Cake Boss (2009– ) User Reviews (21)

The Way To Your Heart Is Through Your Stomach!

[AlanSKaufman · 8/10 · 2 April 2010]

A Bride, A Boat, and Bamboozled! That's the descriptive title of the very first episode of the TV series Cake Boss, the saga of Carlo's Bake Shop in Hoboken, New Jersey. Witness the assembly of three last minute wedding cakes for a magazine display offering wonderful publicity, and experience an extravagant boat cake for a mysterious birthday person turning out to be the boss himself bamboozled by his staff into designing it at his own expense!

The egotistical yet lovable thirty something boss is Buddy whose pace appears frenetic, but there's a method to his madness. I briefly worked as a caterer's assistant and it was non-stop action keeping up with customers' demands. Buddy reacts swiftly, continuously explaining and demonstrating his thought processes both in preparing goods and in managing his team.

However, the voluminous information and complex proceedings may prove overwhelming, potentially spoiling your delight of the delicious products. I discovered the best way to watch this program is to purchase the DVD and generously use your player's slow motion, freeze frame, and rewind features. By absorbing things at your own stride, you can better view the delicate construction of the cake making process and contemplate the exquisite detail of the beautiful results.

Let your mouth drool at the entirely edible boat cake: the water is made from crystal blue piping gel, and the sculptured bait box, tackle box, cooler, and fisherman are fashioned out of modeling chocolate. Eating a sample gives a new meaning to the expression taking in a work of art!

Most employees are Buddy's relatives and although feuds are frequent, it's all in the family, so he and his actually live with the consequences and mutually repair the damage.

Thus Cake Boss is more than a fabulous food show, it's also a cliff-hanging melodrama. Such a deal - two invaluable gems for the price of one. You'll positively hunger for later installments. Wait 'til you see the fire department drive their engine and truck to the bakery for photographs to more accurately create a fire scene cake where the realistic looking smoke cleverly consists of water vapor. And see how Buddy gets even with the delivery guy who messes up an especially gorgeous cake - don't worry, the fix is accomplished in a good clean fun way, I almost envied the guy, but he learns his lesson!

Bon appetite!

Another good watch now spoiled

[gndoumit-517-816376 · 6/10 · 31 October 2012]

OK I admit...I was a Cake Boss fan....once. I read the other less than stellar reviews and I have to admit they are right. I used to watch this show faithfully. The first couple seasons I sat through the fake drama, the fake acting, the "its all about Buddy" story lines, the whining voice narratives, everybody playing up their "Italian-ness", Buddy and his crew of nubile young female decorators who hover like baby birds with their mouths open for every job Buddy gives them, the young bucks and their passive reactions at Buddy's sometimes demeaning practical jokes and his overall Alpha gorilla chest thumping in the Kitchen. After all, what's not too love about a small Italian bakery run by a big Italian family, right? I'm old enough to remember the good old days...when ethnic neighborhoods were ethnic and authentic neighborhoods. People were hard working humble folk that simply enjoyed being in the neighborhood and in the moment. Now we have star power! Now we have the Italian sisters and their obvious $250 haircut and color jobs..cameo shots of their huge houses...and remarkably all from what is being touted as an unassuming little corner Italian bakery. Yeah....OK. Ah...but now Buddy is thinking..."Lets go to Italy on The Learning Channel's dime so Buddy can wow them in the old country" and "Let's get a warehouse--we're talking assembly line-mass production baby!" The show has taken a tawdry turn to say the least. It's no longer a glimpse into the life of a small Italian Bakery in Hoboken and the colorful family that runs it. Its about people believing in the actual roles they created for themselves and are marketing to an ignorant public starving for the good old days. How people continue to watch the show is way beyond me. Its just sad...

I watch it for easy entertainment but...

