MasterChef Junior (American TV series) season 9

MasterChef Junior
Season 9
Promotional poster for season 9, featuring (L to R) judges Tilly Ramsay, Gordon Ramsay, Aarón Sanchez and Daphne Oz
Judges
No. of contestants12
WinnerBryson McGlynn
Runner-upMichael Seegobin & Remy Powell
No. of episodes10
Release
Original networkFox
Original releaseMarch 4 (2024-03-04) –
May 20, 2024 (2024-05-20)
Season chronology
← Previous
Season 8

The ninth season of the American competitive reality television series MasterChef Junior premiered on Fox on March 4, 2024. Gordon Ramsay, Aarón Sanchez, and Daphne Oz all returned as judges, while Tilly Ramsay joined as a new judge.[1] The season was won by Bryson McGlynn, an 11-year-old from Opelika, Alabama, with Michael Seegobin from New Smyrna Beach, Florida and Remy Powell from Hollywood, Florida being the runners-up.

Production

On December 20, 2022, the initial casting announcement for a potential ninth season was posted.[2] The casting notice was re-posted on September 8, 2023 on the show's Twitter page. On October 12, 2023, it was announced that the series had been renewed for a ninth season, with Ramsay, Sánchez, and Oz as returning judges, along with new judge Tilly Ramsay.[3][1] On December 13, 2023, it was announced that the season would premiere on March 4, 2024.[4] On February 21, 2024, the 12 new contestants were announced.[5][6] This number of contestants marks the fewest competitors in a regular season since the first season.

Top 12

Sources for age, first name and hometown:[5]

Contestant Age Hometown Status
Bryson McGlynn[7] 11 Opelika, Alabama Winner May 20
Michael Seegobin[8][9] 11 New Smyrna, Florida Runners-Up May 20
Remy Powell[10] 10 Hollywood, Florida
Asher Niles[11] 8 Yakima, Washington Eliminated May 6
Jordyn Joyner[12] 8 Greensboro, North Carolina Eliminated April 29
Alfred Eggermont[13] 11 Binford, North Dakota Eliminated April 22
Lilo Tsai[14] 9 Ann Arbor, Michigan Eliminated April 15
Miles Platt[15][16] 10 College Station, Texas Eliminated March 25
Kristell Jean[17][18] 10 Austin, Texas Eliminated March 18
Lydia Ledon[19] 9 Atlanta, Georgia
Jason Sun[20] 9 San Gabriel, California Eliminated March 11
Breanna "Bre" Williams[21] 10 Burbank, California Eliminated March 4

Elimination table

Place Contestant Episode
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 10
1 Bryson WIN IN LOW WIN HIGH IN IN IN IN WINNER
2 Michael HIGH IN WIN WIN WIN WIN IMM WIN IN RUNNERS-UP
Remy HIGH IN WIN LOW HIGH IN LOW IN IN
4 Asher IN WIN WIN LOW HIGH IN IN LOW ELIM
5 Jordyn IN HIGH LOW WIN LOW WIN IMM ELIM
6 Alfred IN HIGH LOW LOW LOW IN ELIM
7 Lilo LOW LOW WIN WIN ELIM
8 Miles LOW IN WIN ELIM
9 Kristell IN LOW ELIM
Lydia IN IN ELIM
11 Jason IN ELIM
12 Bre ELIM
  (WINNER) This cook won the competition.
  (RUNNER-UP) This cook finished in second place.
  (WIN) The cook won an individual challenge (Mystery Box Challenge, Elimination Test, Pressure Test, or Skills Challenge).
  (WIN) The cook was on the winning team in the Team Challenge and directly advanced to the next round.
  (HIGH) The cook was one of the top entries in the individual challenge but didn't win.
  (IN) The cook was not selected as a top or bottom entry in an individual challenge.
  (IN) The cook was not selected as a top or bottom entry in a Team Challenge.
  (IMM) The cook did not have to compete in that round of the competition and was safe from elimination.
  (LOW) The cook was one of the bottom entries in an individual challenge or Pressure Test, and advanced.
  (LOW) The cook was one of the bottom entries in a Team Challenge, and they advanced.
  (ELIM) The cook was eliminated.

Episodes

No.
overall		No. in
season		Title [22][23]Original release date [22][23]Prod.
code [22]		U.S. viewers
(millions)
961"Eating Emoji"March 4, 2024 (2024-03-04)JRM-9011.61[24]

The 12 new contestants are welcomed to the MasterChef kitchen to meet the judges, including new judge Tilly Ramsay. This season's winner will receive a $100,000 cash prize and the MasterChef Junior trophy.

