91 replies to this topic

[Dana]

I agree with jgm on the 'Simply French' idea Carissa had. That sounds like a show I'd be interested in. TVFN has enought Italian, enough kicked-up, off the hook personalities. I think a real woman with a concept that's not already done to death would have been really nice. Just my 2 cents.

[ronnie_suburban]

I agree with jgm on the 'Simply French' idea Carissa had. That sounds like a show I'd be interested in. TVFN has enought Italian, enough kicked-up, off the hook personalities. I think a real woman with a concept that's not already done to death would have been really nice. Just my 2 cents.

I agree about the concept and at times Carissa was likeable (had screen presence), but I'm not sure she was the right person for the show, even if it was her idea.

=R=

edit for clarity

Edited by ronnie_suburban, 24 April 2006 - 07:11 PM.

[ulterior epicure]

Actually, I would have to say that Carissa was one of the contestants that I actively disliked. She and Nathan both just came off as way-too-confident-for-their-own-good... Nathan much moreso... But, Carissa did show moments of promise toward the end... despite her "let's get crazy" speak, which did get on my nerves a little.

I'm happy with the result, I guess. I agree with whoever posted above about wishing they had shown a little more of the contestants' family background/interaction early on... I think it would have made me like a lot of them better - except maybe Nathan, whom I thought was just downright offensive.

I particularly loved Andy, but can see why he was axed...

[Katie Nell]

But, Carissa did show moments of promise toward the end... despite her "let's get crazy" speak, which did get on my nerves a little.

I think all the talk about her being sexy (right!) was what did her in for me... but she brought that on herself, wearing a bikini in her audition video... yuck!

[ulterior epicure]

But, Carissa did show moments of promise toward the end... despite her "let's get crazy" speak, which did get on my nerves a little.

I think all the talk about her being sexy (right!) was what did her in for me... but she brought that on herself, wearing a bikini in her audition video... yuck!

I know - and if I'm not mistaken - she was wearing high heels in that bikini shot! Can anyone confirm that for me?

u.e.

[Kris]

Actually, I would have to say that Carissa was one of the contestants that I actively disliked.  She and Nathan both just came off as way-too-confident-for-their-own-good... Nathan much moreso... But, Carissa did show moments of promise toward the end... despite her "let's get crazy" speak, which did get on my nerves a little.

I'm happy with the result, I guess.  I agree with whoever posted above about wishing they had shown a little more of the contestants' family background/interaction early on... I think it would have made me like a lot of them better - except maybe Nathan, whom I thought was just downright offensive. 

I particularly loved Andy, but can see why he was axed...

I agree with this entire post.

I liked Andy the best too - low key personality with some cooking skills. But I think he was too low key for the judges taste. I guess they're all about the "entertainment" factor. Does every chef on FN have to be hyper, manic and "kicked up a notch?"

[ulterior epicure]

Does every chef on FN have to be hyper, manic and "kicked up a notch?"

Hmmm.... good point... they are all kind of wacky, crazed and/or LOUD aren't they... I had never really stopped to notice. So, now, in a fit of procrastination, I'm noticing:

Those with too much energy or noise:

R. Ray is always at volume 30... proving that mouth-size may be directly proportional to output capacity.

P. Dean sometimes scares me... when she zones out and then cackles one of those cackles that is slightly endearing, but slightly Wicked-Witch-meets-serial-killer... Major manic...

M. Batali comes off as a know-it-all sometimes... and well, enough with the orange clogs already... they were cute and novel, I'll admit, oh say, circa 2000 when he was scooting around the Amalfi with whathisiface, his Italian Poncho...

A. Brown can do no wrong in my book. But he is super hyper... part of his charm, in my opinion.

B. Flay... yeah, really though, joggin' to the fish market at 2 a.m.? That counts as "kicked up a notch."

E. Lagasse... 'nough said.

T. Florence: see Batali comments sans clogs and scooter comment... and, as I noted a few posts above (or somewhere), he's too grabby. Always using his fingers to snatch up food to try before his guests or anyone else... And yeah, I have a problem with his "Ultimate" show - really though, if I could afford truffles, don't think I hadn't thought of shaving them on my pizza too! Not very practical cooking.

