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Gingerbread Land: The Biggest Little Holiday Competition - Season 1 Episode 1 -
The Competition Begins
The Competition Begins
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😹
FunTranscript
00:00Sugar and Spice, where five teams of master gingerbreaders have come together for a holiday
00:09competition like no other.
00:12We take gingerbread very seriously.
00:16We're up against the best.
00:18I've actually dreamed about gingerbread.
00:20Each team will create an entire gingerbread world piece by piece, every challenge bringing
00:25a new theme.
00:26This is such a feast for the eyes.
00:28I cannot believe it.
00:29This is truly next level.
00:31I'm blown away.
00:33I can't believe that it's made out of food.
00:35And though it may not be a perfect fairy tale.
00:38What, what, what?
00:40What did you do?
00:41You guys put so much pressure on me.
00:44You're insane.
00:45You're insane.
00:46Their gingerbread lands will grow beyond imagination to create a giant miniature world.
00:54Feels like a warm hug.
00:55It feels like what this season means to me.
00:58Until at last one team will claim the $100,000 grand prize.
01:03But let's not get ahead of ourselves.
01:07Let's start at the beginning, where we find our five teams, each bringing a little house
01:14built at home in advance, designed to match their given style.
01:18Look at all the time.
01:19Team Villa.
01:21We're bus stop moms.
01:23And we met Faith at the National Gingerbread House competition.
01:27I won the competition in 2023.
01:30I have also gotten into the top 10 with Heather.
01:33Team Chalet.
01:36Wow.
01:37It's just so much to take in.
01:39I feel like a wonderland.
01:41I've done gingerbread for over 25 years.
01:44And I graduated as an architect in Colombia.
01:47We have precision.
01:49We have creativity.
01:50We have experience.
01:51We are already, like, stacked.
01:54Team Coastal.
01:54I definitely think people are underestimating us.
01:58They probably think we're the old moms.
02:00But they don't know what's coming.
02:03We've gone to competitions together.
02:05Together.
02:05We're an awesome team just because we're good friends.
02:08Team Brownstone.
02:10Joelle is a master pastry chef.
02:13It's the same with Rabiha.
02:14She is an expert in her cookie work.
02:17He moves the best cake sculptor I know I've ever seen.
02:20We're incorporating that the right way into gingerbread.
02:23We're using all techniques in the book.
02:27And Team Mid-Century.
02:30I think we are the team to beat.
02:32For me, I'm the architect.
02:34I do gingerbread creations for celebrities.
02:36I have no doubt we're going to win.
02:38Yeah.
02:39We're winning.
02:40But there's one thing missing from this Christmas tale.
02:43A leading man in a cozy sweater.
02:45Oh, look, that's me, your host.
02:49Oh, happy holidays.
02:50Welcome to Gingerbread Land, the biggest little holiday competition ever.
02:59I'm Oliver Hudson, host.
03:01I love Christmas.
03:03For me, being here is next level.
03:05So for the next four episodes, you're going to be creating your very own gingerbread worlds
03:09from the ground up.
03:10In the end, one team will take home a sweet cash prize of a drumroll.
03:18Drum it, drum it.
03:20$100,000.
03:25It's going to make for a very merry Christmas.
03:27You five teams are the most skilled gingerbreaders from across the country.
03:31So we gave you all a little bit of homework.
03:34Build and bring a gingerbread house, each in a recognizable architectural style.
03:40But what we didn't tell you is that they will all be judged immediately.
03:45The team that made the best house will get a big advantage in the first challenge.
03:50Oh.
03:52Uh-oh.
03:53We didn't know that our first house was going to be judged, so that's just sort of leveled
03:58up the whole competition.
03:59So, who made the best one?
04:02Well, to find out, we will need judges.
04:04Woo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo.
04:06She is a Michelin-awarded restaurateur, a two-time James Beard Award winner, Food and Wine Magazine's
04:11Pastry Chef of the Year.
04:12And he is an award-winning architect and professor known as the Hip-Hop Architect.
04:18Our two permanent judges, Chef Gail Gand and architect Michael Ford.
04:23Wow.
04:26I've always recognized her as, you know, an OG, a legend in the game.
04:30I've been a fan of hers forever.
04:32He fanboyed over her so hard.
04:34So, judges, behind you are five gingerbread houses that our team's built.
04:39What are you looking for in these builds?
04:40I want to see a variety of materials that they're using, but also different techniques.
04:44I want to be able to immediately tell what architectural style you were assigned.
04:48Hopefully, I don't have to guess.
04:50No pressure.
04:52Michael Ford, I know about his work.
04:54This is going to be about precision, scale.
04:58We have that.
04:58Okay, now, judges, you don't know who built what.
05:01You're only going to find out after you judge them.
05:04So, may the sweetest house win.
05:07Oh, geez.
05:07Oh.
05:08Oh, there's time.
05:09All right, so, first up here, we have mid-century modern.
05:13I can tell by the flat roof.
05:15The style of mid-century is actually one of my favorites.
05:19A modern style, it's clean.
05:21In the floor-to-ceiling glass.
