I grew up watching Masterchef in the UK, an edition that highlighted the contestants and their cooking prowess by means of a tiered tournament structure. 'Goes Large' simultaneously allowed two likable presenters to provide their thoughts and opinions without overwhelming the program.
Masterchef Canada does none of this.
Like the US version, it relies too heavily on bombast, gimmicks and 'emotional' music. The 'drama' is cloying at best, and is insufferable at its worst. The judges add little to the 'spectacle' other than rousing speeches. We learn nothing of the contestants' cooking skills simply because there is so little time to watch their work in the kitchen, given how fascinated the show is on cheap side-interviews/pre-commercial soundbites. Challenge 'winners' (a joke in itself, given that often only three or four of the dishes are actually tasted) either watch from the balcony or can decide who cooks what and/or who cooks at all. Which, naturally, leads to snarky contestant 'rivalries'.
How is it possible that a program called 'Masterchef Canada' has more in common with Survivor, America's Got Talent and The Housewives of... than it's own source material?
The show avoids a lower rating as the production value is admittedly very impressive. But this is not a cooking show. Based on the potential and the original from which it has spun, it is pandering, it is consumed with 'drama', and it is a bitter disappointment.
