"Food Network Star" Wants to Bring "Sexy" Back...

[Pierogi]

According to this article on the LA "Times" website, Food Network has decided to overhaul the "Next Food Network Star" series a bit.

Now, granted, since this is the epic that foisted Guy Fieri and Aaron McCargo onto humanity, it could use a good once-over.

But somehow, this doesn't seem like much of an improvement to me. "Stilettos in the Kitchen".....? Give a freakin' break.

And this chick doesn't seem so much *empowered* or *sexy* or *confident* as she does seem to be a Royal *itch !

That said, anyone wanna lay odds about how much of a favorite she is to win?

And is anyone going to be watching this train wreck?

[SylviaLovegren]

I've pretty much given up on FN. I'm interested in cooking, or food history, or culinary culture, not whether the host is demented or can eat 15 habaneros in one sitting or cooks in a leather jumpsuit while wearing stilettos. The host should be interesting because of his or her take on food, not because of personality quirks or narcissistic showoffery.

[Dignan]

I can't imagine who the people are that are watching it anymore. This is a common and maybe tiresome complaint, but Alton I last watched regulary, and burned out on him about a year ago. I first started watching Rosengarten and ol what's her name, the short blonde and I'm shamed I can't remember her name at the moment, she's rememberable and I'm just having a brain short. They were just a stove and heat and they told you what they were doing and why. This other mess they keep putting on, feh....

Edited June 4, 2011 by Dignan (log)

[kalypso]

According to this article on the LA "Times" website, Food Network has decided to overhaul the "Next Food Network Star" series a bit.

Now, granted, since this is the epic that foisted Guy Fieri and Aaron McCargo onto humanity, it could use a good once-over.

But somehow, this doesn't seem like much of an improvement to me. "Stilettos in the Kitchen".....? Give a freakin' break.

And this chick doesn't seem so much *empowered* or *sexy* or *confident* as she does seem to be a Royal *itch !

That said, anyone wanna lay odds about how much of a favorite she is to win?

And is anyone going to be watching this train wreck?

I agree wtih you, she certainly doesn't sound empowered, she sounds like a bully. Bring sexy back to the kitchen?!?!?!??? I never knew it had been there in the first place

And, yes, I will watch, I always do. There is something vaguely entertaining about watching a culinary train wreck on television.

Edited June 4, 2011 by kalypso (log)

[Lisa Shock]

Dignan, Sara Moulton, perhaps?

I haven't watched anything on the network for a couple of years with the exception of one episode of the recent 'Restaurant Impossible' -a cheap 'Kitchen Nightmares' knockoff. The network just isn't really about food anymore.

[Edward J]

Gave up on TV about ten years ago.

Think the remote got tossed out with the couch, when we got new furniture about 4 years ago.

The kids still need the TV to play thier x-box and wii on though....

[Dignan]

Yes, of course it was Sarah, bless her.

[annabelle]

Eh, I'll watch it. I keep hoping FN will do something really daring and have one of these shows that is cast of a bunch of middle aged grannies and grandpas who can throwdown and tell great anecdotes. I guess we'll get more tattoos, cleavage and mohawks.

[JeanneCake]

Sexy is for the food.

If they can bring sexy food back - that you want to cook, that you want to eat, fine. Aren't there already plenty of channels for watching sexy people? Stilettos do not belong in the kitchen. Ever.

[gfweb]

"Sexy "TV cooks always seem clownish to me. Nigella shaking her cleavage ...not sexy just dumb.

[Honkman]

New reality shows/whatever competitions are as interesting and important as

[Dakki]

New reality shows/whatever competitions are as interesting and important as

I find this comparison very unfair and offensive. Someone's going to have to pick up that rice, Honkman.

[kryptos1]

Funny that FN has started the Cooking channel that is using FN Canada programming and now bringing back all the old school schools like MoltoMario, Sarah Moulton, Emeril, and others. I am preferring the Cooking channel now.....FN is giving me MTV flashbacks.

[David Ross]

Well, 12 minutes into the premier show tonight and I think I have to eat some words I spoke months ago-I thought until tonight "Bitchin Kitchen" was the worst food program on television. Ugh.

[annabelle]

Don't say we didn't try to tell you so, Dave.

