Blue Ribbon Baking Championship

I saw this and thought I would pop in. I don't bake any more as I don't eat baking, but I wanted to peek at the new cooking show.

I have never heard of Sandra Lee, but wow , the show producers have done her up to look like the personification of a Stepford Wife. She was painful to look at and whomever put her together needs to be fired.

Her attire is tacky. The first dress is an abomination with 50 cent plastic jewellery which is truly very awful; like play jewellery for little girls from the 1970s. The hot mess of a dress looks like someone blew up a taco, and the most absurd pair of boots I've ever seen. Picture an alien landing in a hillbilly town and trying to pass as a human, but got all the fashion decades mixed up and tried to go bold with all of them? What a nightmare. Who put her in that monstrosity?

She also talks with her hands and she should be coached out of that habit. Talking with your hands and partaking in arm waving is socially low brow. Besides, as she is standing there trying to wave in passing planes, some of that horrible plastic jewellery wrapped around her wrists and fingers could come flying off and take someone's eye out

Sometimes her mean girl shows; and I wonder if she was the mean girl back in high school. She does try, but there are some cracks in her personality.

I started episode 2, and Sandra's outfit almost made me go blind and it's such a shame she's been dressed like the local yocal.

The contestants made some fun things; very innovative. I don't like sweet desserts and probably would have enjoyed the items that were said to be not sweet enough. It was nice to see the contestants excel and Sandra redeemed herself when she started to cry over the perfect dessert.

Ok I love cooking shows like Master Chef, British Bake Off, Chopped and all the lesser ones that can be fun even though they are God-Awful like the recent Ciao House and Next-Level Chef.

As a general rule, I hate State Fair themed things, so keep that in mind as you read this. It's a stretch on so many of the challenges to stay within the confines of this theme. Some of them seem repetitive.

The contestants are the usual suspects: Sweet -looking- but-tough -competitor grandma, insecure young professional in another field, older gentleman in his second-act career, Mom, Gay perfectionist, exhausting optimist /deprecating jokester who is constantly "up"....

Finally, to the meat of the matter: co-host Sandra Lee. I think you're either a fan, or you aren't. For those who don't know, her claim to fame is not as a chef or baker or even homemaker, but as "Semi-Homemade" food network host. On that program, she took store- bought ready-made items to "create" a dish. Often ridiculous, it was really fun to hate-watch. The best part was the end where she made a cocktail. She's still awkward af as she was back in the day, stiff and somewhat plastic- but on this show, her appearance is jarring. She is still a very attractive woman, but whatever work/ fillers she's had are not flattering and appear to affect her ability to express herself. That's not even the worst part- her outfits! Is she dressed up for Halloween? Her wardrobe is atrocious! Why?? It is so distracting. I am not even listening to half the show, so sidetracked am I with the absurd get-ups. Her co-host, Jason Biggs, does the best he can. I remember him vaguely- was he on a sitcom? Not sure it had anything to do with food, but he does a decent job here.

If you want something to pass the time until the BBO returns, this will do. Please - someone tell Sandra to fire the stylist!

So let me just preface this review by saying that being from the UK I'm a big fan of GBBO. I've watched it since it began back in 2010 so i was going to be hard pushed to find anything that beat the show's format. That said I was interested to watch a lighter hearted version. I enjoyed the baking aspect and could even forgive the judges lacking any chemistry. Then Sandra Lee with her flailing arms and hands and then finally Jason Biggs as the lack lustre and not at all funny host. I remember him from his American Pie days and perhaps had expectations that this humour would carry though. However I was willing to overlook all of this.

But oh my goodness that constant background music from beginning to end, even when the contestants bakes were being judged was so irritating to me, to the point where I had to turn on subtitles on and mute the sound.

It honestly completely ruined the full "viewing" pleasure for me. To have background music almost CONSTANTLY isn't necessary and the tunes were over the place.

So yes this I my main big reason for marking it down. Take that away and I may have enjoyed it a little more.

August is a month when nothing new or compelling hits streaming. You get crime or cooking and an occasional good movie. I enjoyed seeing the desserts that came from the bakers. Made me want to eat pie, cake, and sweet rolls. So stay away from the show if you're dieting. The actual baking sequences are a waste of time. Part of watching these cooking shows is learning. GBBS always teaches you about how to be a better baker. This show does not. It does offer some attractive goodies. The contestants are not that interesting. That might be editing. And the main host is a distraction. She looks like holy roller Barbie. Her outfits are over the top flouncy creations that make her look like she's competing to look like a bad wedding cake. There are two other judges who are okay bur over shadowed by the Barbie judge. I made it through the series but only because after episode three I fast forwarded to see the desserts. I wasn't invested enough in the contestants to care who won. If Netflix renews this show they need to replace blonde with some one less over whelming. A grandma from Ohio maybe. Gotta go to the store to get some prebuilt pie. Bye bye.

A fun, light, baking competition hosted by wonderful culinary and comedic talent. I found it thoroughly entertaining. I don't understand how some reviewers can only criticize Sandra's wardrobe? I thought she was apropos and looked like her beautiful self. Jason Biggs is adorable and the White House chef is a great touch. The hosts seem to gel well and bring a nice vibe.

This show is about being good at all aspects of baking and holds true to its campy theme. It amazes me that so many people can win hundreds of competitions with their recipes. I have much to learn on the baking front and this show is a well put together and entertaining exhibition of talented bakers across the country.