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There's a commercial I've seen lately where she's going on about his hands and massaging, and he's putting some kind of marinade or something on a roast.

It didn't make me squeamish, but it just seems weird for a cooking show. It'll be interesting to see if this show lasts, and/or if they cut back on the bantering.

That beater incident is a bit over the top for TV - very demonstrative. That's even a bit forward for me and that's saying something.

A couple of years back when her husband first bought her Semi-Homemade on TVFN, Shamdra used to wax sexual about how, after serving one of her f'ntastic packaged food meals, she and her husband might not make it all the way up the stairs because they were so anxious to get their hands on each other. The very visual made me gag harder than the food being demonstrated.

As far as "loving exchanges" go I like Ina and Jeff. After so many years together, she appears to still love taking care of him and while what we see on TV is staged, the optimist in me wants to believe some measure of it is true.

I've only watched one ep of the Neelys - not by any disdain for the show but simply because I was only in front of the TV once while it was on. Mrs. Neely was preparing some type of food "guaranteed to get you a man." While this might have been her catalyst for preparing the recipe, she must have said that a dozen times... "If you make this, next thing you know, you will have a man!!"

Don't get me wrong. I am not above augmenting feminine wiles with cooking skills (and have on a number of occasions) but the constant repetition of this phrase really grated on me. Her husband was not featured in that ep. I shudder to think what would have happened if he were featured, given the "mission statement" of that particular ep.

I fear the focus on the couple will detract from any really good food the Neelys might prepare.

It was obvious from their promo that food was only secondary. I'm disgusted by it. I agree with chiffO regarding Ina and Jeff, if they want to show a loving relationship. Those two make you smile and give you hope. You can find cheap sex and innuendo on nearly every other channel. It's one of the reasons I don't watch Paula's party show. I haven't checked, but I'll bet Gordon Elliot is producing the Neely's, as he does Paula and Aunt Sandy? Same eye for quality. I'll pass on the Neely's.

I'm intrigued. Now I have to watch it to see what offends me.

While I applaud the FN for finally paying attention to producing programing with more cultural diversity, can they not also pay attention to high quality programing? I know this is kind of getting off topic, but it really frustrates me.

Saturday morning. I second the Ina & Jeffrey comment! My husband like to look at the "pretty" FN hosts, but when the Neely's came on his only comment was "Are you kidding me?"

My family and I always joke about Ina and Jeffrey that during the week he's got some 20 year old girlfriend in the city! They do seem to have a great marriage, a lot like my parents 36 years, I like them a lot.

I don't like the Neely's show, it just seems too over the top with the family interaction. I soooo appreciate Markbb's line about the MTV of food, you are dead on!

I'm with you, Chaoss. And in that line, it's not so surprising that Ina and Jeffrey admirers might be put off by what the OP described re the Neelys.

I haven't seen the Neely show, but this topic immediately brings Nigella to mind. Nobody seemed to mind her suggestively licking fingers and spoons. I'll keep further speculations to myself, though.

I have no problem with their innuendo, and am amazed that in today's world anyone other than Mrs. Grundy would feel so.

That said, I got over the Neely's fairly quickly just because their patter is so obviously "on" and "prepared" - I thought I was watching one of those tightly scripted sit-coms with a laugh track that show a "real family" unlike any real family around.

I think there's actually more overt flirting than there is innuendo-- love pats, pecks, compliments galore-- but...honestly... I think it's sweet....This is a couple who has been together for a very long time and work together and still enjoy cooking together at home for each other and their family...

I watched part of an episode of the Neely's and turned it off because the focus was on what I wasn't interested in seeing, I do the same with Nigella. If they offend you turn it off, eventually FN will get the message or not, lets face it some people actually like voyerism.

I watched a little bit of the Neely's and was underwhelmed. I guess I didn't watch it long enough to get to the sexual innuendo. I was bothered by the amount of sugar going into the savory items. They made some homemade potato chips, and seasoned them with the Neely's special spice blend, which I think was paprika, sugar and onion powder. Then they made some bleu cheese dressing/ dip that also contained sugar. I felt confused, so I changed the channel.

well I must say, I have been waiting to comment on the "neelys". I am African American and have been waiting to see a show of color from the food network for some time. What they gave America was the Neelys!! You must be kidding me! I HATE that show. I don't understand why all the sexual comments and gestures. It has nothing to do with food. I am from down south and food reminds me of love, comfort, and my mother, grandmother, and aunts. Not this mess they have given us. It makes me wonder if this is what the network thinks of black people. I am sure this is scripted and someone felt this was what people of color wanted to see but this is what we feared! Go back to the drawing board, cut Gina out of the plot and just allow pat to cook. He has a way with the camera. If he leaves the sex out of cooking and just cook he is sure to do well.

