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MasterChef plating up two-course sizzler

Ahead of MasterChef filming its Winner Announcement this afternoon, media analyses the season, the finalists, and the likely ratings.

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The final MasterChef cook-off between Kate Bracks and Michael Weldon took place several weeks ago, but this afternoon the production will film its all-important winner announcement to be edited into the two-part finale.

This is to try to minimise the risk of Spoilers leaking.

The unknown winner is already booked into a swag of media commitments on Monday, many of them at just 10 minute intervals. Fingers crossed we don’t get a repeat the 2009 bungle when TEN had both Julie and Poh giving “winner interviews” to press in advance of the finale. One newspaper accidentally ran the wrong one online, with quotes and all from a ‘triumphant’ Poh Ling Yeow.

Today there’s a load of press articles on the season, the finalists, the likely ratings (TV Tonight readers tipped between 2m – 2.5m) and more.

Here’s a grab bag of what they are saying:

The Age says the show has gone from media darling to whipping boy, and that TEN risks annoying viewers by splitting tonight’s final in two with The Renovators in between:

“The public is wise to this stuff now,” says media analyst Steve Allen. “If they don’t want to be part of the journey, they’ll just switch on in the last half-hour.”

The Sunday Herald Sun debates the possible ratings the finale may net:

“The MasterChef finale has been the biggest TV event of the past two years, averaging more than four million viewers last year, but tonight’s ratings are expected to be softer.”

The West Australian makes similar observations:

“Sunday’s finale isn’t expected to be reach those highs, with some of the wind knocked out of the hit show’s sails this year by a barrage of other reality shows such as The Block and Australia’s Got Talent” it writes.

In the Sunday Herald Sun judge Gary Mehigan also defends against claims the show has been overdramatic, overblown and over-managed:

“What do you want us to do? It is dramatic,” he says.

“I read in the papers about how tough they were doing it, locked up in house. But the contestants are doing this willingly, to change their lives.

“They have six months to pursue and think about what they love, in a waterfront mansion. They’re working with the best, learning from the best, getting incredible opportunities. How many people get the chance to do that in their lives?”

The Sydney Morning Herald speculates as to the final challenges:

“We can expect a spectacular challenge. After last year’s now-legendary weird  gross egg thingy, it may not be another dessert, but it will undoubtedly be  something as complex, challenging and pointless.”

The Sunday Telegraph says golden-boy Hayden Quinn has been signed by talent agency One Management and is in talks with networks about launching his own cooking and travel show.

“One Management, which lists former contestants Julie Goodwin, Adam Liaw and Poh Ling Yeow among its clients, will also manage tonight’s winner.”

Adelaide Now gets behind local boy Michael Weldon:

“Obviously, I’d love to write a book and if I was offered a show like Poh’s I’d jump at it, but I’m just trying to enjoy myself at the moment,” he said.

“My ultimate goal is to work with Heston (Blumenthal) in London,” he said. “I’ve emailed him and I think I’m just going to harass him until he says `yes’. I haven’t heard back yet.”

The Central Western Daily champions local mum Kate Bracks:

“It won’t be easy, Michael’s strength is that he won’t give up, he just keeps going and he’s got a great pallet,” she said (yes apparently in Orange it’s pallet not palate).

Reality Ravings blog can’t split between the two finalists:

“I think the final is a 3 course meal so that suits neither one nor the other as Michael is strong at mains whilst Kate is strong with desserts,” it notes.

“I actually like both contestants so don’t even have a favourite as far as personality is concerned either.”

Tonight’s final begins at 6:30pm and resumes at 8:30pm, promising a big surprise with “the world’s best chef.”

If it’s all too much you can catch the actual winner announced after 9:15pm followed by a Sneak Peek of forthcoming Reality show Class of…

NB: TV Tonight will be blogging live results AEST including via RSS and Twitter.

36 Responses

  1. any 1 in the east now the winner yet . only 7.46pm here and wont be watching latter as some of us have work in the morning.
    so a winner please would be much appreciated

  4. I think ch 10 has taken ch 9’s place for worst channel ever. Fancy shoving a show like the Renovators down our throats during Master Chef. Surely they will lose ratings.

  5. I switched on at 7:30 because thats what time its always on to watch the finale, only to be find out renovators was on. So ive missed the first 2 rounds of the final. Im sure im not the only one who did this. So channel 10 try to sucker people in to get hooked on renovators buy instead lose thousands of potential viewers who would have watched masterchef at 730. Nice move ten.

