Casting Canucks

November 2018

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Casting Canucks
Best Canadian Versions of Popular Reality Shows

Canadians are big fans of reality TV shows, but we don’t always get to see our fellow Canucks on them. Thankfully, there are a few great reality shows produced right here at home.

While some Canadian iterations of popular reality shows have come and gone (Canadian Idol, So You Think You Can Dance Canada), others have great ratings and are going strong. Here are four of the best Canadian versions of popular reality TV shows that you should be watching.

The Amazing Race Canada

It took Canada quite a long time to get its own version of American The Amazing Race, which has aired for an impressive 30 seasons. The Amazing Race Canada has only just finished airing its sixth season, but it has proven to be a winning take on the format of this globe-trotting competition series. The Canadian racers fly mostly around Canada but visit other locations around the world as well, competing for the biggest prize awarded on any Canadian reality show. While finding the best flights doesn’t really play a role in the Canadian version, the tasks that teams must complete tend to be more challenging.

Dragon’s Den

You might think that Canada’s Dragon’s Den is based on the American TV show Shark Tank. However, it’s actually based on a show that originally premiered in Japan in 2001 called The Tigers of Money. The format, which sees hopeful entrepreneurs pitch their business ideas to a group of potential investors, has been adapted in close to 30 different countries. The Canadian version is currently airing its 13th season. Some of the most memorable and successful products that have been pitched on Dragon’s Den are Awake Chocolate, OMG’s, and the vegan cereal Holy Crap.

MasterChef Canada

The very first version of the MasterChef franchise aired in the UK all the way back in 1990. It was later revived in 2005 and has spawned numerous international versions. MasterChef Canada has aired for five seasons, with a sixth currently in production. Canadians love this cooking competition series, which features amateur home cooks vying for the MasterChef title. The winners get the title and a $100,000 award to help kick-start their culinary dreams. But first, they must prove their culinary skills by surviving a series of tough individual and group challenges.

Top Chef Canada

While MasterChef Canada is for amateur cooks, Top Chef Canada is a reality competition featuring professional chefs. Based on the original American Top Chef, the Canadian version is likewise a prestigious cooking competition where cooks looking to make a name for themselves in the food industry get a chance to shine. The contestants compete in weekly challenges and one or more cooks are eliminated every week until there is only one top chef left. The show has aired for six seasons and has been confirmed as returning for a seventh.

If you’re a fan of reality TV and you want the fun of seeing other Canadians competing and appearing on them, then you’ll definitely want to check out these well-made Canadian versions of popular reality shows.

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