Everything about Masterchef Canada, eh?

MasterChef Canada raises the bar in Season 2

Michael Bonacini is one of those guys who walks out of a movie sequel and shrugs his shoulders, less than impressed. That didn’t happen at the end of filming Season 2 of MasterChef Canada.

“At the end of Season 2, we all felt that this was an incredible showcase of culinary talent and creativity,” he says. The “we” he’s referring to is, of course, his fellow MasterChef Canada judging partners in crime, Claudio Aprile and Alvin Leung, who return this Sunday night after the Super Bowl wraps up on CTV. (In a late play by the network, MasterChef was called up early to replace Spun Out, which was benched after Dave Foley’s co-star, J.P. Manoux, was charged with voyeurism earlier this week.)

“The three of us would be watching in amazement at what was happening in front of us,” Aprile recalls during filming late last year. “We would say to ourselves, ‘Are the viewers going to believe this?!’ The talent is just phenomenal.”

That talent is showcased early on in Sunday’s return which begins the task of cutting the Top 50 down to a more manageable Top 16 on the way to awarding one home chef the title and $100,000. Sabrina, a 26-year-old office manager from Montreal, skipped her sister’s destination wedding to offer the judges her mushroom ravioli; former CFL Grey Cup champion John grills up a thick steak in a bid to garner a white apron; and 28-year-old Kristal jetted from Gander, Nfld., to deliver her stuffed pork tenderloin to the trio. It doesn’t take long for a few notable finalists to gain attention either. Michael could easily be the villain of Season 2 thanks to his overconfident, cocky attitude while Tammy, a 41-year-old mother of six might be the darling because of her inspiring story of loss and rebirth.

A common theme through Sunday’s instalment are competitors literally putting their lives on hold to compete on MasterChef Canada. Auditioners who quit jobs, held off on advancing their schooling and tales of dreams unfulfilled not only inspired but freaked me out. Quitting a job on the off-chance you might win? That’s bold. And it won’t be easy. Bonacini promises this go-round of episodes boasts tougher, challenges both in-studio and off-site.

“The off-site challenges are huge, outside the degree of difficulty,” he hints. “There are new, creative, big challenges. We had to continue to raise the bar and we did that.”

After all, it is a sequel and it can’t be boring.

MasterChef Canada airs Sunday night immediately following the Super Bowl on CTV. The series resumes its regular Sunday timeslot at 7 p.m. ET beginning Feb. 8.

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CTV unveils MasterChef Canada Season 2 competitors

Masterchef

From a media release:

CTV revealed today the home cook finalists who are set to compete in the second blockbuster season of MASTERCHEF CANADA, airing Sundays at 7 p.m. ET/PTbeginning Feb. 8 on CTV and CTV GO. Chosen from a selection of diverse food-loving applicants from regions across the country, the talented home cooks of all ages and backgrounds are set to experience the pressure cooker of auditions as they prepare a dish for acclaimed judges Michael Bonacini, Alvin Leung, and Claudio Aprile. The selected Season 2 finalists put their heart – and signature dish – on a plate in the hopes of winning the $100,000 cash prize and the chance to be named Canada’s next MasterChef.

The series will also stream on demand on CTV GO, and will encore Fridays at 9 p.m. ET beginning Feb. 13. on M3, Saturdays at 7 p.m. ET/PT beginning Feb. 14 on CTV Two, and Sundays at 5 p.m. ET/PT beginning Feb. 15 on CTV. Viewers can also enjoy the Season 1 cooking all over again, with the full season of MASTERCHEF CANADA available exclusively on CraveTVTM.

The finalists cooking for the MASTERCHEF CANADA title are:

-       Afaf Roubi, a Stay-at-Home Mom from Thornhill, Ont.

-       Andrew Al-Khouri, a Tax Officer from Halifax, N.S.

-       Anh Nguyen, a Business Student from Ottawa, Ont.

-       Ann Wilchynski, an Educational Assistant from Sherwood Park, Alta.

-       Carmen Araiza, an Actress, Writer, and Spanish Dialect Coach from Toronto, Ont.

-       Chris Mask, a Firefighter and Paramedic from Wahnapitae, Ont.

-       Christopher Siu, a Pharmacy Student from Markham, Ont.

-       Clarissa Diokno, an Academic Research Telephone Interviewer from Waterloo, Ont.

-       Cody Karey, a Recording Artist from Vancouver, B.C.

-       David Jorge, a Concrete Contractor from Surrey, B.C.

-       Deanna Brown, a Stay-at-Home Mom from Milestone, Sask.

-       Debbie MacDonald, a Special Needs Teacher from Port Hood, N.S.

