MasterChef Junior (American TV series)
MasterChef Junior | |
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Genre | Cooking |
Based on | Junior MasterChef |
Written by | Robin Ashbrook |
Judges | |
No. of seasons | 8 |
No. of episodes | 95 |
Production | |
Executive producers |
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Production companies | One Potato Two Potato Endemol Shine North America |
Original release | |
Network | Fox |
Release | September 27, 2013 present | –
MasterChef Junior is an American cooking competition involving children from the ages of 8–13 that premiered on Fox on September 27, 2013. It is based on the format of the British series Junior MasterChef.
In October 2023, the series was renewed for a ninth season, with Gordon Ramsay, Aarón Sánchez and Daphne Oz as returning judges, along with new judge Tilly Ramsay.
Format
Any child between ages eight and thirteen can apply to become a contestant on the series by applying online or by going to an open casting call. The contestants are announced through a variety of methods over the years, sometimes via competitions, or sometimes the top contestants are simply announced.
As in its parent show MasterChef, the following challenges have all been regularly featured on the show:
- Skills Test: Cooks are challenged to prepare foods in accordance with a list of common cooking techniques or styles, or to replicate a particular cooking method of a dish (i.e. steaks done to an exact wellness). This type of test is also sometimes used as an Elimination Test.
- Mystery Box: Cooks are all given a box with the same ingredients and must use only those ingredients to create a dish within a fixed amount of time. The judges will select three dishes based on visual appearance and technique alone to taste, and from these three select one winner who usually gains an advantage of some type in the elimination test.
- Elimination Test: After the challenge is explained, judges evaluate all dishes based on taste and visual appeal. The judges nominate the worst dishes for elimination and criticize them before eliminating at least one contestant.
- Team Challenge: The cooks are split into teams by either team captains or the judges. They often occur in a restaurant takeover or pop-up restaurant taking the place of the staff of a particular restaurant. Diners taste both meals and vote for their favorite. The winning team advances, while the losing team will participate in the Pressure Test or even face elimination based on team members' performance.
- Pressure Test: Another form of the Elimination Test, in which losing team members compete against each other to make a standard dish within a very limited amount of time that requires a great degree of cooking finesse. Each dish is judged on taste, visual appeal and technique, and the losing chef is eliminated.
Once the competition is reduced to either the final two or three competitors, the finalists will compete against each other in a three-course cook-off. All courses of the meal are judged and an overall winner is crowned. The winner of each season wins $100,000, the MasterChef Junior trophy, and the title of MasterChef Junior. Some seasons have also added other prizes.
Judges
Season | Judge 1 | Judge 2 | Judge 3 | Judge 4 |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Gordon Ramsay | Graham Elliot | Joe Bastianich | — |
2 | ||||
3 | ||||
4 | Christina Tosi | |||
5 | Guest judges | |||
6 | Joe Bastianich | |||
7 | Aarón Sánchez | |||
8 | Daphne Oz | |||
9[1] | Tilly Ramsay |
Series overview
Season | Contestants | Episodes | Originally aired | Winner | Runner(s)-up | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
First aired | Last aired | ||||||
1 | 12 | 7 | September 27, 2013 | November 8, 2013 | Alexander Weiss | Dara Yu | |
2 | 16 | 7 | November 4, 2014 | December 16, 2014 | Logan Guleff | Samuel Stromberg | |
3 | 19 | 8 | January 6, 2015 | February 24, 2015 | Nathan Odom | Andrew Zappley | |
4 | 24 | 12 | November 6, 2015 | January 29, 2016 | Addison Osta Smith | Avery Kyle | |
5 | 20 | 15 | February 9, 2017 | May 18, 2017 | Jasmine Stewart | Justise Mayberry | |
6 | 24 | 15 | March 2, 2018 | May 18, 2018 | Beni Cwiakala | Avery Meadows & Quani Fields | |
7 | 24 | 15 | March 12, 2019 | June 4, 2019 | Che Spiotta | Ivy Angst & Malia Brauer | |
8 | 16 | 16 | March 17, 2022 | June 23, 2022 | Liya Chu | Grayson Price |
Specials
No. | Title | Original air date [2] | Prod. code [2] | U.S. viewers (millions) |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | "An Extra Serving"[3] | April 27, 2017 | SP-1721 | 2.65[4] |
Gordon Ramsay recaps the events of the past five seasons; moments from past seasons, as well as never-before-seen bloopers, were shown; contestants from seasons 1–3 talked about the events in the years since they competed; Ramsay talks with the previous winners. | ||||
2 | "The Road to the Finale"[5] | May 15, 2018 | SP-1820 | 1.74[6] |