  • Elimination Challenge: The contestants are given cookies decorated with emojis and must make a dish that expresses the emotion behind the assigned emoji. They receive their aprons, which are shot out of a giant emoji air cannon, and are given one hour to cook their dishes. The top three dishes belong to Remy, Michael, and Bryson, and Bryson wins the challenge, winning an all-expenses paid trip to Las Vegas, including a stay at the Harrah's Las Vegas resort and dinner at Ramsay's Kitchen. All three receive immunity from elimination. The bottom three dishes belong to Lilo, Miles, and Bre. Bre is eliminated.
  • Challenge Winner/Immune: Bryson McGlynn, Michael Seegobin and Remy Powell
  • Bottom three: Bre Williams, Lilo Tsai and Miles Platt
  • Eliminated: Bre Williams
972"Under the Sea"March 11, 2024 (2024-03-11)JRM-9021.52[25]

  • Mystery Box Challenge: The contestants are tasked with making a dish using both the mystery seafood in their boxes and seaweed. They are given one hour to cook their dishes. Alfred, Jordyn, and Asher are the top three, and Asher wins the challenge, winning an all-expenses paid trip to San Luis Obispo, California. All three of them are safe from elimination. Kristell, Jason, and Lilo are the bottom three. Jason is eliminated.
  • Challenge Winner/Immune: Alfred Eggermont, Asher Niles and Jordyn Joyner
  • Bottom three: Jason Sun, Kristell Jean and Lilo Tsai
  • Eliminated: Jason Sun
983"Globetrotters"March 18, 2024 (2024-03-18)JRM-9031.51[26]

  • Team Challenge: The contestants are visited by members of the Harlem Globetrotters and are split into teams of five. The Blue Team consists of Asher, Lilo, Remy, Michael and captain Miles, while the Red Team consists of Alfred, Kristell, Bryson, Jordyn and captain Lydia. The teams are given one hour to prepare nine portions of a healthy meal, featuring a protein, two sides, a starch and sauce, as well as a vegan dish. The Blue Team wins the challenge. The judges announce there will be a double elimination, and Kristell and Lydia are both eliminated.
  • Challenge Winners/Immune: Asher Niles, Lilo Tsai, Michael Seegobin, Miles Platt and Remy Powell
  • Eliminated: Kristell Jean and Lydia Ledon
994"Magic Castle"March 25, 2024 (2024-03-25)JRM-9041.44[27]

  • Team Challenge: For their next team challenge, the contestants are taken to the Magic Castle, where they are split into teams of 4. The Blue Team consists of Bryson, Lilo, Jordyn and captain Michael, while the Red Team consists of Miles, Alfred, Asher and captain Remy. They have one hour to cook a fine-dining dish for all of the magicians and staff of the Academy of Magical Arts, as well as executive chef Ben LaFleche. They must also present a sample plate to the judges in 30 minutes. The Blue Team wins the challenge. Miles is eliminated.
  • Challenge Winners/Immune: Bryson McGlynn, Jordyn Joyner, Lilo Tsai and Michael Seegobin
  • Eliminated: Miles Platt
1005"Mystery Box"April 15, 2024 (2024-04-15)JRM-9051.46[28]

  • Mystery Box Challenge: The contestants are given one hour to make a dish using their least-favorite ingredients. Asher, Remy, Michael and Bryson are the top four, and Michael wins the challenge, winning a set of e-bikes for his family. All four of them receive immunity from elimination. Lilo, Alfred and Jordyn are the bottom three. Lilo is eliminated.
  • Challenge Winner/Immune: Asher Niles, Bryson McGlynn, Michael Seegobin and Remy Powell
  • Bottom three: Alfred Eggermont, Lilo Tsai and Jordyn Joyner
  • Eliminated: Lilo Tsai
1016"Pancakes & Ice Cream"April 22, 2024 (2024-04-22)JRM-9061.51[29]

  • Team Challenge: The contestants are randomly split into teams of two: the Blue Team (Alfred and Remy); Yellow Team (Asher and Bryson), and Red Team (Michael and Jordyn). They are given 15 minutes to cook as many perfect pancake stacks as they can, after receiving a demonstration from Daphne. The Red Team makes 10 acceptable stacks, winning the challenge and a pair of ice cream sundaes.
  • Challenge Winners/Immune: Jordyn Joyner and Michael Seegobin
  • Elimination Challenge: The remaining contestants are given 75 minutes to prepare an ice cream dessert of their choice. The judges save Bryson and Asher, leaving Alfred and Remy as the bottom two. Alfred is eliminated.
  • Bottom two: Alfred Eggermont and Remy Powell
  • Eliminated: Alfred Eggermont
1027"Thyme Travel"April 29, 2024 (2024-04-29)JRM-9071.46[30]

