The Great British Bake Off May, In Fact, Create World Peace

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[Dave in Chicago]

World peace? Not until they make more seasons available in the US.

[pbutler111]

I also really appreciate the lack of contestant sob stories on this show (I just HATE sob stories!). But the main difference my husband and I enjoy between this show and U.S. competition shows is the complete lack of boasting and smack talk between the contestants. No one is doing a talking head about how the other contestants are losers and how they're going to kick everyone's ass. Every contestant seems respectful of every other contestant's skill and creativity, and each seems genuinely pleased for whoever comes out on top and genuinely moved when another is eliminated. Beyond refreshing.

[aunt jen]

We fell in love with the most recent season that aired on PBS and grew such an affection for the contestants (especially Ruby, who generally presented a dish to the judges while telling them how terribly she did until they told her to knock it off, in a loving way. I thought she would explode from anxiety). We've since downloaded and watched the first-ever season, and the one on Nextflix is, I believe, the second season that aired and we are watching that now. The show at some point abandoned Mel and Sue's little field trips to find out how medieval pie was made or whatever, because it wasn't in the most recent season.

I can barely bake but I learned a trick from the show that I used when making toffee so I'm calling it educational and not food porn.

[AndySmith]

Between Paul Hollywood (not quite a bear, but still pretty foxy anyway) and Mary Berry (who is Sweet Old British Ganny personified), that's enough for me to watch. The cooking is a nice extra.

 

I also really appreciate the lack of contestant sob stories on this show (I just HATE sob stories!). But the main difference my husband and I enjoy between this show and U.S. competition shows is the complete lack of boasting and smack talk between the contestants. No one is doing a talking head about how the other contestants are losers and how they're going to kick everyone's ass. Every contestant seems respectful of every other contestant's skill and creativity, and each seems genuinely pleased for whoever comes out on top and genuinely moved when another is eliminated. Beyond refreshing.

 

Yeah, on most American reality shows (cooking or otherwise), the people sometimes are just too downright nasty to root for. Its a reason I sometimes prefer Australian Master Chef to the US version. So You Think You Can Dance is one of the few US reality shows where the contestantsare nice and supportive of each other.

Edited January 15, 2016 by AndySmith

[monocles]

LOVE this show. The only thing that bugs me is that Mel and Sue can feel redundant at times. But I also think this is another US vs. UK divide, where the one-host model is pretty traditional here and the UK's like "the more the merrier!" BUT, it's great. My PBS station was showing another season recently and I seriously started crying in one episode when my favorite contestant knew how badly they had done and was trying to hold it together after judging.

[Clifford Alvarez]

I'm glad I'm not the only one enjoying the heck out of this show. When I discovered it, I binged on all that was available on PBS and Netflix. Part of its appeal for me is its quintessential Britishness. As an American who can't travel as much as I'd like, it's fun to decipher the terminology and get a brief immersion into a different culture.

I'm now feeling severe Victoria sponge withdrawal.

[spaceghostess]

Thanks, Mark, for summing up exactly why this, the only reality show we watch, also happens to be family viewing for us. I recently came to the somewhat distressing conclusion that not one of my scripted faves (Penny Dreadful, Outlander, Luther, The Americans, The Leftovers--and back in the day Rome, Deadwood, and Justified-- I'm looking at you, xox.) would I feel comfortable allowing my kids to walk through the room during--much less see--until they're old enough to buy their own TVs. Since traditional reality television bottoms out at "Trump" grade on our Disdain-o-Meter, GBBO is like a gift from the cozy Brit-TV gods. Something (along with Nova, anything DeGrasse Tyson and/or Attenborough) that we can happily share with the kiddos. The only downside? It inspires the dedicated hobby baker in me, but the kids' requests for choux pastry treats (which are in direct opposition to the desires of my cream puff-hating husband) become a bit stressful.