Gordon Ramsay takes a look back at the events of season 6 along with some clips and bloopers, and shows some of the audition videos submitted for the show. The three finalists challenge Ramsay to cook their three favorite dishes in 30 minutes while they force him to switch from one dish to another. In the end, the kids playfully "eliminate" Ramsay. | ||||
3 | "Celebrity Showdown"[7] | November 22, 2018 | SP-1906 | 5.31[8] |
This two-hour special is hosted by Gordon Ramsay and Aarón Sánchez and teams celebrities up with past contestants and other kids in competitions. The first battle is between Eric Stonestreet and season 5 contestant Shayne Wells against Terrence Howard and season 6 finalist Avery Meadows in a Mystery Box challenge where they have one hour to cook a meal featuring nuts. Terrance and Avery win the challenge. The second battle is between Alyson Hannigan and her nine-year-old daughter Saty against Lil Rel Howery and his nine-year-old daughter Brittni where the teams must replicate a party platter of appetizers in one hour, and it will be a tag team battle where the parents first cook for twenty minutes, the kids then cook for twenty minutes, and then they cook together for twenty minutes. Alyson and Saty win the challenge. The third battle is between Emmitt Smith and season 6 winner Beni Cwiakala against Jerry Rice and season 4 winner Addison Osta Smith where the teams must cook a meal for a group of military members, doctors, nurses, and first responders in 60 minutes. Aarón joins up with Emmett and Beni while Gordon joins up with Jerry and Addison, while the judges will be the diners themselves and Lidia Bastianich. Emmett, Beni and Aarón win this challenge. All winning celebrities received $25,000 for their favorite charity, while the other celebrities received $15,000 for their charity. | ||||
4 | "Junior Edition: The Road to the Finale (Season 7)"[9] | May 28, 2019 | SP-1918 | 1.94[10] |
Much like the Season 6 special, Gordon Ramsay takes a look back at the events of season 7 along with some clips and bloopers, and shows some of the audition videos submitted for the show. The three finalists get dedicated segments on their respective backgrounds, and Ramsay gets to dump cream and cocoa on them. | ||||
5 | "Junior Edition: The Road to the Finale (Season 8)"[11] | June 23, 2022 | SP-2220 | 1.70[12] |
Ramsay and Sánchez take a look back at the highlights of the season, including a countdown of the best bloopers of the year. |
Development
Casting
Like its adult counterpart, at its inception MasterChef Junior was judged by Gordon Ramsay, Joe Bastianich and Graham Elliot.[13] Bastianich did not return for the show's fourth season, being replaced by prominent pastry chef Christina Tosi.[14] Elliot did not return for the show's fifth season, and a series of rotating guest judges served for the third judge. For the sixth season, Bastianich returned to his judging position. In the seventh season, Bastianich left again and was replaced by Aarón Sánchez, who was one of the guest judges in season 5 as well as a judge on the adult MasterChef.
Production
Fox placed casting calls for participants in January 2013.[15] Fox officially ordered the series (then under the name Junior MasterChef) on May 10, 2013.[16] The name was later changed to MasterChef Junior. There were concerns that Ramsay's style of cursing at the contestants on his other competition shows (most notably Hell's Kitchen and the adult MasterChef) would carry over to MasterChef Junior. It did not. One contestant (Gavin) said that Ramsay had only cursed twice during the production of the series and never at the contestants. In the final editing, he cursed once in front of (but not at) the contestants.[17]
Season synopsis
Season 1 (2013)
The first season premiered on September 27, 2013, with chefs Gordon Ramsay, Graham Elliot and Joe Bastianich acting as the judges.
The winner of MasterChef Junior season 1 was Alexander Weiss, a thirteen-year-old from New York City.
Semifinalist Troy Glass is now an actor, appearing on Kids React and other cooking shows, and making cameos on shows like Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Season 2 (2014)
The second season premiered on November 4, 2014,[18] with chefs Gordon Ramsay, Graham Elliot and Joe Bastianich again acting as the judges.
The winner of MasterChef Junior season 2 was Logan Guleff, an eleven-year-old from Memphis, Tennessee.
Season 3 (2015)
On March 5, 2014, MasterChef Junior was renewed for a third season before production on season two began.[19] The third season premiered on January 6, 2015,[20] with chefs Gordon Ramsay, Graham Elliot and Joe Bastianich once again acting as the judges.
The winner of MasterChef Junior season 3 was Nathan Odom, a twelve-year-old from San Diego, California.
Season 4 (2015–16)
The fourth season premiered on November 6, 2015,[21] with chefs Gordon Ramsay, Graham Elliot and Christina Tosi acting as the judges.
