What’s Worth Watching: Good Eats on The Great British Baking Show

The Great British Baking Show, “Patisserie” (Sunday, Feb. 22, 8/7c, PBS)

For five seasons this culinary competition, known in the UK as The Great British Bake Off, has been upending the notion that Brits can’t cook. We’re in the semifinals tonight, with the four remaining bakers trying to dazzle expert judges Mary Berry (who has best possible name for a baking show judge) and Paul Hollywood with their technical skills on those detailed pastries you always see in the windows of fancy dessert places. The pastoral setting—a big white tent in the middle of a beautiful green garden—is a nice contrast to the usual claustrophobic scream chamber kitchens of most American cooking competitions. Hosts Sue Perkins and Mel Giedroyc provide delightfully dry commentary on the proceedings. Our money is on young star Richard making it through to next week’s final.