The second season of Next Great Baker was televised from November 28, 2011 to January 30, 2012 on TLC. This season was set at the new Carlo's Bake Shop facility at Lackawanna Center in Jersey City, New Jersey.
During this season, the Next Great Baker would win $100,000 cash and a four-page spread in Brides magazine. The winner will also get to work beside Buddy in the bakery, with the winner's first day covered in the episode of Cake Boss following the season finale on January 30, 2012.Per TLC TV listings at zap2it for January 30, 2012; the winner will be featured in the "Touchdowns and Tattoos" episode of Cake Boss following the season finale of Next Great Baker.
Contestants Thirteen contestants competed during this season:
Contestant Age Occupation Hometown 30 Construction worker, part-time baker North Providence, Rhode Island (†) 29 Soldier, United States Army Fayetteville, North Carolina 44 High school math teacher Duncanville, Texas 20 Pastry Chef Los Angeles, California 23 Baker, small-business owner Fort Worth, Texas 31 Stay-at-home mother Knoxville, Tennessee 38 Paramedic Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 24 Cake decorator Pompton Lakes, New Jersey 32 Exotic Dancer Las Vegas, Nevada 43 Retired gang-unit police officer Worcester, Massachusetts 28 Baker, business owner New York, New York 46 Personal chef Cutler Bay, Florida 39 Baker, small-business owner Cedartown, Georgia
Contestant progress Place Contestant Episode 1 Episode 2 Episode 3 Episode 4 Episode 5 Episode 6 Episode 7 Episode 8 Episode 9 Finale Baker'schallengewinner(s) Jasmine MeganNadineRyan Marissa ChadHeather G.Wesley Nadine ChadMarissa Nadine Marissa Ryan Marissa NadineWhile it was an elimination challenge, it also was considered a baker's challenge, and Nadine was first to select her team for the second half of the finale, her "prize" for winning the challenge. 1 Marissa INWINWINLOWLOWWINWIN INHIGHLOW WINNER 2 Nadine IN IN INWINWINLOWLOWLOWHIGHWIN RUNNER-UP 3 Ryan INWINWIN IN INLOWWIN INLOWTHIRD 4 ChadWIN INWIN INWINLOWLOWLOWOUT 5 MeganHIGHLOWLOW IN INWINWINOUT 6 CarmeloWIN INLOW INWINWINLOWOUT 7 Heather G.HIGHLOWWINWIN INWINOUT 8 Heather M.LOWWIN INWINLOWOUT 9 MinervaWINLOWBuddy initially announced that Minerva was eliminated. She objected his decision and, citing her passion and willingness to speak up, Buddy reversed himself and eliminated Tony instead.LOW INAlthough Minerva was on the team with the winning cake, Buddy decided that she had no part in it due to being sent to the hospital for being overworked as well as her poor leadership skills the first day resulting in very little work done. She still advanced forward to the next round simply for being with the winning team.OUT 10 WesleyHIGH IN INOUT 11 JasmineWINWINOUT 12 TonyLOWOUT 13 SaraOUT
(WINNER) This baker won the competition. (RUNNER-UP) This baker was the runner-up of the competition. (THIRD) This baker placed third overall in the competition. (WIN) The baker won individual immunity and the elimination challenge. (WIN) The baker(s) won the challenge. (HIGH) The baker(s) had one of the best cakes for that challenge, but did not win. (IN) The baker(s) advanced to the next week. (LOW) The baker(s) was/were a part of the team who lost, but was not the last to move on. (LOW) The baker(s) had the worst cake of those who advanced, and was/were the last to move on. (OUT) The baker(s) was/were eliminated. (IN) The baker(s) had immunity.
Notes
Episode guide
Production notes Shortly after Wesley Durden was eliminated from the competition, he committed suicide on October 24, 2011.Jacksonville (NC) Daily News: "Reality show viewers shocked to learn contestant died in October"Huffington Post: "'Next Great Baker' Contestant Sgt. Wesley Durden Committed Suicide", December 20, 2011.International Business Times: "Wesley Durden Death: Interesting Facts About ‘Next Great Baker’ Contestant", January 3, 2012.New York Daily News: "‘Next Great Baker’ contestant commits suicide", December 21, 2011. Following the telecast on December 19, 2011, when he was eliminated, the program gave the following on-screen tribute after his box truck sendoff: TLC extends its deepest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Sgt. Wesley Durden, who died October 24. He will be warmly remembered by the cast and crew of "Next Great Baker". TLC opted to delay the announcement of his death until after his elimination was telecast, as the network did not want his death to overshadow the competition.TV Guide Canada: "TLC star commits suicide", December 21, 2011.
At the start of the competition, Heather Grubb was 7.5 months into her pregnancy; because of this, reasonable accommodations were made so that the competition would not affect her pregnancy—such accommodations included wearing non-slip shoes instead of skates in "Bakers On Ice", and refraining from heavy lifting. Shortly before the finale's airdate of January 30, 2012, Heather gave birth to her daughter, which she introduced with her husband on the Finale Pre-Show.
References
General references