SMH: MasterChef's CWA cooking challenge 'rigged'

Oh please. The contestants had 2.5 hrs to cook 5 batches of scones in professional-grade outdoor ovens. I guarantee the challenge was tested (probably even on the same day) as this is how these shows are made*. I mean come on, Marion beat a professional chef in an ally off Flinders St a couple of weeks ago.

But listen, every contestant at some stage this season has failed at a basic skills test or two. I’d put cooking scones and lamingtons under the same category. It’s a reality check for some contestants whose tastes are a little epicurean COUGH*ADAM*COUGH or younger contestants like Callum, to see if they’ve ever cooked something as simple as a sponge. And they (mostly) fucked it up! And you know what? The CWA challenge was probably invented during filming because it had become apparent earlier in the season that these guys were under-performing when faced with with the basic stuff.

With all the product placement, non-blind taste tests, unworthy returning contestants, yellow pants, puns and Jonathan - it amazes me what people choose to hate on with this show.

2 million viewers can’t be wrong. Despite the engineering of challenges and results, this is brilliant television for the viewer and advertiser alike. Did you know Vittoria is getting Al Pacino to do an ad spot during Masterchef next week? No foolin’. It may burn out in 2 years, by while it’s here - let us eat (raw in the middle) cake.

*I have a friend who has worked for Survivor who tests the games the morning before the cameras roll. If it sounds like a sweet gig, that’s because it is.