In Defense Of Robert Irvine

Food Network Fan · 03-08-2008, 12:33 PM

In Defense Of Robert Irvine
AllYourTV.com, MN - Mar 4, 2008
I bring all this up as a round-about way of talking about Robert Irvine, the host of the Food Network series "Dinner: Impossible. ...

MayQueen · 03-08-2008, 12:57 PM

So the writer doesn't think Robert's lies are that big a deal. Wonder what lies he does find wrong. Marion Jones just went to jail for lying about her steriod use; using wasn't the issue, lying was. She runs track, not as though she's a doctor operating on your brain. A baseball player is being investigated by Congress for whether he was lying to them. A baseball player, who cares. Should he be less accountable than a former president accused of lying about his personal life? Where do you draw the line on lying? What lies are okay with you?

Food Network Fan · 03-08-2008, 01:07 PM

True, but one could argue that using performance enhancing drugs when you are competing for something gives you an unfair advantage if no one else can use them. As far as I know what Robert told them didn't change his performance while actually doing the job one way or the other. But he did lie, maybe they could fine him or something for it, but what he did really didn't make him do what he did better or worse to the detriment of others.

BerryBaby · 03-08-2008, 01:22 PM

Also, what he did wasn't illegal, like the drug use issues.

Food Network Fan · 03-08-2008, 01:47 PM

It depends. If they can say it was fraud then it might go into the illegal area. But I would think the food network would have some burden to confirm his past employment before they gave him the job..

MayQueen · 03-08-2008, 04:03 PM

I don't know if the producers of DI had other candidates in mind for their show. If Robert lied to make himself sound more accomplished and the others didn't, then I'd say he might have had an unfair advantage. But I do see your point about cheating in competition. It isn't as though Robert had a magic geni who helped him once he got the job.

BerryBaby · 03-08-2008, 04:31 PM

When I was in HR, it was up to me to check out the future employees. If they fibbed or enhanced their resume, and I didn't check it out, than shame on me.
Employers (FN) are as much at fault by not investigating his past experiences.

People will go to great lengths to get the job of their dreams...or just get a job!

I think Robert has proven himself and isn't that what it really comes down to...his capabilities?

MayQueen · 03-08-2008, 05:21 PM

Yes, you're right BerryBaby, he has shown that he can entertain us. And just as RR rambles off into her own fantasy land, maybe Robert did that too during his shows. I don't know myself why I'm taking such a hard line with this. I mean, it has no real impact on my life. I'm probably just being naive.

Food Network Fan · 03-08-2008, 05:24 PM

I think I hate to see him go so much because he is a REAL chef. They have enough Rachael Ray's and those folks don't even have the things Robert didn't lie about. I am afraid they will replace him with another "personality" that has no background at all to exaggerate. That seems to be the way it's going on the Network.

ibcheft · 03-08-2008, 06:37 PM

A lie is a lie, big or small. Do we all do it, most likely at one time or another in our life we have added to or subtracted from the whole truth for the benefit of bettering our-self or a friend. Some get caught others, go on just like it was nothing. I think it all depends on how we perceive the situation and how it effects us personally. Did Roberts additions effect me, no not really, should he have lost his job, I don't believe so. Those who judge him, should look to see really what was the issue. I think there is more to this than just a little padding of the resume. Looking at the overall picture and the amount of chefs who have recently been withdrawing, not having contracts picked up, seems like something else is in the works with the food network. Might be that the chefs were getting to much of the attention and the cooks were jealous ?, or programmer thought that they need cooks for the home cooks and the chefs were to pretentious. I do not have the answer, but Robert is a good chef, we can see that by how he prepares his food and a smart one to accomplish all he does in one show. Would I like to see him comeback on another network with the same type show sure I would watch it, he is entertaining and informative. Just my two cents