History Series / AceOfCakes

* MysteriousBenefactor: The unnamed VIP client who asked for the dressage cake. When they explained they don't ship cakes outside of driving distance and jokingly added that the client would need a private jet, s/he ''provided one just for the cake'' (albeit a very small private jet).

* TheLancer [[http://www.mayaflowers.com/shop-now/bakery-products/cakes.html Cake Shop]]: Geof is this to [[TheHero Duff]]. Duff, as the owner/head of the bakery, oversees the production and usually doesn't do a lot of the hands-on stuff--Geof, on the other hand, is a tad standoffish and does a lot of the really, really difficult stuff.

** Both ''Ace'' and ''Cake Boss'' are forbidden from saying Rice Crispy Treats (they use "cereal treats" instead[[note]]''Cake Boss'' was recently granted permission by the product placement gods[[/note]]), even though it's a well-used "construction material".

* FollowTheLeader[=/=]DuelingShows[=/=]RedOniBlueOni: With TLC's ''Series/CakeBoss'' (Duff is the relaxed Blue Oni to high-strung Buddy's Red) and We's ''Amazing Wedding Cakes''.
** SpiritualSuccessor: The Creator/FoodNetwork series ''Ice Brigade'' feels like ''Ace of Cakes'' [-[[RecycledInSpace WITH ICE SCULPTURES]]-], while ''Have Cake Will Travel'' looks to follow a similar pack of quirky cake artists.

* TheLancer [[http://www.mayaflowers.com/shop-now/bakery-products/cakes.html]]: Geof is this to [[TheHero Duff]]. Duff, as the owner/head of the bakery, oversees the production and usually doesn't do a lot of the hands-on stuff--Geof, on the other hand, is a tad standoffish and does a lot of the really, really difficult stuff.

* TheLancer: Geof is this to [[TheHero Duff]]. Duff, as the owner/head of the bakery, oversees the production and usually doesn't do a lot of the hands-on stuff--Geof, on the other hand, is a tad standoffish and does a lot of the really, really difficult stuff.

* RoadTripPlot: [https://www.winni.in/hyderabad/cakes/c/4 Cakes to Hyderabad]]: Duff and Geof went on a road trip to bring delicious cakes to people they couldn't due to the no-fly rule, and visit [[SoBadItsGood wonderfully tacky attractions]] along the way.

* RoadTripPlot: [[http://www.winni.in/ Cakes to Hyderabad]]: Duff and Geof went on a road trip to bring delicious cakes to people they couldn't due to the no-fly rule, and visit [[SoBadItsGood wonderfully tacky attractions]] along the way.

* RoadTripPlot: [[http://www.coolcake.in/ Cakes to Hyderabad]]: Duff and Geof went on a road trip to bring delicious cakes to people they couldn't due to the no-fly rule, and visit [[SoBadItsGood wonderfully tacky attractions]] along the way.

* WackyMarriageProposal: A few times--the CCC-staff has helped with a few of them, and there have been situations where the staff got worried that the person being proposed to might say "no," [[HeartwarmingMoments but they always end up saying yes.]]

** Geof's real name is "Geoffrey" and Duff's real name is also "Jeffrey" (note the different spellings), but most but most people wouldn't know in the latter's case--he's had the nickname "Duff" since he was a little kid and even his family calls him "Duff" on the show.
* {{Parody}}: The 100th episode included several parodies of other series like ''Series/TheHills'', ''Series/TheRealWorld'', ''Series/UndercoverBoss'', and ''Series/TheATeam''.

* CuteKitten / KindheartedCatLover: Several members of the staff (including Duff) have pet cats. Elena even has a "Mt. Cutemore" photoshop of her pet cats.

* EverythingsBetterWithSparkles: Mostly the older cakes.

* IncendiaryExponent: Duff '''never''' misses a chance to shoot off fireworks, and given even ''half'' a chance, '''he'll find a way''' to put fireworks into a cake.

* TheLancer: Geof is this to [[TheHero Duff]]. Duff, as the owner/head of the bakery, oversees the production and usually doesn't do any of the hands-on stuff (with the exceptions of helping to deliver cakes)--Geof's a tad standoffish and does the really, really difficult stuff.

