The Great American Baking Show

The Great American Baking Showis an American cooking competition television series and an adaptation ofThe Great British Bake Off(which is aired in the United States under the titleThe Great British Baking Show). Its first season aired onABCunder the titleThe Great Holiday Baking Show.[2]The show is the second licensed adaptation of theGBBOformat in the United States. In 2013,CBSproduced one season ofThe American Baking Competition,which was hosted byJeff Foxworthy,withPaul Hollywoodand Mexican-American chefMarcela Valladolidas judges.

The Great American Baking Show
GenreBaking
Reality
Created byRichard McKerrow
Anna Beattie
Directed byAndy Devonshire
Jeanette Goulbourn
Presented byNia Vardalos
Ian Gomez
Ayesha Curry
Anthony Adams
Emma Bunton
Ellie Kemper
Zach Cherry
Casey Wilson
JudgesMary Berry
Johnny Iuzzini
Paul Hollywood
Sherry Yard
Prue Leith
Theme music composerTom Howe
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No.of seasons7
No.of episodes42 (4 unaired)
Production
Executive producersRichard McKerrow
Kevin Bartel
Simon Evans
Faye Stapleton
Al Edgington
Joe LaBracio
Jeremy Finn
John Hesling
ProducerEllie Kemper
Production locationsHeatherden Hall,Pinewood Studios[1]
Running time60 minutes
Production companyLove Productions USA
Original release
NetworkABC(2015–2020)
The Roku Channel(2022–present)
ReleaseNovember 30, 2015(2015-11-30)
present
Related
The Great British Bake Off
The American Baking Competition

The first two seasons were hosted byNia VardalosandIan Gomez,withMary Berryfrom the originalGBBOseries and American pastry chefJohnny Iuzzinias judges.[3][4]The third season was hosted by cookbook authorAyesha Curryand former football playerAnthony Adams.Iuzzini returned as judge and was joined by originalGBBOjudgePaul Hollywood.[5][6]The season was pulled off the schedule following sexual harassment allegations against judge Iuzzini, who was officially fired from the show and ABC.[7][8]Curry and Iuzzini did not return for the fourth season.

On May 4, 2018, the show was renewed for a fourth season.[9]Emma BuntonandSherry Yardwere hired as replacement host and judge, respectively. On August 1, 2019, the show was renewed for afifth season,which premiered on December 12, 2019.[10]

On May 3, 2022, it was announced thatThe Roku Channelwould be airing a new season of the show, with Paul Hollywood returning as judge, along withPrue LeithfromGBBO.Roku also announced plans to airThe Great American Baking Show: Celebrity Holiday,featuring celebrities competing to raise money for charity.[11]All six episodes of the new season of the show premiered on May 5, 2023.[12]The Roku Channel ordered a seventh season of this series, which premiered on May 24, 2024.[13]

Hosts and judges

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Current
Hosts/Judges Season
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Zach Cherry Host
Casey Wilson Host
Paul Hollywood Judge
Prue Leith Judge
Former
Hosts/Judges Season
1 2 3 4 5 6
Nia Vardalos Host
Ian Gomez Host
Ayesha Curry Host
Anthony Adams Host
Emma Bunton Host
Ellie Kemper Host
Mary Berry Judge
Johnny Iuzzini Judge
Sherry Yard Judge

Season overview

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Season Episodes Premiere Finale Winner Runner(s)-up Average viewers
(millions)[14]
1 4 November 30, 2015(2015-11-30) December 21, 2015(2015-12-21) Lauren Katz Nicole Silva 3.97
Tim Samson
2 8 December 1, 2016(2016-12-01) January 12, 2017(2017-01-12) Amanda Faber Stephanie Chen 4.39
3 2[15]
(4 unaired)
December 7, 2017(2017-12-07) N/A(N/A) Vallery Lomas Cindy Maliniak 3.84
Molly Brodak
4 6 December 6, 2018(2018-12-06) December 20, 2018(2018-12-20) Tina Zaccardi Amanda Nguyen 3.44
Andrea Maranville
5 8 December 12, 2019(2019-12-12) January 2, 2020(2020-01-02) Br. Andrew Corriente,OFM Cap. Dana Commandatore
Marissa Troeschel
6 6 May 5, 2023(2023-05-05) May 5, 2023(2023-05-05) Martin Sorge Dyana O'Brien
Sarah Chang
7 6 May 24, 2024(2024-05-24) May 24, 2024(2024-05-24) Mackenzie Rubish Ronald "RJ" Winter
Nicole Aufderhar

