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Brainerd Dispatch No vember 2 - 8, 2014 •1 1 By Andrew Warren TV Media H ow can you tell when a TV show is a hit? Well, there's the usual metrics, I guess. Ratings, water cooler chit-chat, Internet buzz. The first season of Fox's "MasterChef Ju- nior" had all of those things, but consider this little metric: Fox or- dered up a third season of the pint-sized culinary competition before it had even begun produc- tion of the second. As odd as that seems — it sounds a bit like putting the cart before the horse — it really shouldn't be all that surprising. "MasterChef" itself is a hugely successful show, and the first sea- son of "MasterChef Junior" was hailed by critics, with some claim- ing that it was even better than its parent program. Well, the second season is fi- nally upon us. "MasterChef Ju- nior" premieres Tuesday, Nov. 4, on Fox, and while the knives may — metaphorically — come out in the grown-up version, "Junior" likes to keep things a bit more civ- il in lieu of the kids. The "MasterChef" franchise is appealing because it takes the best of reality TV and distils it into something that's a pleasure to watch (a generous dose of Gor- don Ramsay doesn't hurt, either). "Junior" finds real kids with a passion in the kitchen competing against each other, facing what- ever challenges the three judges put before them until only one of them remains to be named Mas- terChef. Of course, Ramsay has a notoriously naughty mouth on him, a fact that people were quick to point out in the lead-up to the first season of "MasterChef Ju- nior." While the sight of his eyes flashing while he shouts obsceni- ties at people may be part of the chef's appeal, the goodwill to- wards him would probably have quickly evaporated. Instead, we got to witness his rarely seen softer side. Ramsay, along with judges Joe Bastianich and Graham Elliot, are all fathers themselves, and the pride in their eyes as they watched students pick up the skills they were show- ing them was, frankly, straight-up heartwarming to watch. It's important to nurture a child's passions, and young home cooks with a competitive streak have found the perfect nursery in "Mas- terChef Junior." With all three judges in full-on father mode, it really is one of the most rewarding shows to watch. Season 2 premieres Tuesday, Nov. 4, on Fox. Sunday, Nov. 2 3:00 p.m. TRAV Food Paradise 4:00 p.m. TRAV Food Paradise 4:30 p.m. (9) KAWE B Organic With Michele Beschen 5:00 p.m. TRAV Food Paradise 6:00 p.m. TRAV Food Paradise Monday, Nov. 3 1:00 p.m. TRAV Food Paradise 2:00 p.m. (11) KARE The Rachael Ray Show TRAV Food Paradise 6:30 p.m. TRAV Man v. Food 7:00 p.m. TRAV Bizarre Foods 8:00 p.m. TRAV Bizarre Foods (N) 9:00 p.m. TRAV Bizarre Foods America 10:00 p.m. TRAV Bizarre Foods America 11:00 p.m. TRAV Bizarre Foods Tuesday, Nov. 4 2:00 p.m. (11) KARE The Rachael Ray Show TRAV Food Paradise: London 3:00 p.m. TRAV Bizarre Foods America 4:00 p.m. TRAV Man v. Food 5:00 p.m. TRAV Bizarre Foods America 6:00 p.m. TRAV Man v. Food 6:30 p.m. TRAV Man v. Food 10:00 p.m. TRAV Man v. Food: Best of (N) Wednesday, Nov. 5 2:00 p.m. (11) KARE The Rachael Ray Show TRAV Food Paradise 3:00 p.m. TRAV Bizarre Foods America 5:00 p.m. TRAV Bizarre Foods 10:00 p.m. TRAV Man v. Food: Best of (N) Thursday, Nov. 6 4:30 p.m. TRAV Man v. Food 5:00 p.m. TRAV Bizarre Foods 6:00 p.m. TRAV Man v. Food Saturday, Nov. 8 2:00 p.m. (8) WDSE Martha Stewart's Cooking School TRAV Food Paradise 2:30 p.m. (8) WDSE Martha Bakes 3:00 p.m. (8) WDSE America's Test Kitchen From Cook's Illustrated TRAV Food Paradise Chef Graham Elliot judges in "MasterChef Junior" A pint-sized kitchen 'MasterChef Junior' is a bonafide hit Cooking this week 218-829-1166 123 N. 1st St. Brainerd, MN NORTHRIDGE AGENCY Every Insurance Agency has one of these... but no other Agency has these... 21 21 WE REPRESENT MANY FINE INDEPENDENT INSURANCE COMPANIES Home Auto Life Bonds Business & Work Comp. Long Term Care Health (individual, group & medical programs) 001160693r1 001160644r1 MAKE IT MAKE IT Yours homeshq.com

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