The Great Canadian Pottery Throw Down

I really wanted to like this, having watched all 9 seasons of the UK throwdown.

The judges have no demonstrated skill and are either biased, dishonest or both. They are inconsistent in the comments they give, and criticise the contestants they don't like, while giving their favourites a free pass.

There were no guest judges, as I can only assume that skilled ceramicists don't want to have anything to do with this pile of clay.

There is none of the joy that the UK pottery throwdown has.

This show proves the maxim that you can't polish a turd.

A weak imitation that isn't worth a single minute of your time.

They missed the mark on this one. I was really looking forward to this one too. It does not have the charm of the UK original. Rogen's laugh is like scratching a blackboard. He is a less than average potter with no imagination. He is annoying and grating with no personality. The talented potters are a highlight although they are not given enough to lean into. The hosts are boring and not engaging. I didn't feel like I was really rooting for anyone in particular. The location is cold and uninviting. Very disappointing. I struggled to get through the episodes. I loved the UK version. Maybe it will come to the US and be better. Lots of talented artists everywhere!

The hosts and judges are stiff and not the least bit personable as they are on the British series. And, Seth Rogen's laugh may just make me stop watching altogether - it's got to be the most annoying laugh I've heard in a long time; even worse than Fran Drescher's.

The fact that Rogen has a weed company and only sells weed ashtrays/accoutrements to justify his pottery credentials is laughable. They don't have any serious potters in the whole of Canada? They had to choose him?

The whole show is just blah. Everyone (hosts, judges and contestants) are like cardboard cutouts of humans. Absolutely no personalities; a boatload of humorless puppets.

Not a good clone of the beloved British series.

Edited to add: I shouldn't have tarred the contestants and judges with the same brush as the hosts (the female - no personality, and Rogen - too much personality) and whomever was in charge of show design, editing, directing, etc...although if Rogen had complete power then he's solely to blame.

The contestants and judges look like they had little say. I don't care that Rogen is the whole reason the show was brought over from the UK. He should have hired someone to do everything right that he ham-handedly botched.

We'll see if things improve IF there's a 2nd season (Jan/Feb 2025?).

Only watched one episode so far. I'm taking 2 points off because of Seth Rogen. Apart from that it wasn't a bad start and the competitors seem pretty good. The building they are using is awful, but they have tried to warm it up with some fake beams and reclaimed timber so it looks a little nicer and more like the original programme. But they need to stop showing that close-up of the outside of the building and concentrate more on the much nicer wider shot and water. The judges will hopefully get better as the series progresses and when they haven't got to deal with Rogen taking the limelight and going on about smoking weed. Yes his laugh is terrible and annoying.

I deducted another point as the wrong person went at the end mostly because of Rogen not liking/getting their work, I think the judges would've made a better choice if they were allowed. But maybe there were other reasons to keep the obvious candidate for leaving Ep1 in the competition ?

Edit after Ep2

I'm going to up my score from 4 to 6 after watching Ep2. It was much better and very much helped by a lot less Rogen to put up with. Although I did like the fact in one take Rogen was going to wire his pot off before he had finished it. (The bad editing of the Second challenge demonstration revealed he forgot the notch in the base in one of his attempts)

In reply to another reviewer I'd just like to say yes Executive Producer Seth Rogen may be responsible for bringing pottery throw down to a rusty warehouse in Canada but that doesn't mean he had to be on the programme.

But Seth did say....

"l must be on television at all costs."

So that kind of explains it.

Unfortunately it did not live up to the Great Pottery Throwdown from the UK. Lifeless setting, the contestants and judges/host (let's stop getting boring pretty people as hosts, more comedians like Siobhan) don't have charm, character, and heart like they do in their counterpart. Didn't really like that the first episode was basically make whatever you want as long as it reminds you of home, made it harder to judge. Was really looking forward to this season and a PNW spin on the original series that I love so much but I walked away disappointed with the first episode. Hope the season continues to improve, both with the challenges, getting to know the contestants/judges, and hopefully an improved setting because that white warehouse with exposed wiring isn't nearly as nice as the colorful and full of plants room in the original!