  6. Surely the splitting of MC will have a big impact on the ratings. Why on earth would you do such a crazy thing Channel 10. I don’t know anyone that is happy with this decision.

    I switched to 9 to watch the last half hour of The Block and first 30 mins of 60 minutes. I am not interested in The Renovators.

    Michael is not looking confident tonight whereas Kate seems quite happy with herself. I would be happy if she won.

  8. What a stupid finale for a nice Sunday night viewing. Sorry on principal we switched channels. Your attitude on this program is so over the top for normal people.I have spent over 40 years in the restaurant industry and hope that all these contestants can find the outlet in this industry they obviously want. All I can say I am happy I no longer have to worry about trying to keep up with it.

  9. both amazing cooks, don’t care who wins, out of everyone whos been in mastercheff both kate & miceal diserve 2 b there.
    i am the biggest mastercheff fan i have never missed an eposiode and can’t wait 2 here the winner but sad that its coming 2 an end n have 2 wait till next year.
    this show is all my friends n me ever talk about it is great

  10. OMG, I cannot believe how stupid CH10 think we are – Yes we will switchoff, we will Not watch the Renovators – Do not insult our intellegents… I hate that CH10 think we will watch what they want, we are not that stupid – Channel 10 – So over your advertising pranks!

  11. Massive disappointment and we couldn’t believe that we missed two rounds when the clock just hit 7:30. Channel 10 is soooo dumb, that’s why we haven’t been watching anything except MC….

  14. So PO’d. I turn the tv on at the normal 7.30 pm time to watch the final but what do i get? The End. I rarely venture from the ABC and now i know why.

  15. Disgusted that channel 10 have split the master chef final, so sad for children that wanted to watch it now too late. The Renovators rubbish, why try and make people watch such trash. Very very disappointed channel 10. J Smith Brisbane

  16. The problem is why do these Newspapers contact the judges for comment and explanation of this years performance?

    Shouldn’t the producers at Freemantle be held to account and asked why this year’s season isn’t connecting with it’s audience as it had previous years??

  17. “if I was offered a show like Poh’s I’d jump at it” – keep dreaming, Michael. You would actually have to have some personality to get a TV show. You have all the pizazz of a raw potato.

  19. This is great news as I can use the remote control to ditch the renovators and watch Kev McClouds Grand Designs at 7.30 on ABC. Brilliant scheduling by ch10, actually thinking of viewers needs for once.

  20. Just checked the EPG and is now listed at 9.31pm to 9.46PM for the Winner Announcement , thats 15 minutes later than before , make up your mind channel 10.

  21. I get why they have divided te show up with The Renovators in the middle, obviously they need people to be watching that since it’s already flopping. But, wow, what a stupid move! If anything it’s going to make people skip the 6.30 show and tune in at 9.15 for the annoucement. And what of this twist Matt Preston has been touting? A desperate attempt at trying to create interest…

  22. Mehigan is either putting on a brave face or is so totally self-absorbed he doesn’t see the show…and viewer loyalty… falling apart around him.

  23. The break between shows won’t bother me, it will give me time to make a cuppa and get the kids settled for the night.
    Gary shouldn’t even bother replying to Mat’s idiotic, attention-seeking comments.
    Hope they didn’t have to keep the meals for two weeks, hahaha.
    Good idea about not filming winner until this afternoon, good idea to get press for tomorrow right..mmm…
    Even if the ratings are down, it’s still acceptable against a wider range of competition, once it enters Gap Year zone THEN there’s issues…

  24. I think Ten can better manage the release of information regarding the results announcement. Last year, the embargo was so long that the first (rural) edition of several major newspapers (including The Age, The Herald Sun and The Daily Telegraph) did not publish the results and the photo of the winner Adam on Monday.
    I think Ten can learn a few things from the media management at the Logies and the Federal Budget. For example, a small number of newspaper reporters should be invited to the recording studio next to the MasterChef kitchen, where they can watch the show unfold and write their reports. After the filming stops, the reporters can speak to the winner and runner-up before returning to their own offices to compile their reports, and still make it to to the deadline for the first edition (which is around 9pm). Separately, Ten should disseminate photos from the finale with a shorter embargo to newspapers (if I remember correctly, last year that some photos came with a note that it must not be published online until 9.30pm local time, not AEST).

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