Parents' Guide to

Sugar Rush

By Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 10+

Timely twist on baking contest adds strategy to the mix.

TV Netflix Reality TV 2018
Sugar Rush Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

See all
age 10+

Based on 6 parent reviews

Bonnie R.
Bonnie R. Parent of 18-year-old
December 26, 2022
age 2+

Need new female judge!

Candace Nelson is a terrible judge.. She never takes enough of a bite to be able to give feedback. If she is so worried about messing up her lipstick, she needs another show. I stopped watching because it is ridiculous.
VickyMV
VickyMV Adult
December 7, 2020
age 9+

Bit of silly fun, but overall it may be a bit racist...

A fun show, not particularly edgy, mostly friendly, etc. But after having binged a few seasons while doing stuff around the house, I have to say it leaves sort of a racist aftertaste - people of color rarely make it to the last round, and if they do they tend to lose - even in close calls the balance seems to be against them. Out of curiostiy I may try to actually keep a tally - I haven't done that but it is starting to make me uncomfortable, Might be worth pointing that out and having a chat with the kids if you start to notice that too.
See all 6 parent reviews

What's the Story?

SUGAR RUSH is a competition series in which teams race the clock to complete baking challenges for a chance to win a $10,000 prize. Each contest begins with four teams and three hours on each of their respective clocks, which stop when they present their creations for judging. One team is eliminated at the end of each of the first two rounds, and any time remaining on the finalists' clocks gets baked into their new three-hour allotment for the final, winners-take-all round. Hosted by Hunter March, the show features judges Candace Nelson and Adriano Zumbo as well as a new guest judge in each episode.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (6):
Kids say (11):

This fast-paced baking competition distinguishes itself from a smorgasbord of other shows in the genre with a unique twist on the time crunch that really challenges the contestants' strategy. To allow for maximum time in the last round of truly impressive concoctions, many teams race through the first and second rounds of baking, but they risk attention to detail that could lose them the whole thing. On the other hand, eating up too much of the clock in pursuit of perfection can leave them short on time in the last challenge when minutes count the most.

Sugar Rush's mostly congenial competition and the truly impressive cake art can be engrossing to watch, and viewers may pick up a trick or two they can implement in their own kitchen. More generally, the show celebrates creativity and the contestants' ability to think outside the box with regard to this sweet art form. Cooking and baking contest series are generally decent -- and educational -- family fare, and this addition to the mix is no exception.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the teams' strategies for winning the contest. Which challenge is more important to them: the time crunch or the taste test? How would you balance the two elements? Do the contestants' strategies ever backfire?

  • What's the appeal of reality shows like Sugar Rush? Do they inspire or teach viewers in some way? Does this one advertise anything to its audience? How confident can we be in the "reality" of reality TV?

  • Identify some instances of teamwork, determination, and other character strengths in the contestants' actions. Can you learn from them? Is there a purpose to shows that present characters with more negative traits?

TV Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended tv lists

Related Topics

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate