The Curious Creations of Christine McConnell
A Gothic cooking show with monsters and baking.
The Curious Creations of Christine McConnell is an American Gothic cooking series created by and starring Christine McConnell. It premiered on Netflix on October 12, 2018, and was produced by Wilshire Studios and Henson Alternative, an arm of The Jim Henson Company. The show was canceled after one season of six episodes.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Gothic
- Cooking show
- Sitcom
- Creator
- Christine McConnell
- Developer
- Netflix
- Writer
- Kirk R. Thatcher
- Starring
- Morgana Ignis
- Dita Von Teese
- Adam Mayfield
- Colleen Smith
- Steven Porter
- Voices
- Colleen Smith
- Michael Oosterom
- Drew Massey
- Tim Lagasse
- Narrator
- Michael Oosterom
- Composer
- Mick Giacchino
Facts from the source article.
Premise
The series follows Christine McConnell, an artist and baker residing in a mansion inhabited by monsters and ghosts. With the help of Rose, Rankle, and Edgar, she creates morbid-looking desserts such as gingerbread haunted houses, caramel spiders, and bones made from pretzel sticks, peanut butter, and white chocolate. The show blends DIY and scripted-reality elements, incorporating storylines about annoying neighbors, relatives, and first-date attire for someone met at a cemetery.
Characters
Christine McConnell, portrayed by herself, is a kind baker who cares for the creatures in her home and allows them to plot against neighbors and each other. Rose, performed by Colleen Smith, is a raccoon crushed to death in a garbage truck and reanimated by Christine. Rankle, performed by Michael Oosterom, is the mummy of an ancient Egyptian cat brought back to life by Christine. Edgar, body-performed by Morgana Ignis and face-performed and voiced by Drew Massey, is a werewolf left on Christine's doorstep. Bernard, performed by Tim Lagasse, is a basement monster whom Rose confides in. Milly is a refrigerator creature whose tentacles assist Christine. Vivienne, portrayed by Dita Von Teese, is a ghost living in a mirror who offers fashion advice; in the Halloween finale, she takes corporeal form and goes on a date with her lover, both shown with gunshot wounds implying a murder-suicide. Cousin Evie, portrayed by Colleen Smith, is Christine's insane widowed duchess cousin who plots to kill her for inheritance. Norman, portrayed by Adam Mayfield, is Christine's lover, a serial killer she meets at the graveyard. Mr. Ketcham, portrayed by Steven Porter, is Christine's grumpy neighbor who complains about her creatures.
Production
Netflix had long sought a goth-inspired series, and McConnell, with a large Reddit and Instagram following, pitched the show to Netflix and Brian Henson. After the success of Julie's Greenroom, Netflix wanted The Jim Henson Company to produce it, but Henson Alternative took on the project. Filming began in early 2017, and the series was released on October 12, 2018. McConnell handled much of the editing, post-production, promotional posters, and voiceovers for baking segments.
Reception
The show received critical praise for its retro styling, Gothic aesthetic, puppetry, and quirky charm, though reviewers noted that the lack of directions, unfamiliar specialist materials, and elaborate construction made the creations beyond most home cooks. The New Yorker called the demos almost useless but described the show as beautiful, morbid, bizarre, and raunchy. Emma Stefansky of Thrillist called it a perfectly creepy cooking show. The Washington Post labeled the dishes delicious and disturbing. The Daily Dot called it silly, sly, and utterly charming. USA Today listed it among the top five best baking TV shows to binge-watch.
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