[Yoshi]

If you like 'GBBO', I strongly urge you to Fly To Australia and find season 2 of the 'Great Australian Bake-Off'. Don't bother with season 1: they didn't get the right combination of judges or hosts, and the vibe was just off. But season 2... perfection. <br /><br />Also, for those 'GBBO' fans who haven't seen season 6 (which aired in the UK in 2015 and I think will be the next one to air in the US), you are in for a treat. You can easily tell how much the judges and crew love the contestants, especially the three finalists. There's an interview with Mary Berry after the winner is announced, which made my entire household cry hard tears. This show is a wonder.

[pbutler111]

LOVE this show. The only thing that bugs me is that Mel and Sue can feel redundant at times. But I also think this is another US vs. UK divide, where the one-host model is pretty traditional here and the UK's like "the more the merrier!" BUT, it's great. My PBS station was showing another season recently and I seriously started crying in one episode when my favorite contestant knew how badly they had done and was trying to hold it together after judging.

 

I actually hate Mel and Sue (more so Sue than Mel) just because they're so painfully unfunny.  But, to be fair, I think that's generally true of anyone filling that role, on any continent.

[MarkBlankenship]

pubtler -- You're so right about the respect the contestants have for each other. It's lovely to watch.

And thanks, Yoshi, for recommending the Oz version. I love all things Australian, so I'm sure I'll fall for it!

[Merneith]

The tension on this show is just ridiculous. The Bakers sit down and stare as their food browns. There's nothing on American television to prepare us for this. It's unreal.

I didn't know the earlier season were on Amazon. I'm definitely going to hit them up.

There was a 4-episode holiday themed version this year, with Mary Berry, Johnny Iuzzinni and an odd assortment of American bakers. It wasn't bad but Original Recipe is the way to go, here. I hope they try again next year with a better cast.

[pbutler111]

The tension on this show is just ridiculous. The Bakers sit down and stare as their food browns. There's nothing on American television to prepare us for this. It's unreal.

I didn't know the earlier season were on Amazon. I'm definitely going to hit them up.

There was a 4-episode holiday themed version this year, with Mary Berry, Johnny Iuzzinni and an odd assortment of American bakers. It wasn't bad but Original Recipe is the way to go, here. I hope they try again next year with a better cast.

 

We were SO excited to watch the American holiday version and then, perhaps predictably, we were terribly let down when we did.  For one thing, the skill level of the bakers was embarrassing.  We'd just come off watching the most recently aired British version of the show, and the skill displayed by the contestants on that show was breathtaking.  On the American holiday version, the contestants were coming up with things that I, as a moderately skilled home baker, would have been embarrassed to serve to my family, let alone present on a TV competition show.  And the sob stories!  Where did American producers get the idea that American viewers crave other people's hard luck stories?  Call me cruel, but I don't give a flying fuck about your personal problems.  Keep your sick granny to yourself and show me something unbelievable rendered in sponge and  buttercream.  And I don't know what kind of Lilly 110/140 cocktail they doped up Mary Berry with before each show, but she was praising even the most godawful messes; she didn't do that in the UK.  In sum, I'll stick to the UK shows, when I can get them, and be grateful.

[marinite]

Absolutely agree! It's so refreshing among other reality shows, and not those just confined to cooking or baking.

[roomtorome]

I love this show - full stop. Can't wait for further seasons.

[scrubs14]

I fell in love with this show over the holiday break while everyone else was watching Making a Murderer. I love it and I really wish more seasons were available on Netflix. I felt so proper just watching it. Thanks for perfectly stating all the ways it is so far superior than American cooking shows. When they sit around just waiting for their food to cook its amazing. And the best part is, its real! That's what happened. Amazing.

[MissEwa]

My most favourite story about GBBO - and I don't know if it's true - is that whenever one of the contestants cries or clearly doesn't want to be filmed Mel and Sue start yelling brand names, making the footage unuseable because the BBC can't air any commercial content.

The Australian version - season 2 - is fine but pales in comparison to the British. The contestants were mostly great but the judges really lacked the knowledge that Paul and Mary have, and the product placement was awful. The technical challenges were infuriating too - instead of being standards (to various extents) like in the UK version, one judge used would just use own random recipes and they always featured ingredients from her own line of products. It's an ok watch but it made me miss the British version a lot.

