If anyone is looking for a feel good reality series to watch over the upcoming holiday season, a la The Great British Baking Show, be on the look out for Making It, a crafting competition from everyone’s favorite Parks & Recreation stars Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman. The show pits a crew of gifted “Makers” against each other in whimsical crafting challenges.
Making It provides all of the fun of a creative-based competition like Project Runway or Top Chef with none of the cutthroat behavior. Viewers won’t find the fights or snide confessionals they might typically expect from reality television; rather they’ll see hardworking people putting their talents on display. The small amount of criticism provided by the judges is always constructive, rather than mean-spirited.
While one contestant is eliminated every week, even that is handled differently than the average competition show. Poehler seems legitimately pained to have to say goodbye, and she goes out of her way to make sure the experience is a positive one of accomplishment rather than an unceremonious sendoff. With hosts like Poehler and Offerman, there’s also a lot of humor on top of the heart. The amount of crafting puns the duo throws out is almost shameless, but it certainly contributes to the silly tone the show succeeds at cultivating.
The first season of Making It aired in the summer of 2018, and the ratings were good enough to make it the most-watched new series of July/August. Especially with the success of the similarly friendly Netflix show The Great British Baking Show, every indication is that viewers want more programming in this vain. Season two premiered on December 2, and will air every consecutive weekday until the finale on December 11. Thankfully, it’s an easily binge-able show, making it an appropriate choice for such a brisk pace.
Speaking of binging, those who missed out on season 1 still have the opportunity to catch up ahead of the new season. Making It is currently available on Hulu, and can also be streamed for free on NBC’s website. Even those who saw it when it aired over a year ago would have fun reliving challenges like creating forts, family heirlooms, sporting-themed snacks, and wedding backdrops. As for the upcoming season, producers have teased that the crafters will tackle tasks like themed sculptures, office makeovers, and even some holiday displays, given the timing of the season. Amongst the 10 contestants are an interior designer, calligrapher, digital artist, muralist, and Etsy shop owner. “I’m so excited for America to see our new crop of crafting champs. Their creativity and pluck make my job feel like I’m being paid to cheer at the Olympics,” said Offerman, who in addition to being a comedian is a noted carpenter in his own right.
Next: The Great British Baking Show: Season 10’s Strongest Contestants Ranked
Making It airs weekdays December 2 through Dec 11 at 10pm EST on NBC.
Source: Deadline
