When Cake Boss first aired in 2009, nobody knew what sort of traction the show would gain, as it was really the first of its kind. The show evolved to be a reality based series which follows the career of Buddy Valastro, one of the most highly revered cake artists in the United States.
It chronicles his life at his family-run bakery known as Carlo's Bake Shop, putting the focus on his one of a kind cake creations, and all the work leading up to the final product. As is the case for most "reality" television shows, not everything is as it appears on the surface. Here are some interesting things we were able to uncover about the show...
15 Employees Report Sanitation Issues Within The Bakery
This is a biggie. The show wouldn't be a hit if the basic cleanliness of the bakery was in question. Yet as much as things appear to be in order on the show, employees of the bakery sing a different tune. They claim the bakery has issues with sanitation, and they're not alone. TripAdvisor features a slew of reports which validate this claim.
14 Some Staffers Are Intentionally Placed Out Of The Camera's View
It really does take an entire team to create these incredible cake designs, yet for some reason there are some members of the bakery that never appear on camera. The crew intentionally cut out certain individuals and roles without really ever explaining why. This is a strange fact considering everyone has made a contribution to the success of the show.
13 A Lot Of The Filming Doesn't Even Happen At The Bakery
It's always painful to find out that what we believe to be true is merely a facade. Not all of the taping is done on-site at the bakery. Some of what viewers see has nothing to do with the bakery at all. So much for authenticity and "reality" TV.
12 Some Of The Baked Goods Are Brought In From The Factory And Not Made On-Site
Wait, what? This is a big deal. The premise of this show is the fact that the cakes are all baked at Carlo's Bakery... yet they're not. According to a blog from Life In Leggings, everything you see on the show is originally baked in the factory and then brought to the bakery for final touches... for the sake of the cameras.
11 The Crew Admits Some Of The Cakes Are Fake And Inedible
The staff at the bakery reveal that many of the cakes we see on television are actually fake and absolutely inedible. They are structurally constructed with materials such as wood and wire, as reported by Screenrant. The 400 pound cake they created for the Chicago Cubs is an example of a cake designed purely for show. It was tossed out as it was entirely inedible.
10 Buddy Was Sued For Copyright Infringement Over The Name "Cake Boss"
It's not a good thing when the foundation of your entire identity is challenged. It turns out that "Cake Boss" is the name of business software that was designed for professional bakers. Law reports that Buddy Valastro had to contend with a copyright infringement suit as a result of this.
9 Buddy Valastro Actually Feuded With Duff Goldman Behind The Scenes
The rivalry between Duff Goldman and Buddy Valastro wasn't just for the sake of creating dramatic television. These two weren't very fond of one another, and during an interview with TV Insider, Duff revealed that he used to make fun of Buddy. They have faced off in real competitions involving food, but they also have an off-screen battle going on.
8 Buddy Fired His Own Sister From The Show
This doesn't bode well for the family operated bakery. Sadly, Buddy fired his own sister over a battle of egos. Both of them are known to get a bit mouthy at times and clearly the two of them together were a recipe for disaster. After clearly stating she would never be permitted to run the family business, Buddy promptly proceeded to fire his sister Mary from both the bakery and the show.
7 Bellifemine Didn't Tell Anyone He Was Leaving & Departed Abruptly
"Cousin Anthony" Bellifemine was a former delivery boy turned baker that invested much of his life in the bakery. When he left abruptly at the end of Season 6, Buddy was left feeling betrayed, and bitter. He was upset at having spent so much time dedicated to teaching Anthony the ropes, only for him to up and leave with no regard for how it affected everyone else.
6 Buddy Tried Name Dropping Himself To Get Out Of A DUI
There's nothing worse than seeing someone turn into a pretentious name-dropper, and the case of Buddy's DUI is a classic example. The Cake Boss himself was arrested for driving under the influence in his Corvette in 2014. Rather than taking his lumps and owning up to his mistake, he tried to convince the police he couldn't be arrested because he was "the Cake Boss".
