Food Network Going In The Tank

[smoke 2 geaux]

Am I the only one who finds the programming on the Food Network has gone in the tank? When I first started watching FN there were good instructional shows like Essence of Emeril, Grillin & Chillin, East Meets West, Malto Mario etc....

Now the whole darn network is about 80% cake deccorating shows and goofy reality garbage. Some of it is down right ridiculous. That woman Sandra Lee can't cook her way out of a wet paper bag. And do we really need an up close and personal tour of a corn dog factory???

I've gone to watching public broadcasting where they actually have shows that are still about cooking. It's a shame, because I used to really enjoy it.

 

[flagriller]

Yes I have noticed, and I thought I was the only one! And Rachale Ray

need I say more. I still like Diners drive inns and dives and iron chef, as well as a few others.

 

[salsashark]

IMO, The food network went down a few years back... it's just food porn now... Watch me stuff my face, and really bad "reality" shows... Worst Cook Ever?! Seriously??? Who cares...

I think television in general isn't worth anything anymore.
1. What can I learn from The Learning Channel? How to have 18 kids and that my ass does look fat in these jeans

2. Discovery Channel? They've discovered that blowing stuff up makes people happy

3. The History Channel? A pawn shop and a couple of guys digging through garbage is not history

4. SPEED? Oh, the one I miss the most. I remember when speed wasn't the all nascar all the time channel. When they showed plane & boat racing, Dakar, WRC, MotoGP, WSBK. Now it's all about turning left... BORING!!!

Just a few examples... I'd post more but Keeping up with the Kardashians is having a marathon... gotta go...

 

[chef jeff tx]

The shows you mention are still on, except EMW and G&C, but you're right they are few & far between. Flay still has Grill it, ok show & Boy meets Grill, good show. Hate those stupid contest shows, ace of cakes, unwrapped. Rachel makes me want to choke her with all her stupid catch phrases,so does Emeril. Paula used to be great but she has become a major goof ball. Love me some Giada!! They seem to gear the programming towards non-cooks these days.

Some of the shows have been moved over to FLN since Martha owns the shows & FLN. All the Emeril show's moved over there when he sold out to Martha but have been back on Food Network though they're all reruns. EMW has ended and been replaced by Simply Ming and is on PBS. I wish the food shows that used to be on Discovery had been picked up by FN or FLN. Cooking in Brooklyn, Kylie Kwong & even Take Home Chef were entertaining and showed/taught actual cooking.

Sure glad Direct TV & Versus got over the nonsense so I can see hockey & fishing again!! :)

 

[smokin relaxin steve]

Oh man good call w/ Grillin & Chillin... that show was great!

I have to agree... if i see one more Cake Cook off (uh-oh stay tuned this Lion King Cake may tip over dun dun dunnnnnn) i am going to shoot myself.... And why is Ace of Cakes on everytime i tune in... they should change the name to the Baking Network!!!!!

DDD is good, and so is Alton's show... and a few every so often, but 90% of that station just blows!

 

[dick bullard]

Bring back the good old Paula Deen show before she got all cutsie with her parties and her "Boys"....kinda makes ya sick! The same with Rachael Ray....guess you just have to saurate the market with these people to make the most money with and for them.... Used to like Emeril...now I change channels when he comes on and the MCNeely's get down right sickening with all the kissie and lovey talk.....guess I just got to agree with you folks.....!!! It's going down the tubes !!!

R
ick

 

[boiseque]

I have to agree, although others in my home would not. The fiancee and kids like Ace of cakes, I cant stand it. I did like Americas worst chefs though, I found it to be funny, how can anyone possibly cook that bad? I seriously think my pointer could cook better! I used to like Chopped but I really cant stand it anymore. Pat and Gina Neely drive me nuts, I cant tell if they are cooking or getting ready to get it on. They make some fine BBQ though, I think they should stick with that. I do love Good Eats, Alton Brown is the man! Triple D is a good show as well. For the most part though the network has taken a dive. Grillin & Chillin was the bomb, they shoud bring that show back!!

 

[shooter1]

Agreed, its seems to be going the way that MTV went. I do love Triple D and I watch a couple of other shows but it is not the same. I remember when the only cooking shows on were on PBS until FN came along and it was great. I now set the DVR to PBS on Saturdays and record them all and watch them during the week.