J. O'Conner - see A. Brown and S. Moulton comments above... that's a fun guy! Upbeat... okay, way upbeat... kind of crazy...

B. Rivers - Cheez-E

But, thankfully, a few FN stars keep things mellow:

Sandra Day, er, I mean Lee - I'm not even going to go there... I get flashbacks of Pleasantville... Not my style....

G. DeLaurentiis - how does she stay so tiny?

S. Moulton: see A. Brown comments above. She and DeLaurentiis manage to keep things mellow... but pleasantly so.

I. Gartner: but really though, if I had the time and money to stroll through my perfectly manicured herb garden to take a snippet or two for my shabby-chic French dish, or nattily-dressed salad... or afternoon jaunts to the beach and the local florist who are at your beck-and-call, I think I'd be mellow too.

M. Chiarello: the Napa version of Garter in the Hamptons... who just, ohsaythrowsaparty for his 10 employees in which he cooks all day... what exactly do they do? And is he hiring?

D. Lieberman - tie your hands and you'll be alright kiddo!


What happened to?

J. Torres
J. Oliver
W.G. Puck
G. Gand
A. Bourdain
Surreal Gourmet

Edited by ulterior epicure, 25 April 2006 - 02:23 PM.

[Katie Nell]

What happened to?
G. Gand

I was wondering about her just today... she has no upcoming shows on Food Network, and most of the rest are archived.

[ronnie_suburban]

What happened to?
G. Gand

I was wondering about her just today... she has no upcoming shows on Food Network, and most of the rest are archived.

She's busy being a mom to recently-born twins and being a real chef at a real restaurant.

=R=

[ulterior epicure]

What happened to?
G. Gand

I was wondering about her just today... she has no upcoming shows on Food Network, and most of the rest are archived.

She's busy being a mom to recently-born twins

Good point on the twins, Ron...

...and being a real chef at a real restaurant.

=R=

As opposed to Batali (Nearly a dozen restos), Flay (Need almost two hands to count between NYC and LVNV), Lagasse (NOLA... LVNV...), P. Dean (The Bag Lady... no comment... ) D. Lieberman (Who does he "personal chef" for? Do they need a personal sous chef? )?

Oh wait, ronnie, you did say real chef -nevermind ... good point...

u.e.

Edited by ulterior epicure, 25 April 2006 - 02:33 PM.

[Katie Nell]

What happened to?
G. Gand

I was wondering about her just today... she has no upcoming shows on Food Network, and most of the rest are archived.

She's busy being a mom to recently-born twins

Good point on the twins, Ron...

...and being a real chef at a real restaurant.

=R=

As opposed to Batali (Nearly a dozen restos), Flay (Need almost two hands to count between NYC and LVNV), Lagasse (NOLA... LVNV...), P. Dean (The Bag Lady... no comment... ) D. Lieberman (Who does he "personal chef" for? Do they need a personal sous chef? )?

Oh wait, ronnie, you did say real chef -nevermind ... good point...

u.e.

snotty, snotty ... I just meant where is she on FN anymore? I knew she was at Tru (didn't know about the twins,) but is she not going to be on FN?

[ulterior epicure]

... I just meant where is she on FN anymore?

So did I.

I knew she was at Tru (didn't know about the twins,) but is she not going to be on FN?

Apparently twins + TRU = no FN....

u.e.

Edited by ulterior epicure, 25 April 2006 - 02:38 PM.

[jgm]

Contestants don't have to be hyper, but they do have to display a pretty good amount of energy and presence, which Andy didn't do well. The unfortunate thing about it, is that those things are learned skills, and he could be coached successfully if he wanted to do it bad enough. I didn't see direct evidence of it, but I suspect he was just really uncomfortable (and maybe just flat scared to death) in front of the camera. That, too, can be overcome.

What we fail to realize about this program, about Top Chef, and the various other cooking programs on the various commercial networks, is that the primary purpose of these shows is not about cooking; it's to provide a vehicle for selling advertising. To do that, the show needs to establish a desired demographic, so that the network can pitch the concept to specific advertisers. (Think about the difference between, say, a commercial for Celebrex and one for Pampers. Two different audiences.) That decision governs all kinds of decisions about details that come later; one hopes it doesn't heavily influence content, such as making lots of dishes with tuna if one of your advertisers is the Tuna Consortium (hypothetical name). The actual cooking, and decisions about methods, ingredients, etc., is geared to the all-important demographic. A show geared toward young mothers is not going to use truffles.