[SnideAsides]

The first Australian version isn't great (though it's better than The American Baking Competition), but it's worth it even if solely for learning a brand new way to pronounce "strudel".

[Quilt Fairy]

I didn't know the earlier season were on Amazon. I'm definitely going to hit them up.

There's only one season on Amazon, US season 1 (UK season 5).

[kalamac]

I don't know how true this is, but someone on tumblr was claiming that if a contestant is starting to have a big breakdown over something not going right, the hosts will stand next to them swearing and saying product names so that the footage can't be used.<br />I like to believe that happens.

[DocTerv]

Hubby and I frequently remark that we can't believe we're totally enthralled by watching people watching their cake bake. We did miss the little history lessons in the later episodes but we both adore GBBO to bits!

[anniebird]

You can watch every season of GBBO on YouTube if you're willing to look for it and watch it on what may be a partial screen.

[AndySmith]

the hosts will stand next to them swearing and saying product names

 

If that is true...then I wish Mary was a host too, because that would be the funniest thing ever.

[LuciaMia]

Must rewatch. Even those views of that country meadow they're working in is a tonic for the January blues. But%u2026that cake garden shed still looks like its about to be condemned.

[Gabby929]

I had a binge over the holidays and watched all seasons backwards from the most recent and am currently on season one. Seasons two and three are also delightful (I managed to not know the winner for number 3, for the rest my googling unfortunately spoiled me). Although the magic isn't quite there for the first season - the historical interludes, while occasionally are interesting, take so much time that during the judging they don't bother to show everyone's bakes.

Edited January 18, 2016 by Gabby929

[STOPSHOUTING]

This show is perfection. I love everything the author here called out: the lack of drama, archetypes and personal "stories" designed to draw you in; heck until the very end you rarely see more than a two-word description of the contestant's personal life. That there's no "surprise" element; they practice their bakes at home. Heck, that they GO home. This isn't their life. It's just a weekend lark. There are no villains, and the hosts and judges are so un-glossy, in the best possible way. Like someone else above said, it's something we watch as an entire family and we, too, were looking forward to the U.S. holiday version ... Which was a pale, try-hard (they couldn't help themselves, apparently) version of the British original despite the production pedigree. Only the fabulous Mary Berry made it worth watching.

 

PS: I am also obsessed with their clever little ovens with the sliding doors. 

Edited January 17, 2016 by STOPSHOUTING

[pbutler111]

This show is perfection. I love everything the author here called out: the lack of drama, archetypes and personal "stories" designed to draw you in; heck until the very end you rarely see more than a two-word description of the contestant's personal life. That there's no "surprise" element; they practice their bakes at home. Heck, that they GO home. This isn't their life. It's just a weekend lark. There are no villains, and the hosts and judges are so un-glossy, in the best possible way. Like someone else above said, it's something we watch as an entire family and we, too, were looking forward to the U.S. holiday version ... Which was a pale, try-hard (they couldn't help themselves, apparently) version of the British original despite the production pedigree. Only the fabulous Mary Berry made it worth watching.

 

PS: I am also obsessed with their clever little ovens with the sliding doors. 

 

Yes!  Love those ovens!  We just happened to be embarking on a year-long gut rehab of our house, and I so badly wanted to get one of those ovens.  Unfortunately, we found that they're not made here, and not really advisable to try to import, as you'd have virtually no maintenance support.  Wish Samsung had come up with this design.

[Mabinogia]

I too love how unmanufactured this show is. It is a show that brings me joy. There is stress and drama. When someone's cake looks like it is on the verge of collapse, or pastry doesn't rise as it should. It is drama brought on by, you know, the actual work they are doing. There is a light-hearted competition going on. They want to win, but not at the cost of the others.

 

I think the lack of a "HUGE" prize puts this show in perspective. It is about being the best baker out of this chosen group and showing off something you love doing. Without some prize that could potentially change their lives, the bakers are just there to show what they can do, perhaps prove to themselves they can do it, and have a blast. And I genuinely feel like they ARE there to make friends which is so lovely. I'm sick of reality contestants who are so proud of the fact they are NOT there to make friends.

