Opinion on Pitmasters?

[dirt guy]

Maybe this ought to be a poll.

Last night, the wife and I was switching back and forth between the game and Pitmasters. She made the comment that she didn't like the way some of the participants had to be censored all of the time. She thought it made people that liked to smoke look like uneducated, backward-thinking rednecks. I will have to agree that it does make some people conjure up that stereotype. I would have thought that KCBS would have spoken with the participants and reminded them that they were ambassadors for the organization.

Anyone else have some thoughts, or am I off-base on this one?

 

[bman62526]

Well, first off I agree with you on principle, but the KCBS doesn't have anything to do with the show...

In my humble opinion, anyone that feels the need to curse that much - IS indeed, uneducated or perhaps better stated: stoopid ;-)

That much cursing is the sign of a weak mind...don't get me wrong - I swear with the best of them when I'm hanging out with my buddies drinking beers and smokin ribs...but if I was on television, on radio, or just generally "in public" one way or another - then I keep it G rated out of respect to whoever might be around...

If you do a search in this forum for 'pitmasters", you'll see that we kind of already covered this subject...but with respect to your thread - I agree with you.

 

[rio_grande]

I think I said early on that this show does not represent our hobby well. It dosen't offend me or turn me off but I do think it makes them look bad. And the chick just reminds me of an uppidy well female dog,,, but I havent ever met her... All in all I don't think it is a good representation.. I work with inter city punks for a living so every other word being graphic in nature dosen't really mean anything but I don't want it in my living room...

Just my .02

 

[solaryellow]

Drama drives ratings. Without it, there would be no show.

 

[igolf2]

Totally agree - made for TV reality "National Enquirer" BBQ show

 

[the dude abides]

I like it for what it is. But it's not a cooking show. It's a competition show. Not unlike Survivor, or any other "reality" show. If it were a cooking show it would be on a different network. I'm actually a little surprised it's on TLC

 

[shooterrick]

I agree with the Dude. In fact it would not surprise me if they were coached to be more controvertial to drive ratings. A protaganist can do wonders for ratings and many folks love to hate the antagonist.

 

[scarbelly]

I think it is important to remember that they "hired these folks" for ratings and a "reality show" Without some of the rankoring and controversy it would not draw the ratings - I too agree there is too much of it but outside of this forum, who is watching this show, and what do they want to see .... just my .02

 

[the dude abides]

That I can guarantee. Believe me, TLC doesn't put up that kind of $$$ just "hoping" they get something good. It's mostly scripted. At last heavily "coached".

 

[rio_grande]

This is true,,, Heck I watched last night to see Myron loose,, really didn't care about anything else..

 

[chefrob]

2 outa 3 ain't bad............i'm mexican, not no redneck!

 

[hounds51]

On the same plane as John and Kate Plus Eight. I don't wase my time on junk like that. Give me the History Channel.

 

[rio_grande]

I agree hound, but I have had about all of Armagedon tech I can stand for the year...

 

[bbqhead]

It is truly a reality show, these people are paid . why do you not see these other people at awards when their teams name is called? their not part of the "reality show". A friend of mine was at the royal and watched them do 11 takes on one scene with myron ,just to get that intimadator feeling from myron for ratings. Its just made for television, oh wait, they will probably put DVD out for sale too!!!

 

[bbally]

Here is the view from someone that does for a living, what these people are pretending to do for a living.

The cursing and bitching and drama is coached, or at the least amplified and emphasized by the producers, because if you do this for a living that crap drives customers away.

The drama between the pitmasters and them getting in each others face is coached or amplified and emphasized by the producers, because in the real world of professional barbeque that kind of crap would get both people no more customers.

The fact they use KCBS is an indication that the show is just for entertainment, just like KCBS is just a game. The rules are set for KCBS to create a game to play. Nothing to do with reality, nothing, just like the show the stage is set for some fun and to see who happens to win, but neither the show nor KCB have anything to do with making barbeque for a living.

The show is so horribly produced that I can no longer watch it. Make professional barbeque look like a bunch of idiots that borrow the teeth amongst each other to go out for the weekend. Barbeque is serious cooking with many many facets to it. They pretend it has only to do with the idiot running the smoker. Here is a hint if your a producer, it starts with the way the animal was raised, and goes forward from there.

It is called a reality show, but has no basis in reality, KCBS events I have been to have very friendly people willing to have a good time, talk a little smack in good fun, and play a game to see who gets lucky and wins with some judges opinions for that day.