The winner of MasterChef Junior season 4 was Addison Smith, a nine-year-old from River Forest, Illinois.
Season 5 (2017)
The fifth season premiered on February 9, 2017, with chefs Gordon Ramsay and Christina Tosi acting as the judges, along with numerous guest judges including Julie Bowen and Mayim Bialik.[22]
The winner of MasterChef Junior season 5 was Jasmine Stewart, an eleven-year-old from Milton, Georgia. She is the first previously eliminated contestant to win the competition.
Season 6 (2018)
The sixth season premiered on March 2, 2018,[23] with returning chefs Gordon Ramsay and Christina Tosi acting as the judges, along with returning judge Joe Bastianich as the third judge.
The winner of MasterChef Junior season 6 was Beni Cwiakala, a nine-year-old from Chicago, Illinois.
Season 7 (2019)
On February 13, 2019, it was announced that the seventh season would premiere with a two-episode special[24] on March 12, 2019, with Gordon Ramsay, Christina Tosi, and Aarón Sánchez serving as the judges.[25]
The winner of MasterChef Junior season 7 was Che Spiotta, a twelve-year-old from Boiceville, New York.
Season 8 (2022)
In July 2019, it was announced that the show would be returning for an eighth season, with Ramsay and Sánchez as returning judges, along with new judge Daphne Oz replacing Tosi.[26][27] The season premiered on March 17, 2022.[28]
The winner of MasterChef Junior season 8 was Liya Chu, a ten-year-old from Scarsdale, New York.
Season 9
On December 20, 2022, the initial casting announcement for a potential ninth season was posted.[29] The casting notice was re-posted on September 8, 2023 on the show's Twitter page. On October 12, 2023, it was announced that the series had been renewed for a ninth season, with Ramsay, Sánchez, and Oz as returning judges, along with new judge Tilly Ramsay.[1]
Television ratings
Seasonal rankings (based on average total viewers per episode) of MasterChef Junior on Fox.
- Each US network TV season starts in late September and ends in late May, which coincides with the completion of May sweeps.
Season | Timeslot (ET) | Episodes | Premiere | Finale | TV Season | Season ranking | Season viewers | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Date | Viewers (millions) |
Date | Viewers (millions) | ||||||
1 | Friday 8:00 PM | 7 | September 27, 2013 | 4.29[30] | November 8, 2013 | 4.14[31] | 2013–14 | 83[32] | 5.56 |
2 | Tuesday 8:00 PM | November 4, 2014 | 5.09[33] | December 16, 2014 | 5.66[30] | 2014–15 | 89[34] | 6.30 | |
3 | 8 | January 6, 2015 | 5.33[35] | February 24, 2015 | 4.83[36] | ||||
4 | Friday 8:00 PM | 12 | November 6, 2015 | 4.16[37] | January 29, 2016 | 4.75[38] | 2015–16 | 81[39] | 5.67 |
5 | Thursday 8:00 PM | 15 | February 9, 2017 | 4.21[40] | May 18, 2017 | 3.52[41] | 2016–17 | 97[42] | 4.57 |
6 | Friday 8:00 PM | March 2, 2018 | 3.40[43] | May 18, 2018 | 3.32[44] | 2017–18 | 114[45] | 4.33 | |
7 | Tuesday 8:00 PM | March 12, 2019 | 2.82[46] | June 4, 2019 | 3.27[47] | 2018–19 | 124[48] | 3.69 | |
8 | Thursday 8:00 PM (1–12, 15) Thursday 9:00 PM (13, 16)[2] Tuesday 9:00 PM (14) |
16 | March 17, 2022 | 2.07[49] | June 23, 2022 | 2.22[50] | 2021–22 | TBA | TBA |
See also
References
- ^ a b Peter White (October 12, 2023). "MasterChef Junior Renewed For Season 9 At Fox; Gordon Ramsay's Daughter Tilly Joins As Judge". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
- ^ a b c "MasterChef Junior Episode Listings". The Futon Critic.
- ^ "First-Ever "MasterChef Junior" Special to Air Thursday, April 27, on FOX" (Press release). Fox. May 5, 2017. Retrieved May 5, 2017 – via The Futon Critic.
- ^ Porter, Rick (April 28, 2017). "'Big Bang Theory,' 'Grey's Anatomy' and 'Masterchef Junior' adjust up; 'The Catch' adjusts down: Thursday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on April 29, 2017. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
- ^ "Relive the Best Moments of "MasterChef Junior" Season Six in the All-New Special "Masterchef Junior: The Road to the Finale" Tuesday, May 15 at 8/7c on FOX!" (Press release). Fox. April 24, 2018. Retrieved May 18, 2018 – via The Futon Critic.