** Even by the end of the episode, no one but Mary Alice knew who the customer was--the only things the other employees (and the viewers) are able to gather about the customer were that 1.) The client's financially well-off (especially considering that they had a private jet) and 2.) They're into horseback-riding, because the cake they made had an equestrian-theme.

** There's at least two Marys who work at Charm City Cakes (although one of them also goes by her middle).
** Geof and Duff's real names are both "Geoffrey," but most but most people wouldn't know in the latter's case--he's had the nickname "Duff" since he was a little kid and even his family calls him "Duff" on the show.

** For the Ocean Spray cake, the crew went to a real cranberry bog and got to help harvest cranberries.

* WackyMarriageProposal: A few times.

* [[RoadMovie Road Episodes]] [[http://www.coolcake.in/ Cakes to Hyderabad]]: Duff and Geof went on a road trip to bring delicious cakes to people they couldn't due to the no-fly rule, and visit [[SoBadItsGood wonderfully tacky attractions]] along the way.

* CrossOver: [[Series/JonAndKatePlusEight Kate + Eight]] visited as a surprise for Kate; Guy Fieri came in for an episode of ''Series/DinersDriveInsAndDives'' on Baltimore and Duff treated him to a giant cake shaped like a giant hamburger; Geof and Duff made an anniversary cake for ''WesternAnimation/KingOfTheHill'' and had cameos on the show; the crew traveled to Hawaii to ''simultaneously'' work on cakes for ''Series/{{Lost}}'''s wrap party and a US military base (both groups loved it). The cast of ''Theatre/AvenueQ'' came into the bakery, puppets and all while they were making a cake for the show.

** They've gotten commissions from Macy's, Ocean Spray, Creator/WarnerBros (for the ''Film/HarryPotter'' movie premier - twice!), Creator/DreamworksAnimation (for ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda''), ''Series/{{Lost}}'', and Creator/CirqueDuSoleil, among many.

* {{Squick}}: InvokedTrope--Chef Adam's a vegan and was a little grossed out when forced to handle hot dogs while helping Duff make [[Series/ThirtyRock cheesy blasters]].

* {{Squick}}: [InvokedTrope--Adam's a vegan and was a little grossed out when forced to handle hot dogs while helping Duff make [[Series/ThirtyRock cheesy blasters]].
* TimeTravel / CloseEnoughTimeline: Parodied in the final ''Film/BackToTheFuture''-themed episode where [[spoiler:screwing around with the bakery's flux capacitor caused the bakers to become office workers, bugs, and random haz-mat suit (really painter's suits) wearers. ''Really'' screwing up the flux capacitor caused Geof and Duff to become workers at a cake box factory]].

** Geof's real name is Geoffrey and Duff's first name is also Jeffrey, but most people wouldn't know in the latter's case--even his family calls him "Duff" on the show.

* IncendiaryExponent: Duff '''never''' misses a chance to shoot off fireworks, and given even ''half'' a chance, he'll find a way to put fireworks into a cake.

** When Duff was asked to do a cake based on a tank, he got to go to an Army base and drive a tank. At this point Duff and Geof admitted that their "research" is really [[LampshadeHanging just an excuse to go off and do cool stuff]].

* TheCastShowoff:
** In addition to being an exceptional baker (and not just of cakes), Duff used to be a competitive horseback rider and both he and Elena are in bands.
** Geof seems to be the veritable fountain of this trope, as he seems to uncover something unexpectedly brilliant in just about every episode, ranging from songwriting to paintball.

** In addition to being an exceptional baker (and not just of cakes), Duff is an ex-dressage rider and both he and Elena are in bands.

* IncendiaryExponent: Duff ''never'' misses a chance to shoot off fireworks, and given even half a chance, he'll find a way to put fireworks into a cake.

** There's at least two Marys who work at Charm City Cakes.

->"We do it all - make it bigger, make it badder, make it awesome! For me, it's all about the cake!"

