When I was pregnant, I finished work six weeks before the blessed babe was due (is that phrase only supposed to refer to the baby Jesus..?). That six weeks became a waste of time, as I had all this time on my hands but could barely find a comfortable position to lie in, let alone party. Being a hippopotamus sea cow blimp is not conducive to partying. The closest I could get to a dance move was trying to pick up the soap in the shower.
So I was bored, I was a hippopotamus sea cow blimp, and I discovered Master Chef.
It's a BBC program that pits average Joes against each other in a series of cooking challenges, culminating in one person being crowned 'Master Chef' at the end of the series.
The show finished a few weeks after the heavenly child was born (definitely only baby Jesus) and let me tell you, I may not have showered regularly in those early days, the pyjama pants may not have come off before noon, but come hell or high water, at 3pm we were watching Master Chef, so help me Archibald!
I had withdrawals when the show finished, to the point where I found myself wistfully watching Huey's Cooking Adventures (a low point, a low point), until one day I was pulled from my stupor upon reading that there was an Australian version of the show in the works. While my heart jumped momentarily, I quickly realised that Master Chef was about to be completely and utterly ruined. Australian TV is awful, and we manage to routinely mangle overseas TV shows we try to recreate. Think Idol (Kyle Sandilands should not be allowed on TV, not even on a karaoke competition), So You Think You Can Dance (no Mia Michaels - why bother?) and Big Brother (well, we were whipping a dead horse with that one anyway).
A couple of days after reflecting on this, I received an email from the casting director that I was advised was 'ok to post on your blog if you wish':
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The search is on to find Australia’s first true MasterChef. Network Ten wants every kitchen wannabe from amateur chefs to budding foodies to toss their chef’s hat in the ring…each hoping to become…Australia’s next super Chef.
A real life drama will play out as the contestant’s kitchen courage is put to the ultimate test. From the lows of failure to the highs of success, our cast of characters will be catapulted from starters to mains then desserts and back again.
IN 2009 WE ARE ABOUT TO SEE WHO CAN TAKE THE HEAT…AND WHO HAD BETTER GET OUT OF THE KITCHEN!
To apply, go to www.masterchef.com.au
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Now, if we can get a couple of really good judges and Joy K on the show it might turn out alright after all.
2 Thoughts:
After attending the auditions I think it's safe to say that it will be nothing like the UK show...
No cooking skills or food knowledge needed to get through to stage where they begin filming. First round audition was just a personality test...
Quite disappointing for those of us who went to much effort in creating our dishes that no one connected with the show even tasted. And we had to wait 10 hours before our audition even started. It was insulting and humiliating. As childish as this may sound I hope the show is a ratings disaster for Channel 10. As you can tell I'm quite angry.
And rightly so! I'm angry for you.
What gets my goat is that they don't even try to hide the fact that it's not about food at all, it's just about money.
I'm disappointed but not surprised they screwed you around - they did it to my husband when he auditioned for a game show a few years back. Sounds like nothing's changed.
We really do know how to ruin a good TV show over here. I just hate that it's Masterchef this time.
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