User Reviews

I was wondering how some of the things featured in this series was made. Then I found this series, and learned how they're actually made. Showing how things are made on video is ideal way to learn how it's done. The show keeps it short and sweet - just perfect for us laymen to get the information we need.

I can think of at least a dozen episodes of exact items I wanted to learn how they're made, like drill bits, sugar, salt, ham, soy sauce, tofu, rum, needles, gears, magnets, bike chains, injection molds, batteries, and coffee. There's no other series that you can pick up so much information in one place, and the producer did an excellent job of compiling, and presenting the information in an entertaining way. Some episodes gave great overview for the kind of manufacturing that needs to be setup for a new business, which the information would have been difficult to obtain otherwise.

I rate this one of the best educational series on television along with Anthony Boudain's "No Reservations". I'm eternally grateful to the producers of this show for producing such an informative show.

What a joy it is to walk into the living room in the morning and see the kids watching something educational, ON THEIR OWN! Not only that, but I actually enjoy sitting with them and watching too because it's so interesting. We store multiple episodes on TiVo, read the descriptions, and decide which products we'd like to learn about. In this day and age we take everything for granted but How It's Made does a great job of taking everyday products and making the story of their creation interesting. I will never take cornflakes for granted now that I know what they go through. Ditto fire extinguishers and Wellingtons. But most important, I absolutely love the fact that my kids would rather watch this than cartoons.

I think those who are critiquing the lack of intimate details aren't paying attention to the idea of patent infringement. This show gives a great overview of the making of everyday objects we take for granted. From CDs to barstools...even beer! My oldest son was mesmerized by the wine making episode and has become a fount of information, lol. I love to watch this show with my kids!

My only critique is that the voice over is occasionally too bland; other than that, its terrific! If you are a fan of learning, you will probably enjoy this show.

Give it a try; if its not for you, no worries. But perhaps your children might enjoy it, so let them give it a shot!

A++ This show is amazing! It's been on the air for 6 years already and I never miss a show. You always learn something new. It's extremely informative and very interesting. Every episode shows how 4 different products are made. The show is not full of complicated explanations that only industry people can understand. It's written in laymen's terms so it's a show that the whole family can enjoy watching together. At this time, there are 7 seasons airing on the Discovery Channel. The first season was hosted by Mark Tewksbury but subsequent seasons were without a host. An off-screen narrative replaced the on-screen host. I prefer the version with the off-screen narrative. Well worth watching!

This is a spectacular show. It is always interesting to see how ordinary products and tools are made. Plus we never suspect how they're assembled either. Most learning shows I've seen aren't very interesting, but this show keeps my attention and my interest. They explain everything at a nice pace and show almost every step in the process. This is great since you don't just have a narrated representation but more of a visual representation. I like how they explain the assembly in layman's terms so viewers have an easier time understanding how things are made. They also explain the terms used in the industries so it isn't completely dumbed down. I kind of thought they might run out of things that would be made since they show so many per episode. This show is really great and it'll be sure to keep you interested and wanting to watch more.

This show is extremely well done. The range of products showcased is broad and interesting, and the amount of detail presented for each segment strikes the right balance between thoroughness and conciseness -- particularly given the short attention span of today's TV audience. The finished product is slick and technically excellent, which is particularly remarkable given just how few people put this show together (take a moment to watch the end credits sometime -- you'll be surprised!) I was unimpressed by the work of the male narrator they used in some early episodes, but apart from that I've found little to fault and have been a devoted watcher pretty much since day one. Unreservedly suitable and entertaining for all ages, and superb for family viewing.

I can't get enough of this show. The simple, straightforward delivery really allows the viewer to focus on the manufacturing processes without dealing with any drama or attempts at humor.My kids thought it was boring at first, but they are now "addicted" to the show. VERY educational. I only hope the show keeps its current format and does not switch to a flashier one as the show's popularity grows.I have seen shows on the manufacturing of everything from Cricket bats to vinyl records disks and dinosaur skeleton reproductions. If you are curious about the fabrication process involved in the manufacturing of everyday devices, you will also find "How it's Made" hard to turn off.

I grew up with this show -- it was one of the few educational shows my folks could get me to sit through. I still go back and watch certain episodes. This show was one of the most perfect cases of weaving education and entertainment together without devolving into silliness.

The wide variety of the many excellent shows give an interesting view of your everyday products from the factory to your uses, each segment gives a detailed view on how it all goes down. As one of the very popular shows on The Science Channel and Discovery Channel, many people learn about the complex techniques and processes used to produce ordinary and extraordinary products. Most segments teach everyone watching a interesting process. The music is also great, accompanying the narration , I always jam to the background, even in the most uninteresting (to me) segments, there is always something good on in How It's Made.

