I enjoyed both of the first two episodes. They did a great job of staging clues, walking the audience through the contestants' thought processes, and then incorporating all the pseudo-mystery into a fun cooking competition. Nice balance of intrigue and deliciousness and hosted by a talented trio of personalities. Anything my family can agree on is a huge plus in my book!
22 Reviews
Way better than I thought it would be
tmitrop4 August 2021
I rolled my eyes when I saw the description, but I'm a baking show fan and figured it'd be fine as background noise. By the third episode I'd promoted it to a foreground show - it's great! The crime scene element I'd rolled my eyes at became my favorite part and even managed to rope in my baking show-hater husband. We enjoyed guessing along with the contestants, and they did a really good job of making that element fun and interesting, not kitschy. I hope they do a season 2!
Joel McHale Is A Treasure
kathleenszeluga23 July 2021
So fun
quietneeded12 June 2021
Really Enjoying this Show
e_bros4 July 2021
This combines two of my favorite things to watch! Investigations + baking! What a great concept. The bakers tend to be very likable and the guest judges add a nice dimension to the show. I enjoy the input of Joel as the host and the two standard judges. The show moves at a pretty quick pace so I also enjoy re-watching episodes to catch the tidbits I've missed. Please keep the episodes coming!
Too many jokes
cujorocky23 July 2021
It's OK. I'm a straight male and these shows are always hard to watch, however, the concept is good. Although Joel McHale is likeable, like All comedians, he can't stop joking. The law of diminishing returns applies here. A little of him goes a long long way. It's bad enough we have to tolerate the effeminate contestants, but his nonstop jokes wear thin very fast.
GREAT SHOW!
thehighlandhomestead30 June 2021
Fun show
tomfsloan3 July 2021
The only cooking show where the viewer can somewhat play along. We can't cook, but we can at least try to make a guess based on the clues. It is entertaining and the hosts are fine. The production certainly doesn't look cheap. It has a huge fancy unnecessarily expensive set. Lots of cakes, desserts, and pastries...I want to be judge on this show. Producers, give me a call.
The right people are annoying on this show...
siu1814 June 2023
Usually its the "comedian" host that makes me want to scream at the screen. Here it's the type A contestants. I will say its fun to watch moms and daughters try not to fight on screen, but some contestants are so uptight that you actively hope they get cut.
Joel McHale is fun to watch. He has to wait to taste the dessert until after the judges do, and sometimes he's literally dancing behind the judges holding a spoon.
It is also fun to watch cooks and chefs who could really use the $100K, and I find myself getting invested in some of the less-annoying contestants. Of course, they usually get cut, but then I find new contestants to like.
Joel McHale is fun to watch. He has to wait to taste the dessert until after the judges do, and sometimes he's literally dancing behind the judges holding a spoon.
It is also fun to watch cooks and chefs who could really use the $100K, and I find myself getting invested in some of the less-annoying contestants. Of course, they usually get cut, but then I find new contestants to like.
Enjoyed this show until the sound production destroyed it
SpaceOctopus16 August 2023
I dont understand exactly what happened, but I have been enjoying both seasons of this show up until the finale of season 2, when to my dismay, someone thought it was a brilliant idea to use a loud knife sharpening and clanging sound over and over and over, every 5 to 10 seconds... And that's not an exaggeration.
When you have something like misophonia or even just highly sensitive ears, this means you can no longer watch a show like this - it's very much like someone using a bare fork on a plate, and loudly screeching it back and forth - piercing the ears painfully.
Why do it? It's unnecessary. The show was exciting enough - everyone was so good! I was tuned in, it was dramatic. This is disappointing.
Beside this upsetting and physically painful thing that makes me unable to finish the show, I enjoyed it, but being as I can't even finish the season, and this season has been super great, idk, that's not awesome. I'm sad.
I really enjoyed the idea. Fun while it lasted. Hope who I wanted to win, won.
When you have something like misophonia or even just highly sensitive ears, this means you can no longer watch a show like this - it's very much like someone using a bare fork on a plate, and loudly screeching it back and forth - piercing the ears painfully.