- ^ Porter, Rick (May 16, 2018). "'The Middle,' 'NCIS,' 'Chicago Med' adjust up, 'The 100' adjusts down: Tuesday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on May 17, 2018. Retrieved May 18, 2018.
- ^ "Stars Celebrate Thanksgiving with a Culinary Battle on the All-New Special 'MasterChef Junior: Celebrity Showdown,' Thursday, November 22, on FOX" (Press release). Fox. October 24, 2018. Retrieved December 3, 2018 – via The Futon Critic.
- ^ Welch, Alex (November 27, 2018). "'Thursday Night Football' adjusts up, 'MasterChef Junior: Celebrity Showdown' adjusts down: Thursday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on November 27, 2018. Retrieved December 3, 2018.
- ^ "(SP-1918) "Junior Edition: The Road to the Finale"". The Futon Critic. Retrieved May 30, 2019.
- ^ Welch, Alex (May 30, 2019). "'Songland,' '1969,' and others adjust down: Tuesday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on May 30, 2019. Retrieved May 30, 2019.
- ^ "(SP-2220) "Junior Edition: The Road to the Finale"". The Futon Critic. Retrieved June 14, 2022.
- ^ Mitch Salem (June 24, 2022). "Thursday 6.23.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
- ^ "FOX Orders New Series Junior MasterChef, as Part of New Multi-Year Deal with World-Renowned Chef Gordon Ramsay" (Press release). Fox. May 10, 2013. Retrieved October 12, 2023 – via The Futon Critic.
- ^ Nellie Andreeva (January 13, 2015). "MasterChef Junior Renewed For Season 4, Christina Tosi Joins As New Judge". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 3, 2015.
- ^ Nguyen, Tina (January 18, 2013). "MasterChef Now Casting For Children For Gordon Ramsay To Emotionally Destroy". TheBraiser.com. Retrieved August 12, 2013.
- ^ Marechal, AJ (May 10, 2013). "Fox, Gordon Ramsay to Cook Up 'Junior Masterchef'". Variety. Variety Media. Retrieved August 12, 2013.
- ^ Harris, Beth (August 2, 2013). "'MasterChef Junior': Gordon Ramsay Talks New Fox Cooking Series Featuring Children". HuffingtonPost.com. Retrieved August 12, 2013.
- ^ Snetiker, Marc (October 2, 2014). "Meet the new kid chefs on 'MasterChef Junior' season 2". Retrieved December 20, 2014.
- ^ "Fox Orders Season 3 Of MasterChef Junior". Deadline Hollywood. March 5, 2014. Retrieved March 8, 2014.
- ^ "'MasterChef Junior' Season 3 Premiere: The Cooking Competition Junior Edition Is Back On January 6, 2015! Judge Joe Bastianich Bids Good Bye To The Show". KDramaStars. Retrieved August 3, 2015.
- ^ "'Meet the Newest Batch of Bite-Sized Home Cooks on New Season of FOX's MASTERCHEF JUNIOR". Broadway World. Archived from the original on August 17, 2016. Retrieved September 17, 2015.
- ^ "Masterchef Junior Returns February 9". Archived from the original on February 16, 2017.
- ^ "Fan-Favorite "Masterchef Junior" Judge Joe Bastianich Returns For Season Six, Scheduled To Air During The 2017–2018 Season On Fox". Fox Flash Fox Publicity Online. September 19, 2017. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved November 27, 2017.
- ^ Tingley, Anna (March 12, 2019). "TV Roundup: Netflix Drops 'On My Block' Season 2 Trailer (Watch)". Variety. Retrieved March 17, 2019.
- ^ "FOX Announces Revised Premiere Dates for MasterChef Junior & Mental Samurai" (Press release). Fox. February 13, 2019. Retrieved February 13, 2019 – via The Futon Critic.
- ^ Tomás Mier (July 17, 2019). "Pregnant Daphne Oz Joins Judges Gordon Ramsay and Aarón Sánchez for MasterChef Junior Season 8". People. Retrieved July 17, 2019.
- ^ "FOX Renews MasterChef Junior for Season Eight and Announces New Judge Daphne Oz" (Press release). Fox. July 17, 2019. Retrieved July 17, 2020 – via The Futon Critic.
