The 3 Best Feel-Good Competition Shows

When the 2020 season of The Great British Baking Show aired in the midst of a global pandemic the internet rejoiced. Here was the panacea for our collective woes: a little soothing lightness and laughter, and a lot of sugar. And just like a sugar rush, you can count on the show to lift your mood.

Nice people and beautiful tarts are a large part of the show’s attraction, but it’s the formula they perfected that accounts for the enduring and global popularity over the last decade. While The Great British Baking Show didn’t invent the reality competition genre (hello game shows), they tuned into an unmet need for shows without cut-throat drama, and created something downright pleasant.

The contestants are nice people and talented bakers, and talent matters. They endure a grueling interview process to get on the show and they don’t make it if they can’t bake it. In an age where it’s challenging to find people talking about sportsmanship, much less living up to the ideals, it’s practically the raison d'être for this show. Finally, you can’t talk about a successful competition show without mentioning its visual appeal. A lot of those pastries and cakes are mouthwateringly gorgeous.

So the formula is talented people, no drama, sportsmanship, and visual appeal, but you can really sum all of that up with one word: nice. It’s simple, and even a little banal, but in times of uncertainty that’s exactly what we need. Could "nice" be the zeitgeist of our time? Maybe not, but if that’s what you’re looking for the following shows fit the formula.

Making It

Any show hosted by Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman is going to be good. Period. The duo trade crafty puns and Nick eats polymer clay, but behind the hijinks there’s a lot of respect for the makers on this crafting competition show. They are seriously talented – it’s amazing what you can make from pool noodles and balloons – and seriously nice people. Like, you’re sure they’re all BFFs now. The grand prize of $100,000 isn’t enough to generate competitive drama and it’s not uncommon for contestants to help each other.

A season highlight and fan favorite is the shed hack challenge when the last four makers turn sheds into works of art that go way beyond man caves and she-sheds. Think glass floors and retractable roofs. This show ticks all of the nicest boxes.

Full Bloom

Flowers are pretty. Flowers in the hands of accomplished florists are ethereal and stunning. This competition show is hosted by renowned professional florists, Simon Lycett, Elizabeth Cronin and Maurice Harris. Even if you don’t know them, or much about flowers, you’ll enjoy the peek behind the curtains as contestants turn armfuls of blooms into surreal displays spilling from unlikely objects and hanging from midair. Each episode has a team challenge that tackles a very large display, like building a fairy tale house out of flowers, and the experts offer up simple tips for creating bouquets at home.

Some of the florists have compelling personal stories and tears flow freely in nearly every episode. Everything about this show is lovely to watch, from the flowers and photography to the friendship and support among the contestants.

The American Barbecue Showdown

Y’all. If this show doesn’t make you immediately look up the nearest barbecue joint, nothing will. Sparks are flying, smoke is roiling, sauce is bubbling, and people are running around like proverbial chickens to finish their challenges on time. The competitive barbecue circuit is serious business and these contestants want to win in a big way, but that doesn’t get in the way of helping and hugging each other.

Judged by famed barbecue chef Kevin Bludso, and the queen of American barbecue, Melissa Cookston, this show might make you think that the nicest people anywhere can be found gathered around a meat smoker.

Honorable Mentions

Competition shows for creative people are a small but growing genre. Food shows might dominate the offerings, but there are some good series that explore other pursuits, like interior design. The following shows are brimming with creative people and compelling competition. They aren’t quite as warm and fuzzy as our top three, but they’re mostly drama-free, the contestants are highly talented and serious about their crafts, there's some crying going on, and they just might turn you on to a new hobby.

The Great Pottery Throw Down – From wheel throwing to sculpting, you’ll learn how pottery is made and gain a new appreciation for cup handles.

Blown Away – The art of making glass objects is mesmerizing, and hot. The final gallery display in each episode is beautiful.

Making the Cut – Tim Gunn and Heidi Klum are always fun to watch, and this extremely high-stakes competition for fashion designers is different enough from other offerings to make it compelling.

Forged in Fire – With every handshake the bladesmiths competing on this show set a great example of sportsmanship. Watch this show for pride in craftsmanship.