MasterChef Junior

 
MasterChef Junior is an American cooking competition involving children from the ages of 8–13 that premiered on Fox on September 27, 2013. It is based on the format of the British series "Junior MasterChef".
On March 5, 2014, "MasterChef Junior" was renewed for a third season before production on season two began. The second season premiered on November 4, 2014. The third season premiered on January 6, 2015. The fourth season premiered on November 6, 2015. The fifth season premiered on February 9, 2017. The sixth season premiered on March 2, 2018. On February 13, 2019, it was announced that the seventh season would premiere with a two-episode special on March 12, 2019, with the judges being Gordon Ramsay, Christina Tosi, and Aarón Sanchez.
On July 17, 2019, it was announced that the show would be returning for an eighth season, with Ramsay and Sanchez as returning judges, along with new judge Daphne Oz replacing Tosi. The season, originally slated to premiere in September 2020, was pushed to later in the 2020–21 United States television season, being replaced by "I Can See Your Voice".
Format.
Any child between ages eight and thirteen can apply to become a contestant on the series by applying online or by going to an open casting call. The contestants are announced through a variety of methods over the years, sometimes via competitions, or sometimes the top contestants are simply announced.
As in its parent show "MasterChef", the following challenges have all been regularly featured on the show:
Once the competition is reduced to either the final two or three competitors, the finalists will compete against each other in a three-course cook-off. All courses of the meal are judged and an overall winner is crowned. The winner of each season wins $100,000, the "MasterChef Junior" trophy, and the title of "MasterChef Junior". Some seasons have also added other prizes.
Series overview.
Seasons.
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Development.
Casting.
Like its adult counterpart, at its inception "MasterChef Junior" was judged by Gordon Ramsay, Joe Bastianich and Graham Elliot. Bastianich did not return for the show's fourth season, being replaced by prominent pastry chef Christina Tosi. Elliot did not return for the show's fifth season, and a series of rotating guest judges served for the third judge. For the sixth season, Bastianich returned to his judging position. In the seventh season, Bastianich left again and was replaced by Aarón Sanchez, who was one of the guest judges in season 5 as well as a judge on the adult "MasterChef".
Production.
Fox placed casting calls for participants in January 2013. Fox officially ordered the series (then under the name "Junior MasterChef") on May 10, 2013. The name was later changed to "MasterChef Junior". There were concerns that Ramsay's style of cursing at the contestants on his other competition shows (most notably "Hell's Kitchen" and the adult "MasterChef") would carry over to "MasterChef Junior". It did not. One contestant (named Gavin) said that Ramsay had only cursed twice during the production of the series and never at the contestants. In the final editing, he cursed once in front of (but not at) the contestants.
Season synopsis.
Season 1 (2013).
The first season premiered on September 27, 2013, with chefs Gordon Ramsay, Graham Elliot and Joe Bastianich acting as the judges.
The winner of "MasterChef Junior" season 1 was Alexander Weiss, a thirteen-year-old from New York City.
Semifinalist Troy Glass is now an actor, appearing on "Kids React" and other cooking shows, and making cameos on shows like "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D."
Season 2 (2014).
The second season premiered on November 4, 2014, with chefs Gordon Ramsay, Graham Elliot and Joe Bastianich again acting as the judges.
The winner of "MasterChef Junior" season 2 was Logan Guleff, an eleven-year-old from Memphis, Tennessee.
Season 3 (2015).
The third season premiered on January 6, 2015, with chefs Gordon Ramsay, Graham Elliot and Joe Bastianich once again acting as the judges.
The winner of "MasterChef Junior" season 3 was Nathan Odom, a twelve-year-old from San Diego, California.
Season 4 (2015–16).
The fourth season premiered on November 6, 2015, with chefs Gordon Ramsay, Graham Elliot and Christina Tosi acting as the judges.
The winner of "MasterChef Junior" season 4 was Addison Smith, a nine-year-old from River Forest, Illinois.
Season 5 (2017).
The fifth season premiered on February 9, 2017, with chefs Gordon Ramsay and Christina Tosi acting as the judges, along with numerous guest judges including Julie Bowen and Mayim Bialik.
The winner of "MasterChef Junior" season 5 was Jasmine Stewart, an eleven-year-old from Milton, Georgia. She is the first previously eliminated contestant to win the competition.
Season 6 (2018).
The sixth season premiered on March 2, 2018, with returning chefs Gordon Ramsay and Christina Tosi acting as the judges, along with returning judge Joe Bastianich as the third judge.
The winner of "MasterChef Junior" season 6 was Beni Cwiakala, a nine-year-old from Chicago, Illinois.
Season 7 (2019).
The seventh season premiered on March 12, 2019, with returning chefs Gordon Ramsay and Christina Tosi acting as the judges, along with returning judge Aarón Sanchez as the third judge.
The winner of "MasterChef Junior" season 7 was Che Spiotta, a twelve-year-old from Boiceville, New York.
Television ratings.
Seasonal rankings (based on average total viewers per episode) of "MasterChef Junior" on Fox.