The Great British Bake Off - Channel 4 edition

End of the soggy bottom? Channel 4's Great British Bake Off to have 'new modern tone'

She said she hoped viewers would find that "this is Bake Off but with an extraordinary, high calibre of contributors and it's got a slight Channel 4 feel to it.

"We've got a new tone to it, it's got a new comic riff to it. I think that feels modern and future facing. I think it's a show that people will love with a Channel 4 spin."

"With Noel, it's a slightly more surreal take. So far, episode one, there's no reference to soggy bottoms but it's got a freshness and it feels modern in terms of their comic take on it... It's got a slightly more surreal twist," the source said.

Hmm...I'm not sure they understand exactly what it was that made people love the BBC version. I mean, it might turn out to be good in it's own right but, is that going to be enough to pull in the same audience as before? I remain sceptical.

pyxistyx wrote:

End of the soggy bottom? Channel 4's Great British Bake Off to have 'new modern tone'

She said she hoped viewers would find that "this is Bake Off but with an extraordinary, high calibre of contributors and it's got a slight Channel 4 feel to it.

"We've got a new tone to it, it's got a new comic riff to it. I think that feels modern and future facing. I think it's a show that people will love with a Channel 4 spin."

"With Noel, it's a slightly more surreal take. So far, episode one, there's no reference to soggy bottoms but it's got a freshness and it feels modern in terms of their comic take on it... It's got a slightly more surreal twist," the source said.

Hmm...I'm not sure they understand exactly what it was that made people love the BBC version. I mean, it might turn out to be good in it's own right but, is that going to be enough to pull in the same audience as before? I remain sceptical.

Surreal? JFC, if I wanted to watch absurdist slapstick takes on baking, I would do what I always do... watch anything from Food Network. I love Alton Brown trapping some central-casting "chef" in lobster claws, mixing margaritas as much as the next guy... but the world sure as sh*t doesn't need another Chopped or Cutthroat Kitchen.

What I loved about GBBO was the honest, earnest, and grounded tone of the program (programme?) that showcased incredible amatuer bakers.

Actually, Reaper... They are real chefs.

How did you get invited to audition for Food Network’s Cutthroat Kitchen?

One of the directors from the casting company called me and said they found me through my Mad Love Cooking YouTube Channel. They initially wanted to know how strong of a competitor I was and if I thought that I would be able to handle the pressure of competing on a show like Cutthroat Kitchen.

What was the application process like?

In order to compete they asked me to provide several of my recipes and photographs of my dishes that I’ve created. They also requested that I send them my resume, Chef’s Roll profile and a headshot via email. The entire process from start to finish took about four months to complete. After sending them the required documents and electronic media, I had to participate in two Skype calls with their casting directors and producers. During the calls they wanted to know about my culinary style, my industry awards, my experience and how I performed under pressure. They didn’t let me know how many other chefs I was competing against to participate in the show. The majority of the candidates are found via social media such as YouTube, Twitter and industry websites such as Chef’s Roll. There was never any formal “cooking” audition. Cutthroat Kitchen’s process is to choose the candidates via the steps listed above, listen to how we present ourselves via Skype, evaluate our industry experience, any and all electronic media that was provided and then finally, fly you to the set of the show, located in Burbank, California.

Robear wrote:

Actually, Reaper... They are real chefs.

How did you get invited to audition for Food Network’s Cutthroat Kitchen?

One of the directors from the casting company called me and said they found me through my Mad Love Cooking YouTube Channel. They initially wanted to know how strong of a competitor I was and if I thought that I would be able to handle the pressure of competing on a show like Cutthroat Kitchen.

What was the application process like?

In order to compete they asked me to provide several of my recipes and photographs of my dishes that I’ve created. They also requested that I send them my resume, Chef’s Roll profile and a headshot via email. The entire process from start to finish took about four months to complete. After sending them the required documents and electronic media, I had to participate in two Skype calls with their casting directors and producers. During the calls they wanted to know about my culinary style, my industry awards, my experience and how I performed under pressure. They didn’t let me know how many other chefs I was competing against to participate in the show. The majority of the candidates are found via social media such as YouTube, Twitter and industry websites such as Chef’s Roll. There was never any formal “cooking” audition. Cutthroat Kitchen’s process is to choose the candidates via the steps listed above, listen to how we present ourselves via Skype, evaluate our industry experience, any and all electronic media that was provided and then finally, fly you to the set of the show, located in Burbank, California.

I do know that.

I was just indirectly riffing on the sorts of humans that go on such programs... shading myself as a viewer in the process.

I don't see Noel working with Bake Off. I'm not sure the surrealist/absurdist comedy and cake baking demographics over lap that much. Although, having watched 'an extra slice,' I could be wrong.

I'm posting this anywhere I can at the moment so I might as well pop it here. Come to think of it Noel also made a sandwich. I'll add his so you can compare and contrast.

Both have their merits:

D:

It's, like, that creepy bit out of Young Sherlock Holmes when Watson is attacked by imaginary sentient cakes.

Yeah, I think they broke it.

Chaz wrote:

Yeah, I think they broke it.

About to find out...

Much as it pains me to say so, I actually quite enjoyed it.

They kept a lot of the elements the same and kept the length of the programme by going beyond the hour.

Yeah, that wasn't terrible! Crazy first signature challenge in the grand scheme of things. The new judge seems good.
I'll keep watching, the formula seems largely untouched albeit slightly less charming with no Mel and Sue.

