Season 8 of MasterChef aired on FOX between May 31 and September 20, 2017. Dancer Dino Angelo Luciano, from Bensonhurst, New York, was the winner of the season and was awarded with the MasterChef trophy and a salary of $250,000.
Top 20
20 contestants competed on the season. The contestants were (relative to their placement):
Contestant | Age | Hometown | Occupation | Status |
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Dino Angelo Luciano | 28 | Bensonhurst, NY | Dancer | Winner September 20 |
Eboni Henry | 33 | Chicago, IL | Addiction Counselor | Runners-Up September 20 |
Jason Wang | 34 | Newton, MA | High School Music Teacher | |
Cate Meade | 25 | Chicago, IL | Nutritionist | Eliminated September 13 |
Jeff Philbin | 29 | Tampa, FL | Marketing Director | |
Yachecia Holston | 43 | Detroit, MI | Minister | |
Gabriel Lewis | 19 | Oklahoma City, OK | Fast Food Server | Eliminated September 6 |
Daniel Pontes-Macedo | 31 | Medford, MA | Substitute Teacher | Eliminated August 30 |
Caitlin Jones | 24 | Pittsburgh, PA | Dancer | |
Adam Wong | 21 | Cambridge, MA | Harvard Student | Eliminated August 23 |
Jenny Cavellier | 25 | Cincinnati, OH | Special Needs Therapist | |
Mike Newton | 53 | Lipan, TX | Ranch Owner | Eliminated August 16 |
Reba Billingsley | 48 | Carthage, TX | Stay-at-home Mom | Eliminated August 9 |
Brien O'Brien | 32 | Redding, CA | Magazine Ad Sales | Eliminated August 2 |
Necco Ceresani | 26 | Newberry, SC | Marketing Manager | Eliminated July 26 |
Jennifer Williams | 25 | Chalmette, LA | Debt Collector | Eliminated July 19 |
Sam Reiff-Pasarew | 37 | Washington, D.C. | Creative Writing Teacher | Eliminated July 12 |
Heather Dombrosky | Miami, FL | Registered Nurse | Eliminated June 28 | |
Paige Jimenez | 18 | Honolulu, HI | Swimsuit Model | Eliminated June 21 |
Mark Togni | 43 | Portland, OR | Stay-at-home Dad | Eliminated June 14 |
Competition table
Place | Contestant | Episode | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20/21 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1 | Dino | IN | IMM | PT | IN | LOW | WIN | IN | IMM | NPT | IN | IMM | PT | IN | WIN | WIN | IN | IMM | HIGH | IMM | IN | WIN | PT | WIN | IMM | WIN | IN | IN | PT | PT | WIN | WINNER | |||||||||||||||||||||
2 | Jason | IN | IMM | WIN | WIN | IMM | IMM | IN | IMM | NPT | IN | LOW | WIN | IN | IN | WIN | IN | IMM | HIGH | IMM | WIN | IMM | WIN | HIGH | WIN | WIN | IN | IN | WIN | IMM | IMM | RUNNERS-UP | |||||||||||||||||||||
Eboni | IN | IMM | WIN | IN | IN | IMM | LOW | WIN | WIN | IN | IN | PT | IN | IN | WIN | LOW | IN | WIN | IMM | IN | IN | WIN | IN | WIN | PT | HIGH | IN | PT | WIN | IMM | |||||||||||||||||||||||
4 | Cate | IN | IMM | WIN | IN | IN | IMM | WIN | IMM | WIN | IN | WIN | WIN | WIN | IMM | WIN | IN | IMM | WIN | IMM | HIGH | WIN | WIN | IN | IN | PT | WIN | IMM | PT | PT | ELIM | ||||||||||||||||||||||
5 | Jeff | IN | IMM | NPT | HIGH | LOW | IN | IN | IMM | NPT | HIGH | IN | LOW | IN | LOW | NPT | LOW | IN | HIGH | IMM | IN | LOW | PT | HIGH | IN | PT | IN | ELIM | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Yachecia | HIGH | IMM | WIN | IN | LOW | WIN | WIN | IMM | LOW | IN | WIN | NPT | HIGH | IN | LOW | IN | IMM | IN | IMM | IN | IN | LOW | IN | LOW | WIN | HIGH | ELIM | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
7 | Gabriel | IN | IMM | PT | IN | IN | IMM | IN | IMM | WIN | IN | LOW | WIN | IN | IN | NPT | LOW | IN | IN | IMM | HIGH | HIGH | WIN | IN | ELIM | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
8 | Daniel | IN | IMM | NPT | IN | IN | IMM | IN | IMM | NPT | IN | IMM | WIN | IN | WIN | NPT | IN | IMM | HIGH | IMM | IN | HIGH | ELIM | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
9 | Caitlin | IN | IMM | WIN | IN | LOW | IN | LOW | WIN | NPT | IN | IMM | WIN | HIGH | LOW | WIN | LOW | IN | LOW | LOW | IN | ELIM | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
10 | Adam | IN | IMM | WIN | IN | IN | IMM | IN | IMM | WIN | IN | IMM | LOW | IN | IN | WIN | LOW | LOW | LOW | ELIM | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
11 | Jenny | IN | IMM | PT | IN | IN | IMM | LOW | IN | WIN | IN | IMM | WIN | IN | IN | NPT | LOW | ELIM | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
12 | Newton | IN | IMM | WIN | IN | IN | IMM | LOW | LOW | WIN | WIN | IMM | PT | IN | LOW | ELIM | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
13 | Reba | IN | IMM | NPT | IN | IN | IMM | IN | IMM | WIN | IN | IMM | WIN | IN | ELIM | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