[dtdenver-987-925546 · 6/10 · 7 April 2018]

If a bunch of sweaty grunting guys with butt cracks showed up IN THE MIDDLE of my event and took over - I'd be livid. Yes - all the drama is obviously staged but the really fake part is clients letting Buddy show up hours late so he can be center stage.

great show

[erica_freebird · 18 June 2009]

I previously saw Buddy on the Food Networks Challenges, he was on a Disney Cakes Episode. He is a great decorator. This show which is on TLC, is awesome. If you like 'Ace of Cakes' on Food Network, you will like this show. Buddy does mostly wedding and birthday cakes, but they also make all kinds of treats for the bakery downstairs 'Carlos Bakery'. Up stairs is where most of the episodes take place, Buddy decorating, on the phone with people who want cakes, he also likes to yell at his Family - his sisters work downstairs, his brother is law is a baker, etc. He also has the 'confessionals' booth were he talks about the cakes he makes, the people he encounters, his employees, and you also get to see that he is married and has 3 children. Great show ! Recommend it to everyone !!

The Best Reality TV Show Ever (though there's not much competition)

[ikrani · 7/10 · 5 December 2013]

I have seen 20 seconds of Jersey Shore, and it was terrible. I have seen 10 seconds of Here Comes Honey Boo Boo, and it's even worse. In fact, every reality show that I've seen even a glimmer of has left me with nothing but disgust to think that such people find its horrible cast of horrible people as entertaining.

But not Cake Boss. FDA violations aside, this show is justified in its tension and melodrama. Unlike other shows which feature either jobless party-goers or cutthroat contest competitors, Cake Boss delivers a cast of characters that are tolerable and I'd venture to even call likable.

They have a real job, which already puts them above previously mentioned reality show stars, and they have a legitimate reason to be stressed or a bit tense while working: they have a time frame within which to finish whatever overdecorated creation they're creating while still running the store for the walk-in customers.

And when they pull a mean-spirited shenanigan, it's not your foul-mouthed drunken-minded prank, oh no, it is CALCULATED, DIABOLICAL meanness. Best example would be when Buddy ("The Cake Boss") found out that one of his brothers (I think) had a fear of clowns. So what does he do? Why, have a clown come in and help his bro get over his fear with a hug (and a lot of panicking). That was so spectacularly evil that I still remember it to this day.

Is the show good? Eh, it's all right. But the fact that its characters aren't outright despicable towards one another, coupled with the fact that the cakes they make are cool, plus the fact that they usually find some way of delivering them to the wackiest people on the face of the Earth elevates this show above the rest of its competitors in what I consider the worst genre of television to ever exist.

Amazing!

[mohabirstephanie · 10/10 · 15 December 2013]

I was reading a few comments and I know everyone has their own opinion about Buddy but honestly, he seems like a great human being that is successful at everything he wants to accomplish in life. He went from a "small" bakery that succeeded and is still open and run by him and his family to Lackawanna that is also open and doing great. Who wouldn't want that? Plus he has his family with him, helping him and working with him and great employees too that he knows that can succeed in his bakery. It's just great to see stuff like that at time. And most people think of him being childish due to him: pieing people in the face, dumping flour on them & etc; But seriously who says you can have fun while working probably thats why most of his employees are still there working with him; He's not a mean "BOSS". He's knows when it's time to put your game face on and work and he knows when there is time to pull a prank or joke. Also he puts him family first and he loves to make people happy especially his clients when it comes to impressing them with this mind blowing cakes. In the world we live in you don't see most things like that anymore. So you guys should really look at the positive stuff about him instead of always focusing on the negative stuff because their world is full of a lot of negativity and when someone is doing some good even great it should be mentioned.

I think the show is great and everyone who enjoyed baking or even interested in how cakes are made and decorated should watch it. I watch all his Seasons on Netflix and can't wait for the upcoming ones. I love the cakes, most of them are unique but all together all his cakes are beautiful and one of a kind. I never been to his bakery, I'm hoping to go one day but I have had his Va Va Velvet cake where I purchase it at a store that sells his cakes and its out of this world. My husband isn't a fan of cake but when he try the cake he asked for seconds. So great job!

God bless Cake Boss, his family and his employees.