[Holly Moore]

I can't forgive the show for empowering Guy Fieri.

Oddly, the participants get to do more real cooking than those on Top Chef Masters.

Edited June 6, 2011 by Holly Moore (log)

[Trev]

"Sexy "TV cooks always seem clownish to me. Nigella shaking her cleavage ...not sexy just dumb.

I've never seen her shake her cleavage, and she's far from dumb. I doubt she can help how she's built, and why would she want to change it anyway? Because someone, somewhere is uncomfortable with it? If you look at her life and what she's overcome to be where she is then there would be something wrong with a person who didn't admire her for it. Nigella is the sexiest woman on tv. She doesn't need to apologize for that.

Edited June 6, 2011 by Trev (log)

[Mjx]

I have to admit that when a floor is likely to be slippery in spots, I prefer to wear something that gives better traction then a pair of heels, and when working with hot substances, I prefer to have my cleavage (and arms, and legs, for that matter) covered, but hey, TV chefs can slice and saute in the nude and in stilletto heels, as far as I'm concerned, I'm not the one who has to worry about a twisted ankle or awkwardly located burns! This sort of thing does sort of suggest that the producers have doubts about the show's ability to hold the intended audience with culinary content alone, however.

[Jenni]

I always thought that most of the hype about Nigella being sexy was caused by viewers not being used to a female chef on TV who didn't look like their mum. As time went on, I think there was a certain amount of playing up to it.

[Deus Mortus]

I always thought that most of the hype about Nigella being sexy was caused by viewers not being used to a female chef on TV who didn't look like their mum. As time went on, I think there was a certain amount of playing up to it.

I think it was also caused by camera filters usually used in soft porn...

[gfweb]

"Sexy "TV cooks always seem clownish to me. Nigella shaking her cleavage ...not sexy just dumb.

I've never seen her shake her cleavage, and she's far from dumb. I doubt she can help how she's built, and why would she want to change it anyway? Because someone, somewhere is uncomfortable with it? If you look at her life and what she's overcome to be where she is then there would be something wrong with a person who didn't admire her for it. Nigella is the sexiest woman on tv. She doesn't need to apologize for that.

Its all a matter of how she chooses to present herself. If she wanted to play it down she would. Instead she plays it up and appeals to a certain segment. It's just marketing. Food network understands that and they want to do it too.

[heidih]

I click on this channel on occasion because I did not get a very broad package with my services and the only other food related channel I get is the Travel Channel. Sexy, whatever, I completely get the packaging and playing to the least common denominator. There has been nothing I have learned or been sparked by in so long. I just polled my college boy who I know said that the guys would watch cooking shows. He said that they would not gravitate to the show because of a "shake your booty" host, but that it might hold your interest longer if the actual cooking part seemed boring. That seems pretty basic to me if your sole goal as a network is to generate viewing time.

[Trev]

Its all a matter of how she chooses to present herself. If she wanted to play it down she would. Instead she plays it up and appeals to a certain segment. It's just marketing. Food network understands that and they want to do it too.

I believe the notion that she is 'playing it up' is all in the viewers head and very subjective. She appeals to a broad spectrum of people, particularly those who don't have a chef's training or intuition. The fact that she is somewhat messy and aloof in the kitchen has inspired those who were previously afraid to give cooking a try, especially many urban professional women in Britain who were also trying to juggle family and career at the same time, like Nigella herself. The hardships she has endured aside, she is quite natural in front of the camera and has much more class than many of the 'plastic' waifs so prevalent in modern television. Originally a successful journalist, she moved to a career in food in 1992. She's also had great success with several tv shows and several well-received cook books. She's not dumb and she's not new to the game. She is who she is and while there is a certain crowd that may enjoy watching her cook without actually seeing what she's making, there are those who respect her for her abilities, wiles and confidence.

[theminx]

I only watch Food Network Star so I can make fun of it in recaps on my blog. That said, I hope SexyBack gets eliminated fairly early in the competition. I'd rather watch Orchid, Jeff, or Whitney. Not that I get up at 7am on Saturday to watch cooking shows....

[DanM]

My wife made me watch 20 minutes of this train wreak. 20 minutes I will never get back.

I think I would rather go to a Vogon poetry slam than watch this again.