- ^ Erik Pedersen (January 26, 2022). "Fox Spring Premiere Dates: More Masked Singer; 9-1-1 Return; Domino Masters Debuts, More". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
- ^ Weaver, Stephanie (January 4, 2023). "FOX's 'MasterChef Junior' now casting young chefs for 9th season". fox9.com. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
- ^ a b Kondolojy, Amanda (December 17, 2014). "Tuesday Final Ratings: 'NCIS' & 'The Voice' Adjusted Up, No Adjustment for 'Person of Interest' or 'MasterChef Junior'". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on December 21, 2014. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
- ^ Bibel, Sara (November 11, 2013). "Friday Final Ratings: 'Dracula' & 'The Neighbors' Adjusted Down". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on November 11, 2013. Retrieved November 11, 2013.
- ^ "Full 2013-2014 TV Season Series Rankings". Deadline Hollywood. May 22, 2014. Retrieved August 30, 2016.
- ^ Kondolojy, Amanda (November 5, 2014). "Tuesday Final Ratings: 'About a Boy' & 'Selfie' Adjusted Down + Final Election Coverage Ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on November 7, 2014. Retrieved November 5, 2014.
- ^ Lisa de Moraes. "2014–15 Full TV Season Ratings: Rankings For All Shows". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on May 23, 2015.
- ^ Bibel, Sara (January 8, 2015). "Tuesday Final Ratings: No Adjustments to 'Agent Carter', 'Person of Interest' or 'Forever'". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on January 8, 2015. Retrieved January 8, 2015.
- ^ Kondolojy, Amanda (February 25, 2015). "Tuesday Final Ratings: 'The Voice' Adjusted Up; 'NCIS', 'NCIS: New Orleans', 'Fresh Off the Boat', 'New Girl' & 'TV's Hottest Commercials' Adjusted Down". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on February 26, 2015. Retrieved February 25, 2015.
- ^ Porter, Rick (November 9, 2015). "Friday Final Ratings: 'Blue Bloods' adjusts up, everything else holds". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on November 13, 2015. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
- ^ Porter, Rick (February 1, 2016). "Friday final ratings: 'Vampire Diaries,' 'Originals' and everything else unchanged". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on February 3, 2016. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
- ^ Lisa de Moraes (May 26, 2016). "Full 2015-16 TV Season Series Rankings: Blindspot, Life In Pieces & Quantico Lead Newcomers". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
- ^ Porter, Rick (February 10, 2017). "'Riverdale' adjusts up; 'Great Indoors,' 'Powerless,' 'Mom,' 'Chicago Med' down: Thursday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on February 11, 2017. Retrieved February 10, 2017.
- ^ Porter, Rick (May 19, 2017). "'Grey's Anatomy' and 'Masterchef Junior' finales, 'Amazing Race' adjust up: Thursday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on May 19, 2017. Retrieved May 19, 2017.
- ^ Lisa de Moraes (May 25, 2017). "Final 2016-17 TV Rankings: Sunday Night Football Winning Streak Continues". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
- ^ Porter, Rick (March 5, 2018). "'Blue Bloods,' 'Blindspot,' all others unchanged: Friday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on March 6, 2018. Retrieved March 5, 2018.
- ^ Porter, Rick (May 21, 2018). "'Blindspot,' '20/20,' 'Life Sentence,' 'Harry & Meghan' special all adjust down: Friday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on May 22, 2018. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
- ^ Lisa de Moraes; Patrick Hipes (May 22, 2018). "2017-18 TV Series Ratings Rankings: NFL Football, Big Bang Top Charts". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
- ^ Welch, Alex (March 13, 2019). "'The Bachelor' adjusts up, 'FBI' adjusts down: Tuesday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on March 27, 2019. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
- ^ Welch, Alex (June 5, 2019). "'America's Got Talent,' 'Songland,' everything else unchanged: Tuesday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on June 5, 2019. Retrieved June 5, 2019.
- ^ Lisa de Moraes (May 21, 2019). "2018-19 TV Season Ratings: CBS Wraps 11th Season At No. 1 In Total Viewers, NBC Tops Demo; Big Bang Theory Most Watched Series". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
- ^ Mitch Salem (March 18, 2022). "Thursday 3.17.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved June 26, 2022.
- ^ Mitch Salem (June 24, 2022). "Thursday 6.23.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved June 26, 2022.
External links
- Official website
- MasterChef Junior at IMDb
- MasterChef Junior at TV Guide
- MasterChef Junior at TV by the Numbers
- MasterChef Junior
- American television spin-offs
- American television series based on British television series
- 2013 American television series debuts
- English-language television shows
- Fox Broadcasting Company original programming
- Television shows featuring audio description
- Cooking competitions in the United States
- 2010s American cooking television series
- 2020s American cooking television series
- Television series about children
- Television series about teenagers