Holiday Baking Championship - General Discussion

[Splashy]

On 12/24/2024 at 3:09 PM, Salacious Kitty said:

I didn't notice any animosity between him and Rolf. I found him pretty quiet and keeping to himself. 

Same here. They were having fun ribbing each other. When Rolf won the final preheat where he could then sit out the extra bake, they showed Rafi rolling his eyes and shaking his head, but he was also grinning. I think they respected each other. And some of it, no doubt, was the producers egging them on. I think they encourage some competitiveness between some of the bakers. It seems to happen every season. 

But I know we all see different things sometimes; this is just my view. 🙃

[Ohmo]

I streamed all of HBC spread over three sittings.  I was fine with Steven winning, but I liked the concept of Rolf's house, even though the execution was lacking.  I find gingerbread houses boring, so the different architectures made things interesting for me

I've realized that what I'd really like to see is a competition series for the high-intensity bakers---people like Romy, Javier (I think that was his name from SBC), German, Carolyn, Rafi, and Rolf.  FN always seems to put these bakers in competition, but they never seem to win.

Home bakers are fine.   I have nothing against them, but I'd like a competition where people like the above compete, they make desserts that look good enough to put on a holiday card, they taste good, and they'd probably be an expensive special order at any bakery, but they'd be worth it.

I agree that 5 hours was enough for the challenge, but I'd love to have seen what they could have done with 10 hours spread over 2 days.

[CrazyInAlabama]

For a few seasons they had a show called Best Baker, no twists, people from the various seasons of holiday championships, and it was really good.   

[Ohmo]

I will say I'm glad they're awarding $1,000 prizes along the way. It makes the rest of the competition mean something.  Ever since FN's insistence that the $25K is only about the last bake, they've used that to not be responsible for a cumulative competition even though that's what the show is.  The judges give cumulative suggestions, compliments, and feedback.

"This is the best thing you've baked in the competition"

Courtney's annoying "Lady Flavor" didn't come as a result of one bake either.  She got it over a period of time (cumulatively)

The smaller monetary prizes make the rest of the competition make a bit of sense.  Otherwise, if the prize only reflects the last bake, there's no reason to have the eight weeks at all. Steven, Rafi, Natasha, and Rolf could have been picked out of a hat, walked in off the street, and told to build a gingerbread house in 5 hours for $25K without the preceding 7 episodes existing at all.

I think the small prize amounts are at least recognition by FN that they have to make all of the other episodes matter in some way.  It's a sideways nod that the competition is cumulative even though FN doesn't score it that way.

[GeorgiaRai]

It's cumulative in that a contestant has to survive week to week (or whatever timeframe they're actually on) but the premise has always been that judging is current-bake only, hasn't it?  And aside from the stipend/compensation I assume they receive, the longer they're in the compensation, the more exposure they get - that seems valuable to a small business.

I haven't always liked the winner or agreed with the judging (though I did this time) but I usually take it at face value - except for Season 8 of Spring Baking Championship which was just inexplicable.

[AZChristian]

1 hour ago, GeorgiaRai said:

I haven't always liked the winner or agreed with the judging (though I did this time) but I usually take it at face value - except for Season 8 of Spring Baking Championship which was just inexplicable.

And hopefully spelled the end of Molly "Sprinkles" Yeh as far as hosting any Food Network competition shows ever again.

[Iseut]

Funny conversation while watching football with my 8-year-old nephew yesterday.

Him: That's Joe Tessitore! He's from my favorite show Holey Moly!

Me: And he's announcing with Jesse Palmer! I just watched him as the host of Holiday Baking Championship!

Him: My other favorite show is Wipeout. I love John Henson!

Me: Me too! And he's the host of Halloween Baking Championship, which is the best!

 

My baking show addiction is helping me keep up with the kids lol. Cracked me up that we mostly know the sports announcers from their non-sports endeavors.

[Grizzly]

2 hours ago, Iseut said:

Funny conversation while watching football with my 8-year-old nephew yesterday.

Him: That's Joe Tessitore! He's from my favorite show Holey Moly!

Me: And he's announcing with Jesse Palmer! I just watched him as the host of Holiday Baking Championship!

Him: My other favorite show is Wipeout. I love John Henson!

Me: Me too! And he's the host of Halloween Baking Championship, which is the best!

 

My baking show addiction is helping me keep up with the kids lol. Cracked me up that we mostly know the sports announcers from their non-sports endeavors.

I have to admit, I watched that game solely because of the announcers. Was delighted that it turned into an exciting game. But I did think, Jesse doesn't talk this much on HBC.

[Ohmo]

On 1/2/2025 at 12:13 PM, Iseut said:

My baking show addiction is helping me keep up with the kids lol. Cracked me up that we mostly know the sports announcers from their non-sports endeavors.

I'm a football fan, and I've known Jesse in the football sense for a while.  That said, when he was calling the game, I thought it was weird that he wasn't talking about baking.  Ha!