Rachel
Next Level Chef: “Next Level Chef” is a cooking competition show that I just got into this season. There are three teams headed by chefs Gordon Ramsey, Nyesha Arrington and Richard Blais. The teams are on three different levels: the top level that has all of the best cooking equipment, the middle level which has good equipment but it’s not the quality of the top floor and the basement which has the worst cooking equipment.
The teams move levels depending on their performance in the competition. Meaning whichever team has the chef with the best dish goes to the top floor. Then two members from the opposing teams face off to determine who will be eliminated. The team that keeps their chef goes to the middle, and the team the eliminated chef was on goes to the basement.
The best ingredients often get stolen at the top and the middle and basement are left with whatever ingredients are left. It’s an interesting show because being on the top floor doesn’t necessarily guarantee the team safety if a chef from the lower levels made a better dish.
24 in 24
“24 in 24” is a cooking competition show, where chefs have to cook for the entire 24 hours. Chefs get eliminated during each of the challenges until one is left standing. Chefs will also occasionally receive cash prices during the challenges.
The contestants are occasionally allowed to take short breaks in between challenges. Especially if it’s multiple challenges back to back and they performed so well in the previous challenge that they remain safe. The last chef standing wins $50,000.
The first and previous season’s winner won a Hawaii trip in addition to the $50,000 cash prize.
Tournament of Champions
“Tournament of Champions” is hosted by Guy Fieri. This competition show involves two chefs facing off in each round. Proteins, produce, equipment, style and a fifth category that differs depending on the round of the tournament determine the type of meal the chefs have to make.
The two chefs facing off are judged blindly by guest judges and their scores are determined based on presentation, how they used the randomizer and taste. The chef that scores the highest advances to the next round.
Whoever wins the final round receives a cash prize, a tournament of champions belt and gets their picture displayed with the rest of the champions.
Chopped: Hungry For Love
“Chopped: Hungry For Love” is a limited spin-off series of “Chopped.” Throughout the course of the series various types of couples will compete for a spot in the finale.
The first episode centered around chefs who are dating. The second focused on chefs who were married couples. Third episode focused on exes cooking together. Episode 4 will focus on two people who just met via a blind date, cooking together.
During the finale each of the couples who won their previous episode will compete for the $50,000 grand prize.
Ella
Ransom Canyon
“Ransom Canyon” stars Minka Kelly and Josh Duhamel as they navigate life in Ransom Canyon, Texas. Their small town is filled with new guests, old foes and new loves. There is currently only one season, and it just debuted on Netflix in mid-April.
The show popped up on my TikTok, so I thought I would give it a shot, and I was not one bit disappointed. Sometimes the acting on Netflix shows is subpar, but it was fairly good, with only a few cringey scenes here or there.
Some of the storylines are relatively heavy topics, and others are incredibly wholesome as one follows the story of young love. The mystery aspect is also engaging, and kept me thinking until the final episode. If you like romance mixed with cowboys and mystery, this is definitely a must watch.
New Girl
“New Girl” follows the main female protagonist Jessica Day as she navigates life after moving in with her three male roommates. Jess, Nick, Winston and Schmidt try to figure out life, relationships, careers and everything in between. There are seven seasons, with around 20 episodes per season, and each episode is filled with pure humor.
Jess Day is such an energetic and quirky character, and when you mix her with her roommate Nick’s lax lifestyle, Schmidt’s uptight attitude and Winston’s pranks, it always leads to pure chaos.
While the show maintains a pretty steady level of humor throughout its run, the earlier two to three seasons are by far the best. The characters just mesh together, and there is such chemistry between the actors. I can honestly say that I have never laughed harder while watching a show. “New Girl” can be found on Disney+, Hulu or other streaming services, and everyone should definitely watch at least once.
Now You See Me 2
Released in 2016, “Now You See Me 2” takes place after the events of the first installment in the series, and follows the Four Horsemen (Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Dave Franco, Lizzy Caplan) as they are mixed up in another magic mess with crooked businessmen Walter Mabry (Daniel Radcliffe).
I was hesitant when the movie first came out, because the sequel usually isn’t as great as the first. But the second movie could definitely hang with the first. Lizzy Caplan adds a fun humor to the Horseman’s dynamic, and I audibly laugh every time she appears on screen.
The overall plot to the movie is fast-paced, but also very well thought out. Just when the audience thinks the Horsemen are done for, their plan is revealed and they somehow manage to pull it off.
With the third movie coming out later this year, I would highly recommend catching up on the franchise.
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