05:23Mm-hmm.
05:24I'm seeing some really darling little work here with sugar.
05:27And I do like that I'm seeing gingerbread.
05:30I wish it was a little straighter.
05:32With mid-century and gingerbread, it is actually super challenging because the nature of gingerbread
05:39is that it's really not perfect.
05:40All right, and this one.
05:42So, I'm guessing this is coastal?
05:44Yes.
05:45You can tell by the front porch here, the wood siding.
05:48Most of the homes in coastal will be federal-style homes.
05:52They're usually just an A-frame house, little box.
05:54I mean, simple, simple architecture, covered in usually cedar shake, board and bat, and clapboard
05:59siding.
06:00I'm looking at the royal icing that's on top, which does look like snow, but otherwise didn't
06:05feel very coastal.
06:06It's sort of cabin-y looking.
06:10This is the Mediterranean Villa.
06:11I can tell by the terracotta roof, the archways, the gingerbread facade.
06:16It looks like stucco.
06:17Our style is Mediterranean Villa.
06:19I love the terracotta roof and the color that it can bring.
06:23And then the white landscape and then the vegetation.
06:26Some really nice painting there and this stonework is great.
06:30I'll take that.
06:31And this is the mountain chalet.
06:33So you can tell by the gabled roof, the stone base, the wood facade.
06:39I love chalet architecture because it goes perfect with gingerbread.
06:43The wood, the wood grain, the stonework, rustic, the steep roofs, so they can support the snow.
06:50Nice little sugar work that they've got down here.
06:53Feels like Christmas.
06:54And this is the brownstone, really about verticality, but also the elevated stoop.
07:00This has got these curved windows, which is not easy to do in sugar.
07:06Brownstones, you just think of, say, a three, four-story building.
07:10Arches, wrought iron.
07:12For me, gingerbread and brownstones are a match made in heaven.
07:16You know, it is very festive.
07:17But they're missing, like, the crowning jewel of brownstones, which is the cornice at the top.
07:22It really defines that line.
07:24So, judges, you've reviewed each gingerbread house.
07:27Now it's time to rank them from your least to most favorite.
07:32Fifth place is...
07:35Team Coastal.
07:36I was looking for more clues that it was Coastal.
07:42Maybe a mermaid or some ship references or something.
07:46Fair enough.
07:47Let's get to number four.
07:48Let's get to fourth place.
07:50The mid-century modern.
07:52Mid-century modern is about clean lines, but I think you may have cluttered it up a little
07:57bit with some of the intricate details.
07:59Okay, let's get to third place.
08:03Number three is...
08:06Team Brownstone.
08:09One of the things that it was missing, there's a cornice that's at the top.
08:13But other than that, very nice details.
08:16And then there were two.
08:19We got Team Villa, Team Chalet.
08:22Now, one of you is going to get a big advantage in the next challenge.
08:27So, Gail.
08:29Second place is the Mountain Chalet.
08:32Oh, God.
08:33Oh, my God.
08:35It was very precise, very clean.
08:38You know, as you think about the future house builds, your chimney was above the windows,
08:43which I had no way to actually go down.
08:45So, that's a very small thing, but that will make it soon.
08:48I didn't know that an architect would actually go to that level of detail, so I'm kind of impressed.
08:52So, that means Team Villa, you won!
08:56Look how happy she is.
08:58Yes, good job.
08:59We were jumping up and down.
09:01She was grabbing our hands, like, with a death grip.
09:04This amazing validation.
09:05Exactly.
09:06We've got validation right off the bat.
09:08We are very excited.
09:09Team Villa, you made the best house, which means you are getting the advantage in this next challenge.
09:13But more on that later, which I know I keep saying, I will let you know.
09:17Okay.
09:17All right, teams.
09:18Your gingerbread houses are about to become the first structure in your magical gingerbread land.
09:24So, for the next four episodes, you're going to be competing in challenges and creating your very own gingerbread world.
09:30What starts as one cozy building, one cute block, will grow challenge by challenge into a unique, incredible gingerbread world,
09:40at which point I will shrink myself and my family, and we will live in it.
09:46But this is only if you make it to the end.
09:49That's right.
09:50There will be eliminations.
09:51So, let's get to it.
09:55The first challenge theme is where we gather.
09:59Your build should include a gathering place that reflects the heart of your world, like a town hall or a church, a library, or whatever you choose.
10:08We'll be judging you on creativity and your overall design.
10:12So, that includes originality and your ability to stay true to your architectural style.
10:18These builds need to be clean.
10:19They need to be precise.
10:20So, as you build your world, one piece needs to blend seamlessly into the next.
10:26Everything you need to build your world, all the tools and all the ingredients you want, are right there.
10:32And remember, everything must be edible.
10:36Teams, you will have until the clock strikes 12 to finish.
10:41That means you just have 12 hours for this challenge.
10:44Are you ready?
10:45It doesn't matter.
10:47Go.
10:47Come on.
10:48Let's go.
10:48Go.
10:49Go.
10:49Go.
10:49Let's get into this.
