{"id":12059,"date":"2024-05-21T02:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-05-21T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/?p=12059"},"modified":"2024-05-20T14:52:03","modified_gmt":"2024-05-20T21:52:03","slug":"the-great-american-baking-show-season-2-as-fluffy-and-sweet-as-its-bakers-treats","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/2024\/the-great-american-baking-show-season-2-as-fluffy-and-sweet-as-its-bakers-treats\/","title":{"rendered":"The Great American Baking Show: Season 2 * As Fluffy And Sweet As Its Bakers\u2019 Treats"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-medium is-resized\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/GABS.poster.jpg?resize=200%2C300&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12066\" style=\"width:120px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/GABS.poster.jpg?resize=200%2C300&amp;ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/GABS.poster.jpg?w=500&amp;ssl=1 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Roku Original&nbsp;<em>The&nbsp;<\/em><em>Great<\/em><em>&nbsp;<\/em><em>American<\/em><em>&nbsp;<\/em><em>Baking<\/em><em>&nbsp;<\/em><em>Show<\/em>&nbsp;is the&nbsp;American&nbsp;version of the most beloved&nbsp;baking&nbsp;show&nbsp;on the planet, bringing together passionate, talented bakers from around the country to see who will be named America\u2019s Best Amateur Baker.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Eshaan M. comments, \u201cSeason 2 of <em>The Great American Baking Show <\/em>is soon to arrive, in an attempt to capture the magic of its counterpart across the pond\u2026and it succeeds beautifully. The<em> Great American Baking Show <\/em>is as fluffy and sweet as its bakers\u2019 treats, and it replicates the British show\u2019s format without feeling like a knock-off.\u201d See his full review and interviews below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Great American Baking Show: Season 2<br>By Eshaan M., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 18<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-embed-handler wp-block-embed-embed-handler wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/iQna86U4m7c?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-medium is-resized\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/GABSHS_S2_071823_MF_1801.jpg?resize=300%2C200&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12060\" style=\"width:220px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/GABSHS_S2_071823_MF_1801.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/GABSHS_S2_071823_MF_1801.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/GABSHS_S2_071823_MF_1801.jpg?w=800&amp;ssl=1 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Watching nine contestants bake in a tent in the British countryside became an international pastime with the release of the<em> Great British Baking Show. <\/em>Season 2 of <em>The Great American Baking Show <\/em>is soon to arrive, in an attempt to capture the magic of its counterpart across the pond\u2026and it succeeds beautifully. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The<em> Great American Baking Show <\/em>is as fluffy and sweet as its bakers\u2019 treats, and it replicates the British show\u2019s format without feeling like a knock-off \u2013 though it is a bit corny at times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-embed-handler wp-block-embed-embed-handler wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/WAaDjfkqza0?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-medium is-resized\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/GABSHS_S2_071823_MF_3238.jpg?resize=300%2C200&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12063\" style=\"width:220px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/GABSHS_S2_071823_MF_3238.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/GABSHS_S2_071823_MF_3238.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/GABSHS_S2_071823_MF_3238.jpg?w=800&amp;ssl=1 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>The premise of the<em> Great American Baking Show<\/em> is simple: nine bakers from across the US, who each have expertise in different areas of baking, are assembled and brought to a white tent in the British countryside where they\u2019re tasked with making increasingly difficult items. Each episode deals with one type of baked goods \u2014 week one is cake week, for example \u2014 and the bakers face three challenges to test their creativity and their mastery of baking in a time crunch and without a formal recipe. Their baked goods are judged by renowned chefs Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith, who winnow down the pool of bakers by eliminating one each episode and, in the end, crown one baker as the winner.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-embed-handler wp-block-embed-embed-handler wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/1bXN_K8ijdY?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-medium is-resized\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/GABSHS_S2_071823_MF_3065.jpg?resize=300%2C200&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12067\" style=\"width:220px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/GABSHS_S2_071823_MF_3065.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/GABSHS_S2_071823_MF_3065.