''MasterChef USA'' is an American competitive cooking show that aired on

PBS The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) is an American public broadcasting, public broadcaster and Non-commercial activity, non-commercial, Terrestrial television, free-to-air television network based in Arlington, Virginia. PBS is a publicly fu ...

from 2000 to 2001. The series was hosted by

Gary Rhodes Gary Rhodes (22 April 1960 – 26 November 2019) was an English restaurateur and television chef, known for his love of English cuisine and ingredients and for his distinctive spiked hair style. He fronted shows such as ''MasterChef'', ''Mast ...

. The series format was based directly on

BBC's #REDIRECT BBC #REDIRECT BBC #REDIRECT BBC Here i going to introduce about the best teacher of my life b BALAJI sir. He is the precious gift that I got befor 2yrs . How has helped and thought all the concept and made my success in the 10th board ex ...

MasterChef ''MasterChef'' is a competitive cooking show television format created by Franc Roddam, which originated with the UK version in July 1990. The format was revived and updated for the BBC in February 2005 by executive producers Roddam and John ...

'', which used Rhodes as host during 2001. The show had two seasons. The first season premiered on April 1, 2000 with a total of 13 half-hour-long episodes and 1 hour-long special. 27 contestants arose from the auditions held in each region, in which office manager Nancy Vaziri of

Homewood, Illinois Homewood is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 19,463 at the 2020 census. The village sits just a few miles south of Chicago proper. It is bordered by Chicago Heights and Flossmoor to the south, Hazel Crest to ...

won the title of ''MasterChef 2000''. The second season started on April 7, 2001 with a total of 13 half-hour episodes and 1 hour-long special. Similarly, 27 contestants advanced; wherein business owner Geoffrey Hill of

Evanston, Illinois Evanston ( ) is a city, suburb of Chicago. Located in Cook County, Illinois, United States, it is situated on the North Shore along Lake Michigan. Evanston is north of Downtown Chicago, bordered by Chicago to the south, Skokie to the west, Wil ...

was proclaimed as ''MasterChef 2001''.

Production

Due to the success of the

British Broadcasting Corporation #REDIRECT BBC Here i going to introduce about the best teacher of my life b BALAJI sir. He is the precious gift that I got befor 2yrs . How has helped and thought all the concept and made my success in the 10th board exam. ...

cooking show ''

'',

acquired rights to screen and West 175 make an American version of ''MasterChef''. When it came to finding a chef to present the show, executive producer Elizabeth Brock initially wanted British cook

for the job. "He is so alive on camera," points out Brock. "And he also has the unique ability to combine true expertise on cooking with his gift of communicating in an entertaining style."

Summary

During the first 9 weeks, twenty-seven cooks from different regions faced-off in a challenge involving their best original two-course menu which must cost less than $60.00 and cook them in only two and a half hours. Nine contestants will be picked to move on to the next round where they will battle against another set of cooks from another region. From there, three will be picked to compete in the finale, where one of them will grab the coveted title for the next ''MasterChef''.

Season 1

The first season saw 27 cooks battling for a spot in the semi-final round. A set of three cooks competed in the Southwestern, Southeastern, and Northwestern regions while six cooks competed in a two-part challenge in the Midwestern, Western, and Northeastern divisions. On May 27, 2000, the complete setlist of 27 cooks were revealed. In the end, medical practice office manager Nancy Vaziri of

was proclaimed ''MasterChef 2000'', winning herself a trip to

CuisinArt Resort and Spa Aurora Anguilla is a five-star resort hotel in South Hill, Anguilla. Until 2021, it was known as the CuisinArt Resort and Spa. It was founded after Leandro Rizzuto, owner of Conair Corporation and its subsidiary Cuisinart, purchased the propert ...

, a $1000

Williams Sonoma Williams Sonoma is an American retailer of cookware, appliances, and home furnishings. It is owned by Williams-Sonoma, Inc. and was founded by Charles E. (Chuck) Williams in 1956. History In 1947, Chuck Williams settled in Sonoma, California ...

gift certificate, a subscription to the

International Association of Culinary Professionals The International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP) is a United States-based not-for-profit professional association whose members work in culinary education, communication, or the preparation of food and beverage. History The organizati ...

and a short-term editorial for

Bon Appétit ''Bon Appétit'' is a monthly American food and entertaining magazine, that typically contains recipes, entertaining ideas, restaurant recommendations, and wine reviews. Owned by Condé Nast, it is headquartered at the One World Trade Center i ...