Why do it? It's unnecessary. The show was exciting enough - everyone was so good! I was tuned in, it was dramatic. This is disappointing.
Beside this upsetting and physically painful thing that makes me unable to finish the show, I enjoyed it, but being as I can't even finish the season, and this season has been super great, idk, that's not awesome. I'm sad.
I really enjoyed the idea. Fun while it lasted. Hope who I wanted to win, won.
Original and FUN!
michellesharpe-1694318 July 2023
As someone who loves cooking shows, I thought that it there were no more new ideas for cooking and baking shows. Then this show premiered and as soon as I saw the title, I thought, "That's a fantastic idea. Omg. You're gonna get every single millennial and Gen-X True Crime and Cooking Show fiend!"
I was nervous this show would not be good at first, but then the show was explained and it's, to be honest, genius. Bakers have two minutes in a Crime Scene Kitchen to find clues and put the clues together to figure out what to bake. Viewers at home who like to bake get to sit and go, "Oh. They obviously have to make an Upside down cake." It's fun!
Joel McHale is a great host as always and he has effortless banter with the contestants. None of his interactions seem forced or awkward, which can be a huge problem with baking shows.
The chef judges (Yolanda and Curtis) don't really do much. They taste the food and say, "If the mystery bake was... you might be safe." But they're not THAT important in the grand scheme of things.
Love that this show got a second season. I hope it continues to gain momentum. This is a great concept and it's super fun to watch.
I was nervous this show would not be good at first, but then the show was explained and it's, to be honest, genius. Bakers have two minutes in a Crime Scene Kitchen to find clues and put the clues together to figure out what to bake. Viewers at home who like to bake get to sit and go, "Oh. They obviously have to make an Upside down cake." It's fun!
Joel McHale is a great host as always and he has effortless banter with the contestants. None of his interactions seem forced or awkward, which can be a huge problem with baking shows.
The chef judges (Yolanda and Curtis) don't really do much. They taste the food and say, "If the mystery bake was... you might be safe." But they're not THAT important in the grand scheme of things.
Love that this show got a second season. I hope it continues to gain momentum. This is a great concept and it's super fun to watch.
Cooking and Baking shows are my jam.
msamek24 August 2021
FOX! Renew this series. It is refreshing to see an entertaining cooking/baking contest that allows your audience to be suspended until the reveal.
Haley Joel Osment is the perfect host. I had no idea that he had such a tremendous sense of humor. LOL.
Haley Joel Osment is the perfect host. I had no idea that he had such a tremendous sense of humor. LOL.
Getting the warm & fuzzies. Crime-drama fan here and what a fun show!
gbzgcybx13 August 2023
Season 2 is even better! Watching Episode 9 today and keep smiling. Joel, the host is fun, but the stars of this season are the contestants, the untrained vs. Classically trained pastry chefs. What makes this season even better is the folks in both camps come from very diverse backgrounds and bring joy, laughter, and humility. Great casting and editing. Both can make or break a show. We need more examples of people with integrity and kindness to root for. As a huge fan of crime dramas and thrillers in both movies an television but most lately seem to be really dark and violent and too many with "bad guys" that get away with it. So I'm thrilled that there is finally a lighthearted "crime mystery" show with positive energy and good people to root for. Looking forward to Season 3!
Smart and fun
hazard11125 April 2022
I really like this. I've always been fond of mystery and baking and to have them made into a show? Awesome!
I try to guess too and it's part of the fun. I like that they explain how they get there and show how the contestants decide. Wouldn't mind if they show more of that. I like how the make or break is the design and type and not the taste unless it's like a draw. The whole set is great, looks thought out.
I'm a bit 50/50 with the host. I like him overall but his constant jokes feel flat esp accompanied by force laughter... but yeah minor thing. I love all the contestants.
I try to guess too and it's part of the fun. I like that they explain how they get there and show how the contestants decide. Wouldn't mind if they show more of that. I like how the make or break is the design and type and not the taste unless it's like a draw. The whole set is great, looks thought out.
