I usually don’t go in for reality and/or completion shows. I don’t know why, but they just don't click with me. So I generally avoid them.

But, recently my daughter was watching the Chopped Teen Tournament on Food Network so I decided to join her and see what it was all about. I was pleasantly surprised.

Chopped has a blessedly simple concept. It’s a completion between four chefs to prepare timed meal courses using only the ingredients provide at the start of each round. The host, Ted Allen, is a pleasant master of ceremonies. He keeps things moving and the audience informed, while not mugging for the camera or forcing catch phrases into the proceedings.

There isn’t manufactured personality conflict between the contestants or overwrought back stories to fill out the hour. The judges are encouraging but strict, striking a nice balance between ‘we know this is a TV show’ and ‘we take this seriously.’

The teen tournament was just that, the competitors were cooking enthusiasts between 13 and 19. These were young people who loved to cook and were looking for a challenge.

While watching the show, I noticed a number of life lessons that my kids, and many adults, could learn.

  • 4

    What America Really Looks Like

    America is a pluralistic melting pot of people from all over the Earth. It always has been and continues to be. Popular media has traditionally taken a monochromatic view in presenting America to Americans. This Teen Chopped season was a great example of changing that trend. If they did it on purpose, great, if it happened by chance, even better. The contestants came from varied of ethnic backgrounds, but were all presented as the all American kids they are.

    Gender was also nicely presented. The female contestants weren’t called ‘honey’ and told to smile. The male cooks weren’t asked if they get teased for liking to cook. Each person was an individual; the only thing that mattered was talent.

    And it was done without any self-important ‘look at what we did’ smug showcasing by the program.

  • 3

    Positive Competition

    It was so great to see the encouragement of positive competition. All the contestants were there to win. They all did their best, and the show (host, judges, editing) did a wonderful job of highlighting it.

    There weren't any generic reality TV tropes; no bad girl, country boy, or schemer. The completion was taken seriously and the judging was tough but fair.

  • 2

    How to Lose

    The contestants were shown acting like professionals. There were no cut-aways to slamming pots and pans or screaming after losing.

    Of course the losers were disappointed, but they respected the process. The contestants may have expressed disagreement afterwards, but they respected the process.

    The show did a great job of demonstrating that the outcome of one competition is not a referendum on you talent. You accept it, learn from the mistakes and move on.

  • 1

    How To Win

    The winners in each round were happy but, there was no ‘in your face’ celebrating. The competitors hugged or shook hands and moved on to the next challenge.

    They were confident in their abilities, acknowledge each others' strengths and enjoyed competing. The winners knew that they were only as good as the last challenge and that they had to keep up the excellence to do it again.

More From Hot 104.7 - KKLS-FM