gretl-76237

I find most Food Network shows to be insufferable these days, but I liked this one. It felt SLIGHTLY more relaxed in pace, and the theme was a fun change (slightly spooky vibes/setup without being gross Halloween food - no fake eyeballs here!) I especially liked the idea that the chefs had to come prepared for versatility, and use it up, make it do, or do without - it was interesting to me to see how they repurposed ingredients or substituted others. (I am a home chef who spends way too much money on single-use ingredients and can't figure out ways to use them up!) I also felt the contestants and judges and host were slightly more supportive of each other than a lot of competition cooking shows. Finally, I really enjoyed Tituss on Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, and enjoyed seeing his semi-subtle shtick here. I would say the spooky vibe is suitable for around ages 6 and up, particularly for kids who enjoy cooking.

This Hallmark movie actually has a heart! The tough situations are realistic - guy whose wife left him when he had a stroke; woman whose husband cheated on her; preteen who is struggling with the changes in his life. I'm so tired of the superficial holiday movies that are all the same. This was a refreshingly real change of pace. Of course, it's Hallmark, so it's cheesy, but I really appreciate the portrayal of a disability and inclusion of some mild grittiness. Also, kudos to Hallmark for poking fun at flat-earthers/science deniers - didn't expect that! The movie did a great job being sweetly funny. Overall, I am quite impressed and this will be a repeat watch each year.