The Early Reviews of ‘D.C. Cupcakes’ Are Not So Sweet
D.C. Cupcakes premiered on Friday while Y&H was busy doing more important things. Like testing my muscle reflexes with a dull pick-ax.
But plenty of others watched the back-to-back episodes on TLC, and the early reviews of the behind-the-scenes series on Georgetown Cupcake aren't pretty:
- WaPo's Hank Stuever wants more, you know, reality from his reality TV: "Ovens simmer and cocoa powder streaks faces, but "D.C. Cupcakes" is marred by the cardinal sin of reality TV: Its subjects are all too aware of the conventions, pantomiming reality in the service of reality."
- Jezebel sees nothing but lies, lies, lies: "D.C. Cupcakes, on the other hand, is the worst kind of TLC reality: every single aspect of this show seems fake and forced, with the exception of the cupcakes themselves, which actually look pretty good, and would probably look better if they weren't surrounded by a pile of LIES."
- Tampa Bay Online wants more blood, less baked goods: "It's a fun show to watch, especially if you're hormonal and craving baked goods. But oh, how I long for the simpler days when there were more "Law & Order" episodes on per week than cake and cupcake shows."
- The Fab Empire wants a few less cue cards: "Although we all know that most reality shows are still based on some sort of script, the sisters, who seem much more interesting than what actually happens inside a bakery, seemed to be actually reading from the script. A friend who watched with me said, “They just seem so out of place inside the kitchen. Do they actually still bake there?”
- The DC Urban Moms and Dads forum wasn't so nurturing: "I can't believe TLC actually thought what they aired was entertaining. I was actually looking forward to watching this because of its local draw, but found myself constantly walking off to do things around the house because I was so bored!"
http://tlc.discovery.com/tv/dc-cupcakes/
1:45 pm
Granted I'm not a part of TLC's target female audience, but I could not have been more bored watching two middle-aged white women continuously saying how "OMG LOOK HOW CUTE YOU GUYZ!!" their cupcakes were.
I'm all about supporting my local businesses, but wow. Zero entertainment factor for an already extremely limited target audience.
7:46 pm
Watching the show right now....and it all feels so generic. so scripted. So CORNY.
The cupcakes look yummy, but I feel like I'm watching a bad M. Night Shyamalan movie.
blaaaaaaah
10:35 pm
The show is totally fake. The St. Jude's Auction/Mardi Gras Charity event was actually held on Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2010, so their "busy Valentine weekend" would have already been over..........
Not watching this one
11:00 am
I just found myself wondering how many times one person could say, "a thousand mini cupcakes" in a half hour.
1:40 pm
This show unwatchable.
10:12 am
I used to own a small video production company and - ignoring the terrible acting, especially by Sophie who always looks as if she's smiling as some inside joke - you can see how they've actually paused these ladies in mid-action to get close up shots or shoot reactions from new angles. I think they should ban the owners from the premises and just let us watch the staff do their thing.
3:02 pm
After watching 10 painfully boring minutes of this show, I found myself asking, "What is TLC thinking?" I couldn't watch an entire episode, let alone tune in again.
1:41 am
This show is horrible, I hope someone makes a "real" reality show about cupcakes instead of this steaming pile of crap. This show reminds me of some cooking shows we had to film in high school except we were kids and weren't on TLC. I am pretty sure our "acting" was better though. Please TLC, pull this garbage from your line-up. No more fake fires or emergency 1000 mini cupcake disasters.
12:56 pm
Nice try, DC, but Baltimore will always be better than you. All hail Ace of Cakes! Ps I really did watch both episodes and tried to like this show but it was just dreadful. Please try something new, TLC.
2:47 pm
I love, love their cupcakes but HATE this show! Not only is it totally scripted (and Sophie can't "act" to save her life) but it leaves me with intense cravings for the cupcake.
11:54 am
I hope TLC cancels the show. Just because business is thriving for Georgetown Cupcakes, does not mean that they deserve their own reality show. They don't have eccentric personalities that the other cake shows have. And I don't know why these amateurs try to take on projects that they can't complete successfully. And it's not even entertaining when they fail. Why not stick to simple cupcakes? It's true the cupcakes are good stuff. I'm a cake person, but these cupcakes are the only ones that I won't feel ashamed eating (well that's because that's the only cupcake shop I know in DC area).
7:42 pm
This show sucks! And nothing against pets, but as for the dog around the "cake dog" y'all just lost a customer. You all should be reported to the city health department!
11:29 pm
The show is first and foremost completely scripted. They are not used to having cameras around and act unnatural. By trying to add drama and comedy into the show, they end up making things look forced. For the health of a lot of people, they need to keep dogs well away from the kitchens and cupcakes. This bakery needs to kick the cameras out and stick to what they do best: making cupcakes.
11:34 pm
Oh, and also, throughout the show I was just ITCHING to smack that 'raised eyebrows and trying to hide a smile' expression off of Sophie's over make-uped face.
2:29 pm
looked foward to watching home town girls. But, it's pretty bad. these women need to not be so aware of the camera and do their thing, it would make a huge improvement!
