What did yall do????? No Johnathan, no siilliness, boring! The SAME judges you see on every Food Network show, boring! (If any judge needs to go its Ms Lee. She wouldn't know scary if it bit her in the you know what..) No sugar artists, boring! No pumpkin carvers, boring! It's a stage of cake artists, boring. It took every medium to make this show work. Now it's another cake show. Bring back the actors, Jonathan, sugar artists and pumpkin carvers or season 11 will be the last season I watch.
62 Reviews
Thank you Discovery/Food Network
raphis3 October 2022
This is the *Food Network* and not the Scfy network. I suspect the network made the changes to place more emphasis on *food* and *flavor* and less on the horror movie genre. The "host" was unnecessary (and has moved on to acting and has gotten married) I suspect he's not all that disappointed about not hosting another season. Zac Bagans is a qualified paranormal investigator and stays in the background He is a welcome addition because there is no constant "in your face" shtick. So Food Network did what it needed to do to keep the show about food and within its brand. About the season without pumpkins, that had to do with a shooting schedule and a seasonal lack of pumpkins.
Not enough time
mitchryder19538 October 2021
Like to see what these. Bakers could do if they have more time. With the short amount of time I'd never want one of their creations. Also I have issues with the judges. They are good at criticizing the contestants I'd like to see what they can come up with in the short amount of time.
I'm so sad!!!
sweetcharitylv28 September 2021
Warning: Spoilers
This was a show I've been watching from the get-go with my children. We looked forward to it every year. They are teenagers now, off to college next year, thought this would be our last chance to watch our show as a family. It's awful! Seriously, hard to watch ANOTHER baking show. Who decided on no pumpkins? That person should reconsider their career choice. So bummed...
2023 IMPROVED!!!
rytme-8266818 September 2023
So glad that they returned to the original format and having Jonathon back as host for Halloween Wars this year!! Sorry, but having Zac Bagans as a guest host who was never in the studio was a bust. Bringing back the Small Scare and the live host is a huge improvement, as is cutting back the amount of babble from the judges throughout the episodes. The emphasis is back on the teams, which is where it all happens. The set definitely has improved since the original series, so this year is probably the best season ever. Thank you, Food Network, for finally getting the recipe right! Please don't mess with perfection!
So glad Jonathan Bennett is back!
Reviews2u25 September 2023
Halloween Wars has been my favorite Halloween show I look forward to every year. I will tell you though, the last 2 seasons with Zak Bagans was bad, real bad. I couldn't even finish last season. They literally took everything away that made it great. The small scare and big scare are everything. The pumpkin carvings are a must! Don't remove that. Jonathan Bennett is the best host they've ever had and I was so sad they replaced him with the cringe Zac Bagans. Kudos for Halloween Wars to listening to all the reviews here and bringing back the old style of the show. You have made a bunch of viewers very happy. I'm looking forward to the rest of the season.
Super fun show
krombang12 October 2018
I just felt like Inhave to write a review after watching season 5. I feel that the group does not deserve to win. The other team was better. Strong personality and similar background wit the judge maybe (I don't like to pull the race issue) can win this which reduce the quality of the show...
Wth is punkin?
ajones-6945130 October 2019
The dramatics bring this show down!
Star-rocks18 October 2019
Halloween Wars is really enjoyable if you're there for the art. The drama in the show..the "tension" amongst the team members and the dramatics from the sugar sculptures that break, etc. is a little bit ridiculous. It's fun to watch, it's just a little annoying at times.
Gets you into the Halloween spirit!
nickhugs14 October 2020
Rip offed
kanezimmerman30 October 2019
Fun in small doses
dtdenver-987-92554614 October 2018
After a while, the pumpkin/cake/sugar work all looks the same, all of which would be barely edible - so maybe one or two episodes at a time just in the spirit of Halloween. Like most Food Network shows, they try to amp up drama before commercials. I.e., a piece falls off - "We're done we're screwed we're going HOME!" - then after the commercial, someone puts the piece back on. Whew!! Another hugely annoying Food Network "thing" is recycling contestants. Each additional outing, they get more into being a STAR and more obnoxious in their interviews. Then of course, everyone is a sore loser at the end, vowing revenge. American reality TV in action.
Congratulations you killed your own show!
christophersarles20 September 2021
You took away the pumpkin carving and replaced it with kiss ass cake bakers. Carla already did that and did it better. I've watched ten seasons, some more than once but I'm DONE with you until you bring back CARVING. You e also cut the prize in HALF while making more advertising dollar and your host SUCKS!
Kind of better
marronfirst-3508420 October 2022
Still not the same. The host Zak still does not add anything to the show. Please get rid of him and use the savings to increase the prize money. Second, glad the pumpkin carving is back and the trio has assigned purposes. Third the newer judge Arti is not funny nor does she have very insightful feedback. I was hoping she would not be back. Also the background in the set is dark and busy and detracts from the action and the art. This use to be one of my favorite shows. Now I watch for the creativity alone. It is not funny nor do the teams seem intriguing. My advise is go back to what it was prior to 2021. All the new additions must cost more than before and yet the show has more shortcomings. Maybe 2023 will impress viewers by using our feedback as you did by with the pumpkin carving.
Really entertaining
reddiemurf816 November 2022
This reality competition series pits five,
3-person, dessert creating, teams against
each other to see who can create the most elaborate, creative, and edible halloween scenes, based on the judges theme for that episode. Each team consists of a master baker, a master pumpkin carver, and a master sugar artist. The teams have 2, timed contests on every episode. The first contest is a 45 min timed smaller Halloween concept piece. The second contest is a 5 hour long, much larger Halloween scene. All of which must feature cake, pumpkin, and sugar art.
