Food Network losing its edge
Just have to vent about the Food Network. Lately the programming is all game shows, talking heads with little to no culinary 'street cred" and shows about eating. I know how to eat. I want to watch shows about cooking.
But what's really pushed me over the edge are the all-star holiday specials. I've noticed on several of these time slot fillers that they invariably team up an A-lister and a B-lister and have them gush about what great friends they are, like its the Mickey Mouse Club and they all live in some big zany cooking club house together. Its really infantile and sort of embarrassing to watch.
The most recent holiday all-star cooking fest had all the 'stars' cooking up a big old Christmas feast in a loft somewhere, as if they all hang out together. As they frolicked around the table (that they didn't have them wet-towel-snapping each other in a locker room is a blessing) I got a glimpse of Alton Brown in the background, leaning against a wall, arms crossed with an unamused look on his face, and I could just imagine him wishing he could disappear, or better yet get his agent on the phone. Get out of there Alton! Go to PBS!
Food Network: stop programming to the lowest common denominator. We don't need another recipe for mac and cheese. We don't need 30 minute cooking for retards. Bring back the real chefs!
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43 Comments:
Thanks for the fresh, never before seen commentary. I'd never considered this aspect of the Food Network before.
ccbweb at 5:10PM on 01/08/09
Food Network had an edge to lose?
BangieB at 5:18PM on 01/08/09
What's the Food network?
izatryt at 5:18PM on 01/08/09
Alton Brown needs to be on the Travel Channel with Bourdain.
He cooks the dish and tells us about the chemistry involved, then Anthony travels to the country of origin to give us it's history and local flavor of the region...
1st time poster, long time reader.
BrandonIron at 5:22PM on 01/08/09
http://www.google.com/search?q=%22Food+Network%22+site%3Aseriouseats.com%2Ftalk
Adam Kuban at 5:24PM on 01/08/09
Oh, snap! :)
runnereater at 5:28PM on 01/08/09
When Emeril left Alton took his place. He is the new faceboy for the formerly known as the Food Network.
I have been watching Foodtv since the day it came on in 1993. It went from what I really enjoyed to sponsored by Velveeta. The advertising calls the ball on programming. It is a commercial tv network. No one gives a crap what we think, we are not the demographic. The key demographic feeds their family crap food, made with crap ingredients and they want to learn how to make more crap faster and with more crap in it.
Do you know what the average family calls dinner? You don't want to know. Most families never even eat dinner together.
Look in the shopping carts of people next to you at the market. Those kids are being fed crap. Their young minds are being schooled and nutured on a pile of chemicals with extra sugar.
Don't even get me started.
JerzeeTomato at 5:51PM on 01/08/09
Bangieb you beat me to it!!! I was thinking what edge? I went to my mothers to assist as she recovers from getting a new hip and I was watching food network every day as I don't have it at home. Not only was it EXTREAMLY repetitive but very uninspired. I felt bad as I was thinking of getting cable to have fntv again but I have no desire for that now. I watched the holiday special where they all got together and it felt so awkward to me I did watch it several times as that was on a lot that week .
love2cook at 5:51PM on 01/08/09
love2cook: it was awkward and uninspired....but you watched it several times?
I'm missing something.
ccbweb at 6:24PM on 01/08/09
I don't watch anymore ....
NanaJoie at 6:31PM on 01/08/09
Although I reall hate to admit it, I'm kinda excited to see what Chopped is all about. Top Chef has been such an unmitigated piece of shit this year, it can't possibly be any worse. And from what I've read, it will actually be pretty good, no stupid product placement etc.
simon at 6:52PM on 01/08/09
I think Adam gets 'Comment of the Week'!!
suthungirl at 7:51PM on 01/08/09
yeah I kinda stopped watching it too
foodismyspeciality at 8:08PM on 01/08/09
@Adam are you saying we pick on them lol? I cannot believe it lmao.
@simon no words have ever been more true. If I see one more employed chef put crap on a plate I am calling bullshit and never watch the damn show again. STG, never.
JerzeeTomato at 9:21PM on 01/08/09
I miss the Galloping Gourmet reruns and other "vintage" shows. Just thought I'd toss it out there.
ag3208 at 10:13PM on 01/08/09
the food network has gone the way of MTV (in my opinion though i have to confess i haven't seen mtv since the late 90's) starting out as something very interesting and now it's just commercial filler. i do still enjoy some shows, malto mario and ina garten, good eats.... but mostly i put it on at night if there's nothing else to watch -- it puts me to sleep, if truth be told.
and if truth be told, i AM glad there is a food network.
pooch at 10:24PM on 01/08/09
If there were no Food Network, I wouldn't have found my second home - Serious Eats. I was looking for a place to vent my frustration and supreme annoyance with their cast of characters, otherwise known as "stars". The FN stars and google brought me here. (FN - how funny is that?)