I love the cake designs

[bernardverna · 7/10 · 29 August 2011]

Okay, so I was watching Law and Order: SUV (A must watch show) and then my mother turned the channel to this show. And I have to say, It's not that bad, kind of average. Basically it's about a cake shop, "Carlos cakes," but most importantly its workers. They bicker back and forth during the cake building, but it mostly to liven up the show a little. The cakes are amazing by the way, in one episode they even built a whole bus station (I think it was). There is one major thing I don't like about the show, they show you what the cake will look like at the beginning of the show. That kind of ruins the bang when they finish it at the end. After watching two episodes of it, I could say it's a good show to watch when you're favorites shows aren't on and you're bored.

Has potential, but has fallen to the "fake reality" that has taken over "reality" TV.

[jrohara-2 · 3/10 · 25 October 2009]

I was excited to watch this show as I love Ace of Cakes. The first few minutes were promising, a great Italian family and their delicious looking cakes! After watching two episodes that both had clearly fake reality moments put in ruined the show. In one episode a bride to be pours ugly icing all over the cake when he steps out of the room and in another someone gets painters to paint the kitchen hot pink...fake situations and even worse reactions by the cast. These were only of a few of many unbelievable moments. Why can't we watch this clearly interesting family and talented bakers make cakes...to me that would be much more entertaining!

Cake- Boss

[gwenvdbergh · 8/10 · 19 May 2020]

First fell in love with this Familia during the first season! Who doesn't love Buddy and his family? The cakes they make is fun to watch, and who cares about a bit of family drama, it's the Italian way! Capeech 😊

Can you say "hostile work environment" in Italian?

[irishm · 3/10 · 8 August 2013]

I made it about halfway through Season Two before I bailed. It just got to be too much. The ingredients for the 'cakes' are half hardware-store, half actual food items, and less and less time seems to be spent on their construction in favor of the scripted melodrama of the family. The constant screaming (Buddy, his mother, and sister Mary are the top offenders) was overpowering. Situations like forcing one (overweight male) baker to dress up in a grass skirt and coconut-shell bra and making him appear in the shop that way in front of customers are ridiculous and add nothing to the show. (By the way, Buddy, if I were you I'd make darn sure I didn't annoy Mauro too much; he's the brains and stability of the outfit and you better know it.) A few shows later a different guy drew the short straw and had to serve customers in drag. If they weren't family, they'd probably sue (and win).

I don't mind screaming and swearing on TV... I love 'Kitchen Nightmares'. But Gordon Ramsay is witty and has a considerable amount of intelligence to back up his tornado-like approach to food preparation... Buddy Velasco does not. In the end, I just got sick of his weekly adventure, driving a NASCAR or playing pool with celebrities or... yes... jousting. I don't like Buddy and his off-site adventures bored the heck out of me.

The first time he had water and flour dumped on an employee he was 'punishing' for something, I admit I cracked a smile. By the third time it was a facepalm... THIS again?? You keep saying you're so busy, Buddy... you really got time and money to waste throwing food? Infantile, immature man-child.

If Mauro and Frankie ever take over the bakery, call me... they both have their heads screwed on straight and I think they'd do a better job running the place.

Cake boss review

[maddiebuggie · 10/10 · 26 June 2020]

I loved watching this show. I loved seeing all the beautiful and pretty cakes that was made. The cake design and making of the cake was fun to watch. Some of the designs they show were so creative. I highly recommend everyone watch this. It family friendly.

Cleanliness in the workplace!

[tmcute · 1/10 · 30 November 2011]

Cake Boss was not a good representation for our Board of Health, NO GLOVES AT ANY TIME DURING THE SHOW, AND NO HAIR NETS AT ANY TIME DURING THE SHOW, ALL THE GLITTER, RATHER THAN THE CLEANLINESS! The attire was not one that should be in a bakery kitchen, jewelry, no white coats, gloves as stated above, and hair covered! I was not impressed, and as a reality show not a good representation of what we want to see our bakery kitchens looking like, spotless as well as the bakers.

Has the Board of Health ever visited your site? if so, I am sure the grease in the basement, the attire, and the gloves, hairnets would be suggested or required.

