Exposed bottoms, spherical balls and a moist clutch

August 30, 2017 9:31 AM

So, then; it's back, despite rivals. But Mary has gone. Mel and Sue have, alas, gone. The tent has moved to Channel Four. An off-duty vampire has joined. Why? What were its secrets? Was it the most expensive tent? What's the new tent like? Will the innuendo remain or will it be like Cupcake Wars? Will fans stay? Is that the Frog Chorus?! Just say the code and, as the Clitheroe Cake Diva watches, the reviews come in for the Great British Bake Off... Alice Brine, Guardian, Belfast Telegraph, Independent, Radio Times, Irish Times, Daily Telegraph, Manchester Evening News, and the Great British public. The good news? The cakes were still interesting, and the firmest of British traditions has been upheld. [MetaFilter FanFare, previously and post title.]
posted by Wordshore (21 comments total)

I haven't seen the new version of GBBO yet but I'm still having trouble with Noel Fielding being on it. Like, oh to be a fly on the wall when that casting idea was floated (and then agreed upon).
posted by Kitteh at 9:42 AM on August 30, 2017 [2 favorites]

If menaced by Zombie Bake Off barricade your doors and windows and attempt to ward it off with fire, do not let it into your house.
posted by Artw at 9:45 AM on August 30, 2017 [6 favorites]

Having not followed this saga I saw "off-duty vampire" and thought to myself "please let this be Richmond." And it was!
posted by 1adam12 at 9:47 AM on August 30, 2017 [3 favorites]

It is unfair to be made hungry for both ramen and cake at the same time. Unfair!
posted by rewil at 9:48 AM on August 30, 2017 [1 favorite]

I watched it. Pros: The format is identical, the tent, the music, the graphics, all the same. Sandy was actually quite funny in bits. The challenges are more creative. The constant ad breaks means I can run out and make tea. Paul Hollywood is still there adding his trademark blue steel baker routine. The Bakers were a nice bunch and I already have a favourite. Cons: Noel wasn't allowed to be weird, which is 99% of his appeal. The Ready,Set BAKE is now halfhearted and forced. Pru is great, but very critical, which is a role Paul used to take. This messes with the dynamic a bit, meaning Paul has to be the good cop when he's anything but. The ad breaks are constant and weirdly placed and they meant that along with my tea, I was also able to get loads more cake, which means this programme will eventually give me diabetes.

Verdict: Good. I'd say it will find its feet once the presenters get used to their roles.
posted by rudhraigh at 9:53 AM on August 30, 2017 [11 favorites]

Through the magic of the Internet, my wife and I watched it last night, and, if anything, Noel Fielding was TOO normal.

As I said in the FanFare thread, I couldn't tell if Noel and Sandy even like each other, where Mel and Sue had such a natural charisma from their other teamwork. I think Prue Leith will have no trouble in Mary Berry's shoes. Shame they couldn't chase away Paul Hollywood, though.
posted by briank at 9:56 AM on August 30, 2017 [3 favorites]

I'm concerned. The Great British Bake Off was the first reality TV show I could stand. I'm not at all sure they can make it work without Mary to play the good cop to Paul's bad cop.

We'll see. Since I'll have to wait for it to get to Netflix or the like I'm sure it'll be a few seasons before I can watch.
posted by sotonohito at 9:57 AM on August 30, 2017 [2 favorites]

... it's not terrible? Oh, Happy Day! And frankly so long as it's better than the dreadful American one with Nia Zardalos, I'll be pleased.
posted by suelac at 9:58 AM on August 30, 2017 [2 favorites]

Interesting. No news on the Great British Sewing Bee front, though, which is sad.
posted by infinitewindow at 10:11 AM on August 30, 2017 [3 favorites]

Was a skeptic, thoroughly enjoyed it. The restrained version of Noel turns out to be unexpectedly lovely.
posted by dowcrag at 10:21 AM on August 30, 2017 [2 favorites]

I thought it was great. Even, though I feel guilty saying it, a bit better than the BBC version. I felt like the new presenters, and particularly Noel, breathed fresh life into the show. I was expecting it to have been ruined and thought I'd watch the first episode just to check but was very pleasantly surprised.
posted by hazyjane at 10:47 AM on August 30, 2017 [2 favorites]

Apropos of something, my family has taken to calling the show the Great British Snake Toss, after some silliness with names one night. And now I'm looking forward to this new season, thanks for the great post (and comments confirming that it's not gone to pot).
posted by filthy light thief at 11:03 AM on August 30, 2017 [2 favorites]

It's utterly not-terrible. This is a good sign. They just need to find their new roles/footing. I miss the old one terribly, but I'm actually not mad about the new one, and enjoyed watching it! WONDERS NEVER CEASE!
posted by tzikeh at 11:23 AM on August 30, 2017 [2 favorites]

We decided they have to keep Julia forever even if she bakes terribly because she makes the best faces and is like 75% of the contestant personality.

Liam is the other 25% as he keeps borderline telling Paul to fuck off.
posted by GuyZero at 11:28 AM on August 30, 2017 [3 favorites]

After every ad break I said "hashtag guh buh no" which drove my daughter nuts.

#GBBO
posted by GuyZero at 11:30 AM on August 30, 2017 [3 favorites]

Noel Fielding's usual schtick actually drives me around the bend, so I'm glad to hear the reviews here. I might actually *gasp* deign to watch this. Just don't tell the people who saw me stomp off in a huff when I heard the news last year.
posted by soren_lorensen at 1:22 PM on August 30, 2017 [1 favorite]

It's not bad! Toned down Noel is my preferred version so that's worked for me so far, and the double entendres are thankfully still there (the one that broke Paul Hollywood was delivered by a 19 year old to an 77 year old).

One thing that stands out is that this year the casting call must have involved some sort of empathy test, because there are so many criers.
posted by thecjm at 1:53 PM on August 30, 2017 [2 favorites]

I had the misfortune of watching an interview with Noel Fielding that consisted entirely of him hitting on the interviewer, so it's hard to see him as anything but a total creep. I'm glad he's turned out to be lovely in this, but creepiness wasn't so much of a factor with Mel and Sue.
posted by shapes that haunt the dusk at 5:40 PM on August 30, 2017 [2 favorites]

Maybe not a total creep. Maybe only occasionally creep-esque. Sigh.
posted by shapes that haunt the dusk at 5:49 PM on August 30, 2017 [1 favorite]

His twitter harrassment and encouragement of his fans to do the same has 100% turned me off him, don't know that I can bear to watch him in anything.
posted by smoke at 6:40 PM on August 30, 2017 [3 favorites]

His twitter harrassment and encouragement of his fans to do the same has 100% turned me off him, don't know that I can bear to watch him in anything.

Oh no. Argh. THIS IS WHY WE CAN'T HAVE NICE, IF RENOVATED, THINGS.
posted by tzikeh at 6:55 PM on August 30, 2017 [2 favorites]