Season 2

The second season, like its predecessor, witnessed 27 cooks battling for a spot in the semi-final round. A set of three cooks competed in the Southwestern, Southeastern, and Northwestern regions while six cooks competed in a two-part challenge in the Midwestern, Western, and Northeastern divisions. On June 2, 2001, the complete setlist of 27 cooks were revealed. In the end, small business owner Geoffrey Hill of

was announced ''MasterChef 2001'', claiming prizes that included an all-expense-paid two-week stay at Cuisinarts Caribbean resort, Le Creuset cookware, $1000 Williams-Sonoma gift certificate and other cuisine-related prizes.

Celebrity judges

Every challenge featured a panel of two celebrity judges. Personalities are listed alphabetically: *

Colman Andrews Colman Robert Hardy Andrews (born February 18, 1945) is an American writer and editor and authority on food and wine. In culinary circles, he is best known for his association with ''Saveur'' magazine, which he founded with Dorothy Kalins, Michael ...

- Regional Cook-off 1.6 *

Lidia Bastianich Lidia Giuliana Matticchio Bastianich (; born February 21, 1947) is an Italian-American celebrity chef, television host, author, and restaurateur. Specializing in Italian and Italian-American cuisine, Bastianich has been a regular contributor to ...

- Regional Cook-off 1.3 *

Rick Bayless Rick Bayless (born November 23, 1953) is an American chef and restaurateur who specializes in traditional Mexican cuisine with modern interpretations. He is widely known for his PBS series '' Mexico: One Plate at a Time''. Among his various acc ...

- Semi-Finals 2.2 *

A.J. Benza Alfred Joseph Benza is an American gossip columnist and Television presenter, television host. Early life Benza was born in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, New York City, though he moved with his family to West Islip, New York on Long Island shortly afte ...

- Semi-Finals 2.2 *

Tom Bergeron Thomas Raymond Bergeron (born May 6, 1955) is an American television personality, game show host, comedian and actor, best known for hosting ''Hollywood Squares'' from 1998 to 2004, ''America's Funniest Home Videos'' from 2001 to 2015, and ''Danci ...

- Regional Cook-off 2.7 *

Sissy Biggers Martha "Sissy" Cargill Biggers (born Martha Lyons Cargill on July 3, 1957) is an American television personality and lifestyle expert. She has hosted the Food Network's '' Ready.. Set... Cook!'' and Lifetime's ''Biggers & Summers'' and ''Live f ...

- Semi-Finals 1.1 *

David Brenner David Norris Brenner (February 4, 1936 – March 15, 2014) was an American stand-up comedian, actor and author. The most frequent guest on '' The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson'' in the 1970s and 1980s, Brenner "was a pioneer of obser ...

- Regional Cook-off 2.5 *

Michael Chiarello Michael Chiarello (born January 26, 1962) is an American celebrity chef specializing in Italian-influenced California cuisine. He hosts the cooking show ''Easy Entertaining with Michael Chiarello'' on Food Network and hosts ''NapaStyle'' on Fi ...

- Regional Cook-off 2.8 *

Claudia Cohen Claudia Lynn Cohen (December 16, 1950 – June 15, 2007) was an American gossip columnist, socialite, and television reporter. She is credited with putting the New York Post's Page Six gossip column on the map. The building housing the Univ ...

- Regional Cook-off 1.5 and Semi-Finals 1.2 * Bobby Collins - Regional Cook-off 2.1 * Jerry di Vecchio - Regional Cook-off 2.2 * Tom Douglas - Regional Cook-off 2.2 *

Nathalie Dupree Nathalie Dupree (born December 23, 1939, in New Jersey) is an author, chef, and cooking show host whose work has focused on American Southern cuisine. She was the first woman since Julia Child to host more than one hundred cooking episodes on public ...

- Regional Cook-off 1.6 *

Barbara Fairchild Barbara Fairchild (born November 12, 1950) is an American country and gospel singer, who is best known for her hit 1973 country song " The Teddy Bear Song" and other country hits. Biography Early life and beginnings in Nashville She was born in ...