I'm a bit 50/50 with the host. I like him overall but his constant jokes feel flat esp accompanied by force laughter... but yeah minor thing. I love all the contestants.
Obsessed with this show
ashazamm9 August 2023
I started watching halfway through season 1 but luckily could catch previous episodes on Demand. I'm currently watching season 2.
The premise of the show is genius. Contestants examine a kitchen that was used to bake an item and they have to figure out what was made. Most of the time, the contestants have different ideas of what was made and that's why it's so fun. You find out, along with the contestants, what was made at the end. It's always surprising and exciting. It makes me wish I had gone to pastry school.
Joel McHale is hilarious but not annoying. Curtis is ok and Yolanda is stunning and looks like she walked off a runway but knows her cakes and pastries. It's just a great show and I hope it sticks around for a long time.
The premise of the show is genius. Contestants examine a kitchen that was used to bake an item and they have to figure out what was made. Most of the time, the contestants have different ideas of what was made and that's why it's so fun. You find out, along with the contestants, what was made at the end. It's always surprising and exciting. It makes me wish I had gone to pastry school.
Joel McHale is hilarious but not annoying. Curtis is ok and Yolanda is stunning and looks like she walked off a runway but knows her cakes and pastries. It's just a great show and I hope it sticks around for a long time.
Really wanted to love this....
lolly672 June 2021
Fun to watch but Joel should go
Iamnfam4 August 2021
Really fun to see how close or far the contestants come to guessing the mystery bakery item. Loved this show. Joel McHale, not so much. His sarcasm falls flat. And mean spirited put downs of guest Ken Jeong would be labeled bullying in any other workplace.
Unique Concept
cierra-622678 July 2021
Background music is too loud.
almaruth6017 August 2023
I like this interesting play on food shows. The way each team interprets the clues they find is fun to watch.
Like the show but the music is so loud it drowns out the dialogue. The tv is blasting and it becomes annoying to watch! I always end up turning it off.
I've noticed a lot of shows that are made quickly or cheaply have that problem. Doesn't anyone play the show before airing it?
Don't know what more i can say, but please lower the background music, it's on tv, not in a movie house. I would like to hear what they are saying since figuring out the clues is what they must do in order to bake.
Like the show but the music is so loud it drowns out the dialogue. The tv is blasting and it becomes annoying to watch! I always end up turning it off.
I've noticed a lot of shows that are made quickly or cheaply have that problem. Doesn't anyone play the show before airing it?
Don't know what more i can say, but please lower the background music, it's on tv, not in a movie house. I would like to hear what they are saying since figuring out the clues is what they must do in order to bake.
Love but... Joel McHale is meh
bbdforshort7 December 2023
At first I didn't think I would like this show because it sounds super cheesy but I ended up really liking it! The clues are fun to try and guess along with and most of the contestants are cool and fun to watch. The judges are great! They explain things well and I learned a lot of different baking techniques.
HOWEVER, Joel McHale is kind of the worst...sorry. He is clearly reading from a prompter and it's hard to ignore. He's better when he's not scripted and just talking to the contestants or the judges but the majority of the time he's sarcastic and loud and making bad jokes.
I hope they continue with further seasons and replace Joel McHale or just let him do his thing and be a little less intense.
HOWEVER, Joel McHale is kind of the worst...sorry. He is clearly reading from a prompter and it's hard to ignore. He's better when he's not scripted and just talking to the contestants or the judges but the majority of the time he's sarcastic and loud and making bad jokes.
I hope they continue with further seasons and replace Joel McHale or just let him do his thing and be a little less intense.
So fun!
yvonne-280721 October 2021
Best Cooking Show
leisagshaw22 August 2023
The only thing I don't like about this show is that it's over way too soon. It's fun wondering who will guess the clues correctly, who might guess correctly but present a disaster, who will win the round, and who will be my favorite team. Sometimes it's lighthearted and funny. Other times, it's a bit nerve racking to see a team struggle and get sent home. The surprise guests make things a little more interesting. I watched Season 1 three more times while waiting and hoping for a possible Season 2. Now Season 2 is already over and I'm hoping for Season 3. I wish each season had at least 22 episodes.
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