Maya Rudolph was on The Tonight Show remotely to promote Baking It, her baking competition show on Peacock and Hulu with Andy Samberg. She also has a role in her partner PT Anderson’s film, Licorice Pizza, which is getting incredible reviews. I love his movies and am looking forward to seeing that. It’s only out in limited release now but is coming out for wide release on December 25th. There’s no word yet on when it will be available to rent or buy. My favorite part of the interview was when she talked about tasting all of the baked goods on Baking It. I thought that the judges on those shows spit out the stuff they tasted, but I would be like Maya and Andy, I would eat it! Here’s some of what she told Jimmy Fallon, she’s so fun to watch.
Me and my buddy Andy Samberg watching 96 people bake things. We got to spend every day with these four grandmas [the judges] who are very honest. They tell you if your stuff stinks, but they tell you in a really nice loving way.
Amy [Poehler] is responsible for all of it. She said ‘please come do this, it will be a lot of fun.’ She does Making It with her buddy Nick [Offerman]. And she said ‘it’s the most fun job, it’s a joy and you get to be with your friend all day and laugh.’
We didn’t have to eat we’re not even judges. We ate by choice all the things all of the things that they made. I’ve never felt more of a sugar high in my life. I felt crazy.’ I kept saying to Andy ‘I need to reorganize my record collection.’ I felt like I was going to fly out of the studio on sugar. I was high.
[They bake] cakes, pies, it’s about the holidays, people introducing their family traditions, some sweet some savory. I was shocked at how many traditions people have I really need to get it together and make some new family traditions.
Honestly I have a sugar addiction so I think I could tolerate tasting a ton of baked goods without getting all worked up like that. It takes a lot to give me a sugar high, which just goes to show that I need to wean myself off of it. It’s also been enlightening to listen to a non-sugar addict say how it affects them like that! I’ve seen kids get wacky on sugar but it’s been a while since I’ve heard an adult describe it.
I haven’t seen Baking It yet but I love competition shows that aren’t too cutthroat and will check this out. All episodes are out now. My recent favorite competition shows are the Christmas edition of Blown Away, the glass blower competition on Netflix, and Baking Impossible, a baking show on Netflix where they pair a baker with an engineer with challenges like making an edible robot or a working boat. It’s ridiculous, but that’s why it’s fun. The Glow Up, a makeup artist competition show, is also quite good.
Here’s Maya’s interview:
My favorite is the Holiday Baking Championship (which also makes the Spring Baking Championship and the Halloween Baking Championship)
Those judges are honest but nice about it too. I like that in a show.
I LOVE the holiday baking championship and, since I was caught up on it, finally checked out last year’s Spring Baking championship. I also like the kids baking championship as well
I watched on NBC last Friday. It was thoroughly enjoyable and and touching. So lovely.
I watched over the weekend, it was delightful. I also love Making It (even though I’m not at all crafty). They’re just such feel good shows where you end up rooting for everyone.
I like Maya, but I’m getting tired of celebrity hosts on baking and cooking shows. All they do is crack wise and take the attention away from the bakers. Apart from knowing what tastes good and what doesn’t, they aren’t really qualified as judges. I *guess* in that way it’s better because it’s more open to anyone and less elitist, but I still feel that they are spotlight hogs, especially the comedians. Judging by the commercials, all about how many innuendos or flat jokes they can make. It’s more like a bad variety show than anything else.
That said, I like shows that aren’t brutally competitive. Cutthroat Kitchen-style antics are not for me!
I love every performance Maya Randolph ever gave.
Regarding Licorice Pizza: I think Alana Haim and the lead in West Side Story are going to get some major awards buzz and I’m excited to see it.