10:50We need a plan.
10:51We need a plan.
10:52Where we gather, what is a place that we could use?
10:55Church, right?
10:56Yeah, okay.
10:57This is definitely the most massive undertaking any of us have...
11:01Ever done.
11:02Ever done.
11:03But if I'm going to show you what a house in the Mediterranean looks like, then why not show
11:08you what an entire town would look like?
11:10So we are building a town block and then we have this beautiful church where they come and
11:16they gather.
11:16All right, let's go.
11:17So our secret to build those structures is we create a construction grade gingerbread dough.
11:24We take out all leaveners to it besides eggs.
11:26We also incorporate honey into it.
11:29So after it bakes, it turns rock hard.
11:32Hot gingerbread coming through.
11:33I like the construction part of it.
11:36I like using power tools.
11:37The judges have already mentioned the stonework on the outside of these arches.
11:42And so we really want to keep up that level of artistry because we are up against some
11:47real talent.
11:47Oh, man.
11:49Okay.
11:49You okay?
11:50Yep.
11:50This is next level gingerbread building.
11:53Yeah.
11:53So people are making their own molds.
11:55They brought some of their own little tools.
11:57Like, there's little table saws over there.
11:59We'll get a little more insight if we go check out some of the bakers, shall we?
12:02Yeah.
12:03Let's take a look.
12:04All right.
12:05Let's go see.
12:06Okay.
12:07Hi.
12:08How's it going, everybody?
12:09It's going.
12:10So what are we thinking here?
12:11So we're definitely going to do some more residential houses.
12:12We're going to put a lot more focus on those sharp details of the exterior.
12:17I feel so heard.
12:18I think it's going to be a lot more successful.
12:20We're inspired by Palm Springs.
12:22Yes.
12:23So we are creating two houses and one town hall where all the people from the homes would
12:28be gathering.
12:29We're going to have a lot of palm trees in our town because it's a staple of Palm Springs.
12:33I think this is a great approach because you're showing mid-century modern in a variety
12:38of ways.
12:39So we really want to take the advice of the judges and keep the clean, sharp lines as much
12:44as possible.
12:45Out of the different styles, mid-century is probably one of the most difficult because it's
12:50very horizontal, very linear.
12:51But that's also what makes it exciting because we have an opportunity to make something that
12:56maybe a lot of people haven't seen before.
12:59I like, smell that.
13:02It smells like Christmas.
13:04The judges did not think that our pre-built was coastal enough to them.
13:08So when we were given Where You Gather, our immediate thought was there's nothing more coastal than a beautiful lighthouse set in a New England community with multiple houses, topography and lighting.
13:19Is that good?
13:20Yes.
13:21The lighthouse, we chose to do the structure out of rice cereal treats and then we can cover
13:27that with dough.
13:28Ready to try it?
13:29Luckily, there are a lot of different edible materials besides gingerbread.
13:34As a team, we are staying true to artistic style with each little tile, each little shake, individually
13:40hand cut.
13:41Awesome!
13:42Even though the other builds are precise and they're so nice and tight and clean, but I don't think that it gives emotion.
13:50That's so pretty.
13:51Hearing that we were fifth ignited us.
13:54Our plan is to still win.
13:56Still win.
13:57How are you guys doing?
13:59So far, so good.
14:00For where we live and gather, we're going to build a town hall and two buildings in a brownstone style.
14:06And then down the street, a giant tree lighting, because you want to kick Christmas celebrations off with a tree lighting.
14:13The batter is going into the paper cup, so edible moss is basically a sponge cake baked in a microwave.
14:20It just takes seconds, it's easy, it gives the realistic texture.
14:25Our judges said that they love the fine details, so that's what we are giving them.
14:30That's how we're going to bring it.
14:31Here you go.
14:33Merry Christmas, guys.
14:35My husband and I were married in this really nice white chapel.
14:39It had a really tall steeple.
14:40Where we gather means our team's special moments.
14:43I said, you know what, I got married in this really cute chapel down by the Mississippi River.
14:49So we're going to make a chapel in these tiny homes that showcase Carolina's architectural style.
14:55And we have this plan for this really nice plaza.
14:58So what I'll get started on is building out our landscape.
15:01You guys can get to building.
15:04So for each of the homes, all the borders of the building are going to be covered in gum paste.
15:10And I'm going to cut it with the texture of a stone.
15:14One of my gingerbread houses got top ten in the nationals.
15:19I love architecture and I'm always looking for perfection.
15:23I think it gives us a competitive edge over the other teams.
15:26Did you study architecture at all?
15:28Yes.
15:29She's an architect.
15:30And then we have Susan.
15:3225 years of gingerbread experience.
15:34Susan is the queen of gingerbread.
15:36Gingerbread.
15:37Do you know anyone else here?
15:38Yes.
15:39Faith and Greer.
15:40And Jennifer.
15:41Let's see.
15:42Wendy.
15:43Wendy and Wendy.
15:44We compete against each other at the nationals.
15:46You guys talk trash.
15:47Yeah.
15:48Yeah.
