Fall 2002

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Leigh Seaman’s ‘Warehouse Warriors’ is ‘do-it-yourself competitive reality’

Leigh Seaman on the set with Bill Sykes, JM 1969, vice president of programming for the DIY network

by Brent Williams

Leigh Davidson Seaman, TEL 1989, is living her professional dream—producing television programs and working with lots of interesting people.

Seaman is supervising producer for Warehouse Warriors, a series of one-hour shows in the “do-it-yourself competitive reality” TV genre.

Warehouse Warriors put the design and building skills of two teams to the ultimate test. Each team of three persons enters a warehouse that is completely stocked with tools, materials and other resources. The team is given a project to design and build in just eight hours. The teams work in separate sections of the warehouse, so neither team can see what the other is doing.

Seaman said last season’s 26 programs were well received by viewers, and 39 more are slated for this production run.

Non-profit organizations are beneficiaries—because they end up with the projects that are built.

“It’s interesting to observe how the team members work together,” said Seaman. “Teamwork is usually the deciding factor for success. When teams cooperate and work well together, the results are always good. Some teams have problems of control and direction, and they are not as successful.”

The teams do not find out what they will build until they arrive on the set. Part of the fun is the surprise of participants when they learn the assignment. Among the items built during the first season were sand boxes, coffee tables, gazebos, play structures, beds and doghouses.

The show is produced by RIVR Media in Knoxville and airs on DIY, the Do-It-Yourself cable network.

In addition to her responsibility with this program, Seaman is also developing Date Plate, a new program for The Food Network. “All I can say is that it will be a dating show based on food and cooking,” Seaman said.

Seaman’s career as a producer has included covering the Clinton White House, the 1996 Olympics and major league sports and a three-part feature on Sen. John Glenn’s return to space. Her work has won an Emmy nomination for best series (Trading Spaces), six Telly awards, a Woman in Television and Film Gracie Award and two International Medical Film Freddie Awards.

Seaman serves on the UF Telecommunication Advisory Council.