Secret ingredient helps nail it
We live in a world where everyone gets a trophy for participating – no matter how poor their efforts. I’ve been a recipient of such a plaudit, having been given a piecemeal award at the end of my first ever skiing holiday when I was a kid.
My prize? A badge for simply being able to stand up on skis without falling over.
The pinnacle of this cottonwool-reward-everyone philosophy is Netflix’s baking shaming show Nailed It! –andI simply can’t get enough of it.
The series, which takes three amateur US bakers and gives them ludicrous challenges to master, has just dropped a clutch of holiday-themed episodes in time for Christmas.
Fronted by comedian Nicole Byer, whose inability to stifle laughter when the contestants reveal utter disasters reflects how the audience feels, it’s one reality baking show I can get behind.
Maybe it’s the celebration of failure that speaks to us all, maybe it’s the fact it’s never mean, is frequently laugh-outloud funny and is a mirror of how our kitchen attempts turn out.
From making cake pops of the three wise men to one contestant creating a black baby Jesus thanks to over-zealous use of fondant, the 30-minute show is a festive blast.
And the icing on this tasty treat is Byer. Sassy and definitely street-smart, Byer’s quick wit and larger-than-life personality brings out the best in everyone. Especially in these festive episodes where the contestants’ final efforts are more naughty than nice.
From the guest judges to drooling over a ‘‘hot’’ fireman contestant, Byer is the friend you wish you had.
In truth, she’s the secret ingredient to why Nailed It’s public shaming is such a generous and amusing time, rather than a condescending parade of pity awards.
In terms of nailing it, Wellington Paranormal (series 1 on DVD) certainly hit a zeitgeist moment, with its inept coppers now in a nationwide police recruitment ad. The What We Do In The Shadows spin-off greatly benefits from a second viewing.
BlacKKKlansman (Blu Ray, DVD) is a social shaggy dog true story with current political bite. Its jaw-dropping premise about a black man joining the Ku Klux Klan may astound, but Spike Lee’s execution (aside from OTT end) is compelling.