  • Elimination Challenge: The contestants have 60 minutes to create an elevated version of their first dish. Michael wins the challenge, winning an all-inclusive trip to Mexico, including a stay at the Paradisus Playa del Carmen resort in the Riviera Maya. The judges determine that Bryson and Remy have done well enough to advance to the semifinal, leaving Asher and Jordyn as the bottom two. Jordyn is eliminated.
  • Challenge Winner/Immune: Michael Seegobin
  • Bottom two: Asher Niles and Jordyn Joyner
  • Eliminated: Jordyn Joyner
1038"Gordon Demo"May 6, 2024 (2024-05-06)JRM-9081.42[31]

  • Elimination Challenge: The semifinalists must keep up with Gordon in recreating his signature dish of duck à l'orange, after receiving a demonstration in breaking down a duck, and have 60 seconds to plate their dish after he finishes. Asher's dish is deemed the weakest and he is eliminated.
  • Eliminated: Asher Niles
1049"Finale Part 1"May 13, 2024 (2024-05-13)JRM-9091.43[32]

  • Season Finale: The judges announce that the winner will receive a kitchen from Viking, and a set of kitchen tools and bakeware from OXO. The three finalists must prepare their best appetizer, entrée and dessert. They will have 60 minutes to prepare each course and will be judged at the end of each course. Before the appetizer round begins, the judges also announce that the finalists must incorporate the flambé technique in their first course.
  • Appetizer: Bryson serves marinated prawns with Creole hush puppies, a rum marinade sauce and tomato relish. Remy serves striped bass with crab mirliton salad and a satsuma-mimosa vinaigrette. Michael serves crab bisque with stone crab salad, herb oil, croutons and caviar.
  • The entrées begin cooking as the episode ends.
10510"Finale Part 2"May 20, 2024 (2024-05-20)JRM-9101.49[33]

  • Entrée: Michael serves pan-seared halibut with sautéed purple kale, ginger-glazed carrots and a spicy herb sauce. Bryson serves wagyu filet mignon with red wine reduction, squash purée and confit turnips. Remy serves shrimp and grits with collard greens and a roasted vegetable sauce.
  • Dessert: Remy serves chocolate hazelnut brownie with hazelnut brittle, chocolate mousse and raspberry coulis. Bryson serves peanut butter mousse crunch cake with chocolate ganache and peanut brittle. Michael serves orange and olive oil pound cake with citrus sauce and a crème fraîche ice cream.
  • Final Three: Bryson McGlynn, Michael Seegobin and Remy Powell.
  • Winner Announced: Bryson is announced as this year's winner of MasterChef Junior, taking home the trophy and all of the prizes.
  • MasterChef Junior Winner: Bryson McGlynn

