will test the makers' ability to work quickly and be creative under pressure. The latter is a special challenge in which the competitors must use their inventiveness, ex- pertise, experience and know-how to successfully put together the winning craft. "Making It" features contes- tants who are extremely proficient with paint, fabric, wood and metal. Over the course of six episodes, we will get to know and love the com- petitors as they share their touch- ing and personal stories that often inspire them. Sadly, however, there can only be one Master Maker. The competition sheds light on a world that many aren't fa- miliar with, and features plenty of laughs, puns and extraordi- nary creations that are guaran- teed to inspire. Poehler touched on this during an interview with Entertainment Weekly, saying: "At the very most, you will fall in love with our makers, get intro- duced to a world you may not know anything about, and even get inspired to make something at home!" Impressing the hosts is no easy feat, and standing out in front of the expert judges is even harder. The Creative Ambassador-at- Large of the New York City-based clothing store Barneys, Doonan serves as one of the judges for the competition. The always witty fashion commentator has penned several popular books and is no stranger to creativity competi- tions. He has made many appear- ances on the long-running "America's Next Top Model," VH1's "Full Frontal Fashion" and "Iron Chef America." Johnson steps in beside Doo- nan as a fellow expert judge. Along with her judging duties, Johnson serves as an Etsy trend expert who shares the latest and greatest designs and exciting stories behind some of the most popular Etsy shops and sellers. Having worked for the wildly suc- cessful company since its early days, Doonan has developed some amazing insight into the world of crafts. As for the well-loved hosts, the comedic duo both share a passion and love for crafts and craftsman- ship. The "Parks and Rec" BFFs are looking forward to showcasing America's most talented makers and what can be accomplished with only a few tools and a great idea. Poehler is a self-proclaimed craft novice who is more interested in the skills involved than in the crafts themselves. She has always been fascinated with the visionar- ies out there who can not only imagine but execute incredible projects by hand. Offerman, on the other hand, is a noted woodworker who builds boats professionally when he's not in front of the camera. The comedian fabri- cates furniture, canoes and oth- er wooden structures on the side, and has even released sev- eral instructional DVDs on woodworking. The peacock network has al- ready struck gold with its two oth- er original, unscripted summer se- ries, "World of Dance" and "Ameri- ca's Got Talent," and is no doubt looking to go three for three. Have a laugh, learn what vellum is, get inspired and be creative with "Making It," premiering Tuesday, July 31, on NBC. "Making It" judges Dayna Isom Johnson and Simon Doonan Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman reunite in the name of crafting 2 | Cover story A/Grindstone Charlie's B/Norris Insurance 1 x 4" Encompass Credit Union 5 x 2"

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