Masterchef USA

(26×30 minutes)

Synopsis:

Over the course of 13 half hour episodes, 27 amateur cooks, selected from regional contests held all over the United States, compete for the honor of being judged “the best amateur cook in the USA.” Each show features three contestants who cook a three course meal that must cost less than $75 and be accomplished in 2 ½ hours. The winners are selected by the series host and two different celebrity judges each program.

Host: Gary Rhodes

Gary is one of Britain’s best-loved chefs. His culinary success includes two Michelin stars – one at the Castle Hotel in Taunton, Somerset; and another at The Greenhouse. His lively and youthful personality has won him a devoted television audience in the United Kingdom for five BBC television series and four cookbooks. American audiences will remember Gary from his appearances in the popular PBS series, Great Food. Gary runs his highly successful new restaurant, city rhodes, just off London’s Fleet Street. In 1999, Bon Appetit magazine named Gary “the most electrifying chef in London.”

Celebrity Judges:

Masterchef USA 2000: Colman Andrews, Lidia Matticchio Bastianich, Sissy Biggers, Claudia Cohen, Nathalie Dupree, Skitch Henderson, Madhur Jaffrey, Robin Leach, Sheila Lukins, Robin Mattson, Joan Nathan, Michel Nischan, Carolyn O’Neil, Molly O’Neill, Jacques Pepin, Stephan Pyles, Thierry Rautureau, David Rosengarten, Vincent Schiavelli, Kit Skarstrom, Jock Soto, Jacques Torres, George Wallace, Tanya Wenman Steel

Masterchef USA 2001: Rick Bayless, A.J. Benza, Tom Bergeron, David Brenner,,Michael Chiarello, Bobby Collins, Jerry Anne di Vecchio, Tom Douglas, Barbara Fairchild, Benjamin Ford, Richard Kaupp, Damian Mandola, Mark Miller, Mary Sue Milliken & Susan Feniger, Donna Mills, Bill Nye the Science Guy, Mark Peel, Suzanne Rogers, Piero Selvaggio, Suzanne Sena, B. Smith, Laurin Sydney, Allyson Thurber, Nancy Vaziri, Jacklyn Zeman

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Episodes:

Masterchef USA 2000 – Season 1 – Episodes Descriptions

Episode 101 Regional Cookoff #1

Contestants from the Southwestern Regional, Kay Dalton, Gary Wall and Richard Winters, prepare their best gourmet recipes against the clock to try and capture the regional title. The celebrity judges are TV Host/Food Writer/Cookbook Author, David Rosengarten, and Founder & Music Director of the New York Pops, Skitch Henderson.

Episode 102 Regional Cookoff #2

Contestants from the Midwestern Regional, Susan Achinapura, Peter Flores, and Nancy Vaziri, prepare their best gourmet recipes against the clock to try and capture the regional title. The celebrity judges are New York’s Heartbeat Restaurant, Chef Michel Nischan, and Comedian, George Wallace.

Episode 103 Regional Cookoff #3

Contestants from the Western Regional, Lynne Champion, Renee Evers, and Richard Kronick, prepare their best gourmet recipes against the clock to try and capture the regional title. The celebrity judges are TV Chef/Cookbook Author/Restaurant Co-Owner, Lidia Bastianich, and TV Host/Cookbook Author/Entertainment Reporter, Robin Leach.

Episode 104 Regional Cookoff #4

Contestants from the Northeastern Regional, Stephen Both, Shanti Jain, and Richard Russell, prepare their best gourmet recipes against the clock to try and capture the regional title. The celebrity judges are TV Chef/Cookbook Author, Madhur Jaffrey, and CNN Food Correspondent, Carolyn O’Neil.

Episode 105 Regional Cookoff #5

Contestants from the Northwestern Regional, Melanie Hartley, Frances Maxwell, and Scott Stevenson, prepare their best gourmet recipes against the clock to try and capture the regional title. The celebrity judges are Chef/Owner of Rover’s Restaurant in Seattle, Thierry Rautureau, and Entertainment Reporter, Claudia Cohen.

Episode 106 Regional Cookoff #6

Contestants from the Southeastern Regional, Kirk Cochran, Nikki Norman, and Jennifer Spencer, prepare their best gourmet recipes against the clock to try and capture the regional title. The celebrity judges are TV Chef/Cookbook Author, Nathalie Dupree, and Editor of Saveur Magazine, Colman Andrews.

Episode 107 Regional Cookoff #7

Contestants from the Western Regional, Michelle Fish, James Morgan, and Lani Meltzer, prepare their best gourmet recipes against the clock to try and capture the regional title. The celebrity judges are Food Writer for the New York Times Sunday Magazine/Cookbook Author, Molly O’Neill and Actor/TV Chef/Cookbook Author, Vincent Schiavelli.

Episode 108 Regional Cookoff #8

Contestants from the Midwestern Regional, Jack Capodice, Bob Hafey, and Erminia, Mack prepare their best gourmet recipes against the clock to try and capture the regional title. The celebrity judges are Restaurant Chef/Cookbook Author/TV Chef, Stephan Pyles, and Comedian, George Wallace.

Episode 109 Regional Cookoff #9

Contestants from the Northeastern Regional, Pietro (Peter) Fragale, Dana Maxey, and Lew Sherwood, prepare their best gourmet recipes against the clock to try and capture the regional title. The celebrity judges are Dean of Pastry Arts at the French Culinary Institute/TV Chef/Cookbook Author, Jacques Torres and Principal Dancer with the New York City Ballet, Jock Soto.

