His main asset is his practical application of scientific knowledge and inventive use of common items. The clever solutions MacGyver implemented to seemingly unsolvable problems‍—‌often in life-or-death situations requiring him to improvise complex devices in a matter of minutes‍—‌were a major attraction of the show, which was praised[by whom?] for generating interest in the applied sciences, particularly engineering,[4][dubious ] and for providing entertaining storylines. All of MacGyver's exploits on the show were ostensibly vetted by consulting scientists for the show's writers to ensure a basis on scientific principles (even though, the creators acknowledged,[citation needed] in real life one would have to be extraordinarily lucky for most of MacGyver's ideas to succeed).