Obviously, to sell the show, the host must have credibility, and also must appeal to the intended audience. Andy had the credibility, and he had quite a bit of appeal in some ways. But he displayed a really low energy level at times, and that had to be a concern of the judges --especially with somebody like Guy around.

[ronnie_suburban]

I didn't mean to imply that every chef on FTV is of the made-for-tv variety. Obviously, that's not the case.

I always enjoyed watching Gale on FTV, going back to her stint on Baker's Dozen which aired in the mid 90's.

=R=

[RMeierdirks]

Gale Gand and RIck Tramonto will be opening two restauants - a steakhouse and an italian place - and a pastry shop at the Westin being built on Milwaukee in Wheeling. I imagine that is taking up some of her time as well.

I did hear a rumor that Gand and Tramonto were going to be on Iron Chef America, though.

[Grub]

Re. What happened to... Better go clickey-clickey on yer Tivo. They got Bourdain in their 4AM slot quite often. It's from his Cook's Tour book, and it's a lot of fun to see the resulting TV show for his book, seeing that while he enjoyed writing the book, he wasn't always too pleased with the TV crew that followed him around. Good fun.

[Zeemanb]

Catching the show for the first time tonight as they re-run the finale. Guy seems like a decent enough character, but I had NO IDEA that Corey Feldman and Sammy Hagar even had kids together!!

[ronnie_suburban]

Caught this blurb in today's Chicago Tribune:

Guy Fieri won the second "Next Food Network Star" competition, which earned him his own show. "Guy's Big Bite" debuts at 9 a.m. June 25 on the cable channel . . .

=R=

[Shannon_Elise]

But, Carissa did show moments of promise toward the end... despite her "let's get crazy" speak, which did get on my nerves a little.

I think all the talk about her being sexy (right!) was what did her in for me... but she brought that on herself, wearing a bikini in her audition video... yuck!

I know - and if I'm not mistaken - she was wearing high heels in that bikini shot! Can anyone confirm that for me?

u.e.

You mean you don't cook in your bikini and high heels? How else do I explain the cookie sheet burn I have on my tummy (running in the house from laying out). Since I don't have cable, I don't think I will be asking my parents to TiVo Guy's new show. I've become supremely content and spoiled by PBS's people who actually are chefs first, "stars" second (or never at all).

Shannon

[ulterior epicure]

But, Carissa did show moments of promise toward the end... despite her "let's get crazy" speak, which did get on my nerves a little.

I think all the talk about her being sexy (right!) was what did her in for me... but she brought that on herself, wearing a bikini in her audition video... yuck!

I know - and if I'm not mistaken - she was wearing high heels in that bikini shot! Can anyone confirm that for me?

u.e.

You mean you don't cook in your bikini and high heels? How else do I explain the cookie sheet burn I have on my tummy (running in the house from laying out). Since I don't have cable, I don't think I will be asking my parents to TiVo Guy's new show. I've become supremely content and spoiled by PBS's people who actually are chefs first, "stars" second (or never at all).

Shannon

... you forgot about the bit about being on the beach!! Unless you're taking advantage of the hot sand... I'd really be impressed to see some sea-side cookies being baked!

Ahem...

u.e.

[Shannon_Elise]

Actually, I'm serious, I used to have a burn mark on my tummy (since healed) after I ran in the house to get cookies out of the oven. I had lost track of time laying out in a vain attempt to get a tan when I heard the alarm go off inside the house. Hey, if Food Network wants to give this non-trained, bikini and stiletto-wearing 23 year old a show, I'd take it. Anything pays better than what I'm making now as editor of a community newspaper! Credibility be damned!

Shannon

[ronnie_suburban]

. . . Hey, if Food Network wants to give this non-trained, bikini and stiletto-wearing 23 year old a show, I'd take it . . .

And I'd definitely watch!

