Made In America Season 4 Episode 12 Oscar Statuettes/Shawnee Mills Breads/Merle Norman Cosmetics

In the twelfth episode of the fourth season of John Ratzenberger's Made in America, the actor and host takes viewers on a journey to explore the making of three iconic American products - Oscar Statuettes, Shawnee Mills Breads, and Merle Norman Cosmetics.

Starting with the Oscar Statuettes, Ratzenberger visits the Chicago Bronze Foundry where the statuettes are cast using a 3,000-year-old technique called lost-wax casting. The process involves creating a wax model of the statuette, coating it with a ceramic shell, and then pouring molten bronze into the shell. Ratzenberger talks to the craftsmen at the foundry who share their passion and dedication towards creating each statuette with utmost precision.

Next, Ratzenberger heads to the Shawnee Milling Company in Oklahoma to learn about the process of making the famous Shawnee Mills Breads. The company produces more than 5 million pounds of flour every day, which is distributed to over 35 states in the US. Ratzenberger tours the milling facility and observes each step of the process, from cleaning and grading the wheat to packaging the flour. He also speaks with the company's president, who shares the history and values of the family-owned business.

The final stop in this episode takes Ratzenberger to the headquarters of Merle Norman Cosmetics in Los Angeles. Founded in 1931 by Merle Norman, the company is synonymous with high-quality cosmetics and skincare products. Ratzenberger meets with the current CEO and chairman of the board, who talks about the company's evolution and its commitment to innovation. Ratzenberger also observes the making of some of the company's most popular products, including its signature Crème to Powder Foundation, and gets a sneak peek into their state-of-the-art research and development center.

Throughout the episode, Ratzenberger showcases the stories of the people behind these three iconic American products and their unwavering dedication to creating the best possible product. The episode highlights how each of these products embodies the American spirit of hard work, ingenuity, and craftsmanship that has made them world-renowned.