I too hardly ever watch Challenge for exactly the same reason: the cake challenges just get old. And I've had my fill of Kerry Vincent to last a good long while.

As for Claire hosting it, well. . .maybe they're hoping to up viewership by making a pretty lady the host? She's not so bad in my opinion, her show is not terribly interesting, but she doesn't make me want to smash my TV like other hosts (*ahem* Aaron McCargo Jr.) do. Frankly, I don't see myself watching the show anymore than I did before, less, as you said, they get away from the gods-forsaken cake challenges.

As for this new show Private Chefs of Beverly Hills, they ran a sample episode a few months ago (maybe back in 2009?) and I thought it was totally annoying. The "reality show" format just bugs me, and I wasn't sure who I hated more, the clients or the chefs. They were all annoying as sin. Luckily they placed it on Friday nights, since I don't watch a lot of TV on that day, but my question is. . .isn't the slot they're giving this the Best Thing I Ever Ate time slot?!? I really liked that show! They better give that another (better) time slot! If we lose that show because of this Private Chefs nonsense, I will be seriously peved.

I don't like Claire. Not on her own show, and not on this one. But the new "you're a loser, leave the stage" format is horrible. I would never appear on a show that was going to treat me that way... these people have their own businesses and lives, and they take time to prepare for this show, only to be dismissed by the likes of Claire? Ugh.

I honestly love the cake challenges. Claire's okay. I prefer Keegan as the host. I'm replying to your post because I agree with what you're saying about "you're a loser, leave the stage" format. There's no need to do that. I'm fine with knowing the winner and the second place winner if it's a challenge that has a 2nd place winner. I guess they're hoping it'll bring drama. Someone can start bitching about coming in 3rd or 4th place. Maybe someone can smash a cake on somebody's face for the higher drama factor. *rolls eyes*

Ugh. Private Chef's annoyed the hell out of me when they showed it last summer. What a bunch of whiney, bitchy, entitled, obnoxious, repulsive people and the chef's were almost as bad. And what is this private chef business? To me, a private chef is what they used to call a cook back in the day. You know, a regular job in a private house. What these people were doing I'd call catering. What are they calling housekeepers now? Domestic engineers? Bah!

As for challenge, I am so sick of these reality, contest shows. They are boring, stupid, boring, pointless and -- oh, did I mention? Boring. Who gives a shit about fondant? Who cares if some bitch burns her onions? Boring! The travel channel has better food shows then the food network. What they have to do with travel, I don't know, but at least they're interesting.

i just don't like her. i've tried watching her show. always end up talking to the tv. i would think 5 ingredients is just that 5. i can add premade sauces and keep things under 5.
anyway... i'm in agreement on the cake deal. so, i don't much care if she hosts or not.

Something about her just bothers me, and I can't figure out what it is. It's not even just on her show - it's anything she's in. That sucks, though. I was hoping she was just there for the Spongebob challenge for some strange reason. I'll probably still watch the cake challenges, if it's a theme I'm interested it.

The Beverly Hill show's commercials... ugh. The one blonde girl who stuffs a towel or something in her mouth annoys me. Haven't seen the show yet, but I'll probably skip it.

I don't really care one way or the other. Challenges are like my least favorite, and I rarely watch them. I do, however, have a problem with Keegan Gerhard. He gets on my last nerve. He's always over there with a mic in their faces, "So you've only got 30 minutes left and the left tower of your cake just fell off. What are you going to do?" If I were the contestants, I would say, "Get the hell out of my way! I've got work to do!" He never talks to them when they have like 6.5 hours left. I'd smack him over the head with a marble rolling pin