You know I think the Food Network is entertaining but...

[Botanique]

I feel it is a responsibility to entertain with the skills and safety measures necessary in the kitchen. This morning I was scared for one of the cooks (don't want to mention names) because her long hair, although beautiful, was a little close to the mixer action. I was just waiting for it to wind up and scalp her.

But that's just me. I think many of the show hosts are very talented, some I think are not. Regardless, they are teachers, whether they realize it or not. What they say and do has an effect on many people, and like I said, they have a responsibility.

On a positive note, so far the holiday shows have been festive and fun!

B

[liv4fud]

Originally Posted by Botanique

I feel it is a responsibility to entertain with the skills and safety measures necessary in the kitchen. This morning I was scared for one of the cooks (don't want to mention names) because her long hair, although beautiful, was a little close to the mixer action. I was just waiting for it to wind up and scalp her.

But that's just me. I think many of the show hosts are very talented, some I think are not. Regardless, they are teachers, whether they realize it or not. What they say and do has an effect on many people, and like I said, they have a responsibility.

On a positive note, so far the holiday shows have been festive and fun!

B

the same reason that the CSI TV series all the lady investigators have their hair waving all over the place in the crime scene...
RATINGS!!

so many of us (me 2 guilty of it at times) look at a certain shows only for their eye-candy potential...

and yes, if you notice foodtv is moving away from teaching fast and its becoming more of a ratings ruled show biz channel

[Coolstr85]

Originally Posted by liv4fud

the same reason that the CSI TV series all the lady investigators have their hair waving all over the place in the crime scene...
RATINGS!!

so many of us (me 2 guilty of it at times) look at a certain shows only for their eye-candy potential...

and yes, if you notice foodtv is moving away from teaching fast and its becoming more of a ratings ruled show biz channel

and thats exactly why rachel ray is on tv at 6 in the afternoon and wolfgang puck is on at 4 in the morning

[lentil]

I used to watch FTV often, buy it got so every time I turned it on, it was Rachel Ray or Emeril and his Bamming and back up band . I hardly have time to watch tv anymore, but if I do watch a cooking show, I'd prefer public tv. We've downgraded our cable and I haven't seen FTV in 2 years. It seems that RR is everywhere, though, these days. Someone must like her.

[Stewey]

What do you mean Emeril is everywhere? I mean, c'mon. He only has two shows on FTV that are constantly repeated throughout the day about every-other hour or so....not to mention any holiday shows that he may be a part of....not to mention the toothpaste advertisements...wait. What was my point again?

[lentil]

And don't forget his face smiling out at you from the "essence" jars in the spice aisle.

[Botanique]

Wow, this post took an interesting turn. It was not my intention to start an FN bash, but I guess I did.

I happen to like Rachel very much. She is a sweet gal and has done very well for herself -- more power to her! (and I recognize that I am a pretty grouchy critic ;-) Not too keen on E after he had Rosy on -- which I am sad about, because he is quite an entertaining fellow.

(I will qualify the Rosy thing -- we happen to own guns and are republicans, which she doesn't seem to like with a verbal vengance)

Just a few late night thoughts... (actually another 3am husband snoring can't sleep so tuning into cheftalk thing LOL)

[lentil]

RR is fine. Emeril is fine. It's just too bad FN has saturated it's programming with them. There are some fine chefs out there who could use the exposure, and have something to teach without all the cutesiness as in RR's case, or the showmanship as in EL's case, AS far as the guns and republicans go, without turning this into a political discussion, I'll admit that those issues would be better served (both pro and con) in another venue. I want to learn from a cooking show- I'll get my politics elsewhere.

I'd seen RR's new mag on the stands for the last month or so and turned my nose up at it every time. Yesterday, I picked it up and sneaked a peek before I snuck it in my cart. It has some nice ideas in it; some I will use at home after a long day at work, and some I may be able to incorporate into my retail business. The woman who works with me sat for an hour and copied recipes out of it- she HATES to cook, but RR's recipes are simple and interesting enough for her to want to try. I was explaining what deglazing was and what the it meant to reduce. So, thanks to RR, this woman learned 2 new techniques and gained a new interest in cooking. I guess that's why she started doing her show in the first place.