-       Debra Pangestu, a Public Relations Officer from Richmond, B.C.

-       Gav Martell, a VP, Product Management from Thornhill, Ont.

-       Georgio Theofilpoulos, a Florist and Travel Agent from Toronto, Ont.

-       Holli Miller, a Bank Teller from Bolton, Ont.

-       Ian Giebelhaus, a Rural Veterinarian from Rimbey, Alta.

-       Inder Kambo, Real Estate Sales from Brampton, Ont.

-       Jennie Kelusky, a Marketing Coordinator and Office Manager from Toronto, Ont.

-       Jennifer Innis, a Dental Hygienist from Vernon, B.C.

-       Jon Hameister-Ries, a Retired Pro Football Player and Financial Advisor from Vancouver, B.C.

-       Kat Wolf, a Film and Music Producer from Montréal, Que.

-       Kenya Hushagen, a Freelance Film and TV Wardrobe Stylist from Edmonton, Alta.

-       Kevin Gregory, an Applications Engineer from Fredericton, N.B.

-       Kristal Rice, a Hospital Administration Clerk from Gander, N.L.

-       Kristen Dwyer, an Early Childhood Educator from Conception Bay South, N.L.

-       Kwasi Douglas, a Community Facilitator from Ajax, Ont.

-       Kyle McKenna, a Bartender from Paradise, N.L.

-       Lauren Scheit, a Stay-at-Home Mom from Leduc, Alta.

-       Line Pelletier, a Canadian Military Veteran and Computer Specialist from Moncton, N.B.

-       Lisa Kacur, a Marketing Coordinator from Mississauga, Ont.

-       Meg Tucker, a Radio Host from Red Deer, Alta.

-       Michael Motamedi, an Entrepreneur from Toronto, Ont.

-       Michelle ‘Mishie’ Gordiev, a Bus Driver from Winnipeg, MB

-       Mina Tasic, a Pharmacist from Toronto, Ont.

-       Mohit Sharma, an Event Manager and Personal Trainer from Whitby, Ont.

-       Natalie Wallace, an Executive Assistant from Toronto, Ont.

-       Nathan Young, Digital Media – Marketing from Toronto, Ont.

-       Nikita Scringer, a Healthcare Sales Consultant from Calgary, Alta.

-       Robert Mitchell, an HR Manager from Toronto, Ont.

-       Sabrina Poirier, an Office Manager from Montréal, Que.

-       Sebastien Champagne, a Graphic Designer from Montréal, Que.

-       Shane Chagpar, an Engineer from Toronto, Ont.

-       Shaunna Leinster, a Holistic Nutritionist from Brampton, Ont.

-       Suzy Cui, a Casino Cashier Supervisor from Windsor, Ont.

-       Taj Chohan, an Accountant from Oakville, Ont.

-       Tammy Wood, a Retail Clerk from Agassiz, B.C.

-       Ted Meisner, a Security Investigator from Ottawa, Ont.

-       Ted Pechey, an Advertising Radio Sales and Volunteer Cooking Instructor from Prince Albert, Sask.

Following the initial rounds of the audition process, the premiere episode (Sunday, Feb. 8 at 7 p.m. ET/PT) finds the home cook finalists entering the most nerve-wracking first phase of the competition as they present their signature dish for tasting by judges Michael Bonacini, Alvin Leung, and Claudio Aprile. Only those with the most impressive plates receive a coveted white apron and have the opportunity to reach the next level of the competition. In the second episode, airing Sunday, Feb. 15 at 7 p.m. ET/PT, the auditions continue, and the remaining home cooks battle it out to make it into the Top 16 of MASTERCHEF CANADA.

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MasterChef Canada, Spun Out and Motive launch CTV’s midseason

master_chef1

From a media release:

CTV is set to deliver TV’s top series week-after-week in the new year, as the network announced its 2015 mid-season schedule today. Kicking off the season is the new, big-buzz, Captain America-inspired, seven-part television event MARVEL’S AGENT CARTER (Jan. 6), which joins a heroic line-up of the fall’s returning ‘super’ hits, including new breakout series GOTHAM and THE FLASH, as well as Top 10 hits ARROW and MARVEL’S AGENTS OF S.H.E.I.L.D.   

The new year also features a delicious trio of some of the best in Canadian reality, comedy, and drama as brand new seasons of three CTV Original Series return: Season 2 of hit culinary competition series MASTERCHEF CANADA (Feb. 8); Season 2 of workplace sitcom SPUN OUT (March 5); and Season 3 of crime drama MOTIVE (March 8). Viewers can also look forward to the return of new Season 3 episodes of the #1 Canadian drama SAVING HOPE, beginning with a special two-hour event Jan. 7. SPUN OUT, MOTIVE, and SAVING HOPE mid-season debuts will also be made available as CraveTVTM First Looks, one day prior to their television broadcast premieres.