Episode 110 Semi-Final Competition #1

The three winners from the Northwest, West & Northeast Regional Cookoffs compete for this Semi-Final slot. The celebrity Judges are TV Producer/Host, Sissy Biggers and Chef at FiftySeven FiftySeven in New York’s Four Seasons Hotel, Kit Skarstrom.

Episode 111 Semi-Final Competition #2

The three winners from the Midwest & West Regional Cookoffs compete for this Semi-Final slot. The celebrity Judges are Cookbook Author/Owner of the Silver Palate Gourmet Food Shop, Sheila Lukins and Entertainment Reporter, Claudia Cohen.

Episode 112 Semi-Final Competition #3

The three winners from the South, Southeast & Northeast Regional Cookoffs compete for this Semi-Final slot. The celebrity Judges are TV Chef/Cookbook Author/Food Writer, Joan Nathan and Senior Editor of Bon Appétit Magazine, Tanya Wenman Steel.

Episode 113 Grand Finale

The three finalists from semi-final 1, 2 & 3 prepare their best gourmet recipes against the clock to capture the title, MasterChef USA. The celebrity judges are Chef/Cookbook Author/Dean of Special Programs at the French Culinary Institute, Jacques Pepin and TV Star, Robin Mattson.

MasterChef USA Special

One hour prime time special that will announce the winner of “MasterChef USA”. The program will also look back at the excitement and drama of the entire series featuring segments from the Cookoffs, Semi-Final Competitions and the Grand Finale

Episode 201 Midwestern-A Regional Cookoff

Contestants Geoffrey Hill, Norita Solt, and Kaylan Dutta prepare their best gourmet recipes against the clock to try to capture the regional title. The celebrity judges are Comedian, Bobby Collins and Chef Susan Feniger, Border Grill Restaurant, co-host of “Tamales World Tour”.

Episode 202 Northwestern Regional Cookoff

Contestants David Ross, Kathy Urbano, and Joe King prepare their best gourmet recipes against the clock to try to capture the regional title. The celebrity judges are Jerry Anne Divecchio, Senior Editor, Sunset Magazine Chef Tom Douglas, Restaurateur/Author.

Episode 203 Northeastern-B Regional Cookoff

Contestants Tirso Perez, Laura Chavoen, and Cindy Blakeslee prepare their best gourmet recipes against the clock to try to capture the regional title. The celebrity judges are Laurin Sydney, of “Showbiz Today” on CNN and Chef Benjamin Ford, Co-Chef and Owner, Chadwick Restaurant.

Episode 204 Western-A Regional Cookoff

Contestants Marion Stevens, Gail Singer, and Heather Rizzoli prepare their best gourmet recipes against the clock to try to capture the regional title. The celebrity judges are Actress Jacklyn Zeman, of “General Hospital” and Chef Mark Peel, Campanile Restaurant.

Episode 205 Southeastern Regional Cookoff

Contestants Lala Cheema, Kimberly Davis, and Peter Hyzak prepare their best gourmet recipes against the clock to try to capture the regional title. The celebrity judges are Author/Comedian, David Brenner and Chef Mary Sue Milliken, Border Grill Restaurant, co-host of “Tamales World Tour”.

Episode 206 Midwestern-B Regional Cookoff

Contestants Camilla Saulsbury, Robert Whitt, and Janet Moore prepare their best gourmet recipes against the clock to try to capture the regional title. The celebrity judges are Actress Suzanne Rogers of “Days of Our Lives” and Chef Damian Mandola, Carrabbas Italian Grill Restaurants and Co-Host of “Cucina Amore”.

Episode 207 Northeastern-A Regional Cookoff

Contestants Charles Sweeney, Kyung Chang, and Joan Churchill prepare their best gourmet recipes against the clock to try to capture the regional title. The celebrity judges are and Tom Bergeron, host of “Hollywood Squares” and Chef Richard Kaupp, Asia de Cuba Restaurant at the Mondrian Hotel.

Episode 208 Western-B Regional Cookoff

Contestants Baron Long, Josie Aaronson-Gelb, and Martina Thurlow prepare their best gourmet recipes against the clock to try to capture the regional title. The celebrity judges are Bill Nye the Science Guy and Chef Michael Chiarello, Founder of NapaStyle.

Episode 209 Southwestern Regional Cookoff

Contestants Mary Boyd, Herman Liu, and Kristen Ritchie prepare their best gourmet recipes against the clock to try to capture the regional title. The celebrity judges are Suzanne Sena, host of “Celebrity Homes” on E! Entertainment and Chef Mark Miller, Coyote Café.

Episode 210 Semi-Final Competition #1

The three winners from the Southwestern and Midwestern Regional Cookoffs compete for this Semi-Final slot. The celebrity judges are Barbara Fairchild, Editor-in-Chief of Bon Appetit Magazine and Piero Selvaggio, Owner, Piero Selvaggio’s Valentino & Posto Restaurants;

Episode 211 Semi-Final Competition #2

The three winners from the Northeastern and Southeastern Regional Cookoffs compete for this Semi-Final slot. The celebrity judges are A. J. Benza, Host of “Mysteries and Scandals” and Chef Rick Bayless, Host of “Mexico: One Plate at a Time”.

Episode 212 Semi-Final Competition #3

The three winners from the Northwestern and Western Regional Cookoffs compete for this Semi-Final slot. The celebrity judges are Actress Donna Mills and Chef Allyson Thurber, The Lobster Restaurant.

Episode 213 Grand Finale

The three finalists from Semi-Finals 1, 2, and 3 prepare their best gourmet recipes against the clock to capture the title of MasterChef USA. The celebrity judges are B. Smith, Host of “B. Smith with Style”; and Nancy Vaziri, Winner of the MasterChef USA 2000 Title.