GECs
Fox pushes reality TV button further with sports based event
ARIZONA: The reality TV genre has proved a boon for Fox. Over 18 million viewers watched the first episode of Joe Millionaire.. Now the network is looking to make the genre more physical and action oriented in what has been pegged as television’s biggest payday
The Best Western $10 Million Challenge is being pushed as the ultimate sports fantasy. Best Western is a worldwide hotel chain. The event will give ten average Joes the opportunity to each win $1 million, by successfully completing a challenge in one of four sports: baseball, football, basketball, or golf.
The event will take place at the Wells Fargo Arena on the campus of Arizona State University. It will air on 26 July on the Fox Network (4:30 pm, ET; 4:00 pm, PT). The show will be co-hosted by Fox television personalities James Brown and Jillian Barberie and produced by Intersport.
The prize structure is another innovation that the programme will boast of. Prizes will be awarded in varying degrees — for example, a contestant in the basketball challenge could choose a lay-up ($5,000), free-throw ($25,000), an NBA three-point shot ($100,000), or a 35-foot shot ($1,000,000!).
GECs
Vikram and Ajinkya Gandhe win Masterchef India season finale
Chef Sanjeev Kapoor joins judges for emotional MasterChef finale
MUMBAI: The latest season of MasterChef India concluded on a high note, with brothers Vikram Gandhe and Ajinkya Gandhe crowned winners in the grand finale aired on Sony Entertainment Television.
The duo from Nagpur lifted the coveted trophy and donned the show’s signature golden apron after a season that celebrated India’s diverse culinary traditions under the theme “Pride of India”.
This edition of the popular cooking reality show introduced a new jodi format, with 50 pairs from across the country competing in the Masterchef kitchen. Contestants brought personal stories, regional flavours and family bonds to the competition.
The grand finale featured the final three pairs: Vikram and Ajinkya Gandhe (brothers), Saisree and Chanda (mother and daughter), and Anju and Manju (sisters).
The finale was attended by celebrity chef Sanjeev Kapoor, who joined the show’s judging panel comprising Vikas Khanna, Ranveer Brar and Kunal Kapur.
Kapoor said the show has long served as a platform to celebrate India’s rich culinary heritage and provide passionate home cooks with a national stage. He noted that the current season reflected a confident India that takes pride in its roots while embracing new culinary ideas.
Judge Vikas Khanna said the contestants’ journeys and the memories created during the season would remain with the team long after the show’s conclusion. Ranveer Brar described the show as a family that continues to grow with every season, while Kunal Kapur praised the contestants’ creativity and determination.
With the finale now concluded, the latest season of MasterChef India once again highlighted how food can reflect identity, heritage and storytelling, inspiring home cooks across the country to pursue their culinary ambitions.