Season 1 (2015)

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Season 1 aired under the titleThe Great Holiday Baking Showand marked a return of theGBBOformat to American television after the cancellation of the series by CBS in late 2013 after one season when it originally aired under the titleThe American Baking Competition.Six bakers participated in the first ABC season. The season was won by Lauren Katz, beating out Nicole Silva and Tim Samson in the finale.

Season 2 (2016–17)

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Season 2 returned the following year asThe Great American Baking Showwith ten bakers and an eight-week competition. The season was won by Amanda Faber, with Stephanie Chen as the runner-up.

Season 3 (2017)

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The third season began airing December 7, 2017, with a two-hour premiere.[6]It is the first season hosted byAyesha CurryandAnthony Adamsand for judgePaul Hollywoodwho last appeared on the 2013 CBS version of the show. This season, baker Antoinette Love, who withdrew following a family death, returned to the competition. The season was withdrawn from ABC's schedule on December 13, 2017, following allegations of sexual misconduct by judgeJohnny Iuzzini.[7]ABC announced that it would not air the remaining episodes.[16]On December 21, 2017, the day the season finale would have been broadcast, ABC announced that Vallery Lomas won the competition with Cindy Maliniak and Molly Brodak finishing as runners-up.[17]

Season 4 (2018)

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The fourth season premiered December 6, 2018, under the titleThe Great American Baking Show: Holiday Edition.Anthony Adams returned for his second season as host, with former Spice Girls singerEmma Buntonas new host. Joining Paul Hollywood on the judging panel is American pastry chef and restaurateur,Sherry Yard.[18]The season was won by Tina Zaccardi. Amanda Nguyen and Andrea Maranville finished as runners-up.

Season 5 (2019)

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The fifth season premiered December 12, 2019, with hosts Emma Bunton and Anthony Adams and judges Paul Hollywood and Sherry Yard, returning for the secondHoliday Edition.

The contestants entering the tent are Dana Commandatore, Sarita Gelner, Bianca Jackson, Carlos Marquina, Sally Newton, Tanya Clark Ott, Helen Spencer Pantazis, Marissa Troeschel, Alex Willis, and Friar, Brother Andrew. The season was won by Brother Andrew. Dana Commandatore and Marissa Troeschel finished as runners-up.

Celebrity Holiday(2022)

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Star Baker

Signature Challenge Technical Challenge Showstopper Challenge Contestants Airdate
8Cream PuffHoliday Characters MeringueHoliday Wreath Favorite Holiday Memory Cake D'Arcy Carden December 2, 2022
Liza Koshy
Marshawn Lynch
Nat Faxon
Chloe Fineman
Joel Kim Booster

Season 6 (2023)

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The sixth season of the show premiered onThe Roku Channelon May 5, 2023, with judges Paul Hollywood andPrue Leithjoined by hostsEllie KemperandZach Cherry.The nine contestants entering the tent are Martin Sorge, Nirali Chauhan, Stacie Nakamoto, Dyana O'Brien, Susan Simpson, Karis Stucker, Jonathan Gottfried, Sarah Chang and Sean Liu.[12]

Celebrity Holiday(2023)

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The second installment ofThe Great American Baking Show: Celebrity Holidaypremiered on The Roku Channel on November 10, 2023, with judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith joined by hostsCasey Wilsonand Zach Cherry.[19]
Star Baker

Signature Challenge Technical Challenge Showstopper Challenge Contestants Airdate
12 Christmas MemorySandwich cookies Sufganiyah Favorite Childhood Toy Cake Arturo Castro November 10, 2023
DeAndre Jordan
Joel McHale
Heather McMahan
Ego Nwodim
Phoebe Robinson

