Next Great Baker

Gameplay

Each round has three stages:

1. Baker's challenge: Each contestant has to meet a challenge set by Buddy the Cake Boss, such as making a pastry, baking a cake or, as in the first-season finale, filling buckets of grease. The winner of this challenge receives a special bonus, revealed after the challenge.
2. Elimination challenge: Each contestant has a set amount of time over two days — usually three hours on the first day and the remaining time on the second — to make a cake to specifications set by Buddy.
3. Final elimination: Buddy and the judges (the judge from the Baker's challenge and a client) decide which three cakes are the best and which two cakes that are the worst. After the decisions are made, the contestants (who were waiting in the bakers' lounge) enter the judging room. Contestants determined "safe" are then dismissed. Then, the three contestants with the best cakes are announced, with the one with the best cake in the challenge singled out. The remaining contestants have the worst cakes in the challenge; one of these will be told to leave the competition, transported away by Danny (an employee of Carlo's Bakery and Buddy's close friend) inside a box truck marked "Not the Next Great Baker".

Episodes

Main article: List of Next Great Baker episodes

Season 1

Main article: Next Great Baker (season 1)

The first season of Next Great Baker was taped inside a special kitchen studio set up at the Hudson County Community College Culinary Arts Institute in Jersey City, New Jersey, and was televised from December 6, 2010 to January 24, 2011 on TLC. Dana Herbert, the last contestant standing out of a field of ten contestants, won $50,000 cash, a Chevrolet Cruze and an apprenticeship at Carlo's Bake Shop in Hoboken, New Jersey. Following his win, Dana was featured in some episodes of Cake Boss, but he had had his own bakery before his appearance on the show.

Season 2

Main article: Next Great Baker (season 2)

The second season of Next Great Baker was set at the new Carlo's Bakery facility at Lackawanna Center in Jersey City, and was televised from November 28, 2011 to January 30, 2012 on TLC. Marissa Lopez, the last contestant standing out of a field of 13 contestants, won $100,000 cash and a four-page spread in Brides magazine, along with an opportunity to work beside Buddy in the bakery. As of 2020, she is the manager of Carlo's Bakery Ridgewood, New Jersey.

Season 3

Main article: Next Great Baker (season 3)

Season 3 premiered on Monday, November 26, 2012. 13 contestants compete for $100,000, a spread in redbook magazine and to work with Buddy. The winner was Ashley Holt. She now owns her own bakery called Sugar Monster. She previously worked at Buddy's bakery and appears on Buddy's other show, Cake Boss from Season 5. She announced her withdrawal from the bakery on Season 6. (Ep. 28: Up, Up and Away)

Season 4

Main article: Next Great Baker (season 4)

Season 4 premiered on Tuesday, June 24, 2014. This season, contestants competed in pairs. Ten pairs total vied for a $100,000 grand prize and an opportunity to work for Buddy Valastro at the new Carlo's Bakery at Las Vegas's The Venetian. Chocolatier Jacques Torres and Magnolia Bakery chief Bobbie Lloyd were permanent judges for season four alongside Buddy. Co-workers Al Watson and Lia Weber were the winners.

Versions

References

References

1. "NEXT GREAT BAKER, THE (TLC)".
2. Stanhope, Kate. (June 24, 2010). "Cake Boss Gets Competitive with New Spinoff Series".
3. Elgart, Corina. (November 29, 2011). "Lots of Perks and a Bit of Baking". [[TLC (TV channel).
4. "It's Go Time!".
5. (June 10, 2013). "Seeing Double".
6. "Season Three of TLC's 'Next Great Baker' to Premiere Monday, November 26". TV By the Numbers.
7. (April 30, 2014). "'Next Great Baker' Season Four to Premiere Tuesday, June 24 on TLC". TV By the Numbers.
8. Nededog, Jethro. (April 30, 2014). "TLC's 'Next Great Baker' Returns for Season 4 in June With a Few Twists (Exclusive)". [[The Wrap]].
9. Acken, Lori. (June 20, 2014). "We talk Next Great Baker Season 4 with new judge Jacques Torres".
10. "Vegas Showstoppers". [[MSN TV]].