Deceptive desserts
Bakers bend reality in new season of ‘Is It Cake?’
Following rave reviews and nonstop attention online, the surreal hit baking competition “Is It Cake?” returns with a fresh batch of episodes, as its third season — affectionately dubbed “Is It Cak3?” — debuts Friday, March 29, on Netflix.
In a preview for the season, host Mikey Day (“Saturday Night Live”) says: “Season 3 is stacked. There will be thrills, spills and mindblowing cakes . ... And finally, I may get the answer to the most important question of our time: Is it cake?”
Viewers should prepare for “bigger cakes, higher stakes and even wilder bakes,” according to Netflix, as “contestants attempt to fool a new lineup of guest judges with hyper-realistic cakes resembling everyday objects” while a massive prize of over $100,000 hangs on the line.
As the competition grows bigger and the desserts more confoundingly spectacular, “Is It Cake?” has expanded to welcome contestants from across both the U.S. and Canada, with this year’s fateful eight consisting of: Kristen Eagles (Woodstock, Ontario); Grace Pak (New York City); Raina Washington (Richmond, Virginia);
Timmy Norman (Johnson City, Tennessee); Jujhar Mann (Surrey, British Columbia); Henderson Gonzalez (Orlando, Florida); Julie Mcallister (Charleston, South Carolina) and Caitlin Taylor (Bowie, Maryland).
Each week, the bakers must utilize their oddly specific skills to create “illusion cakes” within a tight timeframe, given a theme or object they must replicate in the process. Once completed, the cakes are then presented to a panel of celebrity judges, who face a challenge of their own: with 20 seconds on the clock, they must determine which item in a line of nearly-identical objects (ranging from handbags to hats to hamburgers) is actually cake, and which is its “real-deal” counterpart.
The pressure is on for everyone — including Season 3 celebrity guests, such as Lauren Lapkus (“Good Girls”), Oscar Nunez (“The Office”), Danielle Pinnock (“Ghosts”), Lana Condor (“To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before,” 2018) and Chris Kattan (“A Night at the Roxbury,” 1998), among others — as those who fail to trick the panel will face elimination from the game, losing their shot at winning this “dupe dessert” showdown.
From fictional monsters to real-life heroes to creatures of the sea, see what the bakers mimic next in all-new episodes of “Is It Cake?” available to stream Friday, March 29, on Netflix.
Directed by Academy Award nominee Matt Ogens (“Home + Away,” 2018) and Kachi Benson (“Daughters of Chibok,” 2019), the feature-length documentary, “Madu,” makes its streaming debut, Friday, March 29, on Disney+. Detailing one boy’s epic journey to follow his dreams, this once-in-a-lifetime story follows 12-year-old Anthony Madu as he travels from his hometown of Lagos, Nigeria, to a prestigious ballet school in the United Kingdom, where he has been awarded a scholarship for his unbelievable talent. Having never left home before, the young boy faces extraordinary obstacles as he, according to Disney, “searches for belonging and acceptance, a family far away, and unexpected challenges that could impact his future.” First discovered in 2020, the talented young danger was found following the release of a viral clip shared by Madu’s dance teacher, capturing the ballerino’s talent in a short 44 seconds. Having been a dancer since he was only 5 years old, Madu is overflowing with pride and excitement in a trailer for the film, and proves his determination by saying: “People think that it’s not for boys, [but] it’s my dream, and I have to follow it.”a touching tale for audiences of all ages, “Madu” comes from producers Jamie Patricof (“Exhibiting Forgiveness,” 2024), Katie Mcneill (“The Place Beyond the Pines,” 2012) and Rachel Halilej (“High, Hello”) of Hunting Lane Films.
“Life Below Zero: Next Generation” – Season 7
Mark your calendars: all seven episodes from Season 7 of “Life Below Zero: Next Generation” will be available to stream on Disney+ as of Wednesday, March 27.This “Life Below” spin-off, now watched just as fervently as its predecessors, follows as an all-new group of brave, cold-hardy individuals tackle the difficulties of living in the brutal Alaskan wilderness, having traded in their “traditional” lives for a chance at living totally off the grid.this season, fans can expect to see the likes of Johnny Rolfe, Kaleb Rowland, Jessi and Chris Morse, Brittany Rowland and more, as the cameras return to catch up with the land’s rugged residents right as spring begins to thaw the world around them. “As the seasons change, the next generation must adapt in order to survive,” Disney explains, in an episode description for the season’s premiere.throughout the season, the group must race to finish vital tasks, adapting to spring and summer’s unique demands and everchanging weather, only to be thwarted with new challenges once the fall harvest has been collected, and winter draws near, reminding everyone what it’s like to live life below zero.
“Random Rings” – Season 3
Is your refrigerator running? Well, you’d better go catch it! Tee-hees and hardy-har-hars will be aplenty, as Season 3 of Disney’s comedic shorts series, “Random Rings,” hits Disney+ Wednesday, March 27. Featuring beloved characters from Disney cartoons, like Cricket Green (“Big City Greens”) and his family, Dr. Doofenshmirtz (“Phineas and Ferb”), Baymax (“Big Hero 6”), Launchpad (“Ducktales”) and Scratch (“The Ghost and Molly Mcgee”), each 1 - 2 minute segment follows as silliness takes over, and friends use the phone to make ridiculous prank calls.anyone could be on the other end of the call, from fellow cartoon characters to celebrities like Raven-symoné (“That’s So Raven”), Trevor Tordjman (“Zombies,” 2018) and even NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, who is featured in an episode that premiered earlier this year, in tandem with this years “NHL Big City Greens Classic.” Fun, quick and chaotic, Season 3 of “Random Rings” features 6 episodes.