“The Great British Bake Off” spin-off seems to be giving American audiences indigestion. That is judging by the millions of people that seem to be switching channel to avoid watching “The Great Holiday Baking Show”. The discerning US viewers seem to be deserting the show rather than finding the desserts to their taste on Mary Berry’s Stateside equivalent.
Lost one million viewers
Since debuting on American Television at the end of November, ABC’s specialist baking programme has suffered the ignominy of losing one million viewers. Originally scheduled to be a four-part trial run, it looks likely to be facing the axe before it has had a real chance at cracking the American market.
Based on a successful British recipe
The efforts to re-create the popular formula that worked so well in the UK seemed impeccable. Everything from the picturesque backdrop of a stately manor with its perfectly coiffured green lawn, to the essential big white tent were put in place. The added element of a nostalgic Christmas theme seemed likely to be a sure fire ratings winner.
Second spin-off failure
The typically British virtue of trying again after an initial failure for once seems to have been the wrong advice though. This is the second attempt to wow the Americans with a ‘Bake Off’ spin-off show, but the BBC’s homegrown ingredients don’t seem to be producing an appetising treat in the current format.
“The American Baking Competition” only pulled in around 5 million viewers in 2013 on CBS and was discontinued.
Mixture of ingredients
Although the original British show (renamed as “The Great British Baking Show” across the pond) seems to have attracted American fans, the ‘Americanised’ equivalent has perhaps crucially attempted to copy it too closely and fallen flat as a result.
True enough they have kept the concept of two excitable hosts - much in the manner of Sue Perkins and Mel Giedroyc – and have six willing contestants performing three ‘bakes’ in each episode.
Yet critics have suggested that the US presenters, Nia Vardalos from “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” and her husband Ian Gomez don’t quite have the same warmth and charm of Mel and Sue.
In an attempt to perhaps be too ‘nice’, the critics’ comments have also been dumbed down as Berry reprises her role alongside Johnny Iuzzini. The net result seems to have lacked the quaint appeal of the original and not what US viewers were hoping for.
Popular BBC programme
By contrast UK observers continue to flock to witness cookery writer Berry and the stylish professional baker Paul Hollywood, as they critique the efforts of the amateur bakers in action on British television. “Bake Off” has rapidly become part of the staple viewing diet on the BBC, making Berry and Hollywood household names in the process.
Since first airing in August 2010, the BAFTA-winning light entertainment show has grown in popularity. Viewing figures outstripped the BBC’s coverage for the 2014 World Cup final and more than 13 million fans tuned in to see Nadiya Jamir Hussain’s victory this year.