3:56 pm
Totally agree with others; I did NOT like this show! I love cupcakes and love to make new flavors, so I figured this would be my new favorite show. NOT!!! So boring, so scripted!
7:12 pm
the first five minutes of watching this show it was totally scripted. they act very un natural and should stick to making cupcakes not acting. please cancel this show.
7:20 pm
okkkk sooo SCRIPTED . . . how did that fire start with a GLASS TOP STOVE ?????????? in less than 3 minutes LOL wow .
7:21 pm
I think this is by far the worst show ever. I don't think their bad acting skills (based upon the show, you can tell they are attempting to create drama) is a reflection on the cupcakes...but please spare us all and stick to cooking!
7:24 pm
I hate hate hate this show...So much that I went online to find a website to post a comment about how their acting is HORRIBLE! I hope this show gets canceled and FAST!
12:15 am
F A K E !
12:57 am
Fail! Worst acting ever. I also went online just so I could complain about how fake this is. I agree Sophie is the worst. Didn't mind the other sister as much but she couldn't have been that great seeing that I can't for the life of me remember her name. It actually makes me long for the days of john and Kate's bickering. At least that was unscripted!
1:35 am
I'm so disappointed by TLC. Understandably they need to "keep up" with the ratings of other TV shows on other stations, but to have these two simple women perform a script during there daily grind is belittling to them and more than boring to the viewer. DC Cupcakes stick to baking, at least that your not faking...
1:59 am
Fake
11:59 am
Horribly fake. This is THE WORST "reality" show EVER, this should LITERALLY win an award for the worst show EVER. I'm embarrassed for them it's so bad. The script seems like it was written by a five year old. And "MUMMMY!"""" is not "cute" it's irritating. I'm insulted by this show; they really think we are THAT dumb to think that this is real.
Why do all the DC shows suck? Real word DC, Top Chef, DC cupcakes, let's hope DC housewives can fix this mess.
12:11 pm
Like panda, I looked for a review of this show -I did a web search on Scripted DC Cupcakes Bad Acting. Voila! It is unwatchable and what are those accents? Katherine talks like she has a mouthful of frosting.
12:39 pm
Just from watching the commercials I knew the show was Going to be cheesy, but I couldn't imagine how bad it really ended up being. This show is just too fake, scripted, and rediculous that it doesn't even matter that they are making cupcakes. I mean, the fireman one? How cheesy that theyhad every fireman come down the pole. Really? This show is just the same as every other sweetshop reality show, ifnot worse due to the terrible acting and scripting. I won't be watching this show anymore.
5:52 pm
As a professional cake decorator this show is totally unrealistic with the drama that supposedly goes on. It's entirely too scripted, this show doesn't seem real. And I'm sorry, the "design" is entirely too generic and childish looking for it to be called professional. I feel like I know what people who actually work crime scenes must feel when they watch CSI.
1:36 pm
I usually love these kinds of shows, but the sisters seem to be incompetent with designing and planning for their bigger pieces they do, and it isn't funny or interesting. Their bickering is not cute. It is annoying and extraordinarily unprofessional. And seriously- everyone calling their mother 'Mommy'?? I don't know if a script makes this more annoying, or if they are annoying people to watch. It's like a train wreck for me. They obviously have good cupcakes, and they have lots of people there to help them out- they must be good bosses and they may be very nice people, but this is not a good show, IMO.
2:26 pm
This has to be the dumbest show on television. Fake! Fake! Fake! Andres needs to trim that nasty facial hair and get a hair cut. Dogs in the kitchen? Check Andres!
4:32 pm
"Mommy, mommy, mommy"....Mommy is the only one who shows true emotion, love to watch this show because it's such a train wreck, my family bonds while making fun of it.
4:40 pm
This is such a dumb show! Tell those fake sisters to grow up and stop calling their mom "Mommy."
P.S
Also tell those sisters to take some acting lessons, especially Sophie!!!
10:16 am
Agreed. I can't stand how they talk. Their inflection at the ends of their sentences is a nervous tick. But it pisses me off. Just shut up! They are so dramatic! And I hate that they not only address their mother as "Mommy" but whenever they talk about her they say "Mommy." They'll give anyone a show these days.
10:18 am
They are too articulate. It's not necessary for every single consonant to be so crisp and clear. It's actually very annoying.
11:17 am
Thank goodness I'm not the only one who feels this way. TLC has gone from true (well, true-ish) reality shows to this drivel??? You aren't the Food Network, don't feel you have to compete. Focus on the shows you do best- real life families, not this scripted, fake nonsense.
The sisters can't act and look so uncomfortable having the cameras around. Plus, their staff is so fake and scripted. UGH. And PLEASE, 30-somethings should not be calling their mother "Mommy"!!!! Hearing Andres call her that was the straw that made me finally turn it off.
2:28 am
The sisters sleeping under a table in order to finish an order......doubt it. Their words are soooo scripted and nothing seems real.
1:39 am
I am so shocked. I personally love the show and could not believe that TLC canceled it. I love the small town fell of it and enjoyed watching then make all their different creations. I really hope they bring the show back.