14 | Brien | WIN | IMM | WIN | IN | IN | IMM | IN | IMM | WIN | HIGH | IMM | ELIM | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
15 | Necco | IN | IMM | WIN | HIGH | IN | IMM | IN | IMM | WIN | IN | ELIM | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
16 | Jennifer | HIGH | IMM | LOW | IN | IN | IMM | LOW | IN | ELIM | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
17 | Sam | LOW | LOW | WIN | IN | LOW | LOW | LOW | ELIM | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
18 | Heather | LOW | LOW | WIN | IN | LOW | ELIM | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
19 | Paige | IN | IMM | ELIM | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
20 | Mark | LOW | ELIM |
- (WINNER) This cook won the competition.
- (RUNNER-UP) This cook finished in second place.
- (WIN) The cook won an individual challenge (Mystery Box Challenge, Skills Test or Elimination Test).
- (WIN) The cook was on the winning team in the Team Challenge and directly advanced to the next round.
- (HIGH) The cook was one of the top entries in the individual challenge but didn't win.
- (HIGH) The cook was one of the top entries in a team challenge but didn't win.
- (IN) The cook wasn't selected as a top or bottom entry in an individual challenge.
- (IN) The cook wasn't selected as a top or bottom entry in a team challenge.
- (IMM) The cook didn't have to compete in that round of the competition.
- (IMM) The cook was selected by Mystery Box Challenge winner and didn't have to compete in the Elimination Test.
- (PT) The cook was on the losing team in the Team Challenge and competed in the Pressure Test, and advanced.
- (NPT) The cook was on the losing team in the Team Challenge, did not compete in the Pressure Test, and advanced.
- (LOW) The cook was one of the bottom entries in an individual challenge, but wasn't the last person to advance.
- (LOW) The cook was one of the bottom entries in an individual challenge, and was the last person to advance.
- (LOW) The cook was one of the bottom entries in the Team Challenge and the only person from their team to advance.
- (ELIM) The cook was eliminated from MasterChef.
Ranking of Contestants Per Episode
Place | Contestant | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20/21 |
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1 | Dino | 4 | 14 | 13 | 3 | 13 | 2 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
2 | Jason | 4 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 13 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
2 (3) | Eboni | 4 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 1 | 11 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2 (3) |
4 | Cate | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 4 | |
5 | Jeff | 4 | 11 | 15 | 3 | 14 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 5 | ||
6 | Yachecia | 2 | 1 | 13 | 1 | 15 | 9 | 8 | 4 | 11 | 1 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 6 | ||
7 | Gabriel | 4 | 15 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 13 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 7 | ||||
8 | Daniel | 4 | 11 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 8 | |||||
9 | Caitlin | 4 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 9 | 9 | ||||||
10 | Adam | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 4 | 1 | 10 | 10 | |||||||
11 | Jenny | 4 | 15 | 2 | 14 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 11 | ||||||||
12 | Newton | 4 | 1 | 2 | 16 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 10 | 12 | |||||||||
13 | Reba | 4 | 11 | 2 | 3 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 13 | ||||||||||
14 | Brien | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 14 | |||||||||||
15 | Necco | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 15 | ||||||||||||
16 | Jennifer | 2 | 18 | 2 | 14 | 16 | |||||||||||||
17 | Sam | 18 | 1 | 17 | 17 | ||||||||||||||
18 | Heather | 18 | 1 | 18 | |||||||||||||||
19 | Paige | 4 | 19 | ||||||||||||||||
20 | Mark | 20 |
Episodes
# | Image | Title | Airdate | |
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01 | Episode 801 (U.S.) - Battle for a White Apron, Part 1 (Season 8) | May 31, 2017 | ||
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02 | Episode 802 (U.S.) - Battle for a White Apron, Part 2 (Season 8) | June 7, 2017 | ||
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03 | Episode 803 (U.S.) - America's Grocery Bag | June 14, 2017 | ||