=R=

[ulterior epicure]

Actually, I'm serious, I used to have a burn mark on my tummy (since healed) after I ran in the house to get cookies out of the oven. I had lost track of time laying out in a vain attempt to get a tan when I heard the alarm go off inside the house. Hey, if Food Network wants to give this non-trained, bikini and stiletto-wearing 23 year old a show, I'd take it. Anything pays better than what I'm making now as editor of a community newspaper! Credibility be damned!

Shannon

... yeah, if TFN gave me my own show and I'd have to wear a thong, I'd take it too... although I'm sure the show wouldn't last long.

Ronnie, it's okay, you don't have to follow-up with a compliment to this post!

[Katie Nell]

Actually, I'm serious, I used to have a burn mark on my tummy (since healed) after I ran in the house to get cookies out of the oven. I had lost track of time laying out in a vain attempt to get a tan when I heard the alarm go off inside the house. Hey, if Food Network wants to give this non-trained, bikini and stiletto-wearing 23 year old a show, I'd take it. Anything pays better than what I'm making now as editor of a community newspaper! Credibility be damned!

Shannon

... yeah, if TFN gave me my own show and I'd have to wear a thong, I'd take it too... although I'm sure the show wouldn't last long.

Ronnie, it's okay, you don't have to follow-up with a compliment to this post!

I'd watch it!!

[ulterior epicure]

I'd watch it!!   

... brave woman, you...

u.e.

[akebono]

ok ulterior, let's see if we can do a quid pro quo
lechter style, to show opinions can run wild...

R. Ray is always at volume 30... proving that mouth-size may be directly proportional to output capacity.

yeah well, RayRay... the Evil Kenevil of shark jumping... not only did she 'jump the shark',
but she also jumped 20 clones of her former self. so beyond self parody, that she is in the 'Escape From the Planet of the Apes' Hasselin time curve realm of ego-abstraction. if her former self could see her future self, she would do a Charleton Heston 'damn you all to hell' foxtrot. she has become her own half buried statue of liberty...
y'all may not see a more obscure reference this week.

P. Dean sometimes scares me... when she zones out and then cackles one of those cackles that is slightly endearing, but slightly Wicked-Witch-meets-serial-killer... unsure.gif Major manic...

Paula Diddy... on the fast track to the Food Network ego Cusinart, if not there already. Yes, we get it Paula, if you could, you would give birth to a litter of Plugra butter-sticks fathered by something deep-fried. Come back to us. it is almost too late. by the way, your hubby looks terribly uncomfortable on camera. you might just want to let him get back to making his naughty and nice list. as i understand it, your two boys will have a show on FN soon. 3 Deen is more than enough Deen. actually it is too much Deen. i'm wishing your kinfolk would just stay by the crawdad hole and chill.

M. Batali comes off as a know-it-all sometimes... and well, enough with the orange clogs already... they were cute and novel, I'll admit, oh say, circa 2000 when he was scooting around the Amalfi with whathisiface, his Italian Poncho...

IMO, mario seems just to be very serious about food, and authenticity. i think mario is cool. he knows how to keep a low enough profile, while still dishing out great food and cooking tips. i too am glad he got that Rooney dude biopsied. mario does best without schtick. and don't knock the crocs. just don't.

A. Brown can do no wrong in my book. wub.gif But he is super hyper... part of his charm, in my opinion.

i definately disagree here. i know my opinion is very unpopular, but me no likee Alton.
almost to the point where it hurts to type his name. i do not know why i feel this way, but i do. maybe his approach to food strikes me as a bit cold. you should not need flowcharts and a wetsuit to make toast. to me A. Brown is what happens when you are toilet trained at gunpoint. if i was in grade school with him, 100% chance i would take his lunch money daily, after i knocked his books out of his hand. cruel. i know.

B. Flay... yeah, really though, joggin' to the fish market at 2 a.m.? That counts as "kicked up a notch."

flay. meh. knows his stuff, but any genuine knowledge he displays is often offset by his cockiness. i have seen a couple of his shows where his food looked like stone hard cash. as in money. transplant his skill in a more affable being, and you have a winner.

E. Lagasse... 'nough said.

emeril. i kind of feel bad for the guy. he seems nice enough solo, but put him in front of an audience and he is like a turn of the century french whore with a head full of pernod. he looks like he is about to have sex with whatever he is cooking on Live. terminal. however, his recipies are fail safe IME. no consolation. terminal.

