MATURE CONTENT? Netflix's Rating: TV-PG Why?: Mild language and adult humor
SPOIL-FREE SUMMARY
This baking competition challenges three people with no cooking experience outside their own home kitchens to replicate a professional’s elaborate cake or pastry. The contestants only have a short amount of time to make the attempt using basic instructions and pantry ingredients. Once the time is up, contestants present their (usually hilariously pitiful) creations to three judges, who decide which of the three are the best based on presentation, technique and taste.
Each episode showcases new competitors challenged with two rounds of cookies, cakes, doughnuts or other detailed pastries. At the end of the second challenge, the judges decide who the overall winner is and awards them $10,000. During the second round, some competitors are given the chance to push a button for various options of help, including asking a chef a question or having one of the judges distract their competitors.
CRITICAL REVIEW
Nailed It! is one of the few cooking shows Netflix has to offer that is actually entertaining and fun (especially after Netflix decided to remove all its Foods Network shows, like the popular competition shows Chopped and Cutthroat Kitchen). It’s a much more lighthearted competition than most on food-themed TV. I have a suspicion finalists who make it on the show are actually chosen for their ridiculous incapabilities, because some of the finished (or completely unfinished) products they end up with at the end of the timer are absolutely bizarre. Though the show can feel a bit repetitive with the same premise each round, it’s always a treat to see contestants turn their final pastry around and compare it to the professional one. It’s a nice reminder that no one is perfect, and most are far from it.
The star of this show is the host, Nicole Byer. Seeing the pathetic attempts amateurs produce while trying to replicate a professional pastry is always worth a good chuckle, but Byer will have you laughing till you cry. The host isn’t afraid to let loose, make people uncomfortable or say whatever is on her mind (and her mind is a hilarious place).
The biggest question I come away with after watching the show is: What is the point, competition-wise, of the first round? From a competitor’s standpoint, it would be to your benefit to try to lose, because the loser of the first round gets a leg up by getting an extra helper button to push. The winner? They get … a funny hat to wear the second round. And Byer confirms that the judges only consider the second round results to determine the winner of the show. From a viewer’s standpoint, I like watching two rounds rather than just one, but the first round should have more purpose, even if the show doesn’t take itself too seriously.
If you’re looking for some lighthearted competition or a hilarious reality TV, start streaming Nailed It! right away. You’ll want to binge this show, but try to savor it! So far Netflix only has one season of six episodes out.
WHAT MORMONS/PARENTS NEED TO KNOW
There's occasional mild sexual innuendo (which would probably go over any kid's head) and mild language — the few little things stay soundly in the PG terrain.
There's also several instances of recreational drinking and jokes about alcohol, but again, nothing outside that PG terrain.
Overall, Nailed It! is a good option for lighthearted comedy mixed with silly cooking contests, and it would make a great family night watch.