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04 | Episode 804 (U.S.) - Feeding the Lifeguards | June 21, 2017 | ||
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05 | Episode 805 (U.S.) - Shell-Shocked & Scrambled | June 28, 2017 | ||
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06 | Episode 806 (U.S.) - Silenced by the Lambs | July 12, 2017 | ||
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07 | Episode 807 (U.S.) - Breakfast, Lunch & Winner | July 19, 2017 | ||
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08 | Episode 808 (U.S.) - Whole-y Cow! | July 26, 2017 | ||
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09 | Episode 809 (U.S.) - Holy Cannoli | August 2, 2017 | ||
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10 | Episode 810 (U.S.) - The MasterChef Returns | August 9, 2017 | ||
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11 | Episode 811 (U.S.) - Vegas Deluxe & Oyster Shucks | August 16, 2017 | ||
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12 | Episode 812 (U.S.) - In a Pinch | August 23, 2017 | ||
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13 | Episode 813 (U.S.) - Gordon's Game of Chicken | August 23, 2017 | ||
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14 | Episode 814 (U.S.) - A Mexican Tag Team Challenge | August 30, 2017 | ||
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15 | Episode 815 (U.S.) - The Great Outdoors | August 30, 2017 | ||
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16 | Episode 816 (U.S.) - Chopsticks & Pasta | September 6, 2017 | ||
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17 | Episode 817 (U.S.) - Pop-Up Restaurant | September 6, 2017 | ||
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18 | Episode 818 (U.S.) - Something Fishy | September 13, 2017 | ||
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19 | Episode_819_(U.S.)_-_The_Semi-Finals | September 13, 2017 | ||
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20 | Episode 820 (U.S.) - The Finale, Part 1 (Season 8) | September 20, 2017 | ||
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21 | Episode 821 (U.S.) - The Finale, Part 2 (Season 8) | September 20, 2017 | ||
Entrée: Jason serves a tofu-skin wrapped black cod with bay scallops, maitake mushrooms, and a cucumber-pea tendril sauce. Dino serves rack of lamb on a lamb belly and sunchoke caponata with a balsamic glaze. Eboni serves a honey-glazed duck breast with sweet potato mash, collard greens and crispy heirloom carrots. Dessert: Dino serves a roasted pistachio tiramisu with orange mascarpone cream, espresso caviar, and a pistachio tuile. Eboni serves a chocolate orbit cake with a macadamia crumble and a passion fruit coulis. Jason serves a black sesame japonaise with chocolate-yuzu mousse and berry-shiso coulis. Final Three: Dino Angelo Luciano, Eboni Henry and Jason Wang Winner Revealed: After reviewing all of the meals from the contestants, the judges name Dino the winner of this year's MasterChef, winning him the $250,000, the trophy, and the cookbook deal. MasterChef Winner: Dino Angelo Luciano |
References
Trivia
- Casting call auditions were held in February 2016. Filming commenced in Autumn until late 2016/early 2017.
- This is the third season to be won both by a male contestant and the second Italian-American male champion.
- Along with Season 7, this season has a total number of 20 contestants.
- This is the second season where a contestant was eliminated in Las Vegas, since Season 4.
- This is the last season where Christina Tosi hosted as a main judge, although she later guest starred in a Dessert baking Pressure Test in Season 9.
- This is the first season where Aarón Sanchez co-hosted as a main judge, having guest starred as a guest judge in Season 7.
- This season has the most amount of "Skills Test" quickfire challenges, with 3.
- This season had the latest double elimination in the history of the competition.
- Former judge Joe Bastianich returned to the show following a three year absence since the controversial Season 5 finale by guest starring as a guest judge in Season 8's three-way finale, making it the first time he has witnessed 3 finalists battle it out in a ring like arena, since the first five seasons featuring him, Graham and Gordon only had two finalists.
- Future Appearances:
- Cate & Gabriel returned in Season 12: Back To Win to compete, Daniel, Newton, & Brien also returned but failed to get an apron.