|
Source: (consider it)
|
Thread: Celebrity Masterchef and Great British Bake-Off
|
balaam
Making an ass of myself
# 4543
|
Posted
An interesting semi-final in the bake-off.
Who'd have thunk it in earlier rounds that James would despite his constant experimentation be best in both the quarters and semis.
It looked like a sure Brendan win a few weeks ago, now he's got real competition.
--------------------
Last ever sig ...
blog
Posts: 9049 | From: Hen Ogledd | Registered: May 2003
| IP: Logged
|
|
Angloid
Shipmate
# 159
|
Posted
Brendan is beginning to get on my nerves. He's far too prissy and complacent. I think the winner might well be James, who seems a likeable and modest character. Pity about Danny but she did lose it last night. I'd love to see John win but I somehow doubt he will; he's too prone to panic.
What I like about the Bake-off in contrast to the majority of talent contests is that there are no prima donnas, and no patronising or scornful judges. The judges, aided and abetted by Mel and Sue, make sure they encourage even the weaker contestants; they are ready with their praise and never use sarcasm. The contestants seem genuinely to care for one another and show no sign of gloating when one is eliminated.
Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry belong to the Gok Wan, Gareth Malone and Kevin McCloud school of presenters, as opposed to the Simon Cowells and Alan Sugars of this world. Potential National Treasures therefore.
--------------------
Brian: You're all individuals!
Crowd: We're all individuals!
Lone voice: I'm not!
Posts: 12927 | From: The Pool of Life | Registered: May 2001
| IP: Logged
|
|
justlooking
Shipmate
# 12079
|
Posted
I'd like to see either James or John win. Brendan seemed quite shaken when they both beat him in the technical challenge and then James got Star Baker overall. He's behaved as if his winning is a foregone conclusion and we're now being given snapshots that show this in the snippets of interview and close-ups. I wonder if the editing is preparing us for James as winner.
Posts: 2319 | From: thither and yon | Registered: Nov 2006
| IP: Logged
|
|
Firenze
Ordinary decent pagan
# 619
|
Posted
Go geeky Scots, go!
John always looks to me like he was written by a combination of Arnold Bennett and E M Forster.
I agree the series gains wonderfully from its nowhereness - a marquee in a meadow, cut away shots of birds and rabbits, the constant patter of raindrops; essence of English summer.
Posts: 17302 | From: Edinburgh | Registered: Jun 2001
| IP: Logged
|
|
Heavenly Anarchist
Shipmate
# 13313
|
Posted
I think Brendan will win but my favourite is James - shame about Danni though, I liked her.
--------------------
'I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.' Douglas Adams
Dog Activity Monitor
My shop
Posts: 2831 | From: Trumpington | Registered: Jan 2008
| IP: Logged
|
|
Angloid
Shipmate
# 159
|
Posted
I see the French version is going to be set in an Orangerie. How typical!
--------------------
Brian: You're all individuals!
Crowd: We're all individuals!
Lone voice: I'm not!
Posts: 12927 | From: The Pool of Life | Registered: May 2001
| IP: Logged
|
|
Schroedinger's cat
Ship's cool cat
# 64
|
Posted
Overall, Brendan should win, just because he has been good consistently. But it will be down to the actual last bakes.
My three favorites have all gone out in the last 3 weeks, and I think it has lost some of the fun element - it is actually getting serious, which is probably right, but changes the dynamic of the show.
--------------------
Blog
Music for your enjoyment
Lord may all my hard times be healing times
take out this broken heart and renew my mind.
Posts: 18859 | From: At the bottom of a deep dark well. | Registered: May 2001
| IP: Logged
|
|
justlooking
Shipmate
# 12079
|
Posted
Catheryn's flapping about was getting on my nerves by the quarter finals but it's a shame to see Danni go and she was the last woman. I know Brendan's technically good - most of the time - but he's boring. His gingerbread bird-house was predictable and twee.
Posts: 2319 | From: thither and yon | Registered: Nov 2006
| IP: Logged
|
|
Curiosity killed ...
Ship's Mug
# 11770
|
Posted
Interesting that the three top bread bakers are in the final - John was Star Baker in that round, but James and Brendan were in the running - and they were the only three who made bread regularly at home.
Are you so sure about consistency and Brendan? If you look at who has been the Star Baker, John won the Bread round, Brendan won in two rounds, desserts and puddings and James won in three rounds, tarts in round 3 and the last two rounds, biscuits and pattiserie. Brendan and James have both been in contention for star baker more times than they've won it. I suspect it's going to be one of them and John's the also ran.