PerkyMac at 10:29PM on 01/08/09
I miss those shows also, use to get tons of ideas off of there
poeticalmath at 11:07PM on 01/08/09
@ag3208 I miss the reruns of Galloping Gourmet too. I would like to see more real cooking rather then the trendy crap that is on.
pjracz10 at 3:27AM on 01/09/09
I miss the old days of Julia Child and Yan Can Cook and the Frugal Gourmet on PBS. Those were chefs. But, I'll still tune in to FN because when I actually have time to sit and watch TV with my kids -- I'd still prefer to watch Iron Chef America with them than much of the other crap that's on the other networks.
juliebugsmama at 8:58AM on 01/09/09
Amen. If FN played old reruns of the Frug and Julia, and remember that Cajun guy??? I'd watch that all night long.
spiceweasel at 9:33AM on 01/09/09
They used to have Two Fat Ladies reruns too... those were the days!
feedme2 at 9:42AM on 01/09/09
oh, I miss Two Fat Ladies! They were great
VerasTastyFreeze at 11:19AM on 01/09/09
Oh, come on. We don't pick on TVFN a lot. This is an organization that marketed itself as a place for foodies. It now bears NO resemblance to itself in its early incarnation.
I think our comments are incredibly valuable to TVFN. After all, we started out being its target market - before they abandoned us with fluff-brained foodie-wannabe TV.
If TVFN is interested in regaining ANY of its early cred, they know exactly what to do. Either stop airing crap like The Neeleys and Shamdra Lee - or create a spinoff network for people who actually cook. Not rocket science.
therealchiffonade at 11:37AM on 01/09/09
Amen.........therealchciffonade
Markbb at 12:21PM on 01/09/09
One complaint I have is how the network seems to often do a daily theme thing...so if the day's theme is mexican or latin...then every show has a guacamole...or if it's italian it a slew of the same old pastas and tomato sauces...With the Superbowl coming up, I'm sure we'll see a whole day of chili recipes before too long...don't get me wrong...LOVE chili but come on...do we need 5 shows in a row featuring it???
sammie at 3:35PM on 01/09/09
I miss Two Fat Ladies, Ming Tsai, and Iron Chef Japan...actual cooking!!
I don't have cable anymore, haven't for about 5 years, but I was at a hotel last weekend and thought I would get my TVFN fix (I used to watch it all the time while a stay-at-home mom because it was G-rated all the time). I ended up watching the same episode of Food Network Challenge about 4 times (repeats!!!) and it was about themed cakes. Not only was one of the criteria that the cake had to be 4 feet tall and 3-D (and therefore ended up being about 200 pounds, which was just ridiculous) but there was NO, I repeat, NO taste criteria!!! It was all "use fondant as playdough"!!!
I now watch Bittman and old Alton Brown on YouTube, and haunt my library cookbook section for better fare.
akk328 at 4:25PM on 01/09/09
My big gripe, lately, is that the two newest and best chefs on there are only on Saturday mornings...very early. The Cooking Loft and Secrets of a Restaurant Chef are the bright spots of my week but if I miss them they're NEVER repeated. Why are all the other shows shown 3,000 times and not these?
bessfour at 4:37PM on 01/09/09
Come on - they're a business. Obviously not enough people watched the "serious" cooking shows...and they get better ratings with the current stuff. Bring the people what they want, right? Any other business has to do the same to survive --- if something isn't selling, you drop it and replace it with something that does. It is unfortunate that most of the country has the low taste that encourages the Sandra Lees of the network.
kgirl at 9:21AM on 01/10/09
@ spiceweasel -- Excellent Idea, maybe they'll read your post and allow us a couple hours a day of old reruns, and I don't mean FN produced shows. I still go to my JC DVD's and what she called "videobooks" and watch the hell out of them.
I hope WBGH put out more of her old shows, after repeated watchings, I catch myself blurting out certain of her phrases in unison, lol.
Oh yes, and the FN edge...... let's see, when Moulton and Batali left, I basically left as well.
lochaven at 11:19AM on 01/10/09
@spiceweasel....HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.....hmmmmm.......HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH........eeeee....hehehe.......HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!Edge ....HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Pavlov at 1:31PM on 01/12/09
Well what this that I have been saying for over year and now finally it is coming around, One of about my first post was where are all the chefs going ? The network continues on putting on these at home cooking shows, which I will agree there are some that need that, but I think and IMHO that is not what the majority or the long time viewers want, once again they play to the need of a few and the rest of us get it shoved down our throats with repeat of crap after crap shows. Sooner or later and maybe like some of the other industry it will cease to exist as we know it. Spend a day just watching the adds, more and more you will notice they are pushing the shows but who is paying for them, you see very little advertising from the food industry, maybe some restaurant chains are now trying to get in, but if you are a network of home cooking shows where do you think your going to eat at home ??? at least when they had the chefs it was hey look at what they are cooking that looks good maybe we ought to go out and try that and a few of us would go maybe we should try fixing it at home. Somebody, someplace is going to wake up and go oh maybe we screwed up, and should have listen to the old timers that got us here in the first place, or wake up go what happened to our network. JUST SOME FOOD FOR THOUGHT! and long live the chefs where ever you happen to be FN, PBS, Planet Green, Discovery, Bravo and the rest.
