The third season of NBC’s Making It opens with a personal challenge: create the “most fun” version of yourself in the form of an original handmade toy.
The contestants, ranging from a landscape architect to a taxidermist, create intricate toys — such as a miniature greenhouse, a pineapple version of Mr. Potato Head, and a Jack in the Box full of positive affirmations — in just three hours.
Baltimore County native Jess Lamworth, a contestant on season 3, was inspired by the ideas bouncing around in her head when she received the assignment.
“It felt like the inside of my brain was going ‘bing, bing, bing, bing’ and I thought, ‘oh, that’s exactly what a pinball machine does!’” she says on the show. Adding in her love of puns, Lamworth created a “Punball Machine” for her first challenge.
In the show, hosted by Parks and Recreation actors Amy Poehler and Nick Offferman, contestants compete in two timed crafting challenges per episode, a “faster craft” and a “master craft.” At the end of the season, the winner earns the title of “Master Maker” and $100,000 in prize money.
The show debuted in 2018, with 5.3 million viewers tuned in to the series premiere.
Making It is devoid of many competitive reality TV show mainstays — drama, humiliation, mean-spiritedness. Unlike shows like Hell’s Kitchen, where Gordon Ramsay berates aspiring chefs as they compete in cooking challenges, or Love Island, where personal appearance is your most important facet, Making It is lighthearted, fun, and compassionate.
The show’s popularity coincides with the rise of wholesome reality TV shows. The Great British Bake Off, a similar competition in which amateur bakers compete in a series of baking challenges, is now one of the most beloved cooking competitions on TV. The season 11 finale of that show set viewing records for U.K. broadcaster Channel 4, with an average audience of 9.2 million people.
The kind-hearted nature of Making It is what initially appealed to Lamworth, 25, who was raised in Phoenix, Md., in Baltimore County, and graduated from the Park School of Baltimore.
When a talent agent reached out to her on Instagram and encouraged her to apply, Lamworth was thrilled.
“I instantly fell in love with how kind it was, how funny and good-hearted, and how much it really showcased creativity and the personalities of the people on the show,” she said.
When asked if the show is as feel-good to be on as it is to watch, she gave a resounding yes.
Unlike many reality TV shows, there was never a concern of being portrayed in a way that fits a specific character mold.
“I never once felt like I would be depicted a certain way,” Lamworth said. “I know that’s how reality TV is. They can edit everything I say and cut things to make me look like the villain or the victim, but everyone who worked on the show was so nice and welcoming and encouraging.”
The third season was unique in that it was filmed at the height of the pandemic.
“We were quarantined pretty much the entire time … No one was in and out of our bubble. We were masked and shielded the entire time, we were tested every other morning,” Lamworth said.
Outside of the show, the pandemic presented Lamworth with the opportunity to delve into her art and actively participate in the maker community on social media. This spike in creativity was true for both artists and non-artists, Lamworth explained.
“When people moved home there was such a growth in creativity for most people who wouldn’t typically think of themselves as creatives,” Lamworth said, “and that was so inspiring to see because I see day-to-day the benefits of being creative, being a creative problem solver.”
Despite the complications that the pandemic added to the show, Lamworth had an overwhelmingly positive experience. Making It surrounded her with a creative community, which she didn’t experience in college.
Lamworth graduated from Haverford College in 2018, then moved to New York City to work in consulting.
“I never had a place where I had a community of fellow creative people who are like me, so this was the best thing ever,” she said. “All of the sudden, I got exposed to some of the most talented, nice, handpicked people from around the country.”
“It was literally like having 10 hand-picked best friends who I got to do an adult summer camp with,” she added.
The show has finished taping, with new episodes out Thursdays on NBC. Lamworth isn’t allowed to disclose the winner.
Since filming, Lamworth has started her own small business as a creative consultant, taking on individual clients for branding.
Being on the show inspired her to pursue a career in set design and, in the fall, she will be moving to Los Angeles to find a job in entertainment.
“I’m going to move out to L.A. and make my dreams come true!” she said.
