Food shows- The new prime time?

While dozens of reality/ drama series have undergone a reality check and spelled troubled waters, more doors opened to what could be materialized to suit the viewer’s joy. It happened like a big bang, almost accidental with the combination of food and television and it worked well. When Gordon Ramsey made his stashing entry with Hell’s Kitchen, the food industry intertwined itself with the entertainment industry and the result? An array of food shows each combining the elements of hunger, thirst, desire and need for not just food but also for entertainment. Gordon Ramsey, for instance, had his viewers tongue- tied while the contestants shed a countless tears and sweat in his mere presence. Then came a show that had a comparatively reduced horror quotient and yes, it’s definitely Top Chef. Padma Lakshmi, charming and petite beauty with a voracious appetite gave the show a whole new appeal amongst the viewers. Top chef is still the daddy of food shows with countless avatars to its’ long running course. Yet, not many commoners were a fan of these shows until Australia started a venture which they called Master Chef Australia. When Star World chose to broadcast this series, Master Chef Australia drew to itself an audience of even those rookie cooks who’d never even boiled an egg in their lifetime. It became a daily household watch and a topic of discussion amongst students. With a few seasons out and back to back massive hits, the other countries thought- why not? 

Now, we have Master Chef Israel, Master Chef America and Master Chef India with a few other countries tied onto the same venture. Star World was the proud broadcaster of both the America and Australia series in India and then Star Plus broadcasted Master Chef India. With different series under the same foothold, it became inevitable to draw comparisons. Sannan, a 24 year old Telecom Engineer by profession has this to say about the Master Chef series, “I love Master Chef Australia and I think it’s the best amongst the others because the contestants have a true sportsman spirit. The America series had me shunned away from it because there was so much drama and backbiting in it. The Indian series was the worst because it’s slow and too predictable.”The judges of the Master Chef series were without any doubt finesse where feedback was concerned. The contestants were constantly prodded, poked, criticized and praised for their performances. 

As long as there is food, food shows are only to increase two bound in number. Now, there is an exclusive food channel called “Food Food TV” and it’s only in time that this channel too comes up with competitive food shows. Popular as they are, food shows are the new black!