Alton needs to go

[boof]

How did Alton become onmipresent on foodnetwork? He seems to be on every other show the foodnetwork airs. His own show seems to run and re-run 10 times a day. Some days it's a veritable Alton marathon. Does he own a large percentage of the company? Is he related to someone who does? Or is the management so enamoured with him that he can do no wrong? Alton needs to go. His cutesy, condescending, waaaay too close to the camera style has worn too thin to tolerate any longer. Please back away from the camera more than six inches. Stop talking to the audience like they're 7 year old idiots. And most of all, when Alton's a mere announcer on a show (Iron Chef) stop acting like you're the "STAR" and hogging the focus of the show from the chef to your babbbling bozo behind. And speaking of babbling, Alton has brought it to new heights, since he seems to fixate on one point and repeats it to death by merely re-phrasing it a dozen times and then moves on to his next point which he also beats to death. It's just painful to watch, I can't do it any more, so when he comes on I either change the channel or just turn off the TV.

[isilzha]

I think they've done a good job not over-exposing Alton. He has Good Eats, and he is the host of Iron Chef America and he has the Feasting show which only lasts I think 4 or 5 episodes a season. He hasn't been put onto a ton of different shows like Rachael, Paula, and even Bobby have been. But its interesting to see another opinion on the topic.

[gourmetloveaffair]

Be careful you may hit some nerves with this post... we've go a lot of Alton fans here it seems, and I agree with isilzha... there are many other way over exposed stars.

I do have a question about someone who may own part of the company... Does Marc Summers own part of it, he produces so many of the show, pay attention the next time you see one end, it's probably produced by him... plus he has the same time slot nearly all of the time. I know he's been with FN for a long time, but I personally find him a bit irritating in large doses, but still like Unwrapped.

[Kansan]

I don't think Flay is overexposed. he has his Throwdown show which is on a couple das a week and a daily show early in the morning, but other than Iron Chef, he isn't on that much. I actually think they should push him more. He's better than Ray, Paula, etc, who are growing to be obnoxious.

[aoneil]

I see Flay on a lot actually...but I don't mind. I like him. I like Alton too....I feel like I never see that guy on TV. I must not be watching enough!

[BerryBaby]

Ouch! Lots of Alton lovers here, but you are entitled to your opinions.

[Clove]

Originally Posted by boof

How did Alton become onmipresent on foodnetwork? He seems to be on every other show the foodnetwork airs. His own show seems to run and re-run 10 times a day. Some days it's a veritable Alton marathon. ...

This is the dilemma of being on FTV for so many years.
They are on the 5th or 6th or 10th re-running of Molto Mario. Batali had the good fortune to film 7 seasons of his show and FTV uses the 7 year old (and older) shows to fill in their schedule.
Alton is now in that same category and is still producing new shows, so the inventory is growing.
Emeril is in that same group too, so is Bobby Flay (but not with just one show).
If you look closely at the product that is aired daily on the network and then realize that they tout themselves as a 24 hour service, which they have not grown to yet, they do not produce enough "new" product to fill their scheduling days.
Right now they run a very different network from the early AM until "prime time". The shows in the AM are like the FTV of the late 20th to early 21st century and the format and some of the actual shows they used then.
When they get into the drive times, they bring out the new format and run that until about 10:30 PM. Then they start re-running the drive shows that they used previously that day and then go off the air until about 9:00 AM.
That's why you will keep seeing the same people over and over again for some time yet.

[MiseEnPlace]

First of all, you are certainly entitled to your opinion. If you don't like Alton, fine, there are several hosts on FN that I do not like but I steer clear of them. Also, I certainly don't go onto message boards a bash them, but that's just me

As for Alton being "omnipresent" and in "every other show"... Good Eats airs at 8pm and 11 pm Monday thru Friday, at 8 and 8:30 on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Iron Chef America airs Sundays at 9 and repeats on Thursday and Saturday.
Paula Deen, for example, has shows that air Monday thru Friday (Paula's Home Cooking), on Saturday (Paula's Home Cooking) and an hour show on Friday night (Paula's Party). Many of the other hosts have similar airing patterns, check Rachael Ray or Bobby Flay. Alton might have a slight advantage being on during prime time with all of his shows, but he is certainly not dominating the network's schedule.

I have never once thought of Alton as condescending when he explains things. In fact, I think he is the best host on the network because he does explain things. I had cooked for years before ever watching Good Eats and Alton has helped me understand more about the science and art of cooking than anyone. I learned all about making mayo, a substance I detest, from Alton. He's the only person who could get me to do that. And for watching that episode, I learned that mayo making skill transfer to making similar emulsion-type applications!

As for "cutesy", granted some of his examples are kitschy but that's the way Alton wants them to be. If you've ever heard him explain how and why he created Good Eats, you would understand why he does skits, uses props and the strange camera angles. He wants the show to be entertaining. Most every cooking show has some person behind a counter making a dish, Alton's show is different and creative! I like creative and fun.

I love his commentary on ICA, if he wasn't there to explain things to the viewer we would be lost. I know a lot about cooking and ingredients, but Alton knows more and I manage to learn something from watching. Yes, sometimes he repeats information but many times, if you'll notice, that's after coming back from a commercial break or just before sending it a break or if the camera goes back to something a chef is making Alton will recap.

On a personal level, while I cannot speak any of the other hosts, I can say Alton is a wonderful person to his fans. Having met him twice, I can tell you that even if he is "omnipresent" and in "every other show" he certainly does not act like it. He is down to earth and very nice. When people come to his book signings or events, he gives everyone the same treatment. The first person to the last person in line gets a "Hi, I'm Alton" and a handshake. He'll take time to talk with you and makes you feel like the two of you have made a connection.

Say what you will, you are entitled to not like him. But, I am equally entitled to say I do like him and am glad he is on Food Network as much as he is. He makes Food Network worth watching for me. I'm happy that the Network execs see what a valuable asset Alton is!

[Chefnot]

Just wait till the boss gets back!

[noobaker]

I'd pay an extra $50.00 a month if they'd put AB on his own channel, that way I could watch Good Eats, Iron Chef, etc. whenever wanted to. just my 2 cents