Masterchef

I've watched both the British and Australian versions of Masterchef which were never perfect but the US version just elevates them in comparison.

It feels like a contrived soap opera with random, forgettable people screeching about for no rhyme or reason. There are no master classes, over the top sob stories, scripted drama and predictable judges. The show has the least amount of episodes but they're the most tedious. It gives me a headache to be honest.

This show is only for people who have short attention spans and no interest in food.

US MasterChef, what can I say about this show? I only stumbled across it recently whilst channel surfing. Being from the UK and knowing and loving the original MasterChef, I was intrigued to see what it was like. At first, I enjoyed the different format, but once I saw a few of the episodes, it frustrated me more and more.

The overly dramatic music; the over-the-top contestants and pathetically staged bickering between them; the judges constantly ripping into the "home" cooks as if they were professional chefs; the constant reminders of the contestants' backstories and them always crying; and finally, the way in which contestants are eliminated, where you see stronger ones being knocked out and weaker ones surviving. The show's a bit of a guilty pleasure, but I do not consider it a serious cooking show. To use an overly used phrase on the show, "make the food the hero of the show, not the fake drama.

If you want to watch a decent MasterChef show, watch the UK one, or surprisingly the best one IMO, the Australian MasterChef, which mixes the best parts of the UK and American show.

Like Hells Kitchen tis show is about a cooking contest and it's entertaining but also not very complex. It's a fun short bit of entertainment. Nothing less and nothing more.

It seems like every single time an episode airs, the hosts try and outdo themselves in theatrics. When you watch the US version and then watch the UK cersion, it's night and day. Watching Gordon Ramsay throw a hysterical temper tantrum and literally throw food against a wall should shame him off of the show. Watching Joe treat a piece of undercooked meat like it's the end of the world is ridiculous. Arron Sanchez isn't bad - he doesn't pitch a fit. He's good and fair, but doesn't act like a petulant child. Ramsay and Bastianich could learn a thing or two from Sanchez.

The UK version is for adults - children left at the door.

It is a petty to see how they took the Australian (or UK) show and changed it to break people instead of building and teaching.

It is a completely different atmosphere compared especially to the Aussie version.

The Brits and the Aussies also have the MasterClass episodes that are really educational.

There are elements that are interesting in seeing how contestants form informal teams as well as having to team up with "enemies". Still - quite more subtly executed in the original series. I recommend watching the Australian version.