Season 7 (2024)

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The seventh season of the show premiered onThe Roku Channelon May 24, 2024, with judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith joined by hosts Casey Wilson and Zach Cherry. The eight contestants entering the tent are Chris Curcuru, Brad Gessner, Mackenzie Rubish, Ronald "RJ" Winter, Nicole Aufderhar, Ruoyun Zheng, Victoria Walters, and Jennifer Reyes.[20]

References

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  1. ^Wendholt Silva, Jill (7 December 2017)."Self-taught Kansas City baker competes on 'The Great American Baking Show'".Kansas City Star.Retrieved8 December2017.
  2. ^Denise Petski (20 October 2015)."UK Reality Hit 'Great British Bake Off' Getting Holiday-Themed Remake on ABC".Deadline Hollywood.
  3. ^Harry Fletcher (21 October 2015)."Mary Berry is remaking The Great British Bake Off in the US for ABC".Digital Spy.Retrieved21 October2015.
  4. ^Andy Dehnart(8 August 2016)."Exclusive: ABC's Baking Show will return with Mary Berry, and a new name".Reality Blurred.
  5. ^Barney, Chuck (September 21, 2017)."Ayesha Curry lands another big TV gig — this time with ABC".The Mercury News.Bay Area News Group.RetrievedOctober 13,2017.
  6. ^ab"'The Great American Baking Show' Premieres Thursday, December 7 ".ABC.Archived fromthe originalon 28 October 2017.Retrieved27 October2017.
  7. ^ab"ABC Pulls 'Great American Baking Show' Amid Johnny Iuzzini Sexual Harassment Claims".The Hollywood Reporter.Retrieved2017-12-14.
  8. ^Erik Pedersen (December 13, 2017)."ABC Pulls 'The Great American Baking Show' & Axes Judge Johnny Iuzzini Amid Sexual Misconduct Allegations".Deadline Hollywood.Penske Media Corporation.RetrievedAugust 3,2018.
  9. ^"Are you ready? Now taking applications for next season".Facebook.Retrieved2018-07-17.
  10. ^"On Your Mark, Get Set, Bake!" The Great American Baking Show: Holiday Edition "Returns to ABC This December".The Futon Critic.August 1, 2019.
  11. ^"The Roku Channel Presents Exciting New Slate of Roku Original Productions at the 2022 IAB NewFronts".The Futon Critic.May 3, 2022.
  12. ^ab"The Great American Baking Show Trailer: Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith Return to the Tent [Exclusive]".Peoplemag.Retrieved2023-04-19.
  13. ^Spangler, Todd (2023-05-02)."Roku Leans Into Unscripted Amid Writers Strike: Renews 'Great American Baking Show,' Orders Charlie Puth Comedy".Variety.Retrieved2023-05-03.
  14. ^"Great American Baking Show: ABC TV show - ratings (cancel or season 3?)".TV Series Finale.13 January 2017.
  15. ^"Shows A-Z - great american baking show, the on abc".thefutoncritic.Futon Critic.Retrieved2 December2017.
  16. ^"US Bake Off is cancelled after sexual harassment allegations made towards judge Johnny Iuzzini".The Telegraph.December 14, 2017.RetrievedDecember 15,2017.
  17. ^"'The Great American Baking Show' Season 3 Winner Announced | The Great American Baking Show ".ABC.21 December 2017.
  18. ^Pedersen, Erik (October 18, 2018)."'The Great American Baking Show: Holiday Edition': Premiere Date & Spicy New Host For ABC Competition Series ".Deadline Hollywood.
  19. ^Arnold, Allison (November 2, 2023)."'The Great American Baking Show: Celebrity Holiday' Is Returning ".Delish.
  20. ^"'The Great American Baking Show': Paul Hollywood Adjusts to 'American-Sized Portions' in Season 2 Trailer (Exclusive) ".Peoplemag.Retrieved2024-07-27.
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