Part of what makes the show work is the continuity. The placement of the set is the same, the baking stations are the same, the judging location is the same, how the judges enter is the same . . . you get what I'm saying. Yes, the set changes with the theme, but the "skeleton" of the show is always the same, so it feels warm and cozy and familiar, like you walked into Grandma's house, albeit a creepy version that's been given a makeover as a hotel, or a carnival, or a laboratory, or (my personal favorite) a summer camp.
Oh my goodness, gracious, the 11th season is going to be a fail. I can tell because it is already filmed and Food Network cannot fix what has been done after the fact.
Food Network, here's where you went wrong:
- You chose mediocre bakers who don't know how to save a warm cake or bake a pie crust that won't melt, for I'm assuming dramatic purposes.
- You chose to downsize the set so it feels like we're in a cracker box.
- You chose to set up the baking stations in one long uniform line where literally nobody has any elbow room or personal baking space to speak of.
- You chose to bring in bakers with major Main Character energy.
- You chose, for whatever reason, to not have an actual story for the Haunted House, one that would bring out John Henson's magnificent talent for the macabre and creepy by casting him as the "villain."
- You chose to shop at Spirit Halloween for the judge's costumes.
- You chose to have all the bakers present in their little balcony for the judging of one another so we can hear their whispering and conversation about how the judging went.
- And above all, you chose to have only 13 bakes, 6 of which were baked by the 3 worst bakers of the episode, so no more The Thriller and The Killer challenges.
I'm sorry, what?
Here are some positives that haven't changed:
- John Henson is still John Henson, albeit with nothing to do, but at least he's there.
- It's still the same 3 judges, so that's also something because I'm super used to them.
- The set dressing is cool as a Haunted House.
- I do think there are a few talented bakers like Camille and Nina, but I can't say for sure because we weren't allowed to focus on the good bakes.
I'm sad to say, that's it for the positives.
Everything was fine until Melanie laid down by her oven to "take a moment" clutching her "emotional support stirring spoon." Girl, you forgot the sugar in your cake! You have literally 90 minutes left! Bake it again and throw it in the blast chiller! Don't lay down with a panic attack!
I say everything was fine, but several of these contestants were literally unnerved by John Henson in ways I haven't seen before and that was prior to Melanie's little meltdown. John's fun and hilarious and a prankster! He's not actually scary, and being too nervous to even talk to him about what you're making is just absolutely ridiculous.
One other major issue is the judges are being swayed by the presence of all the contestants and by the "personal" stories of the bakers, i.e. Melanie. She should not be there. She is not a competent baker in a competition setting. She was saved solely on account of her personal story. If she'd had to bake in the bottom 3, she would have been gone.
I'm sorry, no. I get that you care, judges. But please, Zac, Carla, and Stephanie, do your jobs properly and judge based on the quality of the bakes, not on the personal trauma of the bakers.
And let's not even talk about Justin "saving" whoever was going to be eliminated by "volunteering as tribute." That's not how this works, bro. People have chosen to leave in previous seasons and they will still have an elimination in that episode. Justin choosing to die on his sword and leave should not have actually saved one of the 3 worst bakers. And, wait, did you actually interrupt John Henson!? I say again, I'm sorry, what?
This is, by far, the worst batch of bakers I have seen in the now 11 seasons of the show that I have watched. This includes the pre-Henson seasons! I'm disappointed because I love Halloween Baking Championship. I love the format, the judges, the host, just everything. And in previous years, I have really loved the bakers. But I did not sign on for a season of high-level anxiety and tears and drama and meltdowns. Guys, it's a baking show! It's not that serious! I cannot believe HBC has devolved to this extent.
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| Welcome to the 11th season of Halloween Baking Championship! |
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