--------------------
Mugs - Keep the Ship afloat
Posts: 13794 | From: outiside the outer ring road | Registered: Aug 2006
| IP: Logged
|
|
Schroedinger's cat
Ship's cool cat
# 64
|
Posted
Brendan has been in the top few for a lot of episodes. That is what I mean about consistency. He always shows incredible attention to details. And, until this last week, I don't think he has produced a disaster.
And how can you say that about Cat! She was great entertainment.
--------------------
Blog
Music for your enjoyment
Lord may all my hard times be healing times
take out this broken heart and renew my mind.
Posts: 18859 | From: At the bottom of a deep dark well. | Registered: May 2001
| IP: Logged
|
|
justlooking
Shipmate
# 12079
|
Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Schroedinger's cat:
And how can you say that about Cat! She was great entertainment.
Up to a point but it was OTT with the chocolate teacakes. Jane Horrocks impressions in the semi-finals would have been disruptive. Anyway, her crackers didn't crack, her chocolate teacakes were a disaster and the gingerbread palace wasn't anything to write home about. So, all things considered, she was clearly the one to go.
Posts: 2319 | From: thither and yon | Registered: Nov 2006
| IP: Logged
|
|
balaam
Making an ass of myself
# 4543
|
Posted
Brendan made a big mistake the week before too. His use of breakfast cereal as a roof on the gingerbread house was frowned upon by the judges.
Cat was good entertainment, but so in John, going in to a flap whenever things are not going perfect. Yet despite the panics he can still turn up good food. He's the least consistent of the three, but if he has a good week and holds his nerve he could win.
James is also entertaining, experimenting when he has no idea how it will turn out. Chilli sugar on cupcakes? Yet he has ability too, as was shown in last week's technical challenge.
The most likely outcome is for Brendan, the most consistent baker in the competition.
What I'd like to see happen is for John to hold his nerve and come through in the final episode.
The most entertaining scenario...
- John to go completely OTT in his panic and produce a disaster.
- Brendan to go in to a sulk when he realises he is behind.
- James to have a wild experiment which looks stupid but which actually works and to win.
- Sue to go one innuendo too far, and the BBC is inundated with letters of complaint.
--------------------
Last ever sig ...
blog
Posts: 9049 | From: Hen Ogledd | Registered: May 2003
| IP: Logged
|
|
balaam
Making an ass of myself
# 4543
|
Posted
quote:
Originally posted by balaam:
What I'd like to see happen is for John to hold his nerve and come through in the final episode.
You saw it here first. :smug:
--------------------
Last ever sig ...
blog
Posts: 9049 | From: Hen Ogledd | Registered: May 2003
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
|
Yangtze
Shipmate
# 4965
|
Posted
Nailbiting. I wanted James to win but his performance this week was below the others.
Seems a bit unfair that the Great British Bake Off champion came down to who performed best in the last week rather than looking at how they performed through the whole thing. (Though I guess it's the same for Olympic athletes, it's what you do in the final that counts.)
Was oddly seduced by Brendan this week who I hadn't really warmed to before.
--------------------
Arthur & Henry Ethical Shirts for Men
organic cotton, fair trade cotton, linen
Sometimes I wonder What's for Afters?
Posts: 2022 | From: the smallest town in England | Registered: Sep 2003
| IP: Logged
|
|
Angloid
Shipmate
# 159
|
Posted
The best possible result! Brendan was just too smug for words, and James just didn't hack it tonight. But they all would have been worthy winners on their record.
I think it's wonderful that John got a first in his law degree and is now going off to Paris to train as a patissier.
--------------------
Brian: You're all individuals!
Crowd: We're all individuals!
Lone voice: I'm not!
Posts: 12927 | From: The Pool of Life | Registered: May 2001
| IP: Logged
|
|
justlooking
Shipmate
# 12079
|
Posted
A worthy winner. John and Brendan were running pretty much equal in the puff pastry thingy and the fondant fancies so it was all down to the chiffon cakes and John's was the best. Brendan was veering into twee again and James went an innovation too far. Nice to get the updates at the end.
Posts: 2319 | From: thither and yon | Registered: Nov 2006
| IP: Logged
|
|
Jigsaw
Shipmate
# 11433
|
Posted
I too warmed to Brendan - his spiritual side, his loving partner, and his aim to teach baking in schools.
In our house we didn't know which to watch- the football or the Bake-off - and which to record. The God of Baking - please tell me there is one! - was kind and the footie was rained off.