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/GABSHS_S2_071823_MF_3065.jpg?w=800&amp;ssl=1 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>The<em> Great American Baking Show Season 2 <\/em>is, by leaps and bounds, superior to the most recent seasons of its British counterpart (and its first season, which had a tough run). That doesn\u2019t mean it doesn\u2019t have issues, but it\u2019s almost at the level of the first few seasons of the <em>Great British Baking Show<\/em>. The bakers are judged by Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith, both of whom lean into the characters they\u2019ve carved out for themselves in the British version. Paul is the exacting master baker whose handshakes seem to be worth more than the lottery (and whose striking good looks are a source of near-constant discussion among the ladies). And Prue is the endearing British dame, providing periodic, measured compliments and pearl-clutching comments about calories. The show\u2019s hosts, comedian Zach Cherry and actress Ellie Kemper, have, essentially, one job: pull silly, cheesy stunts, motivate the bakers and mug for the camera while mournfully calling out time checks.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-medium is-resized\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/GABSHS_S2_071823_MF_3286.jpg?resize=300%2C200&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12062\" style=\"width:220px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/GABSHS_S2_071823_MF_3286.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/GABSHS_S2_071823_MF_3286.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/GABSHS_S2_071823_MF_3286.jpg?w=800&amp;ssl=1 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>In the first few episodes, they seem a bit awkward together, with some of their jokes working and others falling flat, but they soon find their beat. I did miss seeing Noel Fielding in the tent, but I will say that Cherry and Kemper\u2019s chats with the bakers are fun and help the show move along. The contestants are a sweet, supremely talented, but somewhat unremarkable batch, likely due to the editing which, as in last season, doesn\u2019t allow viewers to understand the bakers\u2019 back-stories very well. There are other rough moments in the editing of this show, like some jerky cutaways, shaky footage of bakers running from place to place and clearly artificial, over-the-top reactions to the technical bake judging. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Also to be noted, the items on this list were present in the first season of the American show too, so perhaps it\u2019s an artistic choice. The actual content of the show is pleasant, though. The British version of the show has seen its challenges grow more and more wild over time, and the <em>Great American Baking Show<\/em> follows suit. I also think it was a smart move to make the show more \u201cAmerican\u201d so that both viewers and bakers would have an easier time relating to the show. <\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-medium is-resized\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/GABS.bakers-judges-hosts-v2.jpg?resize=300%2C169&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12069\" style=\"width:220px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/GABS.bakers-judges-hosts-v2.jpg?resize=300%2C169&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/GABS.bakers-judges-hosts-v2.jpg?w=700&amp;ssl=1 700w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>And, my final note \u2014 I love how wholesome the energy in the tent is throughout the show. Even in the midst of heated competition, the bakers smile and encourage each other. It appears that the kindest cross-section of America got its own TV show, which is nice to see in this age of discord and infighting.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The <em>Great American Baking Show <\/em>promotes healthy competition, exploration, creativity and the enjoyment of simple joys in life like food.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Great American Baking Show: Season 2 <\/em>gets 5 out of 5 stars and I recommend it for ages 8 to 18, plus adults. It will be available on The Roku Channel beginning May 24, 2024.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Z7putnkUIZU?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Roku Original The Great American Baking Show is the American version of the most beloved baking show on the planet, bringing together passionate, talented bakers from around the country to see who will be named America\u2019s Best Amateur Baker. <\/p>\n<p>KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Eshaan M. comments, \u201cSeason 2 of The Great American Baking Show is soon to arrive, in an attempt to capture the magic of its counterpart across the pond\u2026and it succeeds beautifully. The Great American Baking Show is as fluffy and sweet as its bakers\u2019 treats, and it replicates the British show\u2019s format without feeling like a knock-off.\u201d <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[4,355],"tags":[7719,7724,7722,7728,7716,7725,7711,5191,7723,7717,7714,7721,1545,7720,7718,7715,7712,7727,7726,7713],"class_list":["post-12059","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-tv","category-tv-series","tag-adam-cooper","tag-arturo-castro","tag-chloe-fineman","tag-competition-show","tag-darcy-carden-2","tag-deandre-jordan","tag-ego-nwodim","tag-ellie-kemper","tag-heather-mcmahan","tag-jeremy-finn","tag-joel-kim-booster","tag-joel-mchale","tag-liza-koshy","tag-love-productions","tag-marshawn-lynch","tag-nat-faxon","tag-paul-hollywood","tag-phoebe-robinson","tag-prue-leith","tag-zach-cherry"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/paS5I2-38v","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12059","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12059"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12059\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12072,"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12059\/revisions\/12072"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12059"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12059"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12059"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}