I absolutely love, love, love "How It's Made." The show is pure and it was watchable for the nerd and the layman alike. I still have recordings of certain episodes on DVD from ages ago. You could see some of anything going through the beautiful manufacturing process; from candy to streetlights. It's educational, enlightening, and overall interesting. This is such a wonderful show.

Although I thoroughly enjoy watching the show, and the theme song is stuck in my head, they really should upgrade their subjects. Now I realize that the show has been on a long time and all the good and interesting subjects might be taken already, but some of them are just boring and uninteresting. Time to be creative and include more interesting subjects

While this show is fairly interesting and somewhat educational it really misses the point by only showing a superficial view of the manufacturing process. It often skips several key steps or just refers to important processes in passing, without actually showing actually showing HOW they are done, and isn't that the whole point? It also has the problem of oftentimes only showing the final steps off assembly, once all the component parts have already been actually made.

A prime example of this would be the segment on solar panels. The segment *begins* with the solar panel already made and they simply show us the panels being mounted on a backing.

I frequently find that after watching the segments on this show I haven't actually learned anything.

This show could be made better by focusing on fewer topics per show, in greater detail.

Who would think a show about making bicycles or ice cream could be so captivating? No matter what the subject matter is, I'm glued to the TV. Maybe it's subliminal messages or hypnosis, or maybe it's just brilliant programming. Watch for yourself and decide.

Hi, I love this show...I watch it every day.....There is one show I would like to see and that is......make some shows to show how the machines are made to make the products......For instance....You always show how crackers are made but we have never seen a show to see how the cracker machine is made....That would be very interesting....Thanx for listening

Love the programme but the background music is really annoying. Why do programmes persist in playing loud music at the same time as the commentary, it is really distracting when you are trying to concentrate on what is being said. Annoying and unnecessary.

This series has very well explained on how things are made takes in the stages. Easy to understand.

it is the best show and i have been watching it forever. it is my favorite show! it provides great information about almost everyday products. some examples of products are like boats, buses, engines, and a bunch more stuff, a bunch!!!!!!!!!!! there is a person in the background saying very detailed instructions while they show you the video how they make it! the show is full of excitement, and it is very educational. the best show i have ever seen! super! i have never seen a show better!!!! it is on 2 channels, (science channel and discovery channel), and very good times. I am not sure why some people are posting 3 star reviews? overall, it is the best show that i think is on the science channel!

HIM is a very educational, informative show that may or probably not tell you exactly how something is made.

It's about various food, furniture, natural organic material, chemicals etc is made from start to finish with very detailed explanation that may or may not be legit. Product will spend 10 to even 30 minutes on a product. You get to see the process from being picked from a farm/mine to transported by truck/plane to being processed in a factory.

I recommend this show to children and really anyone who has a functioning brain that works.

This could have been such a good show, but is executed so poorly it is instead the electronic equivalent of Sominex. With a droning narration and no background info or real insight into the subjects covered, it is a total waste of an opportunity to truly bring these subjects to life on TV.

Sure, it does have some interesting subjects, but "How It's Made" shows them in such a bland and boring way that it's a chore to watch an entire episode. This show is such a waste. It could be sooooo much better by showing fewer subjects in more detail and without the droning voice-over.

A little depth would go a long way.

You changed the narrator for season 10 episode 6. You chose poorly! However the subsequent episodes like Season 29 episode 2 have the "right" narrator.

Check the dimensions of the wheels and tires being installed. The train wheels being installed are identified as being 4' in diameter. They are about 3' in diameter at the most. The rubber-tired wheels are identified as being 6-1/2' in diameter. They are at the most 4' in diameter. Not being picky, just an old carpenter and welder who is used to visually estimating the sizes of things compared to known sizes of other things in the area.

Excellent show.

"How It's Made" is one of those shows that you just can't get enough of. Surprisingly, the content transverses all age groups and I would imagine, all educational levels. I see where the show has been in production since 2001, which is 21 years now. There are some shows that should be on for 21 years + 21 more years; and then there are those that should be on for 21 minutes only. This is definitely a 42 year show.

I do have a suggestion for a program. But my first suggestion is to make an area to submit ideas easy to find. Actually, I never found one. Perhaps they are not in production?

Anyway - my suggestion: How are the enormous fan blades made for wind electric turbines? My office is in Vancouver, WA (not Canada, but the State of Washington on the west coast of the USA) and I routinely catch these huge blades going down the street after being made in the Port of Vancouver. They are almost a block long and very wide - require pilot vehicles and two separate flatbed trailers, with a driver in the very back of the last trailer so he can steer around corners.

The blades appear to be one piece of material. I don't see any rivets or sections of metal. These totally fascinate me and I would love to know how they are made.

This episode deals with making a TP but has misinformation. It talks of buffalo but there are no buffalo in North America other than in Zoo's. It should be talking about Bison and needs to be corrected in this time of reform.