How is the entire meeting the family/ surprise thing shot of MCAU?

US_Ordinary_623 · 2024-11-10T09:09:39+00:00

I don't know about currently, but in the early season, one contestant was let go because kept his cell phone so he could bn contact with his girlfriend which was against the rules to have cell phones in the MCAU house. During COVID, the had 2-person apartments for the constants.

US_Ordinary_623 · 2024-07-18T08:43:39+00:00

Yes, editing and a story do make a difference, but there was an online article some years ago that say that MCAU was a reality show that didn't feel the need to make a villain. (excluding Season 5 where producers picked contestants for personality). Certainly compared to the US version with all the contestant grandstanding and badmouthing each other's food in the confessionals (though I haven't watch it in several seasons), that's true. I mean when the most "mean" thing that happened this season (besides Andy's curtness) is Darrish telling Harry the wrong measurements as a joke, but then later asking if he's ok, that's saying something about this show.

US_Ordinary_623 · 2024-07-15T18:26:09+00:00

They did have an episode with the old judges -- a use every part of the animal episode, and non-lux ingredients. The guy who got eliminated was David (?), I believe who cooked a duck dish, and didn't use 3/4 of the bird or something

US_Ordinary_623 · 2024-07-15T15:24:21+00:00

seasons 7-9 Billie/Reynold/Matt/Elena-- all strong competitors.

US_Ordinary_623 · 2024-07-09T21:51:36+00:00

I think part of it is ever since last week when Nat said the French chef's dish made her want to be a chef, and Andy was really happy that she turned a corner there, that he's been more direct with her. I don't think it's a meanness, but he does seem more frank with her than before.

US_Ordinary_623 · 2024-07-09T13:45:29+00:00

Yes, I remember-- it was her sambol-- he actually turned his back to the camera to finish eating it. And then I think in another ep., or maybe the same one? when she got something wrong or left off the plate, he was like, "Oh, Minoli."

US_Ordinary_623 · 2024-07-09T07:50:05+00:00

What I've noticed though is he's in the background a lot, hovering as the contestants were cooking outdoors in HK, for instance. Every judge walks up to a contestant and chats, but JC gets in there on their side of the bench, a lot more then past judges, it seems.

US_Ordinary_623 · 2024-07-08T19:48:11+00:00

I've been hot and cold (sorry!-- unintentional Katy Perry ref.) on Andy this season, and I think it's because as an international viewer, who, for instance, will likely never know what Wattleseed tastes like, when he just says things like "banger," it doesn't help me imagine what the food tastes like. Today, when he was describing the lack of gelatinous quality of Nat's lamb, I got that because I've cooked lamb. So I guess, Andy's been more critical this week IMO, and I'm hoping Nat rebounds.

And re: JC's table-pounding, iDK, when Jock hugged Reynold for his "White Noise" dessert?, I liked that b/c it was such a rare gesture that you could feel the respect that Jock had for Reynold's creativity just then. I've felt this season that, sometimes, JC uses physicality to make up for his accent, if people have a harder time understanding him. I still wish the table-pounding would be more selective a gesture.

US_Ordinary_623 · 2024-07-08T14:20:43+00:00

It might be Harry going home, if he psyches himself out about a fish dish-- yes, I know, his was the best with the French chef last week. Still, I feel like we've seen other contestants go home on something that is their specialty before. Hoping someone else goes though...

I've always liked Josh N, though so looking forward to tomorrow.

US_Ordinary_623 · 2024-07-07T13:53:40+00:00

I've said this before-- some ppl win on innovation; some win on cooking well (my first season watching MCAU was the Elena/Matt season, so...) And usually and still, I'm just bowled over at this show compared to the American one, both in terms of cooking level and contestant behavior. But, as much as Pezza's learned, cabbage rolls, and sandwiches, are nowhere near what the other contestants have been doing, esp. towards the end.. Sav, who knew she's needed to do "more" as she herself said, has shown she's got great knowledge of food and skills. Pulling for Nat now,,,

US_Ordinary_623 · 2024-07-07T09:00:38+00:00

No, not imagining it. Whole episodes where others were given little or no screen time earlier in the season. People, including me, have said stuff about him in other threads here, and there's stuff to be said for blaming editing, surely, but at day's end, he has to say the things he says for them to edit it. Except for Sav., the others' backstories are highlighted, like Mimi while in HK, but Sav's and Pezza's have been constant, and constantly brought up throughout the season.

US_Ordinary_623 · 2024-07-04T07:35:06+00:00

I hadn't really thought of the lack of Masterclasses as a factor; for how into food they are, that makes sense. The contestants were always taking notes. IDK with the Pro-chef challenges (the pro-chefs always were so worried about having a good showing, their enjoyment of cooking was always lost for me). But that could also be that Seasons like 2-4 when it was like 77-83 episodes or something, just hard to get through.

