With a phony smile, Aarti picks on everything she eats. She behaves like this is an easy competition. There is always a pat on the head and then a slap in the face. I bet she couldn't do this. The other hosts seem to know how to criticize without the slap in the face. If Aarti is still here next year, I will have a hard time watching this show. Let's always see more Jeff Mauro. He is truly the joy on the show. I have enjoyed him from the first time I saw him on the next food network star. He is still very enjoyable on the kitchen and I watch this every week. Did a wonderful job as host on Holiday wars.
31 Reviews
Watching older episodes.
johnboyloveskids30 November 2023
I've been watching older episodes because I really love the "Wars" shows (Halloween and Holiday). I have to say, in my opinion, season 2 has been the most, cringes season. Raven was a horrible host. She was so rude. With the eye rolls and condescending comments. Erin Acevedo just comes across as a mean person that seemed like she was so put out to even be there. After seeing her work on Instagram, she should not be judging anyone's talent. Just my opinion. The other judges on the other seasons are absolutely awesome. I have a little bit of a fan crush on Aarti Sequeira (and I am a gay man so that says a lot. LOL). Halloween Wars is still my favorite.
Why did they change Holiday Wars????
tfw-875319 November 2020
Hate the new format, no direction or explanation of what the heck is going on, Raven is a terrible host, and the new rules are confusing and terrible! Hate really doesn't express how I feel about the whole change. Won't be watching! Food Network, if it's not broken, don't fix it and replace whomever had the horrible idea to change everything. BIG MISTAKE!!!!
Horrible!
copechristy16 November 2020
I hate that they had to change this season!! Raven as the host was a bad idea, she's not a good host for the show. The teams have zero talent all the work looks horrible and the new judge is mean!!! I only watch it because I'm bored!!
Change of Format
mwilson-600159 November 2020
The new Holiday Wars is horrible!
cdwmcw17 November 2020
Food Network why didn't you change the format of such a wonderful show?? Raven does not fit as a host and Erin comes off as rude, condescending and cold. Teams sitting out does not make sense and the quality of work is much less than the past. I was looking forward to watching this while stuck in doors but this has been a huge disappointment.
What is going on?
triciahyde879 November 2020
Season 2 is horrible
cozmeesah9 November 2020
Season 1 was delightful, Season 2 is absolutely terrible. No introduction of the teams, they just jump into the action with no explanation, Raven is an awful host, the new judge is too snotty, format is bad, talent level not there, too much snarkiness between teams and team members. Change it back or this show won't make it past season 2.
Season Two is Awful
glorialowry-4393916 November 2020
The changes they made to Holiday Wars have ruined the show. Raven Symone's comments are forced and fake. She is clearly uncomfortable. The new judge Erin Acevedo is a shrew. She is condescending, rude, impossible to please and thoroughly dislikable. The contestant who has severe anxiety has pushed the show over the brink to unwatchable. Season one of the show was fun to watch . Season two is just unpleasant.
What were you thinking?
valsucich21 November 2020
First season was awesome and very entertaining! Second season, fire whoever changed the host and the contestants! Raven was horrible and the contestants, very untalented! It is so bad, I am embarrassed for you! My grandchild can sculpt better! Horrible! You took a great show and destroyed it! If I could give zero stars, I would!
Worst Cooking/Baking Competition Show!
rsna_mille21 December 2020
What is going on? Starts in mid show. Contestants are working all over each other and you can't see much of anything till the end. Absolute chaos Judges don't seem to know what they are talking about and are rude. Contestants throw hissy fits. And Raven...I like her as an actress but as a host...just no.
Season 2 is the TV Equivalent of a Chainsaw Colonoscopy
billsunday11 December 2020
I'm a huge fan of Halloween Wars, and I enjoyed the first season of Holiday Wars. That said, season 2 is the worst thing to happen to Christmas TV since the Star Wars Holiday Special. Raven is a cataclysmically awful hostess, Erin Acevedo is a truly abysmal judge, only one team has any talent whatsoever, most of the other team members appear to want to showcase their social justice credentials instead of baking cakes, and the format is a noble effort, but ultimately fails.
Bring back the original Holiday Wars style; bring back Jonathan Bennett, and for the love of all things good and sacred, don't let Halloween Wars go down this same path.
Bottom line: do NOT under any circumstance waste your time or money on this wretched pile of stinking filth masquerading as a Holiday War.
Bring back the original Holiday Wars style; bring back Jonathan Bennett, and for the love of all things good and sacred, don't let Halloween Wars go down this same path.
Bottom line: do NOT under any circumstance waste your time or money on this wretched pile of stinking filth masquerading as a Holiday War.
Season 2 is so mean-spirited
pound6820 November 2021
I think Raven is fine. At least she is being nice. Erin is way too critical of these poor competitors. They are not pros, give them a break. I blame casting for throwing unprepared people in there. And the arguing with Shinmin? Where is the Christmas spirit? Bring back Jason! Also having one crew sit out and gripe about the competition? Again, just nasty and mean. I wanted to catch up to this year but I am not sure if I can finish this season.
Disappointed
LuvHotOnesOnYT10 November 2020
After watching Halloween Wars I was excited to see a Holiday Wars and Raven as the host. The skill level between the two shows is amazing. The WOW!! on Halloween Wars and the really?? on Holiday Wars is mind boggling. The two judges giving advice while the teams are creating is weird too. I mean it's like they only did it to get more camera time for themselves. I only watched the second one because it was recorded and I wanted to see just how bad it could get. Can we do Halloween Wars again please?
