BBQ Pitmasters
By Anne Louise Bannon,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Cooking competition is guaranteed to make you hungry.
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What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.
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What's the Story?
BBQ PITMASTERS presents the world of competitve BBQ as featured through the experience of seven determined teams (six led by men, and one by a woman). Each team travels thousands of miles to various locations to try and outcook everyone else, with each episode featuring a different competition among the many spread out all over the country. Done as a documentary rather than a carefully planned competition show, the series looks at the trials and triumphs of all the teams -- and presents some pretty tasty-looking grub in the process.
Is It Any Good?
The worst part of watching this show (if you're a carnivore), is staring at all of the delicious dishes prepared by the best cooks in the country, listening to their description of tenderness and marinades and smoke and flavor, and then realizing that you can't taste any of it. Some of the featured cooks/competitors featured come off as less than endearing, but loving to hate them is kind of fun in its own right.
Oddly enough, it almost feels as though the meats are the real stars here anyway, even though the characters are larger than life. Trust us: You don't want to watch this show on an empty stomach ... unless, that is, you're a vegan or vegetarian.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why they think some of the competing teams are interviewed while others aren't. Do you think it's just for time reasons, or could there be some other reason? What makes someone a good subject for a TV show?
How does this show compare to other cooking and/or reality shows you've seen? Which type of show does it have more in common with?
TV Details
- Premiere date: December 3, 2009
- Network: TLC
- Genre: Reality TV
- TV rating: TV-PG
- Last updated: November 4, 2022
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