Iron Chef US: The Shatner Edition

jhlurie · September 6, 2001

As long as Shatner doesn't try and sing I'd at least watch it.

I wonder if he took the gig because he expects to be able to taste all the food.

NewYorkTexan · November 13, 2001

This is an old topic, but I just noticed that the first episode airs this weekend. It is not on the Food Network, but on UPN.

Have cooking shows become that mainstream?

Jason Perlow · November 15, 2001

http://www.ironchefusatv.com

Requires Macromedia Flash Player to be installed.

The show premieres friday the 16th (tomorrow), 9PM on UPN affiliates.

William Shatner hosts. God help us all. :)

tommy · November 15, 2001

Quote: from Jason Perlow on 4:55 pm on Nov. 15, 2001
William Shatner hosts. God help us all. :)

come on now!!! captain kirk has been my hero like, forever. i think it's going to be quite entertaining. this is coming from a star trek and an iron chef freak.

Andy Lynes · November 16, 2001

...and one of the judges is playmate of the year. Could it get any better. And I'm not going to be able to see it. ####!

Is it just me or does Todd English look like David Byrne?

ChocoKitty · November 16, 2001

I saw the website. I'm speechless....

My question is: will it be as much fun listening to undubbed announcers?

Yes, Todd English looks like David Byrne.

Please fill me in on how it is -- I'll be on the road tonight! Wah!!

Wilfrid · November 16, 2001

Okay, is Shatner going to eat a yellow pepper at the start? And if not, what?

Peter B Wolf · November 17, 2001

Could not get the show to work for me, but somehow have had a feeling I would not like it anyway, but I do have a question: By reading the credits, came across "Elizabeth Blau - Culinary Consultant", who is the lady. Anyone knows?

girl chow · November 18, 2001

Hope this thread doesn't duplicate any others on this topic, but I just had to ask what others thought of the Iron Chef USA debut Friday night.

Did anybody else see it? I don't know what I was expecting, but certainly not William Shatner wearing sequins. Egads!

It was, uh, interesting, but not as cool as the real thing.

The focus seemed heavy on action (ie: how many ways can we spear/filet/crack/kill this Dungness crab?) and very heavily centered on audience shots (our signs spelling out the name of our chef are bigger than yours!!). Very little attention was paid to the actual food preparation, save for several stupid shots of an ice cream maker churning away a very odd sounding sorbet. I kept wanting them to turn the camera on the prep areas so we could see what they were concocting -- or let us listen in on their strategy planning. Instead, the views mostly were centered around the stovetop action and execution.

One good thing is that it seems to be a show that would appeal to a broad range of food lovers. It has the frenetic pace of a WWF "Smackdown" episode, which ought to appeal to a lot of men (at least my hubby was digging it).

And although it was campy in its own right, just as the original is, sometimes it got really really unbearably cheesy. At one point, the commentators were discussing sea urchin "gonads." Uck. Thanks for the technicolor description boys. And Sissy Biggers, oh my, what is up with her?

Yeah, I've got my criticisms, but you bet your butt I'll be watching when the next one airs. I saw no mention of it on the UPN site. Anyone know when the next one will be on?

Steve Klc · November 20, 2001

Elizabeth Blau came to MGM/Mirage from New York's Le Cirque--she's a VP in charge of restaurant development there and a force behind the branding concept in resorts, casinos, etc.--marketing Vegas as a serious culinary destination.

Liza · November 22, 2001

Loved the celebration but where was the FOOD???? Neither of the reporters is a considerable food reporter (whither Ohta?) and come on, the challenger was clearly the winner if we were judging food...Too much showmanship and not enough cooking.

tommy · November 22, 2001

Quote: from Liza on 10:22 pm on Nov. 21, 2001
Too much showmanship and not enough cooking.

yeah! damned that TV entertainment, how dare it not be realistic. ;)

MHesse · May 30, 2002

UPN (Channel 9) in NYC broadcast "Iron Chef USA" tonight after their Enterprise (TV Star Trek V).

I'm sure the timing was no coincidence as William Shatner (Captain Kirk), fatter than ever, but with perhaps with his own hair or an age-appropriate toupee is the Chairman of the US's Kitchen Arena in Vegas.

It was a larf, a bad American copy of the Japanese version. The announcers in the balcony wore horrid mustard colored jackets not seen since the early days of Monday Night football. Cissy Biggers a total waste as the roving floor commentater. (sic) The judges included a portly comedian who probably earns a living in a corner of Hollywood Squares, a playboy bunny, and two young TV personalities (stars would b a stretch).