References

  1. ^ a b "FOX Renews America's Cutest Cooking Competition Series, MasterChef Junior for a Ninth Season" (Press release). Fox. October 12, 2023. Retrieved February 16, 2024 – via The Futon Critic.
  2. ^ Weaver, Stephanie (January 4, 2023). "FOX's 'MasterChef Junior' now casting young chefs for 9th season". KMSP-TV. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  3. ^ Peter White (October 12, 2023). "MasterChef Junior Renewed For Season 9 At Fox; Gordon Ramsay's Daughter Tilly Joins As Judge". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
  4. ^ "MasterChef Junior Season 9 Premieres Monday, March 4 on FOX" (Press release). Fox. December 13, 2023. Retrieved December 14, 2023 – via The Futon Critic.
  5. ^ a b "Meet the 12 Pint-Sized Chefs Competing on Season 9 of MasterChef Junior" (Press release). Fox. February 21, 2024. Retrieved February 22, 2024 – via The Futon Critic.
  6. ^ Cohn, Paulette (December 13, 2023). "Adorable Pint-Sized Cooks Will Be Back in the Kitchen for MasterChef Junior Season 9". Parade. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  7. ^ "Meet the Lee County 11-year-old competing on MasterChef Junior". WTVM. March 1, 2024. Retrieved March 1, 2024.
  8. ^ @volusiaschools (February 27, 2024). "Michael Seegobin, a brilliant 6th grader at New Smyrna Beach Middle School, is making us proud as he competes on MasterChefJrFOX" (Tweet). Retrieved February 28, 2024 – via Twitter.
  9. ^ Oliveira, Beatriz (March 2, 2024). "Local Central Florida boy will show off his cooking skills on MasterChef Junior". WFTV. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
  10. ^ Miranda, Alex (March 4, 2024). "10-year-old Hollywood native competes in Fox's newest pint-sized cooking series 'Masterchef Junior'". WSVN. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  11. ^ Cosby, Reesha (February 23, 2024). "Yakima's Asher Niles Ready for the Spotlight on Masterchef Junior". KFFM. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
  12. ^ Melrose, Justyn (February 27, 2024). "Meet the Greensboro 8-year-old competing in MasterChef Junior's upcoming season". myfox8.com. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
  13. ^ Gjovik, Erik (March 4, 2024). "It's Go Thyme!". The Foster County Independent. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
  14. ^ Selasky, Susan (March 2, 2024). "New season of MasterChef Junior features Ann Arbor girl competing". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
  15. ^ Miller, Alex (February 28, 2024). "College Station boy to debut on 'MasterChef Junior'". theeagle.com. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  16. ^ "Pan seared scallop recipe from Miles on Master Chef Junior". KDFW. March 5, 2024. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
  17. ^ Chaudhury, Nadia (February 28, 2024). "An Austin Kid Whose Family Runs a Food Truck Is Competing in 'Masterchef Junior'". austin.eater.com. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
  18. ^ Anderson, Ryan (February 29, 2024). "Austin's Young Culinary Prodigy Competes on 'MasterChef Junior' Season 9". Hoodline. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
  19. ^ Lawson, Sharon (March 4, 2024). Lydia from Atlanta on MasterChef Junior. fox5atlanta.com. Event occurs at 00:16. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  20. ^ "@jason.s.mz (Instagram)". Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  21. ^ Bhattarai, Junu (March 5, 2024). "Masterchef Junior Breanna Williams Wikipedia And Age: Family Ethnicity And Origin". latestbollyholly.com. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  22. ^ a b c "MasterChef Junior Episode Listings". The Futon Critic.
  23. ^ a b "MasterChef Junior Season 9 Episode Guide". Zap2it.
  24. ^ Douglas Pucci (March 5, 2024). "Monday Ratings: Soft Returns for MasterChef Junior and So You Think You Can Dance on Fox". Programming Insider. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  25. ^ Douglas Pucci (March 12, 2024). "Monday Ratings: ABC and NBC Share Broadcast Prime Time Victory with Their Respective Longtime Reality Franchises". Programming Insider. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
  26. ^ Douglas Pucci (March 19, 2024). "Monday Ratings: Oprah Winfrey Weight Loss Special Draws Decently for ABC". Programming Insider. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  27. ^ Douglas Pucci (March 27, 2024). "Monday Ratings: The Bachelor 28th Season Finale on ABC Up Double-Digit Percent from Prior Season Ender". Programming Insider. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
  28. ^ Douglas Pucci (April 16, 2024). "Monday Ratings: WNBA Draft on ESPN Earns Record Audience of Nearly 2.5 Million Viewers". Programming Insider. Retrieved April 16, 2024.
  29. ^ Douglas Pucci (April 24, 2024). "Monday Ratings: New York Knicks' NBA Playoff Victory Thriller on TNT and truTV Up Double-Digits from Year-Ago Game". Programming Insider. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
  30. ^ Douglas Pucci (May 1, 2024). "Monday Ratings: CBS Tops in Total Viewers, TNT, USA and ESPN Outperform Broadcast Nets in Key Demos". Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  31. ^ Douglas Pucci (May 7, 2024). "Monday Ratings: 'Bob Hearts Abishola' Series Finale on CBS Reaches Total Viewer High Since Fifth Season Premiere". Retrieved May 7, 2024.
  32. ^ Douglas Pucci (May 14, 2024). "Monday Ratings: 'Deal or No Deal Island' on NBC Rises to Season-High in Total Viewers with Finale". Retrieved May 14, 2024.
  33. ^ Douglas Pucci (May 21, 2024). "Monday Ratings: 'La Casa de Los Famosos' Hits Series-High in Viewers with 4th Season Finale as Telemundo Tops All Broadcast Viewers in 18-49". Retrieved May 21, 2024.