Cupcake Wars/Headscratchers

• The host's "clever" comments that he shouts at the bakers to let them know how much time they have left grate on my nerves no end. It's always something about the episode's theme and then something about cupcakes, and it's never funny. ("I love a parade, but I love cupcakes even more!") I wish the Food Network would ask him to knock it off or tone it down or something.
  • He does seem sort of superfluous; he's not adding anything to the show, and could easily be replaced by a simple announcement of the time, like on Iron Chef.
• It seems like an odd thing to complain about, but it irks me that male contestants are few and far between and, as far as I know, not one of them has won.
  • I know at least one has won -- the guy who accidentally got the frostings mixed up in the second round for the apple/avocado incident. He went on to win it.
• Does anyone really believe that the Cupcake War is being held literally hours before whatever gala event it's scheduled to have the winner at? The third judge is always some big honcho that is spending a few hours tasting cupcakes instead of doing the final prep for said event.
  • For that matter, does anyone else believe that those master carpenters are actually making those displays in two hours?