 

And the scenery. OMG the cut shots are beautiful. The food shots are beautiful. The drawings, I love the drawings of what the bakers intend to make. I love the anticipation of seeing if the real thing turns out the way it was intended and then seeing what it looks like for real. It is just a stunningly beautiful show.

 

I really do love everything about this show. It really is quite lovely and I hope it never changes. I hope US success doesn't change it into every other reality competition show we get here. Stay pure, GBBO, stay exactly what you are.

[mspaul]

 

Hubby and I frequently remark that we can't believe we're totally enthralled by watching people watching their cake bake.

Last month I was watching an episode on the bus, and gasped so loud at something that like, 4 people turned around to look at me.  Embarrassing, but I was so sucked in that I didn't even care.

[tenativelyyours]

I hope this is not lightning in a jar.  I've recently re-watched all the seasons in a row and it amazes me how rough the older shows were in compare to the most recent one.  Not so much as a surprise but how much I never noticed as it happened over the years.  But someone with a brain has been ever so slightly improving on the first go without ruining any of the charm that it had right out the gate.

 

And by lightning in a jar, I mean the sense that this is the one show that realizes less is more.  I wish more shows would take a real look at what makes people respond to it so well.  It is the quietness.  Oddly it reminds me of the first year or so of Survivor and the Amazing Race in that it created a rather simple concept, stuck to it and let the concept create whatever suspense and excitement.  All very different shows otherwise, but all had a big grab of success right out the gate to varying degree because people saw people being., people.  This show is the only one that still makes a point of simply standing back and letting things happen.  And yet it is still a structured competitive show.   It is so simple that I keep thinking the universe should re-arrange the stars in the night sky for the likes of Burnett saying "get a clue!!!!".  Shit stirring should never appear on a production assistant's resume.

 

I was so glad the Australian version had an epiphany and went to the well for a longer and deeper sip of the original.  I found the second season of that right on par with the excellent season six of this version.  And yet nice little differences that made sense by the end and made the third season of that just as anticipated as season seven of this one.  Proving it can be translated, at least for me.  And something I really wish was understood by the people in the US who keep getting their fingers on it.

[MarkBlankenship]

After watching Series 5, my husband and I started back with Series 1, and it really is amazing how much different the show was back then. But unlike so many reality series, which lose the plot as they age, @tentativelyyours is totally correct that this one improves. It makes me excited to catch up on past seasons, since I know I'll be watching an evolution toward greatness.

[Dobian]

I wish Netflix would stream the older seasons.

[Grommet]

Oh, I love this show so much. I've seen the season that's on Netflix and the last 5 episodes of what was on PBS (they don't keep all the episodes available online, the bastards) and found UK Season 1 on You Tube. I would gladly buy every episode but Itunes tells me I'm in the wrong country for that. Another reason to fulfill my fantasy of moving to England!

[bedhead]

I discovered and fell in love with this show when I was in England last April. I watched a marathon airing of season four. I love the hushed voices and the hypnotic music. I have learned so much about European baking, too! I want to try all of these recipes!

[tenativelyyours]

I discovered and fell in love with this show when I was in England last April. I watched a marathon airing of season four. I love the hushed voices and the hypnotic music. I have learned so much about European baking, too! I want to try all of these recipes!

 

It is.  When i first got a copy of the show's music, I sat on a train listening to 'Bakewell Counting', over and over again several times in an almost wonderful daze like some toddler who can sit and watch the same movie or show in back to back viewings.  I love the other regular pieces as well, but there is something almost epic and rousing with that piece.  I'm still looking for the rousing and for-tension-building scores of Masterchef the Professional UK but I think it varies more from episode to episode let alone season to season. 

[Cherry Cola]

I just binge watched season 5 but season 1 in US, If I am correct. I had also commented on how peaceful and easy going the show is.  I am glad others see that as well. It is so refreshing in this too fast paced loud world to have a sweet show to relax and enjoy.  I love it and want to see ALL the seasons now!