Mark Rober, kid-friendly engineer, to experiment with new Netflix show
Netflix announced the plans on Monday, Aug. 18. Rober is the leader of CrunchLabs, a team of engineers and creators based in Northern California. He has over 70 million subscribers on YouTube and over 11 million followers on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook combined.
His past experiments include one that tested the limits and reaction times of self-driving cars and another in which he built a roller coaster in his lab. His high-energy videos include nods to characters popular among kids, such as Phineas from Disney's "Phineas and Ferb."
In one video he shared in June, he reached out to Phineas to ask for help throwing a birthday party for a kid named Ethan.
"I can explain later," Rober said, video chatting with the animated character Phineas. "For now, I need to know if you've got any ideas."
In addition to being a former NASA engineer, Netflix said, Rober is also a social media star, teacher, inventor and philanthropist.
Engineer's lab will produce the competition show airing in 2026
Rober's lab, CrunchLabs, will produce his new kids and family competition show, along with Jimmy Kimmel's production company, Kimmelot.
'I love turning learning into a game, basically hiding the vegetables in the dessert, and now it's a full-on competition game show!' Rober said in the news release. 'When you're having fun, you're learning without even realizing it. And teaming up with Netflix and Jimmy Kimmel to make this happen? This is gonna be epic!'
Kimmel, whose company is co-producing the show, said he's excited as well.
'My kids love Mark Rober, and so do their parents,' said Kimmel, who has had Rober on his show before. 'Mark's videos are so clever and inventive, it's easy to forget that they're educational, too. We can't wait to introduce one of the best and brightest creators to Netflix.'
More news: You can catch Mercury's big light show. It's called the greatest elongation.
Engineer's 'storytelling is infectious,' Netflix executive says
Rober worked for NASA for nine years, Netflix said. He first went viral in 2011 with his Halloween costume made of two iPads. He used the iPads to make it look like he had a hole in his torso, Netflix said.
Other experiments of his include glitter-bombing porch pirates or making boxes they steal explode with glitter when they open them. He's also created a pool of Jell-O and done an experiment that involved tossing an unhittable baseball.
His lab also offers science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subscriptions that help kids, teens and adults do hands-on experiments, think critically, and create like engineers, Netflix said.
John Derderian, Vice President of Series, Animation, Kids and Family at Netflix, said in the news release that his kids like the subscription boxes and Rober's work.
'His storytelling is infectious,' Derderian said in the release. 'When my son and daughter spot a new Build Box at our doorstep, we know that an amazing adventure awaits!'
Rober shares his experiments on YouTube, Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram.
Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Email her at sdmartin@usatoday.com.
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