Fox’s LEGO Masters reality competition launched this week to ratings gold with 4.8 million total viewers. No doubt the widespread familiarity and love of LEGO products helped boost the ratings. There is a lot to like, especially the amazing talent of the teams. Perhaps as important, are the deep friendships on display.
The concept for LEGO Masters is straightforward. Ten teams of two are given a challenge to build a LEGO masterpiece. For the premiere show, the task was to build a section of an amusement park that included a moving ride. The competition is simple even if the LEGO builds are anything but.
It’s during the [15 freaking hours] challenge that we learn the backstories of the competitors, and watch the friendships in action. Some teams are husband and wife, father and son, brothers, or just friends brought together by their love of LEGO. The competition is about friends (and family) playing with LEGO together. This is the point of LEGO. The word LEGO is a portmanteau of the Danish phrase “Leg Godt,” which translates as “Play Well.”
Like most friends and family, not everyone plays well all the time, so we get to see some mild drama. However, at the core of the LEGO Masters teams, there are meaningful friendships and common bonds. For example, Krystle and Amie, who form “The Unicorns,” come from different backgrounds. One is a Special Ed teacher and the other a software engineer. What brought them together is a love of LEGO building and cosplay, which shows in their bright, multi-color design.
LEGO MASTERS OVERVIEW
Hosted by Will Arnett (LEGO Batman) with judges Amy Corbett and Jamie Berard (Senior Design Managers at LEGO), the winning team each week gets a “golden brick,” which they can use for immunity in future challenges. The losing team goes home. The top team at the end of the season wins $100,000 and earns the title “LEGO Master.”
Guest judges this season include LEGO Movie writers and directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, as well as Terry Crews, Nicole Byer, and Mayim Bialik.
Without giving anything away, the LEGO builds in the first episode are amazing, so check out the show and get inspired to build your own LEGO designs.
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