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TV Media Weekly | March 2 - 8, 2019 By Adam Thomlison TV Media Q: I just saw the movie "Mo- ana" and found it very enter- taining. I got to wondering, is it based on a real Pacific Islander legend? A: Yes it is, though of course some liberties were taken. The film's title character seems to be pure Disney fiction, but her heroic sidekick Maui is not. Maui is presented as a demigod in the film, and he appears as such in many Pacific Island legends. The magical fish hook that drives much of the film's plot also appears in the legends, though the stolen heart of Te Fiti, and the character of Te Fiti herself, do not — at least not as such. It seems that Te Fiti is based on the fire goddess Pele, and there is a real-world legend about Maui stealing her fire (much like he steals her heart in "Moana"). No one expects Disney to pro- duce cartoon documentaries, so these alterations were generally accepted by fans and scholars alike. However, controversy stemmed not from what was rep- resented on screen, but how. Particularly, much was made of the fact that Maui is shown in the film as, well, enormous. This is de- spite the fact that the legends gen- erally depict him as slim and rather young. Critics argued that this fed into harmful stereotypes of Pacific Islanders. There were positive representa- tions as well, though. A scholar writing in the prestigious Smithso- nian Magazine pointed out that the film's focus on the seafaring prowess of Polynesian people shines light on their incredible ac- complishments on that front. Q: Which of Gordon Ram- say's many shows was his first to hit TV? A: Scotland-born Gordon Ram- say's TV career began, unsurpris- ingly, in Britain. Thus, his first TV se- ries was the 1999 documentary miniseries "Boiling Point," which followed him as he opened one of his hugely successful restaurants, back when he was only famous as a restaurateur and chef. That was his first series, but his first TV stardom came in 2004 when he launched the U.K. ver- sions of both "Hell's Kitchen" and "Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares." On the other hand, if you're re- ferring specifically to North Ameri- can TV (and you probably are), his stardom began with the U.S. ver- sion of "Hell's Kitchen" that de- buted on Fox in 2005. His U.S. ren- dition of "Kitchen Nightmares" came two years later. Have a question? Email us at questions@tvtabloid.com. Please include your name and town. Per- sonal replies will not be provided. Hollywood Q&A By Andrew Warren TV Media P reheat the ovens, work out the palates and sharpen those knives: globally re- nowned chef Gordon Ramsay is back for another sea- son of his hit cooking competition. Nope, not the one where he yells and swears at the contestants, and not the OTHER one where he yells and swears (albeit a little bit less). We're talking about the one where he's actually — dare I say it — nice. "MasterChef Junior" returns to Fox for a seventh season on Tues- day, March 5, with the celebrated culinary artist at the helm. The premiere brings together 24 of the nation's most talented home cooks between the ages of 8 and 13 for a cooking competition like no other, filled with challenges that would make even profession- al adult chefs sweat. Chef Aarón Sánchez, who serves as one of the main judges in the adult "MasterChef," joins Ramsay and chef Christina Tosi as a judge this season, after previ- ously appearing as a guest judge a few times back in season 5. To- gether, the three of them not only sample the dishes that the pint- sized contestants prepare and de- cide which one gets eliminated, but also mentor the kids and help them reach new heights in the kitchen. These kids aren't exactly novic- es in the kitchen — in fact, they're anything but. Their palates, knife skills and knowledge of ingredi- ents are on a level that puts most adults to shame, and the dishes that they put out week after week are often good enough to appear on a fine dining menu. Of course, the judges aren't afraid to let the kids know when their food just doesn't cut it. This is a cooking competition, after all, and even the smallest mistake can send a contestant packing. "Mas- terChef Junior," though, is just warmer than its parent, and the judges are more understanding of the kids' mistakes, and are always ready with helpful advice and a warm embrace instead of a biting observation or a lip-curling scowl. Ramsay's TV empire is vast, but "MasterChef Junior" definitely holds a special place among his cooking competitions, thanks to its warmth and sincerity. The latest season premieres Tuesday, March 5, on Fox. Bite-sized competition: 'MasterChef Junior' welcomes a fresh batch of kid contestants 10 | Cooking this week Moore's Home Health 2 x 2" Family Health Clinic 2 x 1.5" White Lilies N Paradise 2 x 1.5" Contestant Aaron with Gordon Ramsay in "MasterChef Junior" COMPLIMENTARY CONSULTATIONS COM COM COMPLI PLI PLIMEN MEN MENTAR TAR TARY C Y C Y CONS ONS ONSULT ULT ULTATI ATI ATIONS ON O 333 North Philips Street • Kokomo, IN 765-459-0637 • www.whiteliliesinparadise.com Monday through Friday 9am-5pm. Sat. 9am- 1pm Like us on Facebook for more updates! bouquets • centerpieces ceremony fl owers •corsages boutonnieres White Lilies N Paradise adise

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