Great Chocolate Showdown

[TVbitch]

Ten bakers from US and Canada compete in a two chocolate-centric challenges. Each episode a judge demonstrates a chocolate technique which the bakers then have to execute in the technical challenge. Based on the results of the technical challenge, three bakers are deemed safe, and the rest move into an elmination challenge. This Canadian show airs on the CW network in the states. 

I enjoy the low drama Canadian vibe of this baking competition (and that there are no hosts trying to be amusing!), but it kind of goes by in a rush. I would like to see more of the judge's demonstration as well as what the bakers are doing. I'm sure it will seem less hectic once a few are eliminated.  

[Grizzly]

I've been watching the past few seasons and really enjoy this show. But looking at the listings, it's not going to be on the next 2 Saturdays ☹️ Is it on another night?

[TVbitch]

My TV Guide listing says it is on Saturday at 7 on CW Network. I am west coast.  

I watched the first three seasons on some Canadian site. Didn't even realize CW showed it until I happened to see it in the listings. 

[Grizzly]

I stumbled upon it the same way. Sigh, my CW is showing a baseball game this Sat starting at 7. I'll have to search through the listings more closely.

[Grizzly]

So proud of Fadi and T. I forget which season they were on but they are still friends. And they are competing together on Crime Scene Kitchen. Watching them in the finale now.

[TVbitch]

Oh no, @Grizzly, hope you aren't getting pre-empted. Hopefully they will show it at another time, or I believe you can watch episodes on the CW website. 

Edited August 15 by TVbitch

[milkyaqua]

I keep forgetting this is on.  I did like the episodes I saw last year.  It's always nice to see Anna Olson.

[Lurk]

I caught some episodes of this show on a previous season. Just noticed it last Saturday for episode 2? I came here last weekend looking for a thread for it and didn't see anything. I haven't watched the episodes yet. Was going to see if I could find the first episode to watch first.

[CAM]

According to IMDB you should be able to see season 1-3 on Hulu.

Also if you have access to the CW app you can see the first 2 episodes of the current season.

[Grizzly]

The one thing I don't like is not all of the bakes are tasted in the first round. The judges could be missing out on a great tasting dessert just because it didn't look arresting.

[mlp]

I stumbled on this show just in time for the first episode.  So far I like it and think the judges have eliminated the right person each time.  The contestants are an interesting mix.  I'd love to know how an ER physician and a police detective got started baking and working in chocolate.  I didn't realize there had been prior seasons until I read this thread.  Now I have to figure out where I can watch them.

[TVbitch]

I wish they would taste all the bakes in the first round, too. But also, they don't even really show us all the bakes, so I can't tell if I agree that the judges are picking the most attractive ones! Grrrr! 

I also find it unnerving how the judges stare right at the bakers while they are putting a forkfull of their dessert in their mouth. Duff does that a lot, too. There's just something intense or aggressive about it that freaks me out!!  🍰👄🤣

[EllieW]

I literally just said that yesterday to hubby, about that threatening stare when tasting.

[TVbitch]

I would not enjoy a dessert with those fruit jellies all over it.

These bakers are much more amateur than the usual contestants of FN's Baking Championships, but I don't mind. 

[mlp]

10 minutes ago, TVbitch said:

I would not enjoy a dessert with those fruit jellies all over it.

Most of them didn't look appetizing to me either.  I did like Mike's turtle.

I was sorry to see Charli go.  I didn't think he had any chance of winning but I liked him.

[Grizzly]

When I was a kid, my mother would buy spearmint leaves covered in sugar. Was that the American version of pate de fruits?

I thought the safety bake was a really hard challenge. And how much time did they save only tasting 5 instead of 6 dishes? Just eliminate them walking around and they could fit it in. Will they just say goodbye to Ashlee already? She's been in the bottom forever.

[TVbitch]

I will pass on the tiger nut and bean desserts! Seems like some people got way harder ingredients than others. All in all, they did well with a lot of stuff they'd never made before. Kind of suprised at Ally going. 

[Grizzly]

I was happy they were given a card with info on their ingredient. 

[mlp]

Maybe it's my TV or TV station but this show just...starts.  No logo, no intro of any kind.  It just starts with a judge giving instructions to the bakers.  There's always a logo when they come back after a commercial break so I know they have one.  It's odd.

The remaining bakers seem fairly evenly matched.  I don't have any inkling of who's heading toward a win.

 

[milkyaqua]

Is anyone still watching this?  I was a little surprised about Mike making the final three since the last person eliminated Emma? got cut because her dessert didn't have any really discernable chocolate yet Mike was fine?  I agree that he probably had the neatest presentation and maybe the advantage helped but really?