'Man vs. Food': What type of food show is it?
Okay, so I watched a series of episodes...outside of this beguiling guy from Brooklyn gorging himself and breaking records at roadside eateries around the country, what are we learning here...or is it just pure side show entertainment?
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25 Comments:
I had heard from a friend or two about what a fun show. I watched it yesterday. It basically stinks.
1stmakearoux at 8:52AM on 02/02/09
Awful... just another food show about a "personality" and not about the food. Just sad....
Pavlov at 9:04AM on 02/02/09
I guess that's what I watched, according to LPC. Was that the same show that showed the aging process for great steaks? They showed Peter Luger's from the exterior. That show was interesting. I saw a NY deli make sandwiches with enough pastrami or corned beef to feed a family of 6 for a week - on one sandwich. I do love my pastrami and corned beef, so I watched that part. His mama was sitting at the table with him trying to talk some sense into him. That's when I turned the channel. Was it FN? I have no idea.
PerkyMac at 9:12AM on 02/02/09
Its is the latest bizarre addition to the Travel Channel along with such regulars as Bourdain and Zimmern...
gutreactions at 9:21AM on 02/02/09
If you love to eat it's a great show with a more than engaging host. If you're looking to "learn" anything watch AB.
bessfour at 9:33AM on 02/02/09
I like the show. Its fun and entertaining as he travels to some cool eating spots and enters eating challenges. It's pretty straight forward and there's nothing to learn. Its just entertainment. Sometimes that doesn't seem like enough for others, but that's cool with me.
_greenbean at 9:49AM on 02/02/09
If the travel channel is trying to compete with Diners Drive In's and Dives then they have succeeded. This host is just as annoying as Guy Fieri.
chardonnay at 9:56AM on 02/02/09
I didn't think I'd like this show from seeing the promos. I really don't want to see people eating obscene amounts of food. After catching a few episodes I must admit I enjoy it. I like Adams personality and like seeing the different food places he goes to. It is kinda like Triple D on the food channel but I like that show too.
chazmo at 10:54AM on 02/02/09
I have to admit that I do really enjoy that show. In fact, he will be coming to the twin cities in March, and apparently he is going to be going to the home of the Juicy Lucy, so that should be fun to see. I might to actually be there for it, if I can figure out when he will be there. Andrew Zimmern lives here, so I follow his local MSP mag blog online, where he mentioned it.
I have to admit that I am not the most "high-browed" foodie. I enjoy watching nearly anything from that show to the History Channel's "Modern Marvels" where yesterday I got to see the inner workings of a head cheese factory. Honestly, I really enjoyed that. But I also watch American Eats, Heavyweights, Chopped, Top Chef and a lot of others, along with Barefoot Contessa and of course AB. I like to have a balance between pure enjoyment and actual learning. :)
Traveller at 12:04PM on 02/02/09
I enjoy it. Totally a guilty pleasure that I learn absolutely nothing from. And that's ok.
Amandarama at 12:10PM on 02/02/09
i like it. like bessfour said, if i want to learn, i'll watch alton. i find adam far less grating than guy fieri.
sloppy at 12:11PM on 02/02/09
I watched it yesterday too! There was some sort of marathon, but I only made it partially through one show. I don't see the point of eating buffalo wings that are so hot they burn your skin--it's food about enjoyment? Not pain at least. I'd rather watch AB go out and TALK to people about food--I don't know how he's going to do Feasting on Rails--eating on trains? But I know I'll watch it!!
Donnamarie at 12:20PM on 02/02/09
I'd watch it but I haven't come uon it yet.
pjracz10 at 1:00PM on 02/02/09
It's a show about binge eating.
marzipanda at 2:15PM on 02/02/09
I'm with Amandarama, it's a guilty pleasure. Most TV is mindless, just because we're foodies and it's a show about food, we expect it to be Emmy winning. It's not. It's goofy and silly, but I like it. Plus, I think the host is really cute.
PumpkinBear at 4:35PM on 02/02/09
I like it and have watched marathons. It's the guy's personality that makes the show good. It's not about food, it's about travel, the food at various destinations, and the challenges available for people who like that sort of thing. Anyone on a diet need not apply. ;-)
LunaPierCook at 5:14PM on 02/02/09
My mistake was watching a couple of these in a row. The first part of the show is okay, but watching someone overstuff themselves with food isn't very appealing to me.
dbcurrie at 5:31PM on 02/02/09
I find it entertaining. He's much less annoying then Guy Fieri.
LizSherman at 6:11PM on 02/02/09
I've only caught the show a handful of times, and when I watch it all I can think about are the countries and places in this world where people are literally starving to death. And here is this schmuck pushing down as much food as he can get down his gullet to prove a stupid point.
tootsweet at 8:35PM on 02/02/09
Oh no, not one of those shows. Nope, I think I will stay away.
pjracz10 at 8:55PM on 02/02/09
The eat-fest segment is always at the end. The rest is a fun tour of local spots. I like the show. I would rather see more of the tour than the contest eating, but it's not appalling to me.
lambowner at 11:05AM on 02/03/09
I think he's adorable. Something about a east coast boy with marinara dripping off his chin really speaks to me. Ha ha!
GretchinF at 1:13PM on 02/03/09
This is a total guilty pleasure of mine. Shame on me. I know. But I do like seeing some of the "go to" places in cities I sometimes travel to. I like Adam, but really, he doesn't have to attempt to speak of the culinary attributes of the big plate of stuff he's trying to get down every episode. I don't need to hear that the cheese is perfectly melted on the 15 pounds of hamburger. For what the show is, it is fun, probably not going to be on forever though.
MinnesotaPix at 1:52PM on 02/03/09
I love the show! I'm also a bulimic.
Fatfudge at 3:00PM on 02/03/09
It's fun. He's smart and clever and his commentary is endearing. Pure entertainment. Obviously, he loves what he does, and that's nice to watch.
He gorges so I don't have to. I never walk away from that show feeling hungry.
Womandingo at 5:06PM on 02/03/09