Game Over for Mario at the Food Network
Celebrity chef Mario Batali has been cut from the Food Network roster:
"He said that if his shows weren't going to be renewed, then he wasn't going to do 'Iron Chef,' " said a network insider. "And then they essentially said 'ciao.' "
Don't worry. You'll still be able to watch Batali TV when he teams up with actress Gwyneth Paltrow on their upcoming public television cooking show.
Update: Mario still shooting episodes
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10 Comments:
the food network sucks these days anyway. it's too bad mario is gone, but i dont watch the food network anymore aside from occasionally catching iron chef america or alton brown. there's just not enough actual cooking on it anymore, and what they do have is lame, market driven drivel.
the best cooking shows are on pbs now. lidia bastianich, those two texas guys who cook tuscan food, ming tsai, jaques pepin, mark bittman, there was a todd english show, that goofy guy mike colamecco is great, and tons more. the food network is just a big letdown now.
seyo at 10:47AM on 09/05/07
I'm sure they'll fill his time slot with yet another Rachel Ray show, or some other boobies delivery vehicle.
Mario was too sophisticated for the Food Network. They should stick to the Emeril fan and their spawn because after all, clapping, catch phrases and music make for better food.
jayfallon at 11:17AM on 09/05/07
That really sucks. I'm just waiting for Good Eats to move to Discovery (where it was originally intended to be) for me to not have to watch FN anymore.
This is especially troubling as I just got back from a vacation to NYC with my wife, and we had the best meal of our life at Babbo.
We also went to the Chelsea Market, the "home" of the Food Network. There was a big banner out front for their new Latin-themed show. My wife hadn't heard of it, and I let her know it was their latest take on boobs with a cooking show.
By the way, if I have to hear the FN announcer guy butcher the word "Delicioso" again, I'm going to hurl.
Sorry for the vitriol, but I'm so pissed at how crappy the network has become. Everything I loved about it years ago is gone.
NTSCBlogdotcom at 11:26AM on 09/05/07
Gak! Can the Food Network sink any lower? Mario's show was the only one that I would try to make time for during my day. Jayfallon, you are so right! Time to head down to Lupa for dinner. No reason to watch ICA anymore hoping that someone would choose Batali for battle . . . and no one has the courage to go up against Morimoto, except Patricia Yeo!
ride&cook at 12:11PM on 09/05/07
Oh that's sad. Sort of. Mario is the reason I watch Iron Chef America. Hopefully he can now move on to bigger and better things and really convey his passion for food without the restraint of the FoodTv Police.
ErikaWaz at 12:21PM on 09/05/07
Gwyneth Paltrow & Mario Batali????
This has got to be a joke. I can't think of an unliklier pair...
Lilla at 1:11PM on 09/05/07
Yeah, seriously FN has gone to the dumps with all the airheads on lately... good ole Alton Brown is the only thing worth watching these days.
chlamers at 6:53PM on 09/05/07
Oh how I hate the FN. I wonder if it'll ever change. I actually enjoyed watching it when it first started and now I just switch it on to see which idiot is pushing inane noncooking nonsense.
Have to rely on PBS and discovery channels.
Also, tried to send comments on the FN websites. Apparently there is no way of doing that. Am I right? Can someone check and if one can comment, can we all protest together?
Foodonmymind
foodonmymind at 10:55AM on 09/07/07
I have wrote FN about the shows they are putting out lately. They never wrote back apparently we the viewers don't have a say in what garbage they are putting on. It's so disappointing I use to enjoy the cooking shows, now it's like watching food porn. I haven't watched PBS yet but I will definitely be checking it out.
lilyx5100 at 11:36AM on 07/06/08
SOOO sad to hear he is done
I really enjoyed his show
mcento at 8:10PM on 07/15/08