‘Popular Mechanics for Kids’: Where are they now?

Most Canadians who grew up in the '80s and '90s remember “Popular Mechanics for Kids,” the fun (yet educational!) series that aired from 1997 to 2001 on BBC Kids Canada and Discover Kids. It was, after all, the reason so many Canadians now understand how they make those giant Lego sculptures, how to make slime at home, and the safety statistics of skydiving. And where would we all be today without such crucial information? We’d still be experimenting with household materials to find the right formula for green goop instead of being functional members of society, that’s what.

Clearly, the effects of this classic piece of children’s television have reverberated long after it went off the air – and not only for its young audience, either. Let’s see how “PMK” helped to boost the careers of its five cast members.

Elisha Cuthbert

Before she became a household name, Canadian kids just knew her just as Elisha, the plucky blonde host of “PMK.” Cuthbert's work on the show (which she did from ages 15 to 19) even got the attention of Hillary Clinton, who suggested “PMK” include a segment on salmonella poisoning, which they did. But after “PMK” ended, Cuthbert moved to Hollywood and got her big break as Kim Bauer on the hit action TV series “24,” opposite Kiefer Sutherland. Her film career has been less noteworthy, with minor roles in “Old School” and “Love Actually” and a starring turn in the horror “House of Wax.” But today, Cuthbert is best known for playing Alex in the cult comedy TV series “Happy Endings,” alongside Damon Wayans Jr. and Casey Wilson. She also dated NHL player Sean Avery from 2005 to 2007, but is now engaged to the captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Dion Phaneuf.

Jay Baruchel

So what if he was only a host for the first season? “PMK” helped launched the career of the actor who is now the darling of Canadian independent film. After leaving the show in 1998 at the age of 16, Baruchel went on to appear in small roles in acclaimed films like “Almost Famous” and “Million Dollar Baby.” But his biggest boost was falling in with Judd Apatow and his crew of goofy buddy actors. He starred in the short-lived TV series “Undeclared” with Seth Rogen, Charlie Hunnam, and Jason Segel, and appeared in the 2007 hit “Knocked Up” as well as the upcoming apocalypse comedy “This Is the End.”

Back in Canada, Baruchel is best known for indie films like “The Trotsky” and “Goon.” He met fellow Canadian actress Allison Pill on the set of “Goon” in 2010, and the pair got engaged that December. Sadly, Canada’s “It” couple broke it off this month.

Tyler Kyte

Tyler Kyte (a.k.a. “Jay’s replacement”) has a résumé that boasts small roles on “Are You Afraid of the Dark?” and “Goosebumps” (a rite of passage for any Canadian actor of the ‘90s -- that goes for you, too, Ryan Gosling and Scott Speedman). And though Kyte hasn’t experienced the same success of his former costars south of the border, he has still kept busy in Canada on the TV series “Instant Star” and in TV movies like “Prom Queen: The Marc Hall Story” and “The Elizabeth Smart Story.”

He’s also had a pretty impressive music career, playing drums in the Toronto band Sweet Thing, who released their debut full-length album in 2010, as well as singing backup for Nick Rose & the Magnolias and playing in the folk band Blue Fox. He also released a solo EP in 2005 called “Let’s Talk.”

Vanessa Lengies

Since her stint as the roving reporter on “PMK,” Vanessa Lengies has kept busy! She was a regular on the NBC series “American Dreams” from 2002 to 2006 (alongside Brittany Snow), and recently nabbed a recurring role on “Glee” as Sugar Motta. The 27-year-old actress will also reportedly appear on the upcoming comedy series “Mixology,” playing a an optimistic personal trainer.

Charles Powell

As the eldest, and the only American cast member of “Popular Mechanics for Kids”, Texas native Charles Powell (or, “Charlie”) had already appeared in a number of small roles in the United States and around the world, most notably 1997’s “Affliction,” starring Nick Nolte and Sissy Spacek. He also starred as President Harold Bates on the YTV show “15/Love,” about a group of teens at an academy for aspiring tennis players.

Powell, 49, now lives in New York City with his wife and two kids.

Now, if you'll excuse us, we'll just be ordering the DVDs of "Popular Mechanics for Kids."