In Defense Of Robert Irvine

[mom193]

Thanks girls for the welcome.You never know...since Food Network was originally from Tx.Anything can happen in todays world of acquisitions and mergers.One thing for sure,there will ALWAYS BE FOOD

[Jane0929]

I think he'll be back on the food Network, maybe never even leave. I am amazed at how many times DI has been on since this story broke. It seems like it's getting more airtime than ever. I think the Food Network is testing the waters to gauge the response from viewers.

Jane

[Food Network Fan]

I agree, it seems like they are either trying to play out his contract by airing every episode with in a few weeks so they can boot him after, or they are trying to see what kind of ratings he is getting after this news to decide the value in keeping him.

[Callisto in NC]

I don't care what he said on his resume, even my temp agency embellishes my resume, it's what he's done with the job. He entertains, that's all that matters.

I think of it this way, that resume isn't a notarized statement guaranteeing fact. An employment application is, but a resume isn't.

[Happy Cooker]

So, for about a week after the St. Pete article came out I walked around my house with a knot in my stomach. Feeling like this prince of a chef had somehow let me down by lying about his past. Whenever ads for DI appeared I shook my head in disbelief that this amazing man who had impressed me so much was not the perfect person I had once thought he was.

Then when FN announced they might cancel DI or replace Robert I quickly came to my senses and woke up from this Cinderella haze. I realized this is television. Chef Irvine is an AMAZING CHEF and tv host. I watch his show, loyally, because I like him and enjoy watching him cook. He owes nothing more to me than to hold my interest with his charm and cooking talents. I would be sad to see his show end. That is all that really matters to me.

I think we all make decisions based on our emotions. Decisions on what we watch on tv, who we vote for, who we're friends with. We could debate all day and night whether Chef Irvines actions were morally correct and if it should result in the loss of his job. It all comes down to whether or not we like him enough to overlook his flaws. He is a real person after all. Not prince charming from a storybook. Besides, maybe it was my own fault for allowing myself to get so starry-eyed in the first place.

[Food Network Fan]

I agree, he is a great chef. That is something the Food Network needs more of.

[owlcroft]

New here and just want to say I don't watch a lot of tv at all, but when I ride the dratted exer-cycle, I turn to Food Network. One show I really enjoy is "Dinner: Impossible" and if FoodTV really does can that show, then I'm tossing FoodTV into the disposal right after it.

There are way too many so-called chefs on this network who are simply smile machines. Tell me how to cook something, show me a new technique, explain a difficult preparation. Yes, make it entertaining, too. But for pity's sake, how many people do we need to roll their eyes at us as they eat their own cooking?

Irvine lives up to the premise of D:I and more. He's entertaining all right, and he actually prepares the food, under extremely challenging circumstances. Revisit the decision, FoodTV execs, or revisit your ratings.

[BerryBaby]

Welcome, owlcroft!

Enjoyed your comments...please be sure to visit and post on other threads.

We have do have fun here!

[gloomcookie]

One of my absolute favorite shows on the Food Network was Dinner:Impossible, hosted by Chef Robert Irvine.
FN apparently has fired Irvine. (If accuracy is as important to the FN as they claim, I hope they fired the person who didn't delve into these matters from the get go...perhaps Irvine would have had a chance to clear the air before all this mess got started.)

After I read the St. Petersburg article, it seemed to me someone (socialite La Torre) got her feelings in an uproar and stirred the pot a little so Irvine appeared in the worst possible light. Now that the Food Network has backed off, heaven knows what his publisher Harper Collins will do (he has one cookbook out, which I have, and had just turned in the manuscript for the second one to be released this fall), and QVC pulled off the cooking products that had his name on them for sale.
All this....FOR WHAT?
Who hasn't padded their resume to make them look the best they can be?
Who hasn't embellished a skill or two here and there?
I have...I'll come right out and say it. I've worked on resumes not only for myself, but for 4 other people and we all know how the game is played. Ebellishments are included that one knows no one will really question too much during the interview process, but boy it sure looks good on paper.
There are classes in college, in high schools as well, to teach people how to create the winning resume that will get you noticed. There are entire sections in bookstores and libraries with books giving you all the inside tips and tricks to writing the perfect resume. We all want to look good on paper...so we embellish here, add a little there...so we come across on paper like the greatest candidate for the job that ever walked.
So.
Here's Irvine who may or may not have said this that or the other thing. He stretched the truth in some places (he admits to the inaccuracies) but isn't a sincere apology enough? Why cancel his show? If he was an inept bungler and had no talent in the kitchen then I might understand, but the man is a marvel as a chef. He is one of the very few genuinely entertaining personalities on Food Network now. Well he was.
The irony here?
What happened to Martha Stewart when she got called on the carpet for her financial shenanigans and ended up serving prison time?
She's got her own network on cable up and running, her wares are featured at Macy's department store and she's still worth millions and millions of dollars.
And she broke the law.
Yes, Irvine lied, embellished his credentials, was less than accurate in the portrayal of his past accomplishments. He's done all he can do in this instance - he's issued a sincere apology.
Whatever happened to forgiveness?
Did we flush it down the toilet when we started wiping our asses with political correctness?

I've sent two emails to Chef Irvine expressing my support and sincere desire to see him back on television.
I've sent two emails to the Food Network letting them know two things: first, to please not pull the plug on DI (they did) and if they did, they would lose my viewership when DI was finally taken off the air with Robert Irvine as host (which they will). In my second email I pointed out the absolute irony of DI having Macy's as a sponsor - apparently Macy's can forgive and forget easy - Martha Stewart has a line of exclusive home designs with them. Obviously her jail time didn't bother Macy's at all. Too bad the FN can't follow suit.
Yes, I've read the posts about FN saying they might revisit the issue, but I see that as a slim to none chance for Irvine to go back on the air with them. What I would like to see is what someone else on this site suggested; have Bravo or the Travel Channel pick him up and woe to FN as viewers jump ship.

[BerryBaby]

You know what is interesting? They parted ways with Anthony Bourdain years ago and there were some nasty moments.

Now, FN is bringing back all his original OLD shows and Anthony wasn't even aware that they were going to do this.

See, you just never know.