Horrible, rude judges.
alecnbev8 November 2021
I love all of the holiday cooking challenge shows, but this one is horrible. Shinmin was bad enough but the other judge is even worse. Duff, Nancy, Lorraine, Carla, etc. Make watching these shows so much more enjoyable than the ones on this show.
Horrible
jkline-0039323 November 2020
I am such a fan of Halloween Wars that I was really looking forward to Holiday Wars. What a disaster! The competitors lack the skill that you would expect from this show. I was appalled with the awful execution of their creations. Their personalities are dreadful and none of the teams appeared to mesh. I will NOT be watching this show in the future. Don't waste your time.
This couldn't get worse, BUT it does!!
tigger200010 November 2020
This show has been around since 2015. First on Cake wars: Christmas, then last year they moved it to it's own platform: Holiday wars. It was great but now, this year, they have KILLED this show! I watched the first ep this year and it was really bad. I watched again this week 12/6/20 to see if things may have gotten better. NOPE, so much worse. Now the judges going out to give tips and directions to contestants? WTF, just go build it for them, why not. Did they feel the need to be some kind of politically correct by go all women? Shinmin Li is the only decent person on screen. Raven is, well, I don't know, just weird? Terrible? Everything she does is forced and fake. Which is a shame because normally she is a good actor. And that third woman, just generally unlikable. And the contestants are just flat nasty. The new format is STUPID! Now they are giving out trophies to everyone for showing up? It's a hard pass this season.
Holiday Wars is unwatchable without host Jonathan!
amartinese-7075829 November 2020
I am a Halloween wars fanatic...I have watched it since season one. I like holiday wars as well but this season is horrible. If they had a negative star review I would give it that. The new format changes have ruined the series. Most notably the absence of host Jonathan Bennett and new host Raven. The all female judges panel added nothing to the show. The new judge in particular is just vile. I could not listen to her voice or her snarky comments. And the "woke" team members have taken any joy out of this holiday series.
Just Don't
kcward-2074210 November 2020
not liking the host and judge of Season 3
sewwhatt6 December 2021
So The Host is Maneet? Like her on Chopped but dang I can not understand her instructions . Pretty sing song voice but the poor contestants! I thought the host instructed and set up the competition not 1st to judge ! Artie way over head. I want to hear cake experts... people that have built cakes in competition ...or at least have a career in baking! These two talk too much and add no expertise ! Give me more Shinmin Lee ! She knows what she is taking about . I just feel like the other 2 are just talking to add drama.
Season two was TERRIBLE
keebler12531 January 2021
Warning: Spoilers
After watching several seasons of various chirstmas and halloween themed baking shows. this one season is the worst of the worst.
Season two was a MAJOR let down, Raven Symone is not made for this type of show. she HAS zero appeal in this genre. She is very talented in other fields, but sadly this is not one. She is not engaging at all. has zero humor. in fact she looked bored most of the time.
Season 2 has some major changes, Trying to set it self apart from the other Christmas baking competitions. again, sadly too many changes made for a unwatchable series. I dont like the sitting out 3 times before the loser is sent home, i think it just drags the show on pointlessly. the only part of the new season that was "interesting" was the small gifts the winners got after each round.
The regular "wars" host (Jonathan Bennett) is funny, engaging and just silly enough to be entertaning.
with the current host configuration, wont watch next year! Please bring Johnathan Bennet back. at least he's funny.
very very disappointing
very very disappointing
Horrible show, cringey comments, contestants fight with each other
tootsiewhittier22 November 2021
This is a whine-fest of incompetence. The contestants verbally nag and scorn each other, and complain the whole show, and the comments from Raven and her posse are phony. Nothing interesting, nothing entertaining, nothing to learn. Complete waste of time. A Dumpster fire.
Holiday Wars baking
woolridgesr16 November 2022
Erin Acevedo is the most negative person I have ever seen on Food Network. She isn't even constructive and her opinions seem very out of line. If she's going to be a regular judge, then food network has lost a viewer. Shinmin can watch herself also. She's border line ignorant. The judges on food network are really becoming quite arrogant and holier-than-thou. They aren't even recognized on the world stage so they should do a little homework and get their attitudes in check. They are defeated by home chefs so really they aren't all that. Maneet, Marc Murphy, Chris and Christian and Geoff Zacharian! There are more but these are the worst of the lot. It doesn't make for exciting or good TV, but instead it shows bad behavior to newcomers to cooking!!!
Holiday Wars was good....
foxylady-2441824 November 2020
I'm a huge fan of Halloween Wars and and Holiday Wars but thus season is TERRIBLE!! The format has changed and ur mean spirited for being a "Christmas" show. Everyone is miserable this season, no one gets along and they yell at each other. I've watched 2 episodes and I couldn't get thru any others that I tried watching. Jonathan Bennett had the goofy attitude that goes with the show and now he's gone. I'be always like Raven Simone but she just doesn't work with this show. Every review I've read this year says the same thing. I'm not trying to be mean but this show isn't working this year. Something has to change next year or this show may be off the Air because no one likes it like this. Go back to the normal format!!
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