- Semi-Finals 2.1 * Susan Feniger - Regional Cook-off 2.1 * Benjamin Ford - Regional Cook-off 2.3 *

Skitch Henderson Lyle Russel "Skitch" Henderson (January 27, 1918 – November 1, 2005) was a pianist, conductor, and composer. His nickname "Skitch" came from his ability to "re-sketch" a song in a different key. Bing Crosby suggested that he should use the ...

- Regional Cook-off 1.1 *

Madhur Jaffrey Madhur Jaffrey CBE (née Bahadur; born 13 August 1933) is an Indian-British-American actress, food and travel writer, and television personality. She is recognized for bringing Indian cuisine to the western hemisphere with her debut cookbook, ...

- Regional Cook-off 1.4 * Richard Kaupp - Regional Cook-off 2.7 *

Robin Leach Robin Douglas Leach (29 August 1941 – 24 August 2018) was a British entertainment reporter and writer from London. After beginning his career as a print journalist, first in England and then in the United States, he became best known fo ...

- Regional Cook-off 1.3 *

Sheila Lukins Sheila Lukins (November 18, 1942 – August 30, 2009), was an American cook and food writer. She was most famous as the co-author, with Julee Rosso, of ''The Silver Palate'' series of cookbooks, and ''The New Basics Cookbook'', a very popular set of ...

- Semi-Finals 1.2 * Damian Mandola - Regional Cook-off 2.6 *

Robin Mattson Robin Mattson is an American actress. She is best known for her roles on the daytime soap operas ''General Hospital'', '' Santa Barbara'', and ''All My Children''. Career Daytime television Mattson made her daytime debut as troubled teen Hope B ...

- MasterChef USA 1 and Grand Finale 1 * Mark Miller - Regional Cook-off 2.9 *

Mary Sue Milliken Mary Sue Milliken is an American chef, restaurateur, cookbook author, and radio and TV personality with a focus on Latin cuisine in the United States. Early life and education Milliken is a graduate of Chicago's Washburne Culinary & Hospitality ...

- Regional Cook-off 2.5 *

Donna Mills Donna Mills (born Donna Jean Miller on December 11, 1940) is an American actress. She began her television career in 1966 with a recurring role on ''The Secret Storm'', and in the same year appeared on Broadway in the Woody Allen comedy '' Don ...

- Semi-Finals 2.3 *

Joan Nathan Joan Nathan is an American cookbook author and newspaper journalist. She has produced TV documentaries on the subject of Jewish cuisine. She was a co-founder of New York's Ninth Avenue Food Festival under then-Mayor of New York City, Mayor Abraham ...

- Semi-Finals 1.3 *

Michel Nischan Michel Nischan is a chef and leader in the Food is Medicine movement, as well as a four-time James Beard Foundation Award winner. He is Co-Founder and Chairman of Wholesome Wave, Founder and President of Wholesome Wave, Co-Founder of the James Bear ...

- Regional Cook-off 1.2 *

Bill Nye the Science Guy ''Bill Nye the Science Guy'' is an American science education television program created by Bill Nye, James McKenna, and Erren Gottlieb, with Nye starring as a fictionalized version of himself. It was produced by television station KCTS and McK ...

- Regional Cook-off 2.8 * Carolyn O'Neil - Regional Cook-off 1.4 * Molly O'Neill - Regional Cook-off 1.7 * Mark Peel - Regional Cook-off 2.4 *

Jacques Pépin Jacques Pépin (; born December 18, 1935) is a French chef, author, culinary educator, television personality, and artist. After having been the personal chef of French President Charles de Gaulle, he moved to the US in 1959 and after working ...

- MasterChef USA Special 1 and Grand Finale 1 * Stephan Pyles - Regional Cook-off 1.8 *

Thierry Rautureau Thierry Rautureau, nicknamed "The Chef In The Hat", is a Seattle, Washington celebrity chef and the chef/owner of several former restaurants, including Loulay and Luc. He is now "semi-retired", following his restaurants' difficulties with the COVID ...

