Top 5 Favs and Least Favs

[MiseEnPlace]

Originally Posted by Food Network Fan

I don't think Sara is making new shows anymore. The ones they were showing recently were repeats. I don't think she is even in the daytime lineup anymore since the new year started. I liked her and she is a good teacher, the show was very instructional though. Lots of folks find that boring.

Yes sadly, Sara is no longer making shows for the Food Network.
I liked watching her show but just thought the presentation could be boring at times (probably why I love Good Eats so much--not boring at all! ) Just standing behind a countertop can only be shot so many ways.

Anyway, I like Sara and think she has a lot more to offer than the majority of the hosts/chef currently on the network.

[bluejeanz]

My 5 favorites:


1. Barefoot Contessa
2. Paula's Home Cooking (I detest Paula's Party - the woman is a lech always pawing the guys in the audience!)
3. All of Nigella Lawson's shows
4. Easy Entertaining
5. Most of Bobby Flay's shows



My 5 shows 'that should be booted from the airwaves'

1. Anything that has Emeril on it
2. Likewise with Sandra Lee
3. Likewise with Rachael Ray
4. That annoying show with Ingrid Hoffman (WHAT was FN thinking??)
5. As long as we're only allowed 5 I guess I'll have to say Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives (although I do like watching the unique types of food, I'm not a fan of watching Guy stuffing his face on greasy fried foods and his constant comment of 'That's money!')




Comments:


I was thrilled when I heard Emeril Live was cancelled. What a big blow-hard. He has as much charisma as a dirty diaper. On his Essence show, he falls all over himself and doesn't know how to play to the camera without an audience ooo-ing and ah-ing all over him. There's only so many times you can hear 'oh yah, babe', gah-lic, or 'i don't know about you but my breadcrumbs don't come seasoned', yadda-yadda-yadda. I much preferred Sara Moulton's 'Cooking Live' show from several years ago. But I used to feel badly that she had to spend every evening away from her family doing a live show. She was more adept at it than EL. Someone posted that he did terribly at cooking food on his live show that could actually be eaten and was saved by the cooking staff in the back giving him swap-outs. Sara was 'what you see is what you get'. And I'm a little leary of Rachael as well. She seemed to get an awful lot done over the breaks that was actually possible....no matter what FN said.


Sandra Lee....what can I say? I've seen anti-Sandra websites making fun of her. I mean, how many women out there can afford the lavish 'tablescapes' (I hate that term, too) that she shows? It's ridiculous. And a color scheme and coordinating outfit for each show. Come on! But I do find her most comical. I tune in only when I need a good laugh; like watching her throw a bunch of instant packaged foods together and saying how 'delicious' it is; her constant use of saying something is 'soooooo' good; the way her elbows seem to be stapled to her sides which make her hands flap around aimlessly at times (that women from the old show 'Good Food Fast with Family Circle' used to have that same 'affliction'); and I won't even mention the silicone. I'm not one of those women who think a woman isn't 'complete' without a man but it's just sad how she doesn't have a husband and children of her own and dotes on her siblings, nieces and nephews. And the nicknames she gives her nephews; well, I'll bet they get into a lotta fights at school. (Poor Bryce....or rather "Brycer". Gawd!)


Ellie Krieger isn't bad but, coming from an Italian family who always cooks twice as much food as needed, I'll bet her family is starving to death. I know she has a husband and daughter but she cooks enough food for three toddlers rather than two adults and a child.


I do like Tyler but just can't watch his shows anymore. He constantly gets his hands dirty then proceeds to wipe them on his pants. At the end of the show, he must have to step out of his jeans and immediately throw them into the washer. Not too sanitary IMO.

I could go on and on but my mind is shot right now.

[radiodugger]

Thanks for your thoughts, Jeanne...have to agree on most of your points. Emeril's problem is that he is a CHEF first, and a TV performer SECOND. The rumor mill states that Emeril was coached quite a bit, early on. He has a problem talking, while he's chopping, slicing, and doing other things. Notice that he will start slicing onions, and stops talking!

You can hear the machinery whirring in the background! I know a chef who tell you NOT to talk to him while he's busy. Food Network corrected him on his grammar ("AS I said, not LIKE I said"), and it's improved a bit. The "Oh yeah, babe" has GOT to go...I like "BAM" but he rarely does that any more.

Now MARIO, on the other hand, will be julienning, chopping, slicing, adding oil to a pan, making pasta dough, turning heat up/down/off, all the while telling you (in great detail) where this style of cooking started (sometimes with a roll-down MAP!!), the type of people you might run into in the region, and the names of the local RESTAURANTS/Trattoria where the dish (he's preparing) is served! He looks RIGHT AT YOU the whole time, nary a glance down. Now there is a guy who knows what he's doing! A TRUE expert. Attitude? He's earned it.

Ceci Carmichael was the host of 'Good Food Fast with Family Circle', and you're right...that's one I CANNOT STAND! She reminds me of Celine Dion...and really is not cut out for TV...I know! I've done TV, and she is not cut out for it, for the same reasons I'm not. One has to have the right "LOOK", or be extremely charismatic for that medium. That's why I'm careful not to be too "mean" in crtiquing others.

[Food Network Fan]

I haven't seen Ceci in a long time I guess that show is gone. (thank goodness)

[BerryBaby]

Oh, I so happy that Ceci show is gone. She was not good TV.

I think they all have words and sayings that become very old and annoying. Tyler, for a while, would say, 'right' after everything he said. Those are mostly on the "How to Boil Water" series.

I'm sick of Ingrid looking into the camera and tilting her head back so we can see up her nose.

Many people have certain things that they say or do that drive us crazy. I'm sure I do, but really try and be aware of it. Not always an easy thing to do.

[MiseEnPlace]

Originally Posted by BerryBaby

Tyler, for a while, would say, 'right' after everything he said. Those are mostly on the "How to Boil Water" series.

Oh I've heard him to that and "okay." The first time I watched the FN Thanksgiving show thought I was going to have to mute him. So annoying. Then on ICA holiday battle I noticed him describing everything as light as a cloud (or something like that). That got old after awhile. Sorry to pick on the guy, but those verbal interjections bother me.

But I realize all of the cooks/chefs do something to annoy someone. I've noticed Alton saying verbal interjections too, but I like him A LOT so gets a pass. But I know people find him irritating too.

[Food Network Fan]

Sandra Lee takes long breaths where you can hear her draw the air in.

[BerryBaby]

She also hangs on words...'aaaannnnnd thheeeennnnn'.

They all have their own style whether we like it or not. Although, many of the sayings, we don't like. If they were all the same, it wouldn't matter who we watched.

At least we have the power of the remote to change the channel!:tv:

[MayQueen]

Thought I'd add my picks and pans too.

Likes:
Barefoot Contessa, my all-time favorite
Ace of Cakes, I like the cast
Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, I love seeing regional food
Good Eats, a keeper
And one that is no longer running but should be, Gale Gand's show

Dislikes:
2 Dudes Catering, I hope this leaves soon
Giada's Weekend Getaways, See Giada rowing, see Giada swimming
Anything The Rach, 23458745 reasons why
Paula's or in this case Pawler's Party
Contest shows, especially those nationwide barbeque cookoffs

[BerryBaby]

All those 'challenge' shows can go. I'm really sick of seeing what they can make with breakfast cereal! That has run over and over again....ugh...I'd be fine if it never was on again. And, what is the point? When would any of us ever find the need to make a cityscape with breakfast cereal? That's not what I do with mine! I put milk on it and eat it. I was told by my mother, "Don't play with your food."