Also headlining CTV’s mid-season schedule, and loaded with star power, is new murder-thriller SECRETS AND LIES (March 1)starring Ryan Phillippe (DAMAGES); cyber-crime procedural CSI: CYBER (March 4), starring Emmy® Award winner and Golden Globe® nominee Patricia Arquette (MEDIUM); Oscar® winner John Ridley’s new TV drama AMERICAN CRIME (March 5), starring Oscar nominee and Golden Globe Award winner Felicity Huffman (DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES) and Oscar and Golden Globe Award winner Timothy Hutton (LEVERAGE); and new comedy THE ODD COUPLE (Feb. 19), starring Emmy and Golden Globe nominee Matthew Perry (GO ON).

Also returning to the CTV line-up with new seasons are culinary competition series MASTERCHEF JUNIOR (Jan. 6 on CTV Two), Emmy Award-winning singing competition THE VOICE (Feb. 23 on CTV Two), and the 26th installment of THE AMAZING RACE (Feb. 25).

Following last week’s Golden Globe nominations, THE 72ND ANNUAL GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS (Jan. 11) kicks off a long list of big ticket events on CTV this winter, including SUPER BOWL XLIX (Feb. 1), THE 87TH ANNUAL ACADEMY AWARDS (Feb. 22), and THE 2015 JUNO AWARDS (March 15).

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Tonight: Masterchef Canada Holiday Special

Masterchef Canada: A Holiday Special, CTV
A two-hour instalment of the hit culinary competition, a first for the format internationally. Fan favourite home cooks from MASTERCHEF CANADA Season 1 return to the kitchen, but they’re not cooking alone. Fun-loving Albertan Dora Cote; larger-than-life flavour queen Tammara Behl; loveable Italian dad Pino DiCerbo; and Season 1 runner-up, spicy Trinidadian twin Marida Mohammed, are joined by their family members as they complete a series of festive food challenges – a first in any MASTERCHEF kitchen. Each returning home cook gets feedback from MASTERCHEF CANADA judges Michael Bonacini, Alvin Leung, and Claudio Aprile, with each family cooking to win $10,000 for the charity of their choice.

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MasterChef Canada rings in the holidays

The holiday season is usually spent with family, with gifts being exchanged and a table laden with goodies at the offering in the background. For four former MasterChef Canada contestants, this holiday season featured a return to the kitchen for the franchise’s first-ever MasterChef Canada: A Holiday Special, airing tonight on CTV.

Dora Cote, Pino DiCerbo, Tammara Behl and Season 1 runner-up Marida Mohammed are all back in the kitchen in front of judges Michael Bonacini, Claudio Aprile and Alvin Leung, but this time there’s a twist. Instead of competing as individuals, the fan favourites are helped with members of their own families. And while this is still a culinary competition things aren’t as cutthroat as what viewers saw earlier this year.

“It is a holiday special,” Aprile says. “It’s not a blood sport by any stretch of the imagination. It’s really designed to bring people closer together for the holiday time. It wouldn’t be appropriate if they were going for the jugular.”

master_chef1“The competitive spirit is an amazing thing,” Bonacini counters. “Someone may not say they’re a sore loser, but the competitive edge does come out throughout the group.” Everyone wants to come out on top, and with good reason: the winning family nabs $10,000 to donate to their favourite charity. That alone gets the adrenaline running for the competitors and their squad. Fans of MasterChef Canada will get a kick out of seeing Pino, Marida, Tammara and Dora surrounded by the people who have loved, supported and inspired them to compete in Season 1.

“In some instances we were really able to see where the seeds were planted,” Aprile explains. “It was fascinating to see Pino and his mom … they are really going to embody this need for family. They are close and they work incredibly well together. They finish each other’s sentences. She has incredible skill and you see that in the way that she rolls pasta.”

As for the tests themselves, all are based on the holidays. The four teams are challenged to recreate their picks for key plates to be served during the Christmas season, with a skills competition thrown in for good measure. A cool test utilizing a MasterChef Canada version of “The Twelve Days of Christmas” and a choir serves as a jumping off point to the spectacle. And while the tests were tough, none of them involved making the most controversial food of the festive season.

“Fruitcake was not one of the challenges,” Bonacini admits with a laugh. “But I am going to put that in the hopper for, hopefully, next year.”

MasterChef Canada: A Holiday Special airs Monday at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CTV.

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