ibcheft at 2:24PM on 01/14/09
Growing up I didn't really have anyone to help me learn to cook. I had so much to learn and Food Network was really helpful. I watched it nonstop for a couple years and downloaded tons of recipes off the website. I've since moved on and hardly ever watch anymore. Like other posters, it all seems the same, boring, and just not my thing. But that being said, I think FN really can be useful to beginner cooks. As far as those looking for some quality food entertainment,not so much.
marchesa at 2:52PM on 01/14/09
Exactly! Do they think someone really interested in the culinary arts (of any rank or stature) would respond to advertising by TGI Fridays and Velveeta!!!! If someone was smart... and I know she/he's out there, they'll start a competitor that will take the high road, attract the great chefs and teachers, replay the great old shows, and attract all those big advertising dollars that are out there and want to reach gourmets, chefs and the serious enthusiasts. Just look at the advertisers in Gourmet, or Bon Ap.
spiceweasel at 3:00PM on 01/14/09
To all the 'Fat Ladies' fans - I noticed the other day that Netflix has their "Complete Collection".
suthungirl at 3:20PM on 01/14/09
I quit watching about a year ago, it was just going downhill. I did go to their website a lot, and found it very helpful and user friendly. However, they changed the website last year some time and now it sucks! So I dont go there anymore either. My new fav is TasteSpotting.
gourmetgal at 3:29PM on 01/14/09
the food network shows programs based on ratings. sadly, it looks like these increasingly lame (in my opinion) shows are what are getting all the viewers. they aren't stupid -- they show what's popular, it is their business. they aren't going to put on a haute cuisine chef if only a small percentage of hard core people (like us on SE) would watch it. sandra lee is still on because people like it, believe it or not. (i know, i know...)
but on the other hand i 100% agree with chiff -- don't forget about the people that supported you in the beginning before all of the true culinary programming was diluted! if this "celeb chef" fad wears off and they've alienated all of their original fans, that would be a HUGE problem for the network.
throw us original fans a bone! :)
megannesta at 3:49PM on 01/14/09
I honestly think the thing that bugs me the most about FN - by a landslide - is how every single episode of every single show on every single week since the network started has told me how to prep a vanilla bean. Say it with me now:
1. They're expensive but worth it.
2. Lie the pod on the cutting board and slice down the length.
3. Use the knife tip to scrape up the seeds.
4. Scrape the knife on the side of the pot, leaving the seeds stuck to the inside of the pot lip.
5. Drop rest of pod into simmering milk or what have you.
6. Explain that when you're done, you can dry out the pod and stuff it in a container of sugar, making vanilla sugar.
DUDE. WE GET IT. ENOUGH WITH THE VANILLA BEANS.
BangieB at 3:58PM on 01/14/09
LOL @BangieB. So true! I was running through the channels and I heard RR say in her hyper enthusiastic way,"it smells good in here already," (pause) "and all we have is bread and butter." And I said,,,,,HUH??? She is so used to saying that several seconds in, it doesn't matter that nothing is cooking or even has a scent yet. It's all rote, over and over and over and over....................
PerkyMac at 4:12PM on 01/14/09
I had to quit watching the food network when I found myself yelling at the Neelys to get a room, and for Paula Deen with her nasty ass double dipping, Gross. But like the above posters I am happy to say if it wasn't for FN I wouldn't have found serious eats.
chardonnay at 10:58PM on 01/14/09
bangieb, funny!
cybercita at 11:28PM on 01/14/09
LOL@iz- you funny.
@spiceweasel - Agreed, your view is very refreshing. Really makes me think.
I don't at all enjoy the DinersDriveins and Unwrapping whatevers shows either--but (just to be advocational) it IS called FOOD network [not COOK network].
I guess what I mean is that whether us die-hard foodies like it or not; food and cooking are making its way into the media as hot hot HOT! (no pun intended).
I believe that what the food network is trying to do is reel ppl in to become foodies? And they do this with all these silly-little (and yes, semi-embarassing) tv shows...expect more of it I guess :p
hungrychristel at 3:16PM on 01/15/09
I believe this comment can best be summed up as several years too late.
pomme at 3:39PM on 01/15/09