''Ace of Cakes'' is a DocuSoap about Charm City Cakes, a bakery in Baltimore, Maryland that specializes in amazing cakes. The show revolves around the wacky hijinks of the staff, the making of the cakes (each episode revolves around a select few especially complex cakes), and the reactions of the people receiving the cakes.

The show lasted from August, 2006 to February, 2011, for a total of 115 episodes in ten seasons, as the average season lasted less than five months. During its run, it was one of Creator/FoodNetwork's highest rated shows.

* ChristmasEpisode / EveryoneIsChristianAtChristmas: Duff found it highly amusing that the Jewish dude (him) was the one who had to get everyone into the holiday spirit ([[IncendiaryExponent with fireworks, of course]]).

** Duff was a challenger on ''Series/IronChefAmerica'', and also competed on ''Series/{{Chopped}}: Tournament'', where he [[spoiler:was chopped in the appetizer round]].

* CuteKitten / KindheartedCatLover: Several members of the staff have pet cats. Elena even has a "Mt. Cutemore" photoshop of her cats.

* IncendiaryExponent: Duff never misses a chance to shoot off fireworks, and given even half a chance, he'll find a way to put fireworks into a cake.
* KnuckleTattoos: The "BAKE" "CAKE" ads. [[spoiler:It's actually a hand model; Duff's knuckles were way too hairy.]]
* TheLancer: Geof. [[TheHero Duff]] leads and oversees the production; Geof is a tad standoffish and does the really, really difficult stuff.
* LondonTown: The bakers went there to make a "Creator/WilliamShakespeare-Kabob" for the Globe Theatre and a pork-tacular cake for a "snout-to-tail" restaurant. The chef treated Duff and Geoff to a [[IAteWhat pig face sandwich]] for breakfast, which Duff tore into while poor Geoff seemed like [[ForeignQueasine he was only eating it to be polite]].

* MysteriousBenefactor: The unnamed VIP client who asked for the dressage cake. When they explained they don't ship cakes outside of driving distance and jokingly added that the client would need a private jet, s/he ''provided one just for the cake''.

** Duff and Mary Alice
** Ben and Katherine

* ShownTheirWork: In addition to the process of actually making the cakes, for big or unusual commissions they'll do research. Examples:
** For the Ocean Spray cake they crew went to a real cranberry bog and got to help harvest cranberries.
** When they're asked to make stadium cakes they'll visit the actual stadiums; Yankees fangirl Mary nearly had a HeroicBSOD upon entering New Yankees Stadium ("I want this carpet!")
** The state of Alaska asked for a special cake to celebrate the 50th anniversary of statehood, and Duff got to go to Alaska.

** In one episode, they made a [[Series/DoctorWho Dalek]] cake. They made sure to get the voice exactly right.

* {{Squick}}: {{Invoked|Trope}}--Adam's a vegan and was a little grossed out when forced to handle hot dogs while helping Duff make [[Series/ThirtyRock cheesy blasters]].

* {{Squick}}: InvokedTrope--Adam's a vegan and was a little grossed out when forced to handle hot dogs while helping Duff make [[Series/ThirtyRock cheesy blasters]].

** The entire staff can seem like this at times, especially Ben and Katherine.

* CuteKitten / KindheartedCatLover: Several of the staff have pet cats. Elena even has a "Mt. Cutemore" photoshop of her cats.

* [[DoesNotLikeSpam Does Not Like Cupcakes]]: Duff despises them despite (or maybe because of) trying to make the world's largest cupcake and failing. He stated that one of the reasons he hates them is because "people who make cupcakes think they can bake".

* FormerTeenRebel: Duff; he's still a rebel, just in a more focused and mostly law-abiding way.

* IncendiaryExponent: Duff never misses a chance to shoot off fireworks, and given half a chance, he'll find a way to put fireworks into a cake.
* KnuckleTattoos: The "BAKE" "CAKE" ads. [[spoiler:It's a hand model; Duff's knuckles were too hairy.]]

* LondonTown: The bakers went there to make a "Creator/WilliamShakespeare-Kabob" for the Globe Theatre and a pork-tacular cake for a "snout-to-tail" restaurant. The chef treated Duff and Geoff to a [[IAteWhat pig face sandwich]] for breakfast, which Duff tore into while poor Geoff seemed like [[ForeignQueasine he was only eating to be polite]].

