Common Sense Media Review
By Ashley Moulton
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Pizza competition show is fun, cheesy, has stereotypes.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Best in Dough
What's the Story?
Each episode of BEST IN DOUGH pits three pizza experts against each other for the title of "Best in Dough." Wells Adams (a former Bachelorette contestant) hosts, and is joined by a rotating cast of guest judge pizza aficionados. The three pizza makers are united by a common identity in each show: like being Midwestern deep dish makers, college students, or Italian nonnas. In the "Out of the Box" mini challenge, contestants create unusual pizzas for the chance to get an advantage. The pizzaiolos then compete in the "Final Dough Down," which determines the winner. The pizzas are judged by the three experts as well as a panel of regular pizza lovers called "the jury." It's a pizza tossup every episode for who will win the "Best in Dough" prize as well as a $10,000 cash prize.
Is It Any Good?
While there's nothing wrong with this show, it falls a smidge flat like a slightly under-yeasted pizza dough. Best in Dough follows the same format as many other half-hour cooking competition shows, with a mini challenge followed by the final prize-determining challenge. On the plus side, the contestants are characters and talk about how different cultural backgrounds influence their pizzas. On the negative side, the host is just OK and the manufactured reality-show drama has a cheese-factor. Best in Dough is a totally fine and fun family-friendly show, but it doesn't offer the same joyful entertainment as other shows in the genre like Is It Cake?, Nailed It, or Baking It. Pizza-loving kids who like cooking shows may still eat it up though (and grown-ups should be prepared to procure a pizza after watching).
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the pizzas they saw in Best in Dough. Did you learn anything about different food culture traditions from any of the featured pizzas?
What is your favorite type of pizza, and why? Did any of the pizzas on the show look tasty or maybe not so tasty to you?
Make a pizza together! Many grocery stores have pre-made crusts or dough. All you need to do is add jarred pizza sauce, cheese, and your favorite toppings.
TV Details
- Premiere date : September 19, 2022
- Cast : Wells Adams
- Network : Hulu
- Genre : Game Shows
- Topics : Cooking
- TV rating :
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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