The Daily Star - Stay Tuned
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The Daily Star, Oneonta, N.Y., Friday, June 3, 2011 2 coverstory Dishing up dreams ‘Master’ class is back in session By Kyla Brewer TV Media B etween fast-food junk- ies, uppity foodies and an abundance of chowhounds, there’s a wealth of flavor in prime time lately. Ironically, there’s no shortage of weight-loss series, either, but that’s another story. The networks have recently been inundated with culinary shows such as ABC’s “Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution” and NBC’s “America’s Next Great Restaurant.” But one celebrity chef is making no bones about his prime-time domination. Chef Gordon Ramsay is familiar to audiences for his series “Hell’s Kitchen” and “Kitchen Nightmares,” and he’s about to return with yet another of- fering. He and colleagues Joe Bas- tianich and Graham Elliot set out to find the best home cooks in America in the sec- ond-season premiere of “Masterchef,” airing Monday and Tuesday, June 6 and 7, on Fox. Anyone with a flare for cooking was invited to audi- tion for the sophomore sea- son, and an extensive search produced 100 finalists. The re- sult is a wide and varied cross section of the American pub- lic, from a police officer and an interior designer, to a clas- Chef Graham Elliot in an episode of “Masterchef” sical pianist and a tattoo- shop owner. In the premiere, the 100 hopefuls touch down in Los Angeles, where they’ll face their biggest challenge: im- pressing the likes of Ramsay, Bastianich and Elliot with their signature dishes. The judges evaluate their submis- sions on presentation, flavor and creativity. The amateurs must prove their passion for food if they want to move on to the next phase of the com- petition. In the end, only the best will win the honor of wearing the white apron bestowed by Ramsay and his colleagues, Bastianich and Elliot. Al- though not nearly as well known as the celebrity chef and TV personality, the men are undoubtedly two of the most influential figures in America’s restaurant industry today. For those not in the know, Bastianich is a revered restau- rateur, famous for his hand in such eateries as New York’s legendary Babbo Ristorante e Enoteca, and Del Posto, as well as Pizzeria Mozza in Las Vegas. He is also an expert on Italian wine and operates win- eries in Italy and Argentina. A darling of America’s culi- nary set, Elliot holds the dis- tinction of becoming the youngest four-star chef in America at the age of 27. Now 33, he’s racked up a se- ries of accolades, including rave reviews and awards. El- liot’s self-titled Chicago res- taurant has also earned a star in the 2011 Michelin Guide, considered by many to be the world’s highest authority on restaurants. TV viewers may recognize him from his ap- pearances on the cable series “Top Chef Masters.” A/Auto Boutique B/The Green Giraffe 2 x 2 Once again, the duo has joined forces with Ramsay to find the creme de la creme of the nation’s home cooks. News of the show’s renewal didn’t come as much of a sur- prise to TV pundits, especially considering the show’s suc- cess last season. “Masterchef” proved to be one of the smash hits of the summer, garnering higher rat- ings than any other new net- work series. Voracious view- ers tuned in week after week as contestants were eliminat- ed through challenges until 22-year-old college student Whitney Miller won the grand prize: $250,000 and a deal to publish her own cookbook. The show proved so popu- lar last summer, Fox is double- dipping into its prime-time schedule to air “Masterchef” two nights a week this time, both Mondays and Tuesdays. It’s a bit of an unconventional programming move, but it’s worked for such series as “America’s Got Talent” and “American Idol,” which also both air twice a week, if not more. Oddly enough, “Mas- terchef” has something else in common with those two series. All three shows origi- nated across the pond, in the U.K. In fact, Ramsay wasn’t the first to bring the “Mas- terchef” concept to America. PBS brought “MasterChef USA” to audiences in 2000- 01, but it failed to whet view- ers’ appetites and only lasted 14 episodes. Chirstopher’s Coins 2 x 2 hollywoodQ&A By Adam Thomlison TV Media Q: I remember in the ‘70s seeing “Hedda Gabler” on PBS, with Glenda Jackson in the title role. I’ve never seen anything about it since, not even a repeat show- ing on PBS. Do you know anything about this produc- tion? A: It’s not all that surprising that you haven’t seen it re- peated on PBS. The network’s broadcast of the film was a rare instance of the public broadcaster airing a movie that was previously released in theaters. Glenda Jackson actually got an Oscar nomination for her role in the 1975 film adaptation of the classic Henrik Ibsen play (and though the play was called “Hedda Gabler,” the film was released simply as “Hedda”). That said, it wasn’t a big departure from PBS’s usual fare. The film was directed by Trevor Nunn, who was the artistic director of Britain’s Royal Shakespeare Company at the time. He’d already put “Hedda Gabler” on stage with his company, and used that production, cast and all, as the ba- sis for his film version. One of those supporting cast members was a young thes- pian named Patrick Stewart, and “Hedda” was his first film. He seems to have taken to it, and has had leading roles in two major film franchises -- “Star Trek” and “X-Men.” A/Crazy Tom's B/Allstar Auto Wash 2 x 3 Have a question? E-mail us at questions@tvtabloid.com. 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