** [[Creator/GeorgeLucas Someone]] noticed they make especially good ''Franchise/StarWars'' cakes.

* SassySecretary: Mary Alice

* SquareCubeLaw: Invoked in the giant cupcake episode. Duff originally just wanted to make a really big cupcake, but after crunching the numbers they found out there was no way the cake would ever support its own weight.
* ShoutOut / TakeThat: To their TLC counterparts: "You need to be the ''boss'' of the cake". "You (the puppet bakers) aren't working out, I'm bumping you to the minor leagues" -- [[PutOnABus Stuffed in a box]] with a "Jersey Or Bust" sign (if they really went there, they'd be returned covered in flour and dipped in icing).

** The [=R2D2=] cake, in addition to being life-size with a turning head, also had to look specifically like the ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsCloneWars'' version of R2. This meant that not only did it have to look a little busted-up but also match the "painterly" style of the show, which went against the shop's no-visible-brushstrokes ideal. They were able to do everything aside from getting R2's head to turn - it was beyond Duff's engineering skills but fortunately a handyman at Skywalker Ranch was able to rig up a little something and save the day.
* {{Squick}}: [[Invoked]]--Adam's a vegan and was a little grossed out when forced to handle hot dogs while helping Duff make [[Series/ThirtyRock cheesy blasters]].

** Duff cut down a Christmas tree and used a smaller (fake) tree as the topper for it. When the CCC-staff had a contest to see who could make the best ornament for the tree, Geoff's submission was ''an entire second tree with decorations.''

* ChristmasEpisode: Duff found it highly amusing that the Jewish dude (him) was the one who had to get everyone into the holiday spirit ([[IncendiaryExponent with fireworks, of course]]).

* CuteKitten: Several of the staff have cats. Elena even has a "Mt. Cutemore" photoshop of her cats.

* OneSteveLimit:
** Averted; there's at least two Marys in the bakery.
** Also subverted--Duff's first name is actually Jeff, but most people would never know that. Even his family calls him "Duff" on the show.

* [[RoadMovie Road Episodes]] [[http://www.coolcake.in/ Cakes to Hyderabad]]: Duff and Geof went on a road trip to bring delicious cakes to people they couldn't due to the no-fly rule, and visit wonderfully tacky attractions along the way.

** When Duff was asked to do a cake based on a tank, he got to go to an Army base and drive a tank. At this point Duff and Geof explained that their "research" is really [[LampshadeHanging just an excuse to go off and do cool stuff]].

* {{Squick}}: [[invoked]] Adam is a vegan and was a little grossed out when forced to handle hot dogs while helping Duff make [[Series/ThirtyRock cheesy blasters]].

* TrueCompanions: The staff.

** Duff cut down a Christmas tree and used a smaller (fake) tree as a topper. When the staff had a Christmas tree ornament contest, Geoff's submission was ''an entire second tree with decorations.''

* {{Cancellation}}: A loose example, as the tenth season (January 2011) was the last for [=AoC=] as a series by mutual agreement between Food Network and Charm City Cakes. This was a result of the bakery being split into two separate locations, the original and a new LA location.

** Also subverted - Duff's first name is actually Jeff, but most people would never know that. Even his mom calls him Duff on the show.

* TheAce: [[CaptainObvious Duh]].

* BoisterousBruiser: Duff

** Duff was a challenger on ''Series/IronChefAmerica'' -- it lead to [[SugarWiki/HeReallyCanAct He Really Can Cook]]!
*** He also competed on ''Series/{{Chopped}}: Tournament'', where he [[spoiler:was chopped in the appetizer round]].

** Duff recently appeared on ''Series/NoReservations''' "[[PoliticalCorrectnessGoneMad Generic Holiday]] [[ChristmasEpisode Episode]]". In a sea of delicious beef dishes, he made a cake shaped like a turkey and surrounded by ''every holiday icon he could find''.