The Neely's are supposed to be professional chef's and all they do is play and act like children. Cooking is hardly involved, but there is a lot of kissing, touching and inapporpiate comments which do not belong on a cooking show. As an African-American Southern woman with a family, this show is totally offensive to me because it is just like a stupid "sitcom."

Food Network please, please, give us a professional and serious cooking show and not an idiotic, cheap imitation because we deserve better than that. Pat can stay because he seems dedicated and serious, but Gina and that "screeching" voice can head back to Memphis!

Stop laughing every minute and cook, if not Food Network "can" that horrible unprofessional cooking show1

It is really unfortunate that with the minimum amount of African Americans on television we are criticizing one another. However, I agree with the majority of the posts. Their behavior is not always appropriate for a food show. I think they both can be over the top at times, her more so than him. The cameral loves Pat. Not because he's handsome, but because he seems more geniune and less scripted as Gina does. I understand the family coming over to eat. That is a cultural thing. In fact, the cameras love the family too. I really want this show to work so that there is a representation of people of color; but I think it needs to be revamped. Don't take it off the air, just tone them down a little.

A few things:

I think anything that you feel embarrassed to watch with your GROWN children is inappropriate. The first time I watched the Neely's, my son-in-law came walking through the kitchen, and I was mortified. So, yes, I think the "banter" between the Neely's is in approriate, but this is the way I handle it: I don't watch the show at all anymore. Period. I urge anyone who feels the same way to do that. Let people who enjoy it or who don't get embarrassed by the ribald remarks watch this show in peace.

I think Ina and Jefferey Garten are adorable, sweet, and all class. I love watching them together, and nothing they ever do is embarrassing or crass.

And, finally, the Neely's make Nigella and Nigella's "commentary" seem chaste. Even Ms. Lawson isn't as overtly sexual with her innuendo and behavior as the Neely's. They just make me wince!

I have watched the show a couple of times and every time I end up turning the channel. The spice fairy needs to go some where, I'm glad there in love and all but come on. I'm here to watch a "food" network show to learn not to turn up my nose b/c the spice fairy is shaken her booty and shovin' beaters down her throat.
That goes ditto for Paula's party show, "GROSS"!!

I hate this show.
It sucks.

I haven't watched the show yet but because of the comments posted here I will have to now. I gotta see if it as over the top and revolting as posters say. Food Network used to be about cooking and lots less cheese... I don't hardly watch it it all any longer.

Back when Giada first came on, my then 21 year old college son told me it was "soft porn" and that he never missed it. His affection for Giada turned into a genuine love of cooking. She was never trashy or overtly sexual: the camera work and the pace of the show made it sensual.

Another Foodnetwork classic example of putting people in front of the camera who think they are entertainers instead of teachers. What I have learned lately is that some home "chefs" have graduated from this level of questionable education and move on. There are so many good cooking shows on PBS (and a few on FoodNW). We need only point our remote control at our TV and move on to what pleases us.

I LOVE the Neely's. Their playful banter comes across as 100% genuine. I don't know how anyone can be grossed out by it or find it inappropriate. It's a beautiful thing to me to see a married couple who obviously adore each other. Funny.....people don't seem to be bugged by the psycho personalities and disgusting behavior on some of these reality shows, yet when a MARRIED couple show some passion, they get upset? Go figure.

I am African American and am embarrassed by the Neely's. It should be a show you could watch with your parents, grandparents and children. Gina's spice fairy routine is annoying. Her banter especially when she said her grandmother told her how to get a man "here(heart), here(stomach) and "down there" was so repulsive! I do enjoy Pat's quiet manner. I think they can cook a lot more than just BBQ. Their Road Tasted with the Neely's shows some great places but Gina trying to be the center of everyone's attention makes the show a loser. I was hoping the show would be a positive portrayal of a middle to upper class African American family who lives in a nice house, works hard and enjoys cooking. If I wanted to hear about their "passion" I would think that would be on a different channel.

Paula Deen used to be a favorite but she and Gina are the same ... too vulgar and it is very uncomfortable to watch.

This show is no surprise to me. It is just another affirmation that FN is going
down hill rapidly.