15:49I think this competition is going to be really difficult because we're up against some crazy
15:55talented people.
15:56It's going to be down to the wire.
15:58Okay.
15:59This challenge is where we gather.
16:02They have to make a place where everyone comes together, where they form community.
16:07They have to create a new corner of their world.
16:09Yeah.
16:10Just quicker this dries, quicker we get coats on.
16:15We want to get as much stuff done on the actual panels of the buildings before we construct
16:22the actual building.
16:23Come on, glue.
16:24Do your job, please.
16:25We want to paint them, and we want to glue things on, because one of the unique techniques
16:31that we are bringing to the competition are our interlocking sides of our buildings.
16:37And they lock together so that the buildings can really stand on their own, and it's going
16:42to help us build faster.
16:44Boom shakalaka.
16:45Hey, guys.
16:46I got to get everyone's attention for a second.
16:49You are in the presence of the current gingerbread national champion.
16:53Yes.
16:54I don't want that to intimidate you at all, but champion.
17:00Champion.
17:01We're the team to beat, right?
17:05You are the team to beat.
17:06Hi.
17:07Hello.
17:08Is this a lighthouse?
17:09Yes.
17:10Nice.
17:11Yes.
17:12That is coastal.
17:13That will help.
17:14All right.
17:15For this lighthouse, we went as tall as possible.
17:18There's a 42-inch height limit, and we are trying to hit it, because that lighthouse is that beacon
17:24of that community.
17:25So we're ready to add the glass feature on the top that will be the light.
17:30Using a mason jar silicone mold, I'll pour clear isomalt into it.
17:36Ta-da.
17:37Yay.
17:38Oh, that'll look good.
17:39I will get to wire this thing and hope that this thing will light up.
17:44We already know what it's like to be in the bottom, and we don't want to be there again,
17:48and I don't want to be the person that caused it.
17:50Don't worry about me.
17:51If I fall off and die, I can go home.
17:52Keep going.
17:53Keep going.
17:54There we are.
17:55And there was light.
17:56Yay!
17:57Sparkling.
17:58Okay, bakers, you're halfway through.
18:01Okay.
18:02Oh, my God.
18:03Oh, my God.
18:04Hey, Team Chalet.
18:08How are you guys doing?
18:09We're working hard.
18:11So what are you thinking about for the facade of your church here?
18:14We're going to have stone, and then the siding over here is very detailed.
18:19The church is really important to me because it's a replica of the church my husband and
18:23I got married in.
18:24I made the steeple out of ginger clay.
18:26I love ginger clay.
18:28Ginger clay is finely ground gingerbread with gum arabic, and it becomes this clay.
18:33You can do a lot with it.
18:35That steeple is really iconic, and I wanted it to do it justice.
18:39I love it.
18:40I have an angle ruler to make sure that our lights are spaced evenly.
18:44We're adding lights to the exterior because we have this plan for this really nice plaza,
18:49and we want to communicate that people gather day and night.
18:53Hey, guys, I'm recovering these lights.
18:55I don't like the way they look.
18:56I want our work to be clean.
18:58That's what we want to be known for.
19:03This is exciting.
19:04Look at that precision.
19:05We spent a lot of time putting the houses together, straightening out edges, and making sure we had crisp, clean lines.
19:12I really want to impress the judges and show them that we are listening to their critiques and we're making adjustments.
19:18All right, you guys, I'm putting the candy in.
19:20There are huge windows.
19:22That's pretty much a staple of mid-century.
19:24To make the windows, I'm taking these candies and placing them into cutouts and baking them because they're going to melt.
19:31The candy that we use has a very warm hue to it.
19:34Mid-mod, how do we do this?
19:36These are our special candy that I pick out.
19:38Cough drops, right?
19:39Yeah.
19:40Yeah.
19:41So basically, if I have a cough, I can just bite into that.
19:43Just lick the glass.
19:44Yeah, I can just lick the glass.
19:46I'll hold this and you pour it.
19:48So, yeah, I am spending endless hours working on the town hall because that is where we gather.
19:54It's a little difficult because the town hall is on such a large scale.
19:58There was a lot of pipe details.
20:01We're using isomalt to glue our walls down.
20:04I made a temper chocolate bell tower.
20:07We're going back and adding cornices and the moldings of the buildings.
20:11Yes.
20:13It is really important for us that the judges know we took their feet back.
20:17Dang.
20:18I should be an architect.
20:20Okay, Bakers, I have an announcement.
20:23Stop working just for a second.
20:25We're going to stop the clock.
20:27But like a snow globe, we're going to shake things up.
20:30Oh, Lord.
20:31Team Villa, you are about to get that advantage that you earned earlier.
20:35Yes.
20:36Oh, my gosh.
20:38What is this going to be?
20:40And how much of an advantage is this other team going to have over the rest of us?
20:45Oh, Lord.
20:51So, as all of you know, the best gingerbread lands should tell a story.
20:56Oh.
20:57I'm like, oh, my God, what next?
20:59Here comes Oliver with this Oliver's twist.
21:03There are five stockings with written story prompts.