The results may look good, and taste good, but who knows what else we are eating resulting from unclean cooking staff, etc.

nice

[Kirpianuscus · 30 August 2018]

Cakes, family, events, confessions, mates, boys. And cakes. A predictable circle. Not impressive but surrelly nice. For the Italian flavor. Many cakes are far to be masterpieces. But the work, the relations between people, the surprise of the audience of party are good points for a sort of sweet trip in the life and the work of a comfortable cake artist.

repetitive

[kierankearney123 · 1/10 · 23 June 2014]

its all the same they get an order to make a cake they make a the cake incident free and they get into fights then they get another order and you get the drill by now nothing keeps you watching its so boring my daily life is more interesting to watch than cake boss and if they are not making cakes then there watching they are shopping for more ingredient's also where is the party you think they would show you the party but no that would be to interesting and you have to keep the honey BO BO crowd waiting oh and he has three more shows one where he gets people to make cakes and one where he helps business and yes they are just as boring as cake maybe less interesting

I like the cakes but...

[Irishchatter · 4/10 · 21 February 2016]

Who doesn't like seeing the decorations on every cakes that Buddy does? They are colorful, yummy looking and it makes you feel you want to have the exact cakes he does on your birthday! However, i just don't like the fact himself and his family don't really consider Carlos Bakery as a proper bakery. I mean, every food that's in the States is always big, fattening and disgusting so I think the cakes they make would fit onto those categories.

As some reviewer said on here, I was surprised to see that they don't go with the health and safety guidelines when they are handling the cakes. I wonder too if any healthy and safety officer would even go into the place, and see whats wrong with it? They don't appear really to be wearing gloves, head nets or even proper clothing to protect themselves from getting dirty! I know Buddy has a coat but the rest of them only wear aprons and thats really not enough to cover themselves! That is kinda worrying to show this as a television programme on a well known channel and TLC is a big paid company!

The show can be sort of entertaining but its bland at the same time. Thats why I would give it a 4/10 because its not that well loved or not even great at the same time.....

Why.

[skylanderking · 1/10 · 5 April 2021]

Why does this show exist. I would rather watch the Dinner Boss.

Okay show but the main guy should SHUT UP

[ankafi · 4/10 · 7 February 2010]

This show is pretty good, the cakes are very creative and I usually end up wanting one of them at my parties, but CARLO or whatever the main characters' name is should SHUT THE HECK UP. He says "awesome" way too much in his annoying accent and honestly, he is a JERK. he yells at his employees, who, surprisingly, allow him to! this is ridiculous and wrong, considering that they are a lot nicer and less annoying than him. He is just mean and EXTREMELY self-centered. I get annoyed just listening to this guy. I absolutely hate him. But, otherwise, this show is very interesting. The cakes all look delicious, they are pretty and lovely, and much of the show actually shows the making of the cake.

Shut Up

[dimasodbowie · 1/10 · 12 July 2020]

This shows is annoying and the star Buddy is a Stereotypical Guido. I mean that in the worst way. I am also a Italian American. Sopranos + Jesery Shore+ Baking Show = "Cake Boss"

Bottom of the barrel

[MrOvletine · 3 August 2017]

I've seen this 'show' a few times. What do you do when you have hit the absolute bottom in creativity?? You start doing a reality show. Or worse, do a reality show on a guy in a bakery. Cripes.! It's like watching Archie Bunker except he makes cakes. I simply can't get past those thick Italian New York accents. If that isn't a turn off, then all the 'drama' is. Seriously, drama i a bakery? It's like "Oh no! The icing isn't ready." So every goes crazy. Not to mention watching them make these cakes - yuk,, something I would not want to eat. Sorry, this really is terrible television.

9 BLOODY YEARS? 9 BLOODY YEARS?

[ThunderKing6 · 1/10 · 25 August 2020]

I'll say it one more time. 9 bloody years, of this show.

a show about a soprano making cake, delivering cake and boring family interaction.

People cared about this show because they have a cake addiction. Right?

Verdict: I prefer Cheese Cake. This show can be scrapped into the garbage bin.

An annoying chef with a big mouth

[youngkaren-25330 · 6 January 2021]

I used to to love this show this was one of my favorite shows but now it's annoying now buddy valastro and his huge ego ruined the show