Chopped (Food Network, 2009-Current)
Written by Matt Taylor
There’s something about the controlled chaos of the Chopped kitchen that makes it perfect viewing for a quarantine binge watch. The popular cooking series, which began in 2009 and is currently airing its 44th season on Food Network, has been my go-to show for unwinding after a stressful day since I first stumbled onto it a few years ago. However, I certainly never expected it to be a soothing distraction from a literal pandemic.
That being said, it is a perfect example of a competition series done right: the producers craft compelling narratives around each competitor that makes them either a hero worth rooting for or a villain we love to hate, and then thrust them into an insane cooking series where truly bizarre ingredients must be combined into a compelling meal in an obscenely short amount of time. Longtime viewers know all the dramatic twists that will likely unfold, from a competitor forgetting to put an ingredient on the plate or two chefs fighting for the ice cream machine or deep fryer with little or no time to spare.
And while host Ted Allen is a soothing presence in his own right, the judges each bring a quirky personality to the table (my favorite being Alex Guarnaschelli, who can somehow deliver effusive praise and scathing critiques without ever changing her tone). It’s an intense competition, yes. But sometimes, when there’s nothing but chaos around you, watching true madness unfold on reality television can help you find your center and be calm. Just don’t watch on an empty stomach.
New episodes of Chopped can be found Tuesdays at 9pm EST on Food Network, 44 seasons of the series is available to stream on Hulu and the entire back library can be found on the Food Network app with your cable subscription login.
 and the long-running reality food series Chopped.){kind=link}