The Great British Bake Off Vs. Literally Every American Cooking Show

During the summer hiatus of my favorite TV shows, I turn to the slew of reality TV entertainment to fill the void. Guilty pleasure – yes. Any chance of stopping – no. One of my favorite types of reality TV is cooking shows. From Chopped to Cake Wars to Master Chef and beyond, I’ve probably seen an episode of every American-marketed competitive cooking show. What can I say? I’m addicted and bored.

This summer, I began watching The Great British Bake Off. I’d heard of it, but never actually watched it. When American TV becomes mundane, which is frequent, I often venture into the world of British television, and in fact a lot of my favorites come from across the pond.

After the first episode of Bake Off I knew something was different. After the second episode, I figured it out – authenticity.

While in the Philippines, I got a taste of the real deal watching Master Chef Juniors: Australia (twice as cute as the American one and 100% more authentic.) In the American version the kids come off as actor wannabes. They’re cute, don’t get me wrong, but I doubt their passion for cooking or on occasion their ability at all. The Aussie version couples the cute factor of kids with their genuine passion – a perfect recipe for an incredible cooking show. The tears and joys are real.

I have now found this in Bake Off. These amateur bakers are real people, not Hollywood wannabes. Granted the people or chefs on American cooking competitions, in most cases, don’t become famous. But they lack the “real” factor. The real factor is extremely important when I’m supposed to care who stays and who goes.

Authenticity is the underlying factor that completely colors the shows. It feels real or it doesn’t. I like the real. Will I stop watching reality TV – no. I’m addicted to fake, just like the rest of America. But I like to foray into real reality TV time and time again.

Here are other important qualities of Bake Off that are refreshingly different:

1.       Contests go home after each round! What a novelty. You don’t have to deal with taking time away from a job or be away from family to compete. Plus, no living in awkward situations with strangers – bonus!

2.       Paul and Mary (Bake Off judges) are firm and critical but they’re not mean for the sake of being mean. No Gordon Ramsey’s here folks.

3.       The tears are real, so is the stress, therefore the drama is real. Will they get the bake completed in time? Who knows?

4.       The tasks are plausible. No stupid time limits (there are limits but reasonable) or crazy ingredients that have to no relevance to the culinary world. Nothing is thrown at contestants just to watch them squirm.

5.       Finally, the hosts are so corny, but they don’t try to pass of as anything but. Plus, it’s educational. History and facts are thrown in, I learn as I watch.

So that’s it. I could be fooled by the bakers, they could all be actors, but if they are give them an award – the fooled me. Bake Off vs. the battery of U.S cooking shows. Watch it – fun times and real baking ahead.

Also, just as an FYI, the U.S. tried its own version Bake Off. It flopped. What can I say, we like fake reality TV.