--------------------
You are not alone in this.
Posts: 743 | From: Snorbens, UK | Registered: May 2006
| IP: Logged
|
|
Gill H
Shipmate
# 68
|
Posted
Well, there is a patron saint - St Honore of course.
I know many thought Brendan was smug. I always felt he was just more reserved - partly by being of a different generation. But the comments about Buddhism and 'trying to keep your emotions in check' made me reassess. Partly because - as the family reunion cake hinted at - he obviously has family rifts he is trying to heal. Although his 'I deserve full marks' comment was a bit galling, I saw him in a different light in yesterday's programme. Maybe he is the Mr Spock of the baking world...!
--------------------
*sigh* We can’t all be Alan Cresswell.
- Lyda Rose
Posts: 9313 | From: London | Registered: May 2001
| IP: Logged
|
|
Firenze
Ordinary decent pagan
# 619
|
Posted
I imagine being a gay Irishman was not easy in his generation - and turning Buddhist may not have gone down a storm either. I can well believe in family rifts.
James was my darling, but I he would have been a loss to medicine. John, OTOH, is much better off running away to Paris to make buns than being a lawyer.
Posts: 17302 | From: Edinburgh | Registered: Jun 2001
| IP: Logged
|
|
Heavenly Anarchist
Shipmate
# 13313
|
Posted
Just watched this on iPlayer whilst sorting the laundry. A great show, with 3 deserving candidates.
I still found Brendan smug on the first day but warmed to him afterwards - he must have had such hurt in his life and wants so much to give. I thought the 3 of them together hugging was lovely.
Poor James, too much risk taking for the final and he didn't seem to be taking it seriously enough. His cakes just weren't polished enough for the finale and lacked cohesion. I suspect he didn't 'need', or perhaps want, to win as he already has a chosen career.
John really came into his own this week though and came across as a genuinely lovely guy. So glad he can follow his dreams now.
--------------------
'I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.' Douglas Adams
Dog Activity Monitor
My shop
Posts: 2831 | From: Trumpington | Registered: Jan 2008
| IP: Logged
|
|
Freelance Monotheist
Shipmate
# 8990
|
Posted
I watched TGBBO final last night and really enjoyed it.
I wanted James to win, but think he's got a promising career in medicine in front of him and didn't achieve his normal standards in the 3 tasks. I think if they'd looked at the competition as a whole, he'd have won it.
Brendan I really warmed to early on, and can definitely understand why there'd be a family rift, due to his sexuality, belief system etc. I think it was probably difficult for him to be of a generation where men weren't encouraged to bake. Some of his designs were a bit camp/twee, but I thought the execution of them was flawless.
I'm really pleased for John though (you have to love an underdog) and hope he manages to go to Patisserie School in Paris.
My sister is considering applying for the next series, which is awesome!
--------------------
Denial: a very effective coping mechanism
Posts: 1239 | From: Paris, France | Registered: Jan 2005
| IP: Logged
|
|
balaam
Making an ass of myself
# 4543
|
Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Firenze:
James was my darling, but I he would have been a loss to medicine.
Can you imagine his baking technique transferring to medicine.
SCENE 1 Hospital ward.
Me: Can you do something to reduce the pain, Doc?
Doctor James: Don't know, Mr Balaam, I've never tried this before.
--------------------
Last ever sig ...
blog
Posts: 9049 | From: Hen Ogledd | Registered: May 2003
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
|
Firenze
Ordinary decent pagan
# 619
|
Posted
quote:
Originally posted by balaam:
quote:
Originally posted by Firenze:
James was my darling, but I he would have been a loss to medicine.
Can you imagine his baking technique transferring to medicine.
SCENE 1 Hospital ward.
Me: Can you do something to reduce the pain, Doc?
Doctor James: Don't know, Mr Balaam, I've never tried this before.
...but I'm going to try layering you with a sponge base, buttercream icing and a chocolate ganache.
Posts: 17302 | From: Edinburgh | Registered: Jun 2001
| IP: Logged
|
|
kingsfold
Shipmate
# 1726
|
Posted
You're not channelling KenWritez softer side are you? ![[Paranoid]](graemlins/paranoid.gif)
( ![[Waterworks]](graemlins/bawling.gif) ![[Votive]](graemlins/votive.gif) )
[ 18. October 2012, 08:24: Message edited by: kingsfold ]
Posts: 4473 | From: land of the wee midgie | Registered: Nov 2001
| IP: Logged
|
|
Printer-friendly view
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