A lot of people ask me about it since it came out. I tell them it is television with absolutely no correlation with real professional barbeque. And it they are on pit masters they are really not a professional barbeque chef.

 

[dirt guy]

Nice comments, Mark. Thanks for sharing. It seems that all of the "reality" shows take less time for me to tire of them. All of them are trying to "one-up" each other.

American Chopper was a show I really enjoyed. I like to make things-and, that's what they started out doing. By the time the show hit the peak of its popularity all they were doing was cussing and tearing things up. Pitmasters started out down that road with the first episode.

I'll keep watching for awhile, but it won't take long to decide to stop watching it (if they don't do a better job). There are some neat stories that happen within the course of a contest (just like forgetting to put sauce with the ribs on last night's show) that make it interesting without all the drama.

 

[codymcgee]

well think of it this way..people like us want to watch the show because we love BBQ and everything about it and some of us could even be called obsessive. but the majority of people watching TV are not like us at all and need the drama to keep them watching..would people still watch The Real World or Survivor if everyone got along and loved each other? no probably not

but it's the only show about BBQ on TV so yeah I'll keep watching.

 

[deltadude]

I whole heartily agree whoever is producing this mashed concoction of a reality TV recipe, has chosen some horrible ingredients that most don't enjoy. All those negative ingredients are mentioned in previous posts.

Since I'm not a professional cook or chef, although have worked and co-managed a Bar-Restaurant-Card Room, and was in and out of that kitchen a bit, nor have I competed yet in a BBQ competition, it is hard for me to comment on professionalism of BBQ competitors. BUT, it is a TV show and I can subjectively comment as an interested viewer.

And it they are on pit masters they are really not a professional barbeque chef. This is a serious stretch, if not inaccurate. While it may apply to some of the show regulars, it most certainly does not apply to all, including the latest episode with Chris Lilly of Big Bob Gibbson's Bar-B-Q which operates multiple BBQ restaurant locations.

George "Tuffy" Stone owns Q Barbeque and Sharper Palate Catering. Tuffy has been in the business for 23 years.

Lee Ann Whippen owns Woodchicks BBQ and was as professional cateror for 15 years before opening her own BBQ catering in 2002 and because of success a restaurant in 2005.

Myron Mixon, while not currently a restaurant owner, I believe he did once own a BBQ joint. Instead Myron has chosen a very tough life, of being so good at something that he can now, teach, sell products, dabble in catering, and enjoy a bit of celebrity, and that was before the BBQ Pitmaster's show. If anyone is setup to cash in off this show it is Myron. However I doubt that many women will be compelled to buy his stuff or attend one of his cooking classes.

The other regulars on the show, are just BBQ enthusiest, though the "kid" Paul Peterson claims he is the "executive chef" at Ricks Chophouse, which based on reviews is pretty good. Paul's new mentor Johnny Trigg is one very successful bbq competition enthusiast, winning two (2000, 2003) Jack Daniel’s World Championship Invitational Barbecue Competitions or the worldchampionship that Myron is happy to let you know he has done it 3 times. Johnny Trigg has been a competitor for almost 14 years since he retired from the insurance industry.

BBQ Pitmasters is not a very good show, it looks like most of us agree, as already pointed out if there wasn't a smoker with Q in it none of us would probably watch it. However I will keep watching because there just may be something I might learn. (As I did in the last show.) In fact I think the last show was the best so far. I liked seeing Chris Lilly, I have seen Chris Lilly on several other shows and he seems like a cool guy who is very serious and passionate about Q. I have seen Myron and Lee Ann on several other shows too, mostly interview, and the Bobby Flay Throw Down, and both Myron and Lee Ann came off great in those shows. It is unfortunate that this producer wants a show more like a red neck "Real Housewives of Orange County" or as ridiculous as the Osbornes.

 

[chisoxjim]

gave up on the show after 1.5 episodes. Not a good representation of why i bbq, & the folks i know who bbq. Runnin' your mouth, and almost getting in fights isnt what my version bbq is all about).

My version of bbq is all about sharin', drinkin' a few beers, and eatin' bbq, Im a backyard bbq guy and proud of it.

 

[vince]

I like to drink beer when I BBQ, but I hope I'm not a loud mouth jerk when I do, I know I'm not, My wife will put me in my place if I am . LOL