Tai Freligh interviews this week’s eliminated LEGO Masters contestants…
Hosted by actor and producer Will Arnett, season two of LEGO Masters airs every Tuesday (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX, bringing imagination, design and creativity to life when teams of LEGO enthusiasts go head-to-head, with infinite possibilities and an unlimited supply of LEGO bricks. Once again, teams of two will compete against each other in even more ambitious brick-building challenges – including an earthquake tower challenge, a demolition derby, a LEGO fashion show and more – to be crowned the country’s most talented amateur LEGO builders. Each week, Flickering Myth’s Tai Freligh will be chatting with the eliminated contestants. This week Tai talks with Philip and Maria about their time on the show, lessons learned and more about the build that ended their time on the show.
Talk about auditioning for the show and what it was like to get selected?
The audition process is intense! We had to gather photos of all our best LEGO work, but it was so much more than that. We had to do several video interviews, talk about other hobbies and our family. It is a lot of work, but the casting crew is amazing! They are kind, helpful, and encouraging. Each step of the process was a gift for us, we never imagined we would actually make it all the way through. It was a shock and an honor to be selected.
What was your experience like being on the show?
It’s intense, exhausting, hilarious, fun, challenging, heart-warming, life-changing. We really enjoyed getting to know the other cast most of all, what an incredible group of people! Building under the pressure of a specific challenge and a time clock was tough, but pushed us to create in ways we never would have otherwise. Plus, we got to play in the Brick Pit, share jokes with Will Arnett, and get build tips from Jamie and Amy!
What build are you most proud of?
Maria: For me it was the One Hanging Brick build. We built a giant sea turtle with a lighthouse on his back. We took our inspiration from the Lighthouses that dot the Michigan coastline and the legend of the Great Turtle of Mackinac Island. I loved all the detail we put into this build and Jamie told us we were playful with the brick, which was a serious highlight!
Philip: I will always love our Make and Shake build. We ended up with a visually appealing building with different shades of blue, framed windows, and white trim. But we broke up the square shape of the tower by adding colorful green vines around the building. When I think back about how much we were able to build in such a short time, I’m just really proud of it.
Tell us what you were trying to do with the build that ended up getting you eliminated?
We were creating a town of zany inventors who were harnessing the wind to power their town. We struggled with how to make a sturdy propeller, but we also struggled with meeting the technical specifications of this challenge. We made an error early on that was impossible for us to fix. In the end, we had some fun details that we really loved – house top gardens, hilarious minifigs, and some beautiful pine trees. But our miscalculations caused our propeller to fail early on.
What lessons will you take with you from your time on the show with the judges?
Creating for TV and building MOCs are two totally different genres of building. Our first build may have been a cute MOC to show off on Instagram or at a convention, but it didn’t show well on TV at all. You have to learn when to build big and bold, and when to add in the smaller details. And learn time management. When all is said and done, you want to present a completed build.
Hosted by actor and producer Will Arnett, Season Two of LEGO Masters premiered Tuesday, June 1 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX, bringing imagination, design and creativity to life when teams of LEGO enthusiasts go head-to-head, with infinite possibilities and an unlimited supply of LEGO bricks. Once again, teams of two will compete against each other in even more ambitious brick-building challenges – including an earthquake tower challenge, a demolition derby, a LEGO fashion show and more – to be crowned the country’s most talented amateur LEGO builders. In each episode, Arnett, alongside expert Brickmasters and LEGO employees Amy Corbett and Jamie Berard, will encourage the builders, introduce incredible challenges and put their creativity and skills to the test. The competing pairs who impress the Brickmasters the most will progress to the next round, until the finale, during which the top teams will face off for a $100,000 cash prize, the ultimate LEGO trophy and the grand title of LEGO MASTERS.
Tai Freligh is a Los Angeles based writer and can be followed on Twitter, TikTok and Instagram and can be found on his website too.
PHOTO CREDITS: FOX
