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How do you really feel about the departure of (first) Mario Batali and (now) Emeril Lagasse from the Food Network?
While both Mario and Emeril will live on in reruns, I don’t know if the Food Network will be better off without them. The “newer” hosts (George Duran, Guy Fieri, Amy Finley, Sandra Lee, Robin Miller, to name just a few) have never come across as chefs or personalities that I would tune in to on a normal basis.
If there was nothing on TV – I always knew I could turn on Emeril or Mario, be somewhat entertained, learn something and see some good food being prepared. I don’t think any of those things are true with the above listed hosts.
There is always PBS…
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13 Comments:
I always loathed Emeril and I never did get into Mario's programs. The only two shows on the Food Network that I can watch without wanting to throw something at the TV are Good Eats and Iron Chef. And its Alton Brown that make those shows work. Anyone want to take bets on how long Alton lasts?
shea at 12:58PM on 11/27/07
I tune in every week or so to see who's on. I enjoy all the hosts and learn something new from each one.
Lavendergirl at 1:10PM on 11/27/07
I agree with shea. Honestly, Emeril was never entertaining and was always trying to put on too much of a show. He would stand in front of his audience on Live and only try to make a big deal out of everything he did. I only occasionally flipped to Mario's show, but I never thought he did a good job connecting with the screen and his viewers. Maybe that's just me for thinking so...Anyway, there are definitely some BAD hosts (Sandra Lee tops that list, as well as many of the newer ones) but I still enjoy watching Giada and Ina and Iron Chef America. In my opinion, it isn't Emeril or Mario that made Food Network.
luswim06 at 1:33PM on 11/27/07
Food Network started to go downhill when it began featuring fluff shows like Secret Life Of... and programming by those I refer to as The Cool Whip contingent. Sandra Lee is not the future of cooking - anyone who cooks real food and passes that skill on to at least one other person will make sure of it.
Instead of trying to broaden its audience (cooks) by adding specialized cooking shows, TVFN tried to be all things to all people. What about a show on gum paste and pastillage and rolled fondant for serious cake decorators? Thai Cooking and other ethnic food instruction? (Delicioso is awful, BTW. She could take a lesson from Daisy Martinez.) Why not a show on how to open your own restaurant or open a catering business? Something with a little more teeth than Recipe for Success. If TVFN ran a sitcom about a restaurant (like Chef!), I'd be watching it every week!
I've heard people joke many times about the "good" cooks from TVFN starting their own station. I'm writing a letter to Santa to that effect and Fed Exing it to the North Pole. PBS is great but it can be a bit stuffy.
TVFN tried to adopt the slogan, "Food Network, so much more than cooking," to which I'd audibly respond for the entertainment of no one but myself, "Except for, no, it's not."
chiff0nade at 1:36PM on 11/27/07
I have no problem whatsoever with Emeril Live going away. He was loud and annoying. And while I do dearly love garlic, not every dish is improved with mountains of the stuff. And Bamming. Yay for him being gone.
I liked the Mario shows, but they were never must see tv for me. Honestly, I kind of prefered FoodTV in its earlier days. How to Boil Water w/Sean Donnellan, Taste w/David Rosengarten, Cooking Live w/Sara Moulton. Shows where they cooked and explained things. Like shea the only shows I ever catch anymore are Good Eats and Iron Chef, and even then, only sometimes.
Wait, no, sometimes I LOVE to watch that dreadful Sandra Lee show, Semi-homemade. I yell at the TV and throw things at it and inevitably get squicked out by some revolting thing she does to her cocktail. Great fun.
rockykay at 2:05PM on 11/27/07
That woman, Sandra Lee, with her clothing that matches her kitchen, and her theme of the day, and her tacky "tablescapes"...aarrrggghh!!! My husband and I refer to her show as the creepy show, I mean, did anyone see the one where she donned her red cheerleader outfit?!? Yikes, lady.
foodie1 at 6:42PM on 11/27/07
I have to add that I think it is amusing that everyone seems to despise Sandra Lee! I thought I was the only one, but boy was I wrong! What honest, respected cook actually dresses up to match the food they are making?! Goodness...
luswim06 at 8:08PM on 11/27/07
I hate to repeat myself, but....The Essence of Emeril is GREAT. He never says BAM. Teaches techniques and great recipes (obviously backed by a great staff). Hated his audience show and couldn't watch it. Mario has fantastic recipes. I didn't like the screaming music on his show and he was a little fast, but every recipe I tried was fantastic. They are both CHEFS. I quit watching Alton Brown after seeing him judge the next great "STAR". He was downright nasty and full of himself. Iron Chef is a sport, period. I'll watch repeats of Barefoot Contessa and I also like Paula Deen. Tyler's Ultimate is also really good, although I think he's catching Rachel's hyperactivety disorder. Giada......artfully photographed. ;) Sandra........OMG.......what were they thinking????
PerkyMac at 9:32PM on 11/27/07
i haven't watched food network in years {the only tv i watch these days is when i'm on the treadmill at the gym and they don't have much in the way of cable aside from cnn} but i never understood the appeal of emeril.
cybercita at 10:12PM on 11/27/07
Emeril is actually not leaving the network--they're just not taping Emeril Live anymore. Essence of Emeril will continue. A friend who works at the FN says that he's still within their confines, so to speak, and that he's working with them on "new vehicles."
The problem I see with FN is that it's more about infotainment and competition-oriented shows and less about instruction. When Nigella Lawson's newer shows (the ones that were done for Feasts) went from the Style Network to FN, they became less about details and instruction. The Food Network treatment of Nigella dumbed down what made her other incarnations of programs (Nigella Bites, Forever Summer etc) so much more engaging and educational.
As for Ms. Ray............agh! We specifically bought store-brand "Triscuits" because we refuse to purchase something with her perky face on it. Hopelessly mediocre!
PAWriter at 12:12AM on 11/28/07
Seems to me that the FN is all about bubbly stupid personalities than about food.I can't stand Rachel Ray or Paula Dean . Emeril Live was not much better, just too stupid. I feel I have to dumb myself down to watch most of their offerings. I really liked David Rosengarten, and Mario because they really cooked without being stupid. I like Tyler Florence, Bobby Flay was good when he cooked, but too stupid on "Throwdown". Alton Brown can be stupid but for the most part he's good also. I believe its called THE FOOD NETWORK because its about food not about personalities who happen to do some cooking.
calicowade at 8:53AM on 11/28/07
To be honest, I think the Canadian Food Network is superior to the American one. Many of the Canadian-made shows (which could be rip offs from stuff in the US, I don't really know) are excellent - Restaurant makeover, French Food at Home are both excellent. Michael Smith can be a bit much (he does two shows) but his Chef at Large program is interesting in my mind. The summer progamming with Rob Rainford and others doing BBQ is really fun.
We never had Emeril or Mario on our programming because of their contracts with Food TV in the states. As a result, I find our network is far more about the food and less about personalities. Personally, I enjoy Giada as much as the next person, along with Ina. Never been a fan of Paula Deen I'm afraid (although her fried chicken is to die for.... (grin))
Maureen at 9:10AM on 11/28/07
I'm pretty surprised about Emeril even though I don't enjoy his show!
Hillary
Chew on That
Chew on That at 6:49PM on 11/30/07