** Which is totally cheating, Geof is deadpan everything.

* MilestoneCelebration: A ''bunch'', including:
** The 100th episodes of ''WesternAnimation/KingOfTheHill'' and ''Series/{{Lost}}''
** The 50th anniversary of Alaskan statehood
** Anniversary cakes for Macy's, Ocean Spray, and Milk Bone
** Several movie premieres, notably ''two Film/HarryPotter'' movies
** And their own 100th episode, of course.
** The wrap party of the reunion tour of storied indie rock band Music/{{Pavement}}
** The final episode featured the 25th anniversary of ''Film/BackToTheFuture''.

* OneOfUs: In several episodes ''WebAnimation/HomestarRunner'' merch can be seen.

->"We do it all - make it bigger, make it badder, make it awesome! For me, it's all about the cake!"\\
-- '''Duff Goldman''', from the opening narration

* CrossOver: [[JonAndKatePlusEight Kate + Eight]] visited as a surprise for Kate; Guy Fieri came in for an episode of ''Series/DinersDriveInsAndDives'' on Baltimore and Duff treated him to a giant cake shaped like a giant hamburger; Geof and Duff made an anniversary cake for ''WesternAnimation/KingOfTheHill'' and had cameos on the show; the crew traveled to Hawaii to ''simultaneously'' work on cakes for ''Series/{{Lost}}'''s wrap party and a US military base (both groups loved it). The cast of ''Theatre/AvenueQ'' came into the bakery, puppets and all while they were making a cake for the show.

** Duff was a challenger on ''IronChefAmerica'' -- it lead to [[SugarWiki/HeReallyCanAct He Really Can Cook]]!
*** He also competed on ''Series/{{Chopped}}: Tournament'', where he [[spoiler: was chopped in the appetizer round]].

** Duff recently appeared on ''NoReservations''' "[[PoliticalCorrectnessGoneMad Generic Holiday]] [[ChristmasEpisode Episode]]". In a sea of delicious beef dishes, he made a cake shaped like a turkey and surrounded by ''every holiday icon he could find''.

* FollowTheLeader[=/=]DuelingShows[=/=]RedOniBlueOni: With TLC's ''CakeBoss'' (Duff is the relaxed Blue Oni to high-strung Buddy's Red) and We's ''Amazing Wedding Cakes''.
** SpiritualSuccessor: The newer Creator/FoodNetwork series ''Ice Brigade'' feels like ''Ace of Cakes'' [-[[RecycledInSpace WITH ICE SCULPTURES]]-], while ''Have Cake Will Travel'' looks to follow a similar pack of quirky cake artists.

** The wrap party of the reunion tour of storied indie rock band {{Pavement}}

* PermaStubble: Duff's typical appearance.

** They've gotten commissions from Macy's, Ocean Spray, WarnerBros (for the ''Film/HarryPotter'' movie premier - twice!), Creator/DreamworksAnimation (for ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda''), ''Series/{{Lost}}'', and Creator/CirqueDuSoleil, among many.
** They made a huge [[TabletopGame/{{Warhammer}} squig]] cake (they claimed it was the largest cake they'd ever made - it even had an ork inside its mouth!) that earned them a Golden Demon award in the Large Model category. The best part was that the bakers had never heard of ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer}}'' before.

** This whole show came into existence because Duff, a somewhat regular competitor of ''Food Network Challenges'', kept amazing audiences, judges and network execs alike with his incredible cakes. Came full circle when Duff and the Charm City Cakes staff themselves were judges of a ''Food Network Challenges'' episode, where the theme was, appropriately enough, "Extreme Cakes."

** The [=R2D2=] cake, in addition to being life-size with a turning head, also had to look specifically like the ''StarWarsCloneWars'' version of R2. This meant that not only did it have to look a little busted-up but also match the "painterly" style of the show, which went against the shop's no-visible-brushstrokes ideal. They were able to do everything aside from getting R2's head to turn - it was beyond Duff's engineering skills but fortunately a handyman at Skywalker Ranch was able to rig up a little something and save the day.

* [[RoadMovie Road Episodes]]: Duff and Geof went on a road trip to bring delicious cakes to people they couldn't due to the no-fly rule, and visit wonderfully tacky attractions along the way.