Tonight's match featured Iron Chef USA Todd English vs. Kerry Iforgethisnamerightnow. Suprise ingredient was Dungeness crab. The dishes they prepared actually were interesting.

I hope the TV rays dissipate before they can be seen by the Vulcans.

D RAY · May 30, 2002

UPN (Channel 9) in NYC broadcast "Iron Chef USA" tonight after their Enterprise (TV Star Trek V).
I'm sure the timing was no coincidence as William Shatner (Captain Kirk), fatter than ever, but with perhaps with his own hair or an age-appropriate toupee is the Chairman of the US's Kitchen Arena in Vegas.
It was a larf, a bad American copy of the Japanese version. The announcers in the balcony wore horrid mustard colored jackets not seen since the early days of Monday Night football. Cissy Biggers a total waste as the roving floor commentater. (sic) The judges included a portly comedian who probably earns a living in a corner of Hollywood Squares, a playboy bunny, and two young TV personalities (stars would b a stretch).
Tonight's match featured Iron Chef USA Todd English vs. Kerry Iforgethisnamerightnow. Suprise ingredient was Dungeness crab. The dishes they prepared actually were interesting.
I hope the TV rays dissipate before they can be seen by the Vulcans.

Actually that is a repeat from last year and eversince I have been waiting since for the ,or a new episode.I agree also that it is very corny.I am sorry also I think that Todd english looks like something from a Paul mitchell ad,and his cooking techniques is nothing to scratch and sniff about.Todd and Bobby should have a match up and see who the real Iron chefUSA is because honestly it is any one of them. :wink:

B Edulis · May 30, 2002

That must have been the one I saw last year, if there's only one been made. It was charmless, I thought. Too many special graphic effects and overbearing announcers and off-topic asides! I did think William Shatner was a brilliant choice, tho.

Steve Klc · May 30, 2002

Yes Maria, this repeat with Shatner as the ONLY bright spot amongst many blight spots, including Kerrymotorcyclewhat'shisnamebighair.

We talked about it the first time around here:

http://forums.egullet.org/ikonboa....;t=5589

I remember reading in a well-written puff piece on Elizabeth Blau in Food Arts that she filmed two episodes of this, as a potential pilot, but have not seen the second episode, only this very sad, terribly misguided attempt twice.

Liza · May 30, 2002

Best comment from the night:

"What are they cooking? I can't see anything through the giant flaming graphics!"

vengroff · May 30, 2002

The low point of the event had to be the discussion of sea urchin anatomy. Beavis and Butthead do kitchen stadium.

D RAY · May 31, 2002

The low point of the event had to be the discussion of sea urchin anatomy. Beavis and Butthead do kitchen stadium.

At least Beavis and Butthead would have made the show interesting :smile:

jhlurie · June 6, 2002

I just saw this... I kind of enjoyed it in a "watching a car accident at the side of the road" way.

It's fairly obvious why they did it this way. The original Japanese style is impossible to duplicate, so they've tried to more directly emulate a sports show, in the same way that some of the (ehem) battling robot shows have. Or American Gladiators. Or the Glutton Bowl that was on FOX, in fact. Or the WWF.

The absolute worst was the "casting" of the judges. I'd sooner expect George Plimpton than Bruce Villanch. And while we know they need a model or an actress of some type, there must be SOMEONE out there who is more likely to know about fine food than a Playboy playmate.

beans · July 20, 2003

What happened to our sunshine? Bleh, rain is on the way... rats!

I'm sorting change in our upstairs office (Sundays we tend to run low on our change order and have to recycle) and I flicked on the tv. Iron Chef with hunky Todd English and not so bad looking The Prime at Bellagio's chef Kerry Smith.

Holy cow! Todd English is in a shiny white/blue satin chef coat!

William Shatner moderating/MC'ing in a purple glitter get up!

What a hoot!!!! :laugh:

tan319 · July 21, 2003

I was just checking the schedule here in NM and it doesn't appear to be on tonight. What time is it on there?

Thanks!

Edit: the website schedule says saturday, the 19th.

My cable listed a japanese IC. Bummer! :angry:

Edited July 21, 2003 by tan319 (log)

tommy · July 21, 2003

that was fun. the editing and commentary, however, were pathetic.

hjshorter · July 21, 2003

Iron Chef with hunky Todd English and not so bad looking The Prime at Bellagio's chef Kerry Smith.

Not bad, huh? Loved Kerr's earring. I watched it with the sound off. :biggrin:

tommy · July 21, 2003

I watched it with the sound off.

i actually considered that. but probably not for the same reasons you did. :blink:

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