T. Florence: see Batali comments sans clogs and scooter comment... and, as I noted a few posts above (or somewhere), he's too grabby. Always using his fingers to snatch up food to try before his guests or anyone else... dry.gif And yeah, I have a problem with his "Ultimate" show - really though, if I could afford truffles, don't think I hadn't thought of shaving them on my pizza too! angry.gif Not very practical cooking.

tyler. take it easy on those haus fraus fella. the keg party is three houses down on the left. i want your gig. jeebus, they pay you? there is no god.

J. O'Conner - see A. Brown and S. Moulton comments above... that's a fun guy! Upbeat... okay, way upbeat... kind of crazy...

ulterior? you bought into this guy? dude... they spit guys like jimbo and marc summers out of a factory in DeKalb. bobby rivers too. they should all be hosting used car themed game shows in the 6th circle. these dudes are a major reason FN is in the sorry assed shape it is in. terminate with extreme prejudice.

B. Rivers - Cheez-E

see above. you want directions to bobby's house? punch purgatory in your GPS, take a left.


Sandra Day, er, I mean Lee - I'm not even going to go there... I get flashbacks of Pleasantville... blink.gif Not my style....

too easy.

G. DeLaurentiis - how does she stay so tiny?

giada, find a thesarus. surely everything you taste can't be 'nutty'.
and every time you do the authentic italian pronunciation
as in 'spa gee tee', i want to drop to one knee and weep.
can you please dumb it down for me?
as in 'spa getty'. just for me. please.

S. Moulton:

class act.

I. Garten:

smiles like she knows a secret that is just naughty. like she buried a drifter in the herb garden. i hear she uses hundred dollar bills as oven mitts. i'll never have her lifestyle, but it is nothing i covet.

M. Chiarello: the Napa version of Garter in the Hamptons... who just, ohsaythrowsaparty for his 10 employees in which he cooks all day... what exactly do they do? And is he hiring?

mikey boy. if sideburns equaled masculinty, no one would ever question his sexuality again. i understand from good sources his lispy cadence is just 'a Turlock' thing. not that there is anything wrong w/ that. jeez, i hate sienfeld references. sorry.
tries to put blue cheese on everything. blue cheese with a gorgonzola sauce rolled in maytag crumbs. grey salt advocate. he seems nice enough, but vibes short fuse.


What happened to?

J. Torres
big time chocolate mogul...
does not need us.

J. Oliver
tongue accident. sidelined.

W.G. Puck
had a bit part in 'lord of the rings'

G. Gand
could not tell you.
i might be able to tell you
if i had a clue.
dont call me for the line-up.

A. Bourdain
living on reds, vitamin C and cocaine.
all a friend can say is ain't it a shame.
last seen revving up a kawasaki in front of a ramp.

Surreal Gourmet
died of fabulousness.
lyle lovette got his hair back.
mothers let their children play in the yard again.
*i kid.... i kid....* IT'S ONLY A JOKE.
sorry.
can't help myself.

if i offended anyone, rest easy. i'm going to burn in hell.


-m

glass houses, inc.

ETA...
sorry i screweed up the tags somewhere

Edited by akebono, 10 June 2006 - 12:20 AM.

[ulterior epicure]

akebono.



Good show!! Man, you can really eat'em up and spit'em out!!

u.e.

[Angela Alaimo]

Gee, Akebono-san, I don't have any idea of I agree with you or not--I was just having a blast reading along.

But I reallly liked that part about Paula Diddy Dean and the Fry Daddy getting together to birth the Plugra butter-sticks. lolorz!

A

[ronnie_suburban]

Akebono, you really should see if there are any openings in the PR dept at Food Network.

=R=

[brooklyncook]

G. DeLaurentiis - how does she stay so tiny? 

See last week's issue of Time Magazine (or perhaps it's this week's?) -- amongst other articles in their special section on food, there's an article on Giada and Suzanne Goins, and how it is they manage to stay as thin as they do while being chefs.

The article's actually pretty good, and Giada's just self-deprecating enough in her humor to be even more likable. Usually the show turns me off to her -- I suspect that off-camera, she's got a good sense of humor.