- Regional Cook-off 1.5 *

Suzanne Rogers Suzanne Rogers (born Suzanne Cecelia Crumpler; July 9, 1943) is an American actress with film and television credits. Her stage name was inspired by Ginger Rogers, whom she cites as a personal inspiration for joining the entertainment industry. ...

- Regional Cook-off 2.6 *

David Rosengarten David Rosengarten (born January 25, 1950) is an American chef, author and television personality, who hosted or co-hosted more than 2500 television shows on the Food Network from 1994 to 2001. Personal life Rosengarten was born in New York City ...

- Regional Cook-off 1.1 *

Vincent Schiavelli Vincent Andrew Schiavelli (; November 11, 1948 – December 26, 2005) was an American character actor noted for his work on stage, screen, and television. Described as an "instantly recognizable sad-faced actor", he was diagnosed with Marfan s ...

- Regional Cook-off 1.7 *

Piero Selvaggio Piero Selvaggio (born 1 January 1958 in Palermo) is a retired male long-distance runner from Italy. Biography He competed for his native country at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California. He is the twin brother of Antonio Selvaggi ...

- Semi-Finals 2.1 * Suzanne Sena - Regional Cook-off 2.9 *

B. Smith Barbara Elaine Smith (August 24, 1949 – February 22, 2020), professionally known as B. Smith, was an American restaurateur, model, author, businesswoman, and television host. Early life and education Smith was born on August 24, 1949, in t ...

- Grand Finale 2 * Kit Skarstrom - Semi-Finals 1.1 *

Jock Soto Jock Soto (born 1965)Kisselgoff, Anna. "Not Only a Partner, a Dynamic Interpreter", ''The New York Times'', June 18, 2005. p. B7. is a former American ballet dancer and current ballet instructor. Career Jock Soto danced featured roles in over 40 ...

- Regional Cook-off 1.9 * Tanya Wenman Steel - Semi-Finals 1.3 * Laurin Sydney - Regional Cook-off 2.3 * Allyson Thurber - Semi-Finals 2.3 *

Jacques Torres Jacques Torres (born 14 June 1959) is a French pastry chef and chocolatier based in New York. Torres is a member of the International Culinary Center community as Dean of Pastry Arts, as well as holding pastry demonstrations. He appears on the sh ...

- Regional Cook-off 1.9 * Nancy Vaziri - Grand Finale 2 *

George Wallace George Corley Wallace Jr. (August 25, 1919 – September 13, 1998) was an American politician who served as the 45th governor of Alabama for four terms. A member of the Democratic Party, he is best remembered for his staunch segregationist and ...

- Regional Cook-off 1.2 and Regional Cook-off 1.8 *

Jacklyn Zeman Jacklyn Zeman (born March 6, 1953) is an American actress. She is known for her role as Barbara "Bobbie" Spencer on ''General Hospital''. She is sometimes credited as Jackie Zeman. Early life and education Zeman was born in Englewood, New Jersey ...

- Regional Cook-off 2.4

Revival

On July 27, 2010,

Fox Foxes are small to medium-sized, omnivorous mammals belonging to several genera of the family Canidae. They have a flattened skull, upright, triangular ears, a pointed, slightly upturned snout, and a long bushy tail (or ''brush''). Twelve sp ...

premiered the similarly titled cooking show ''

'' among its primetime programs. The show, hosted and judged by British chef

Gordon Ramsay Gordon James Ramsay (; born ) is a British chef, restaurateur, television personality and writer. His restaurant group, Gordon Ramsay Restaurants, was founded in 1997 and has been awarded 17 Michelin stars overall; it currently holds a tot ...

and American restaurateurs

Joe Bastianich Joseph Bastianich (born September 17, 1968) is an American restaurateur, winemaker, author, television personality, and musician. He, along with his mother and business partner Lidia Bastianich, co-owns thirty restaurants in four countries, inclu ...

and

Graham Elliot Graham Elliot Bowles (born January 4, 1977)Vettel, Phi ''Chicago Tribune'' blog, July 29, 2010 is an American chef, restaurateur, and reality television personality. He first gained recognition in the restaurant business as a three-time nominee fo ...

, followed the new format of the BBC version.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Masterchef USA PBS original programming

USA The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...

English-language television shows 2000s American cooking television series 2000 American television series debuts 2001 American television series endings Cooking competitions in the United States