21:06So, each is a line that you might find in a magical Christmas tale.
21:10We have a surprise proposal.
21:13Seeing is believing.
21:16The unexpected holiday guest.
21:18Pet who saved the holiday.
21:20And down through the chimney.
21:22Every team must pick one and create a story from it to weave into your build.
21:27We want to push you to make your gingerbread land really come to life.
21:32Team Villa, since you guys finished first, you are going to get the advantage of picking the first story prompt.
21:38Come on down.
21:39I think we were feeling pretty good, but we were hoping we were going to have extra time.
21:43I know which one I would want.
21:44We really need the chimney prompt.
21:47And I'm just hoping that we get the opportunity to get the one that we want.
21:51What are we thinking here?
21:53We think we want to take the one we think is the most fun.
21:56Pet who saved the holiday.
21:57Okay.
21:58Oh, I wanted that.
21:59Let's hope that advantage works out for you guys.
22:01All right.
22:02Team Chalet.
22:03You finished second, so you get to pick next.
22:05So, luckily, we get to pick the one that we want.
22:09It would be perfect for the chimney.
22:10All right.
22:11Yeah.
22:12Down through the chimney is gone.
22:13Team Brownstone.
22:14Seeing is believing.
22:15All right.
22:16Good job, guys.
22:17Seeing is believing is off the table.
22:19Let's bring up Team Mid-Century.
22:21At least you have a choice.
22:22But we're going to end up with whatever we end up with.
22:24Right.
22:25So, we have to make the story work.
22:26Right.
22:27I think we should do the unexpected guests.
22:28Okay, great.
22:29Cool.
22:30Unexpected guests is off the board.
22:31All right.
22:32Thank you, guys.
22:33Coastal, come on up.
22:34There's only a surprise proposal left.
22:38Good luck, guys.
22:39All right, Ginger Better, so the plot has thickened.
22:42So, with the addition of this new story, consider how the story is told, but also where it's
22:48told.
22:49Do you want to see precision in your craftsmanship?
22:52Your time starts now.
22:54Go.
22:55Okay, guys.
22:56All right, guys.
22:57Shout it out.
22:58And now there's a twist.
22:59More work.
23:00We'll have a couple down on one knee.
23:03He's asked her to marry him.
23:04My husband proposed to me by tying the diamond ring around a puppy's neck.
23:09This will add so much cuteness.
23:11I will use clay.
23:12We'll roll it, sculpt it, let it dry, and then we will go back in and hand paint all the details.
23:16And we're going to have them in front of the lighthouse.
23:19Even though we chose last, it actually worked out for us.
23:22He's so cute.
23:23The prompt does say holiday guest.
23:28We decided on glamorous Mrs. Claus, who's vacationing in Palm Springs.
23:33Yes.
23:34She's maybe the only guest.
23:35She was a special guest at a holiday party happening at the community center.
23:39Feeling a little overwhelmed.
23:40We were a little pressed for time.
23:42Yeah.
23:43You have to do ground cover.
23:44You have to do buildings, windows, details.
23:47And then adding people in too.
23:50It's just going by so much faster than I could have expected.
23:53I just feel like we need more holiday decor.
23:56Yep.
23:57Can we just add animals?
24:00Animals.
24:01So they're going to celebrate the holidays together.
24:04That is seeing is believing.
24:06Okay.
24:07Our story is animals and people started to live in harmony.
24:12We made a town hall that has a tree right in front where the community with the animals
24:17are going to go watch the tree lighting.
24:19I'm making all the animals out of modeling chocolate and I'm going to hand sculpt them.
24:24Oh, a zoo going on here.
24:26Look at that.
24:28Animals are so hard to make.
24:29They are hard to make.
24:31I'm working next to Hemu.
24:33I start sweating.
24:35I was like very intimidating by her work.
24:38Like I wish her the best, but I have to be her.
24:41All right, I'm going to stick the bag in the chimney.
24:44For our story prompt, we decided to create a reindeer retrieving Santa's gift bag that
24:49he left behind.
24:50I'm going to make a reindeer out of modeling chocolate.
24:53One antler, two antlers.
24:56For antlers, I'm going to use grape stems.
24:58The judges already gave us feedback saying that our chimney was like inaccurately located,
25:03so we changed it.
25:04And then us having the reindeer up there hopefully will draw their attention to the fact that we
25:09took their notes.
25:10So cute.
25:11Say the cat is over here on the ledge, like snags the ornament with his ball of yarn too.
25:18The story prompt ended up being this cat would save the holiday.
25:23And so on the top of this tree there was this star and the star fell off of the side of the
25:29portico.
25:30And the cat inadvertently saved the day with his ball of yarn.
25:33It is making our piece come alive a little bit more.
25:36It's really cute.
25:37I like it.
25:38I don't know how much time is left.
25:40We got one hour.
25:41One hour?
25:42We have one hour left.
25:43Oh my gosh.
25:44You can do it, don't worry.
25:45One hour?
25:46Oh crap.
25:47And the doors are now open.
25:52And when that clock strikes midnight, your gingerbread lands must be in the judging gallery.
