Written by adam on Jun 7, 2006
Top 10 Worst Food Shows
You'll notice that this list is quite bit longer than my list of 5 best food shows. In my opinion there are only a small handful of really great cooking programs, a large handful of awful show, and a giant slew of average programming, which I won't mention here.
1. 40 Dollars a Day (FN) - Aside from my usually criticisms of Rachael Ray, I do not like this show on grounds that Rachael is cheap. I would hate to be waiting on her because I would know that my tip is going to be about 2 percent. 40 dollars a day sounds like a good idea, but it's not practical, especially when you need to be tipping at least 15 percent.
2. Easy Entertaining with Michael Chiarello (FN) - Drier than the white wine in his Napa Valley - themed show.
3. Hell's Kitchen (Fox) - Gordon Ramsay like to yell at people and call them the worst things imaginable. I contend that every chef on that show is forced to sign a contract whereby they promise not to punch Ramsay in the face.
4. Emeril Live (FN) - I think that Emeril did a great thing for food programming. He made it fun, energetic, and the got people excited about cooking. Ten years later, it's just played out. How many more times can we hear him say "bam!"? How many more time will the audience clap for everything he does? The hype is gone, the edge it dull. It's time to hang it up or make a different show.
5. Sara's Secrets (FN) - I know I may hurt soem feelings by naming this Sara's Secrets, but I just don't think it's a quality show. Sure you may learn some stuff, as Sara Moulton does give out plenty of good cooking advice. But the show is so dry, your might fall asleep before your casserole is done.
6 - 10: Behind the Bash, Recipe for Success, Food Nation, Food Finds, Sugar Rush, The Best Of ..., The Secret Life of ..., Restaurant Makeover, Unwrapped. Okay, so that's more than 5. But all of these semi-reality, semi-documentary type of shows get old after a while. In fact, the shows Unwrapped, The Best of, and The secret life of are all the same show in my opinion. None of these shows have any true value except to make people hungry and jealous.
Responses to "Top 10 Worst Food Shows" ...
heh -- we are pretty much opposites for our fav's/least fav's. With the exception of Alton Brown, of course. Love that man.
One of my favorite shows is The Secret Life Of... I don't know what it is about Jim O'Connor but I LOVE HIM. He is so funny to me. And I do like $40 cause for one thing, it isn't Rachel doing the cooking.
Sara's Secrets I HATE. Along with the diet shows. WTF is up with those -- I just don't get it. One minute you've got Paula drinking melted butter then it is Juan Carlos Cruise making gross looking low fat food. Blech. :o)
Jim O'Connor? Wait, who is the guy from Double Dare?
How could you rip on Michael Chiarello? That guy is so cool. He's always more creative than many of his network counterparts, he's actually able to convey his passion for food (obviously all hosts have it, but not all show it very well), he's utterly charming even when he's being corny or a goofball and who wouldn't want to go to one of his parties?
OK, I'll stop now. Plus I agree about Emeril and the shows in 6-10, although I think it's a little early to throw Behind the Bash in with that group.
adam
To each his own, right? I might agree with the points about his network counterparts, but I still think he's dry.
I'm taking Behind the Bash off the list. That was so stupid of me. It's Giada for goodness' sake! Thanks, Don.
I'm not real up on Ham on the Street either. BTW I don't watch Behind the Bash for its content!
Emeril, Chiarello, and Hell's Kitchen don't belong on this list. I don't think it's a matter of opinion, those three shows are HANDS DOWN better than:
- Calorie Commando
- Semi Homemade
- Inside Dish
- Healthy Appetite
- Quick Fix Meals
- Low Carb and Lovin' It
- Weighing In
adam
You know what, Tom? You're right about those shows. I could actually watch Emeril over the shows in that list. But I will not watch Hell's Kitchen.
Since winter of 2004, I have been exploring the world of cooking and helping out my fellow men in their quests to better themselves in the kitchen. My name is Adam Byrd, you can learn more about me and my mission on my