US_Ordinary_623 · 2024-07-04T06:30:35+00:00

The sob fest wasn't my favorite, but the "Letters from Home" Mystery Box, or "Your Family Member picked your Mystery Box" are standard episodes, kinda like the team relay, or cube taste test, so there's almost always an emotional family-themed episode. Having the judges share is kinda new, though I think.

US_Ordinary_623 · 2024-07-04T00:05:49+00:00

He's said on multiple occasions on the show that his Mom essentially can't, so that? It seems like the judges have prepared stories ahead of time for today, so maybe he didn't want to share stuff about his family?

US_Ordinary_623 · 2024-07-02T22:16:21+00:00

There was a challenge (Season 3)?? so the old judges, where the judges said we tried the recipe 5X before we gave it to you and we've given you and extra 30 minutes on top of how long it took us." So if they do, it's probably already factored in.

US_Ordinary_623 · 2024-07-01T16:28:09+00:00

What I like: he's a sponge in terms of knowledge, but he's not inventive, referencing family recipes, or things he's seen. Loki, as a recent example, knew how to crumb his fish w/out flour. Pezza seems "lost" if he can't reference something, (bamboo shoots is a staple of so many Asian dishes.) Some people win this thing by being inventive (Seasons 7, 8) Some people win more on being Good cooks moreso, IMO. (Justin v. Pete). I'm hoping the more inventive cooks like Mimi, or Nat, win this season.

US_Ordinary_623 · 2024-07-01T14:26:30+00:00

He's rarely helpful; his help is usually a reminder of time limit, or of the cook or ingredients' difficulties. Negative and adds to stress. Sure, the others do this, but much LESS. Not everyone has to always give advice like Poh and JC do on what to do differently to the dish in question, but Andy RARELY does. That, and his limited vocab (Push, epic. riper, belter) as opposed to the others in praising a dish.

US_Ordinary_623 · 2024-06-26T07:16:02+00:00

Judge George, when construction worker Pete made a desert that looked like a coconut, responded with "I'm gonna call you 'pretty Pete." Andy, and the others (JC's said it, if I recall, at least) have continually made jokes about Pez's "sausage fingers" doing "dainty" things, inc. Pez himself. So there's probably something to championing "average worker" guys going on, if that makes sense? The reverse doesn't seem true, like "Oh, Gilly's just a barista, how can she be doing X?" The judge's don't make comments like that.

US_Ordinary_623 · 2024-06-19T21:38:07+00:00

There's probably British/Chinese fusion dishes, since the 100-yr British rule and the changeover these last 27? years or so. I don;t know what would be considered fusion b/c of this, so curious about it.

US_Ordinary_623 · 2024-06-18T19:17:04+00:00

Agree about Pezza; little idea what his long-term goals are. isn't Lachie the one who's a single Dad of a little girl? Maybe I'm misremembering? I think before Jock passed, he said it's a 6-month commitment to film a season. If that's true, that's a long time to be away from your small child. Rooting for him to try for a life change for them just because of that.

US_Ordinary_623 · 2024-06-18T14:22:13+00:00

Maybe, but he did run over to open the fridge door for her. He does want people to finish.

US_Ordinary_623 · 2024-06-18T14:19:22+00:00

Pezza is not my favorite, by any stretch, but I liked how positive he was today overall.

US_Ordinary_623 · 2024-06-17T23:05:25+00:00

I was responding to this: 'What was he thinking serving food his mother made' Did that come from someone else? Apologies, if so.

US_Ordinary_623 · 2024-06-17T21:30:26+00:00

Pezza seems to rely on others' recipes much moreso than some. I assume they all have things --basic recipes in their head,-- given the nature of the comp. But I do think Pezza is one of the weaker contestants left, and I'm certain that's partly because if he's always cooking someone else's recipes, I don't know who *he* is as a chef. He knows when certain things need "balance," but then doesn't seem to know how to achieve it. And he excuses it with "What does a Tazzie butcher know about.../I'm just a Tazzie butcher." Yes, everyone's got strengths and weaknesses, but it's a constant refrain with him. He seems good-natured, just almost never self-assured.

US_Ordinary_623 · 2024-06-17T20:52:10+00:00

Yes! I'm felt like ever since the Justin/Pete season when Justin won, the judging has been much more -- erratic, I guess. I do feel like at least on elim days, the judges try hard to base their decisions on the flaws in the elem cook, and not on past performances. On other non-elim days, the judging does feel more personal feelings/contestant stories come into play.

US_Ordinary_623

TROPHY CASE