MasterChef USA
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''MasterChef USA'' is an American competitive cooking show that aired on PBS 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'', '' Mas ...
. The series format was based directly on
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''
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 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, ...
was proclaimed as ''MasterChef 2001''.


Production

Due to the success of the
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...
cooking show ''
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 ...
'', PBS 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
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'', '' Mas ...
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 Homewood, Illinois 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 prop ...
, 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, Californ ...
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
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, ...
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 - Regional Cook-off 1.6 * Lidia Bastianich - 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 - 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 fr ...
- 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 Unive ...
- 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 - Semi-Finals 2.1 *
Susan Feniger Susan Feniger is an American chef, restaurateur, cookbook author, and radio and TV personality. She is known for starring in the cooking show ''Too Hot Tamales'' on the Food Network and opening several influential restaurants in Los Angeles. S ...
- 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 - Semi-Finals 1.2 * Damian Mandola - Regional Cook-off 2.6 * Robin Mattson - MasterChef USA 1 and Grand Finale 1 * Mark Miller - Regional Cook-off 2.9 * Mary Sue Milliken - Regional Cook-off 2.5 * Donna Mills - 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 Abraham Beame. ''The Jerusalem ...
- 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 Be ...
- 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 - MasterChef USA Special 1 and Grand Finale 1 *
Stephan Pyles Stephan Pyles is a chef, cookbook author, philanthropist, and educator. His dishes blend elements of Southern homestyle cooking, Southwestern fare, Mexican food and Tex-Mex food, as well as Cajun cuisine and Creole cookery. Pyles, along with h ...
- Regional Cook-off 1.8 * Thierry Rautureau - Regional Cook-off 1.5 * Suzanne Rogers - 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 sy ...
- Regional Cook-off 1.7 * Piero Selvaggio - Semi-Finals 2.1 *
Suzanne Sena Suzanne Sena (born 1963) is an American television personality, author, and actress. She is a former Fox News anchor and the founder of Sena-Series Media Training. She also played Brooke Alvarez on the comedic TV series, The Onion News Network, i ...
- 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 th ...
- 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 s ...
- 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 a ...
- 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 premiered the similarly titled cooking show ''
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 ...
'' 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, incl ...
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 f ...
, followed the new format of the BBC version.


References


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Masterchef USA PBS original programming USA 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