25:57Wonderful.
25:58Going to slather some of the royal icing on top.
26:03Stay calm.
26:04Our main town centerpiece is a church.
26:07And we're still working on getting everything to look the way we want to.
26:11We need you on the roof for the church.
26:13We have been praised on our terracotta piles.
26:17That was our plan for the church roof.
26:19Had we had more time, I suggested that we just paint it the deep dark chocolate.
26:24We don't have like a texture on it.
26:26We're not going to have time to figure that out.
26:28I am trying not to psych myself out too much by seeing what everybody else is doing.
26:34It's a lot of pressure to keep up that level of artistry and consistency.
26:37It's hard work, this gingerbread stuff.
26:41Bakers, you only have 20 minutes left.
26:44Wait, wait, wait.
26:45Move.
26:46Please.
26:47We need to be so specific with brownstone style.
26:49So the buildings face each other like a New York street.
26:53Let me pipe some details.
26:55You know, way behind, which is not good.
26:57We didn't have the palm trees into the center of the community center.
27:01We've had to cut out a lot.
27:02I need to go to put the people here.
27:04We decided to go with these white figurines that is made out of fondant around the village
27:09because that's what we do in architecture to give the scale.
27:13Nice.
27:14You have four minutes to get your builds into the judge's room.
27:19Let me just get in there with some dark brown.
27:21I think the things we're most concerned about are the church roof.
27:25It does have a little bit of a different look than the houses.
27:28Gingerbread walking.
27:29Above the door, up and up.
27:32There is this mad dash to make sure that everything is on the board.
27:35We don't want to be on the end again.
27:36Watch the door top.
27:37We got it.
27:38Cleared it.
27:39Yay.
27:40Clear, we're clear.
27:41Okay, let's start wheeling.
27:42Just bring it in the room.
27:43Bring it in the room.
27:44I'm struggling a little.
27:45Wow, Joelle is rolling in.
27:47Hemu is piping.
27:48I'm throwing the snow on.
27:50Go on.
27:51We made it happen.
27:52Wow.
27:53One minute and 43 seconds.
27:55What are you doing?
27:56It's gonna be salty.
27:57Can you just glue this, please?
27:59It's like a race to the finish.
28:01We need to stay calm.
28:02This is not the time to self implode.
28:04Like this is not the time.
28:05Things are getting intense and we're all like trying to take a critical eye to this to clean stuff up.
28:10We need to go.
28:11Beep beep.
28:12Clear the way, everybody.
28:13Five, four, three, two, one.
28:19Time is up!
28:25God, amazing, amazing.
28:27I'm definitely feeling nervous.
28:29We are lacking a lot of detail.
28:32Palm trees, Christmas trees.
28:34I really hope this is enough for us to stay in.
28:36Oh, it's a holiday party.
28:38I am immensely proud of what we were able to accomplish in that 12 hours of time.
28:44I think we are very proud of what we've done.
28:46But you can't help but look at everybody else's and think, have I done enough?
28:55You guys ready?
28:56Yes.
28:57Yes.
28:58It is time to meet our very special guest judge.
29:01Oh, dang.
29:02He's an iconic stylist.
29:05And every time he creates a look for one of his A-list clients, he brings a sharp eye for visual composition and color theory.
29:13Please welcome Brad Garest.
29:15I recognize Brad from his journey as a stylist.
29:22He's such a sharp dresser.
29:24I'm like, this man has very good taste.
29:26What are you looking for approaching these builds and actually judging them?
29:30You know, I think I'm looking for the same thing I look for in styling.
29:34I want to see creativity, precision, detail, all of those things that finesse a beautiful red carpet look.
29:41I'm hoping to see in your beautiful creations as well.
29:44So you arrived with these incredible gingerbread houses that you built.
29:47And then we challenged you to expand that into a full world under the theme where we gather.
29:53You're going to be judged on creativity, design, execution, and of course, storytelling.
30:00Okay, Team Coastal, step on up to your build.
30:04We made a coastal village.
30:07So we gather at a lighthouse.
30:10And of course, you have to have a light in the lighthouse to bring everyone to our coastal community.
30:16This particular home, this is the traditional cedar shake home and cottage.
30:21Our prompt was a surprise proposal.
30:24I was proposed to, and our little puppy was probably 12 weeks old.
30:30And my husband tied the diamond ring around his collar.
30:34So that is represented in our piece.
30:36So it's autobiographical.
30:38Yeah.
30:39First of all, I love the look of it, that it looks handmade.
30:43And it's a really nice town that I want to live in.
30:46I also love some of the architectural detail.
30:48That was one of the critiques we gave before where your materials didn't really sing.
30:52But now when I look at the boathouse, I can see the clapboard now.
30:56I can see the weathering on it.
30:58But I also like that lighthouse.
31:00Let's the light be the shining moment.
31:02Our eye is drawn in right to that proposal.
31:04In my styling mind, what I'm loving is that you've not only let us into your imagination,
31:09you've led us into the personal storytelling, which I think is part of the reason why there's like a warmth to all of this.
