Alton needs to go

[bluejeanz]

Originally Posted by BerryBaby

Michael is more my style as he entertains like I do and makes interesting dishes. A bit more complex that the other shows.

Michael had a few shows on PBS starting back in '01 and the Fine Living Channel still carries old eps of NapaStyle. One of my co-workers and I used to watch him on PBS on Saturdays and would come in on Monday morning and discuss the dishes he made.

[pretzelb]

I like Alton but not on Iron Chef. I'm not sure what I want from the person who fills that role on Iron Chef but for some reason Alton doesn't seem right to me. I think I'd rather have more of a bland play by play style. The action in the show is fast and furious and there isn't time to inject much more than a description of what is going on. He seems like he's trying to work in comedy too much instead of just telling us what is going on. You know, it could be the fault of the producer or the way they present
the show. They change camera angles too fast and make the viewer feel the urgency a bit too much.

[chefboyrdavid]

I think his show is very informative, maybe some people like watching RR rush around the kitchen, alot of really good food can be prepared fast, but alot of really good food takes time!... alton takes you into the reasons why food taste good not just the recipe to good tasting food. I think he should have his own channel id dvr it all day long!

[Food Network Fan]

I agree.

[FoodFan]

I don't think any individual show on FN runs '10 times a day,' but a person who's not a fan of a particular personality would think so. Alton doesn't bother me. (Rachael Ray is another story.) I think a lot of Alton fans turned on him (to borrow a phrase from FoodNetworkFan) after he began hosting TNFNS. His style of commentary as a judge *is* somewhat condescending, but I accept that premise based on the fact that he is something of a veteran on the network. He arrived a long time ago, so he's no longer green: now he's world-weary. A similar change is happening to golden girl Giada. She was the beautiful, wide-eyed princess on the first few seasons of EI; now she's like the Italian-American ambassador, and people have made well-known their annoyances with her condescending manner and overpronounciations of everything Italian- not to mention her sometimes b----ness on TNFNS. Thank God for diversity, eh? There are enough different personalities on the network to go around- from Ina to Mario to Morimoto. And just look how fast Guido Guy took off!! Right now *he's* the network darling- still humble, still joyous about everything. But in a few more years (if he sticks around) he may harden a little too. And with the new competition underway, there's no shortage of new talent anytime soon. (Can't wait for Lisa's new cooking show on diva-style community outreach- in high heels- to begin!!)

At any rate, I still enjoy Good Eats and Asphalt.

[MiseEnPlace]

Some people did critize the way Alton acted on last year's TNFNS and the Next Iron Chef show... I thought that was just the way he was playing the role--as a foil. Plus he does have a dry, sarastic way about him and viewers see more of that in his projects outside of Good Eats.

If you ask someone who has met Alton, you will most likely hear positive comments about him. He is warm and gracious, a very nice man. He actually cares that his fans come to see him, unlike a lot of celebrities.

[Food Network Fan]

I think he is trying to show he has a serious side too, since he does so much humor. He doesn't want people to see him strictly as that.

[fiction]

My only complaint about Good Eats is that is wish there wasn’t so much of an emphasis on the whole “production value” of the show. Don’t get me wrong, the fun foam cell masses and life size corn cobs are fun (and often educational), but sometimes the storyline and ensuing antics take up too much precious show time. I often find myself channel surfing until after the first commercial break since the first act is often all shenanigans and no cooking and instruction!

Let me repeat: I LOVE Alton Brown. On Good Eats, I find his approach to food, nutrition, science, and teaching spectacular. His efficient and thoughtfully prepared dishes are incredibly refreshing. I just wish he would focus more on food, not fluff. More sauce, less shtick.

Also, one of my FN pet peeves is waste (e.g. Giada not scraping her batter bowls, RR not getting all of the black beans out of the can or poorly chopping a red pepper and tossing half of it into the garbage bowl, etc.) Therefore, I really appreciate Alton’s focus on not wasting product.

While I'm on the subject, i swear, if Feasting on Asphalt isn’t Emmy-nominated it should be. Seriously.

[MiseEnPlace]

Originally Posted by fiction

While I'm on the subject, i swear, if Feasting on Asphalt isn’t Emmy-nominated it should be. Seriously.

For that statement alone, you are now my friend

[fiction]

The word that comes to mind when I think about Feasting on Asphalt is "heart." The heart that goes into each episode is permeable. Also, it’s award-worthy solely for being such an ambitious television concept. Sure, other hosts have “hit the road” before, but you can tell that Alton and crew really put their all into creating the show. Maybe I’m wrong, but I have a feeling RR and a couple of southern boys we all know (just to name a few) take a little help from location scouts and show producers before traveling. I know she's a very busy woman, but sometimes I feel that RR is blindly dropped into a restaurant with absolutely no knowledge of her surroundings and acts like it's some insider's spot. They "discover" glorified local chains and tourist traps (trust me, I saw where she went on her trip to my hometown, San Diego, and let’s just say they weren’t exactly hidden gems.)

But I digress. Feasting on Asphalt is a treasure. Oh yeah, and I love the different quotes that precede each commercial break. It's these extra little thoughtful touches that aren't lost on the viewer and are what make the show truly special.