The shows used to be about cooking things you normally wouldn't attempt at home and you learned some real techniques. It seems all the new shows are about anyone can cook and how to prepare dinner for 4 on $10.00 or 5 ingredients or less. If I'm going to watch someone else cook I want to try something that is out of the ordinary done by a professionally trained chef not someone who has no professional training and is self taught.

One last rant, I cannot stand that Neeley wench. I have to turn the channel when that crap is on. If the dude was on without his annoying wife and maybe his brother I would probably watch them make some que.

 

[got14u]

I guess I don't watch enough "live" tv to know...All the shows I watch are recorded for me and I watch them when I want. I do think there are a lot that are still good. Iron Chef Chopped, diners drive ins and dives, guys big bite, boy meets grill, throwdown, cooking with bobby flay(or what ever that show is named). In retrospect I can't think of another channel that has that many show I watch so all tho I do agree with you some I would have to say they are still good in my book.

 

[smokey2569]

I actually think FN is pretty solid. If you have the luxury of watching the station during the day, the majority of the shows are legit cooking shows and not competition shows at all. Those start around 7 or so. The majority of people put on a pretty good show with the exception of Sandra Lee (who caters to a certain group of people that want to make things that taste good, yet not go through all the prep work) and that d-bag Guy Fieri.

Is there a bigger loser than that guy Guy? I would love for him to explain what use the sunglasses are on the back of his head, or the 17 sweatband with his logo on it. Can't stand him. Stupid pinkey ring and all that gold. Moron. "This is on point!" Spare me.

But the rest of the talent during the day is pretty good. I am not the biggest Racheal Ray fan, but she has some good techniques that I appreciate and use. Tyler Florence is probably up there with Bobby Flay in my book.

But for the most part, all the cooking shows are during the day, so if all you see are competition shows, stay home more often...

 

[coyote]

I hear ya. who the heck wants to watch the worst cooks?

 

[wingman]

FN isn't going into the tamk its been sucking buildge water for some time. How many cake shows can people watch and remain sane?

 

[chef jeff tx]

Would be nice if he'd try to act somewhat older then 13. My kids don't even dress that way anymore. He is knowledgeable about food and makes a lot of good stuff on Big Bite. The concept of DDD is cool but again, he is annoying and catch phrases irk me no end!! The '67 he drives is sure sweet.

 

[fire it up]

What they NEED to do is hire Biker Billy!

Biker Billy Cooks with Fire.
The guy even has his own strain of hot pepper you can grow.
http://www.bikerbilly.com/

 

[smokin relaxin steve]

I dont mind Guy, but i know a few people who cant stand him so to each their own... I also like Tyler and agree that he is close to Flay's level... might be my problem that i have to work during the day and dont have the luxury to stay home more often (no tevo either), but i guess it is better during the day than at night... I know early morning on the weekends sometimes has a nice line-up

 

[smokin relaxin steve]

Biker Billy is the MAN!!!! I havent seen that show in ages though!

 

[smoke 2 geaux]

I'm glad to hear i'm not the only one. And i agree with everybody about Gina Neeley. They may have the best bbq in the world, but I'd never know it because I can't watch 3 minutes of that show without scrambling for the remote. If they would can her and add the brothers, i probably wouldn't miss an episode.

 

[smokednarwhal]

Salsashark already said everything I came here to say, so +1

 

[deltadude]

All the actual cooking shows are on during the day time on FN. Just set your Tivo or video recorder.

FN is like any other network, what people are watching and what advertisers are paying for is what they will put on during prime time.

Viewers are obviously watching Guy Fieri or he wouldn't have 3 shows on FN each week, plus the tailgate comp thing. The dude has been hugely successful, and is cashing in, no one can fault him for that. Bobby Flay is FN if you get tired of watching him then between his 3 or 4 shows and Fieri's there isn't much else to watch.

FN for us is something to tune into when we can't find anything else, we don't have to pay attention and can talk during the shows.

 

[herkysprings]

I miss:

Taste - super basic no frills show about cooking, mostly french cuisine. I got a few great recipies from here.

Two Fat Ladies - I mean.. their solution to most things was to put in more, or cook with, lard. Hardcore English cooks! I think one died from a heart attack tho.