31:16Well, thank you, Team Coastal.
31:19Brownstone.
31:22Welcome to our brownstone city.
31:25For the place we live and gather, we made a town hall that has a tree right in front,
31:30where the community are going to go watch the tree lighting.
31:33Our story prompt is Seeing is Believing.
31:35The animals are roaming free alongside everybody else in the city.
31:40They're helping decorate the tree.
31:43It's just a little bit of whimsy.
31:46I obviously see a lot of different techniques and the craftsmanship on the tree.
31:52It's not made how trees are typically made and quite impressive.
31:56Crazy.
31:57I do appreciate it.
31:58You've now started to incorporate different types of brownstone.
32:01Your town hall feels very classical.
32:04One of the problems I have, though, is how the buildings are facing each other.
32:08And because of that, I'm not feeling invited.
32:13Yeah.
32:14The real magic is on the other side.
32:16Yeah.
32:17But I do love the story with the animals.
32:19My eye is drawn directly to the giraffe, which is really, really nice.
32:23Well, thank you, Team Brownstone.
32:25Appreciate it.
32:26Okay.
32:27Mid-century modern.
32:28Welcome to the mid-century neighborhood in Palm Springs.
32:33With where we gather, we made a community center where everybody's gonna come together for a great holiday party.
32:41We also have three different houses, a glass house, and another one we call Boomerang.
32:46The story prompt that we were given was unexpected holiday guest.
32:51Yes.
32:52Mrs. Claus.
32:53She's a girl boss.
32:55She's booked.
32:56She's busy.
32:57So she is a special guest at this holiday function.
33:01To see the different approaches, you have the butterfly roof, you have the flat roofs.
33:06You know, before we commented on the straight lines, which is associated with mid-mod, you're letting the material sink.
33:13And that's what a modern architect would do.
33:15Great job.
33:17Thanks.
33:18I'm very impressed.
33:19But I wish I was seeing a little more Christmas indication.
33:23I think you've done a really good job with the minimalism aspect.
33:27But I think what I'm seeing here is a beautiful gown that needs some accessories.
33:31Right.
33:32Absolutely.
33:33Okay.
33:34Well, thank you very much, Mid-Century.
33:36Chalet.
33:37Let's talk about it.
33:38For this challenge where we live and gather, we have decided to create a chapel for our Mountain Chalet Ski Resort.
33:45It is reminiscent of the chapel that Susan got married in.
33:50For our story prompt down the chimney, we decided to create a reindeer retrieving Santa's gift bag that he left behind.
33:58And then we wanted to have these street posts outside to show this is a place where people can also gather.
34:04This is a love letter to Gingerbread.
34:07I was looking at the church and I loved the height in the steeple and then the stained glass windows.
34:12This is a couture gown.
34:14It's a very clean look.
34:16It is very precise.
34:17I'm not sure yet how I feel about the figurines.
34:21They're a little spooky.
34:23Right.
34:24They're there to give scale if you need it.
34:26It's that they're just sort of a suggestion of a person.
34:29It makes it feel unreal.
34:31I have to give you all credit about the position of the chimney.
34:34I'm glad to see it actually moved.
34:36All right.
34:37Well, Team Shelley, thank you guys.
34:39Thank you so much.
34:40I'm really surprised Michael noticed that the chimney was moved.
34:42It goes to show, you know, the notes they're giving us, they're keeping track of that.
34:45Next up, Team Villa.
34:49My biggest concern going into judging is we don't have enough little details.
34:55We don't have enough story.
34:56We don't have enough surprises.
34:58So I'm a little nervous.
35:00Team Villa.
35:04Let's talk.
35:06Welcome to the Mediterranean Villa.
35:10The church really is the place that everybody comes together all at the same time.
35:14For the pet that saved the holidays, this ornament has fallen off of this tree and the kitty cat playing with his little ball of yarn inadvertently saved the day.
35:26Well, first off, I want to point out that you are the winners of the home build.
35:31Yes, thank you for that.
35:32So we had very high expectations.
35:34Yes.
35:35I want to tell you that you did not disappoint.
35:39Awesome.
35:41You're using gingerbread in umpteen different ways.
35:43Yes, ma'am.
35:44Like it looks minimalistic, but it's actually very complicated.
35:47But I'm questioning that finish on your roof of your church.
35:51I think there's another layer that needs to be added there because it doesn't fit with the rest.
35:56One of the other items you want to pay attention to is how you are fastening your structure.
36:01The soft tooth process you're using is very good structurally.
36:05We use it all the time as architects.
36:07I appreciate it, but I don't want to see it.
36:10Okay.
36:11Team Villa, thank you very much.
36:13Thank you so much.
36:15Okay, gingerbreaders, can you please head back into the kitchen so we can talk about you behind your back?
36:19Thank you very much.
36:24I think it's time to make some decisions.
36:26Let's talk about these one at a time.
36:28I would say Team Coastal, who was in last place, have moved up.
36:33A lot.
36:34I still think there are a lot of flaws.
36:36But Team Coastal has something that Team Brownstone doesn't.