I thought it was good. I like the new judge and thought the bits where Noel and other host interacted with the bakers were really good. The only thing that really stuck out to me as not good was when Noel was narrating.

I hate how most Youtube videos of the episodes cut off the bottom to avoid getting taken down so I never get to see what peoples names are.

Yeah it was as you were really. New judge, like for like with Berry pretty much. The only thing surreal about Noel was that he wasn't being surreal. He's an affable enough chap to do the job in the tent, though I'd agree he's no narrator.

Bake off with ads though, it's a shame.

That KFC advert was just wrong.

Bubblefuzz wrote:

That KFC advert was just wrong.

If its purpose was to turn me off fast food for a while then it worked.

I quite enjoyed the episode, it was really quite a thankless task for Noel and Sandie but I think they did fine. It was quite easy to pick the star baker and bottom of the pile for me this week.

This episode highlighted the fact that the contestants are the biggest factor in terms of enjoyment for me. If you have fun characters making the cakes then it works.

I like the Russian woman. You always need someone who's anguish you can read as plain as day. I also liked the moment when Sandi Toksvig was helping a male contestant cut his cake (at his invitation) and it crumbled a little. He said, quite matter of factly, "Technically that's your fault."

OK.

Hear me out on this.

There appears (after 2 episodes) to be an American version of this.

But... it's not a Bake off.

It's joyful.
It's positive.
Amy Poehler attempts to manufacture drama (which is hilarious).
Nick Offerman as himself.

It's pretty wonderful.

And, except for the obvious concept change, it is essentially directed like a GBBO episode.

2 episodes in and I like it a lot.

Oh that's good. Amy Poehler is fantastic.

Great idea to go for the same 'atmosphere' of the show even with a subject change. We have a few of those from the BBC. One about pottery and one making clothes. Different subject matter but same feel as GBBO.

Thread resurrection.

Season 10 of this started this week over here in the UK. 13 contestants this year (so there will at least one round where 2 get eliminated) and it was off to a strong(ish) start with some very impressive showstopper cakes.

It's noticeable just how young this year's group is (there is only 1 over 40 and he's not exactly charismatic) but the rest are mostly in their 20s by the looks of it. Between the two to get voted off I'm not sure they chose the right one - both weren't good but I did think that one of them clearly isn't cut out for the pressure of the tent, while the other looked to have settled more on the second day but was asked to leave. Still time will tell.

I'm jelly! Still waiting on 2018's season to drop on Netflix in the US.

The new season is on Netflix a couple days after they air. The first one is already up.

garion333 wrote:

I'm jelly! Still waiting on 2018's season to drop on Netflix in the US.

It looks like Netflix is releasing new episodes every week starting yesterday. Even though Netflix is calling this season "Series 7" it's actually the current season (10) being shown on the BBC.

Yes! I figured it was coming but didn't want to get my hopes up!

Ugh, weekly format? Blah. Give me my binge!

Woot. Haven’t seen episode one yet. It is, hopefully, recorded.

Watching first episode now. Looks like a great bunch of characters.

For some reason, I was really surprised that they filmed a take of the intro with Noel calling it The Great British Baking Show.

garion333 wrote:

I'm jelly! Still waiting on 2018's season to drop on Netflix in the US.

I was wrong. We got 2018's season after it originally aired, now we're getting the current season a few days after it airs.

Makes sense, I thought there was a year gap.

Anyway, watched first episode of the current season and it was the first time I felt like no one should've gone home in week 1.

Sorbicol wrote:

Thread resurrection.

Season 10 of this started this week over here in the UK. 13 contestants this year (so there will at least one round where 2 get eliminated) and it was off to a strong(ish) start with some very impressive showstopper cakes.

It's noticeable just how young this year's group is (there is only 1 over 40 and he's not exactly charismatic) but the rest are mostly in their 20s by the looks of it. Between the two to get voted off I'm not sure they chose the right one - both weren't good but I did think that one of them clearly isn't cut out for the pressure of the tent, while the other looked to have settled more on the second day but was asked to leave. Still time will tell.

Spoiler:

The young kid's time will come. It's clear he can bake when it's in his wheelhouse but is totally out of his element when it isn't.

Someone said they hadn't ever made a Genoses before. How do you come in to the tent and not have attempted a Genoese before?!? You know they're gonna make you do it at some point! It's like not giving puff pastry a go once or twice.

Oh, we have a thread for this! Excellent.

We we super excited to see that we would be getting it as it aired this year, but also perplexed that somehow Netflix didn’t obnoxiously promote it to us. I wouldn’t have known if Google’s suggested news widget in the search app hadn’t popped the story up for me.

Yeah, it seems like Dark Crystal promotion stuff took precedence.

Watching episode 2...

Triumphs and tragedies as always.

It IS the greatest show!
Puts many US contest shows to shame. You don't have to have all the artificial backstabbing and personality types. Pretty much everyone charms your pants off and rises to the occasion or puts their personal touch on everything.
Well, and of course it makes you so friggen hungry!

Watched the first two episodes with friends today. We'll get together again for the finale to make a fancy dinner and bake something.

We were chanting, "one more bake!" for Jamie. Not because we thought he was very good, we just found him endlessly entertaining. And watching the number of bandages grow on Michael's hands throughout each episode is hilarious. "Oh! I've done it again."

Spoilers, Chuck.

I've watched enough seasons to see the top tier in this season is fairly obvious after two episodes.