It is really incredible to see what these master halloween artists are able to do.
Also,, I'm only referring to sns 1-10 of the show. I didn't watch the last 2 sns bc of the bad looking reviews on here.
It is really incredible to see what these master halloween artists are able to do.
Also,, I'm only referring to sns 1-10 of the show. I didn't watch the last 2 sns bc of the bad looking reviews on here.
Zak Bagans ruined it
anbemenderfer9 November 2023
Warning: Spoilers
There were 10 great seasons. Then Zak Bagans ruined the show. Thanks for nothing Zak Bagans, you intolerable moron. He got rid of the pumpkin carving and everyone except Shimin Lee. Then he made himself the host but he isn't even there, it's all videos of himself and his "collection". I can't believe they made this show into such a waste of time! I was literally telling my mother about this show and recommending it to her when I got to season 11 and suddenly it was a dumpster fire of bad ideas and more Zak Bagans than anyone could possibly ever enjoy. I hope he's pleased with himself. Show destroyer!
Season 11 is the worst season
ndptkvyg20 September 2021
You ruined the show! My family are the biggest fans of this show and would wait all year to watch it. We were excited when it came out and now extremely unimpressed. Now it is completely ruined. It is not Halloween Wars without the pumpkin carving. Food Network already has tons of cake baking contests and now here is another. The uniqueness of Halloween Wars was the challenge to mix three mediums of pumpkin carving, cake, and sugar glass making. Now it is not anything special at all. Bring back Todd! First of all. Bring back the pumpkin carving!!
Food Network you just lost a lot of viewers.
Food Network you just lost a lot of viewers.
Thanks Food Network, for ruining a show I so look forward to every year!
emandmom20 September 2021
I look forward to this time of year so much because of this show and the Halloween baking champions shows but I'm done with this show. Thanks, food network for ruining a wonderful show. NO PUMPKINS?, NO Jonathan?, no guest judge? And No horror show producer/actor? Absolute rubbish! Arti nor Eddie have any business on this show they aren't pastry chefs, they aren't cake or sugar artists and they have nothing to do with the horror genre. To top it all off, as usual, Eddie gets to keep running his mouth while the actual long-time host of the show Shinmin Li has to stand there silently for most of it! The new set is horrible too, I like the professional kitchen with lights so we can see what they are doing. Adding that goofball Zak Bagans via monitor added NOTHING to the show!! It's all just a bake a cake show, now!!! I have removed it from my DVR.
THEY RUINED IT!
Iloveet-122 September 2021
I'm so disappointed! This was my favorite show. It gets me in the mood for Halloween every year. WHY DID YOU GET RID OF THE PUMPKIN CARVERS? Now it's just another boring cake show. BRING BACK THE GOOFY HOST. I miss his corny goofy jokes. Why replace the male judge as well? THIS SHOW SUCKS NOW.
The new format is terrible!
nikki-5914220 September 2021
Food Network did this on Holiday Wars and I stopped watching it. I don't understand why they got rid of pumpkin carving and I enjoyed the final presentations at the end. This is my favorite time of year and I always looked forward to this show coming back on. Why did they change it? So disappointed!!
Where are the darn pumpkins? And the host?
coxpnw6 October 2021
Our family loved to watch this each October. Now we turn on the first episode and it is a cake baking? No pumpkin carving at all? Have you seen your current ratings? No offense to the new host, but we see him on other Food Network shows. Please fix this and bring back the sculpters?!
Better in Previous Seasons
ladyleilana20 September 2021
Halloween Wars WAS a wonderful show. They completely ruined it. One of the most interesting parts was seeing how a cake artist, a pumpkin carver, and a sugar artist could meld their skills. Well, that part has been entirely done away with. This is purely cake and sugar, they've done away with the pumpkin carver, which was always one of the most interesting parts.
I'm not surprised they destroyed this after bringing in a fraud like Zak Bagans. His own show is comprised of the fake and contrived, a spirit which he seems to have brought to Halloween Wars.
I'm not surprised they destroyed this after bringing in a fraud like Zak Bagans. His own show is comprised of the fake and contrived, a spirit which he seems to have brought to Halloween Wars.
Thanks for ruining Halloween Wars!
cindydean-5082520 September 2021
We look forward to this show every year and after a few minutes into the Premier last night I said 'wait, is this the same show? Where are the pumpkin carvers and sugar artists' - apparently they're gone and now it's just a two bit cake show. And the really good judge, a special effects guy is replaced with a food network cooking star. AWFUL! The displays in the past were like a small stage with beautiful backdrops and covered from top to bottom with a combination of art from pumpkins, cake and sugar and that is what made it so good. Now the displays are just a decorated a cake on a stand with no backdrops. Ugh, boring. We have deleted our scheduled recordings, no need to see anymore. And to Food Network: why would you change such a beautiful show and probably one of your most popular, into a watered down and totally boring version of it's former self. Too bad, I really loved this show.
Used to be one of my favorites...
smpaulson20 September 2021
I really looked forward to watching this show every fall until this year... The pumpkin carving element was one of the best features of this show and made it stand out from the rest. It's no different than the Halloween baking championship now. Bring back the pumpkin carving!!!
Ruined it
touchedbygrace-2494421 September 2021
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
