Just in time for the holidays, Kristin Chenoweth has premiered a new show, Candy Land, where bakers and confectioners work to bring the namesake game to life, with candy to boot. They simply have to find the right ingredients within an immersive set and use them to create stunning desserts for $25,000. Judges Nacho Aguirre and Aarti Sequeira evaluate the displays, and how well they taste. Hasbro has not only approved of the collaboration but is using it to promote the classic board game.
Kristin Chenoweth is best known for her stage and television work, with her highlights including Glinda the Good Witch from Wicked. She won a Tony Award in 1999 for playing Sally in You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown and later appeared in shows like Pushing Daisies and Glee. Her most recent role was in The Witches, where she voiced a mouse fast on her feet and ready to rescue unwitting children. Chenoweth became known for her adorable, squeaking speech as well as her beautiful singing. Judge Aguirre previously won Spring Baking Championship on the Food Network and Sequeira was the sixth season Next Food Network Star.
TV Insider talked with Chenoweth about the newest production. Season one of Candy Land has six episodes, where Chenoweth guides the teams into real-life representations of the board game locations. There’s always a lot of candy and chocolate to use for challenges, which is good because they have to be life-size. Some videos show her offering candy cane flavors to the judges, asking them to identify the new tastes. They say that macaroni and cheese as well as clam should not be a candy cane flavor. Chenoweth admitted that the producers couldn’t stop her from noshing on the edible set, especially since she loves chocolate. It helps that her natural charm makes up for any lollipops or candy canes that go missing from Peppermint Mountain.
The timing couldn’t be better for a holiday show that brings cheer and nostalgia. Candy Land lacks the cynicism of Monopoly, which has been parodied in faux movie trailers, as well as the workplay for Scrabble. Chenoweth is the icon of bubbly optimism, as shown by her various characters both onstage and on television. She won one Tony and was nominated for another for a good reason, and you can see her infectious enthusiasm within the show while she gives the teams quite a few tours in preparation for their challenges. That makes her the perfect host for Candy Land.
