Written by adam on Jan 23, 2007

Giada's Weekend Getaways

Filed Under: Television
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The Giada’s Weekend Getaways intro and logo invite us in with little wink (yes, the logo winks at us), which seems to foretell of the pleasures to come. And if by some tongue-in-cheek realization of the truth, we see Giada look at the gaping mouth of a monkfish and exclaim, “Look at how big that mouth is!”

If ever there were limits placed on the amount of skin for Everyday Italian, this new show breaks all those limits and more. Granted, a blue bikini is not the most appropriate attire for Italian cooking in a kitchen, but one must admit that Everyday Italian sure has a certain low-cut appeal.

All rules are cast aside for Giada’s Weekend Getaways, were it seems that more skin equals a better weekend. Maybe I’m being slightly harsh, seeing that most men would love to see more of Giada’s skin. The overall tone is not about being more revealing, but I think that the producers must have relaxed their standards a bit. Giada’s outfits are more revealing, significantly lower cut, and she show off her body in a turquoise bikini on the South Beach episode.

The buzz surrounding this show has not been the greatest, as viewers and critics compare it to Rachael Ray’s travel program 40 dollars a Day. Giada’s team counters this notion by stating that GWG is not just about food or getting the most out of a small amount of money. It is a travel program based around food, and it teaches the viewer the best locations to eat and be entertained.

While this is billed as travel show, about 90 percent of the program revolves around food. It is, after all, the food network.

The first two episodes aired back-to-back: Seattle and South Beach. When Giada visited the great city of Seattle, she bounced around from coffee house (Starbucks not included) to specialty restaurants, checking out cool sites like the Experience Music Project. The EMP got about 0.5 minutes of airtime, but the coffee house was at least 15 minutes long where Giada drank coffee and ate decadent chocolate cakes.

Fast forward to South Beach, a place where Giada seems more at home. After cruising around in a convertible, eating South Floridian and Cuban cuisine, we come to the inevitable beach scene where Giada takes a cruise on a jet ski. The scene opens with Giada’s mostly naked body filling up the entire screen. All men may say “Oh my lord!”

Then the producers had to go and cover her up with a life vest.

I am not really pleased with the show. It should be called “Food Celebrity Travels and Does the Local Stuff.” There are so many shows of the same type on the travel channel, and Rachel Ray seems to have the monopoly of this on the Food Network. Heck, there’s even Al Roker’s show or Bobby Flay’s Food Nation. Head over to the Travel Channel and you’ll see Anthony Bourdain doing the same thing, just with a meaner attitude.

It’s all the same stuff, and Giada’s Weekend Getaways doesn’t seem to offer anything original. My suggestion is this: put the show on in the background while you’re hosting a party. Otherwise, just wait for the episode where Giada comes to your hometown.

GWG is not without its uses, though. There are some great drinking game possibilities.

When the logo winks at you … drink.
When Giada’s cleavage is shown … drink.
When Giada says the words “creamy, crunchy, or sweet” to describe the food … drink.
When Giada orders something chocolate … drink.
When the camera does a close-up on Giada licking her fingers or lips … drink.
When a male person glances at Giada with lust … drink.