[liv4fud]

think most of us are not upset with Emeril or Rachel Ray in particular. we all have had our moments in seeing them.

I know when I first started watching FTV it was Emeril's Bam that caught my attention along with Alton Brown's unorthodox method of teaching cooking. But the whole thing with showbiz that they are going into - the competition shows taking primetime spots - instead of more cooking learning type ones like those of Sara Moulton, etc.

I think its a case of too much frosting not enough cake

[castironchef]

Originally Posted by liv4fud

I think its a case of too much frosting not enough cake

Very well put.

[gonefishin]

To me...Emeril is really getting annoying. He pulls out his Bams...followed by a pause until he gets some applause, after he simply says "garlic". Now he's making these weird "bllippp bllipp" noises. I miss the old quiet Emeril.

I remember when I used to watch the weather channel. Both for the weather and the small mix of educational programs on all things weather related. Soon...the weather channel has turned into nothing but these programs. I can remember several times that we had some tornado warnings out. So I turn on the weather channel and low and behold...nothing but these specialty programs. No local weather reports like they used to do.

I was actually quite thankful when I our cable company finaly offered two more local weather channels that actually show you the weather! Imagine that.

Anyway...I'm getting the same feeling about the Food Network. There's just too much fluff and not enough of the actual cooking programs that they used to offer. I'd love to see some competition.

frustrated in Ill.

dan

[josephreese]

I like that the Food Network exists, but I find that "Good Eats" is the only show I try to catch.

PBS occasionally runs episodes of the "Great Chefs" series, which is far more informative and interesting than much of what I've found on Food Network. For those who haven't seen it, "Great Chefs" is about 30 minutes long, during which time we see 3 different cooks prepare 3 courses (almost always a starter, an entree, and a desert). There is little chit-chat. Only the cook explaining what he or she is doing, and an off-camera narrator who (back in the production studio) provides missing information that might help the viewer, such as measurements or how to find rare ingredients. The show is quiet.

The camera is still, and always shows the cooks' technique.

For the professionals here, "Great Chefs" might be nothing new. For hobbyists like myself, it's wonderful.

[chrose]

Originally Posted by josephreese

I like that the Food Network exists, but I find that "Good Eats" is the only show I try to catch.

PBS occasionally runs episodes of the "Great Chefs" series, which is far more informative and interesting than much of what I've found on Food Network.

For the professionals here, "Great Chefs" might be nothing new. For hobbyists like myself, it's wonderful.

Here, here! Well put! The food channel would do well to buy and run the great chef series. They were by far more informative and entertaining than most anything on the food channel.
If only the food channel were run by and for us! It might not make any money, but boy would it be good!!!

[Botanique]

I used to watch Great Chefs. Good series.

I think the whole point to my initial post was that the network needs to realize that they are teaching, and what they are presenting is not always "the right thing." Call me conservative or whatever you want, but I believe that a person, organization, network... has a responsibility.

I would like to see more lessons on the FN -- they have a terrific venue, and they should take advantage of it! What a wonderful opportunity! I credit some of them so much though -- it is one thing to have a conversation with someone about a recipe, and another to stand in front of a camera and teach.

Do they realize they are teachers? I know some of them do.

[JohnRov]

Originally Posted by josephreese

I like that the Food Network exists, but I find that "Good Eats" is the only show I try to catch.

PBS occasionally runs episodes of the "Great Chefs" series, which is far more informative and interesting than much of what I've found on Food Network. For those who haven't seen it, "Great Chefs" is about 30 minutes long, during which time we see 3 different cooks prepare 3 courses (almost always a starter, an entree, and a desert). There is little chit-chat. Only the cook explaining what he or she is doing, and an off-camera narrator who (back in the production studio) provides missing information that might help the viewer, such as measurements or how to find rare ingredients. The show is quiet.

The camera is still, and always shows the cooks' technique.

For the professionals here, "Great Chefs" might be nothing new. For hobbyists like myself, it's wonderful.

It's on the Discovery Home Channel quite a bit still if you get it on your cable.