5:01 am
This show is horrible and so are the women. Hope the show will be off soon.
2:27 pm
Yes, they call their mom "Mommie" but you all have failed to comment on the fact that they more annoyingly named
their dog "poochie" and their staff in the first episode had no idea that the dog existed. Such a terrible show!
3:16 pm
This show is absolutely horrible. First of all, I can't believe they are so proud of their bigger projects such as the "dog", the "cupcake" wedding cake. Their workmanship definitely lacks finesse. Not only that, but they are such poor planners. What baker would wait until the NIGHT before to begin preparing a wedding cupcake cake! And what's with the dog in the bakery and all the staff working with hair flying all over the place. After watching this show I would never order a "specialty" cake from them...they are to scatterbrained. Shame on you TLC.
7:02 am
TLC is really reaching on this one - show is awful.
Made it halfway thru 1 show - what an obnoxious bunch -
typical of DC, I guess. All idiots and really pitifully overscripted and acted.
2:36 am
I cannot believe how FAKE this show is and how ANNOYING these "bakers" are. They might own a bakery with delicious cupcakes but they are awful to watch on camera!! Please TLC give us something REAL and ENTERTAINING to watch! Not a couple of women who try to hard to be "cool" on camera! And being THAT ridiculous over a "signature" swirl!? You would think they invented it. And I honestly do not even like the look of it. I think it looks half fast and cheap. Also, their fondant work is awful. As a consumer, I will NEVER EVER eat there!
7:57 pm
Have to agree with most of the comments already posted. This show is disappointing to say the least. And now they're pushing the sale of their cupcakes online at extremely inflated prices. Why? Who the heck can't make a cupcake? No thanks TLC.
9:53 pm
Take this piece of***** off the air and put four wedding back on. No one wants to see this, and we are changing the channel right now. You have lost your faithful friday night viewers who love Say Yes to the Dree and Four Weddings. We are very upset that you would try to shove this terrible show down our throats by putting it on after Say Yes to The Dress.
9:49 pm
I hate this show with a passion. I would like TLC to know that I change the channel every time the commercial or the show comes on. It is absolutely unwatchable - the scripted, fake acting is cringeworthy. Please, please take this awful show off the air for good!
11:01 pm
Thank goodness I'm not the only one who hates this show. It's not even one of those shows that's so bad, it's good. It's just BAD!!! I can't stand the contrived 'I Love Lucy'-type emergencies. And there's no drama - which would be nice, considering it's a TV show. In tonight's episode, the sisters were stopped by the police while they were delivering cupcakes in a rental truck. The one sister said, "I won't give up my freedom for cupcakes." WTH?! Really, that's the best line the writers could come up with? And tell that stupid Sophie to stand up straight! This show is annoying and childish and boring. TLC, take it off, please!
1:13 am
If I have to hear "Mommy" one more time from these "adult" girls I will scream. They act like little girls and not business women. .... Get the mother out of the shop!!!! Their large projects going out the doors are terrbile and don't know the first thing about decorating with frosting and fondant. Maybe they should go on Cupcake Wars and loose, (I'm sure they would). Shop looks cute and cupcakes wonderful in the cases, but my what a couple of dim-wits. The staff and themselves look messy and disheavaled.I wouldn't want that messy group making my food. And whats with the pink puddle boots?? Come on put something on that is more intertaining and "real". Thank you.
10:38 pm
UGH this show is terrible. All they do is fight and they're both so annoying. I watched about 5 minutes of it and I HAD to change the channel.
2:15 am
Sooo bad! I'm glad I am not alone.. I literally fall asleep to this show.
5:28 am
FONDANT ARTIST?! She cut out a dog with the cutter. Then stuck it on a Cupcake. FONDANT ARTIST. BY FAR. Holy Take-these-Kids-out-of-a-bakery, Batman!
7:55 pm
I love this show.
So FFFF you HATERS!!!
1:18 pm
I'm sorry that these "entrepreneurs" are being trashed so badly. But we gotta accept the fact that they are not actors and that the show is terrible boring and cheesy.
10:49 pm
I am watching the much hyped wedding special and realize I am, once
again, wasting my time and intellect. Mommy, mommy, mommy come
the cries - truly disgusting! And if the hype ropes you in because of the
tie-in with Princeton's why embarrass the store by not getting the dress there - were they fishing for a discount. That was not classy! Please get rid of
this show! I can't take it...
10:51 pm
that should be Kleinfeld's!
9:25 pm
I think this show its amazing and I love it.I do not it is forced or corny.they r not supposed to be amazing actors since it is a reality. I think the show should stay the way it is!:):):):):)
9:29 pm
And also this show is far from boring…they r sisters they fight it's not a big deal if u see any other reality shows with sisters they will fight.the cupcakes are amazing I have had them.I love ur show Katherine and Sophie ur amazing.
9:30 pm
Amy and Amy s is the same person
4:36 pm
I agree that this show is terrible! The sisters are brats and so immature. I hate the way that they treat their staff and act so ditsy all of the time. It's all just so annoying!