36:39And that's the invitation to come into our land.
36:41Yes.
36:42I hope that we've done enough that the judges don't send us home.
36:45And let us finish the story.
36:47I think Team Brownstone shows some skill.
36:50The way that they are showing the differences that you can get out of Brownstone.
36:53There's no spatial awareness at all.
36:57We need to keep in mind that this is more of a display rather than an actual literal city Brownstone.
37:05I love how they understood the style, but it feels like something's missing.
37:10I think there's a real opportunity for creativity in the minimalism that was missed.
37:15No, I agree.
37:16It's missing a Christmas feel.
37:18When I look at everybody else's, theirs had warm and fuzzy.
37:23I hope that they give us the opportunity to take into consideration their critiques and then we can turn it around.
37:29What I love about this team is the attention to detail.
37:32It's a work of art.
37:33Having said that, I don't feel like anybody lives here.
37:37Mm-hmm.
37:38I'm really concerned about Gil's comment about the people.
37:40If we get a chance with the next one, we do need to raise the bar.
37:44Exactly.
37:45Hmm.
37:46This team, probably more than, you know, most of the teams, they really stuck to the style.
37:51I'm not, like, 100% sure that Team Villa is safe.
37:56It was a little bit of a double-edged sword.
37:58As an architect, he loved the tongue and groove.
38:01Yeah.
38:02He just did not want to see it.
38:03Right.
38:04Yeah.
38:05I think if we continue, we will have more time to address the joints.
38:09All right, judges.
38:10I think we need to go deliver some news, huh?
38:12Yeah.
38:13Let's do it.
38:14Please gather around, teams.
38:21It's the moment of truth.
38:24Well, Ginger Betters, this is the tough part.
38:26The judges have made their decision.
38:29When you hear your team name, please step forward.
38:33Team Coastal.
38:35You're a little bit concerned.
38:36You kind of look around the room, and you're like, oh, we're going home.
38:39Team Villa.
38:41There were a couple issues with our build.
38:44So, we're a little nervous.
38:46Team Chalet, please step forward.
38:48We don't know if we are in the top or in the bottom.
38:52It's just a nerve-wracking situation right now.
38:56Are these teams on the top, or are these teams on the bottom?
39:02They are...
39:05On the top!
39:07I did not like that look.
39:12Now, it's time to reveal who is the winner.
39:16And by the way, this winner will get another advantage next time.
39:20Much like the one that you guys had before, which as we know, played a big role.
39:26The winner is...
39:32Team Chalet!
39:34Yay!
39:35Congratulations!
39:41You produced something that was just the highest excellence in artistry.
39:46It was precise.
39:47It was beautiful.
39:48It told a wonderful story.
39:50And you could just really feel the magic of the holidays from it.
39:54Oh, we did it!
39:55We did it!
39:56I'm just really proud of us.
39:57I'm really excited to continue telling our story.
40:01Team Brownstone and Team Mid-Century, please step up.
40:08Team Brownstone, because of the placement of your buildings, I didn't get a sense of community.
40:14All three of us are competitive beasts.
40:16This is not where we see ourselves.
40:19Yes.
40:20I've never been on the bottom.
40:22It's soul-crushing.
40:23Team Mid-Century, your build did not feel like Christmas.
40:28We didn't get the holiday spirit.
40:31Finding out that our team is in the bottom two.
40:35Oh, it kind of took the wind out of my sails.
40:37But I understood it, because that Christmas element was missing.
40:42This is a Christmas challenge.
40:45Now it's time for the final result.
40:48The team going home is...
40:50No one.
40:55What?
40:56This is a Christmas miracle.
40:58You are all safe.
41:01High five.
41:02High five.
41:04High five.
41:05But there's $100,000 on the line here.
41:08And you can't always count on a Christmas miracle.
41:12Going into the next round, we have to saturate our theme with Christmas.
41:17We need to impress those judges.
41:19We need to let them know we're here to deliver.
41:23Get ready.
41:24This adventure in gingerbread land is just beginning.
41:27Ooh.
41:28Oh, my.
41:29What?
41:30That's magic.
41:31Unbelievable.
41:32With $100,000 on the line, the pressure is about to snowball.
41:36Oh, no.
41:37I think my heart just dropped.
41:38Your attitude didn't help me at all.
41:41Ah!
41:42Do not crumble.
41:43Too late.
41:44I'm blown away.
41:45I can't believe that it's made out of food.
41:47Your gingerbread village.
41:48It's a place that I wanted to be.
41:50You put everything into this.
41:52And.
41:53And.
41:55And.
41:57And.
41:57And.
41:58They're doingありがとうございます.
41:59Don't even talk about.
42:00They're the only thing right now.
42:01Yeah, they're The fun words, we'll do a different.
42:12Just sans respect and sails, we'll do a different episode.
42:15And, one day, is we're okay.
42:16We'll let you guys play on this call now.
42:17I would let you first hug.
42:18Why, we're, I mean, that's myем.
42:19I'm just so sorry, they're the intended,
42:20myhalf word in, and I'm just OK.
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