This series of posts was originally intended to be "The best thing on TV", but with it being summer and not a lot on it changed into the worst thing on TV.
And boy is there ever a flood of worthy candidates.
One could argue that "Pirate Master" with it's horrible, misleading editing is the worst show on right now.
Or "American Inventor" where they show people talking about their hopes and dreams, spending thousands of dollars on an invention... only to have the "judges" laugh them out of the room.
But there is one show that is so pretentious that it makes my brain hurt and that's why it has earned the title of "Worst thing on television" for me.
That show is "Throwdown with Bobby Flay" on the Food Network. Yes, that Flay, who is a "celebrity" chef with a few different TV shows, books etc.
The idea behind the show is that Flay is given a mission to compete against some of the countries top chefs (in their area of expertise). Sometimes he has no idea how to cook a wedding cake or make a wonderful doughnut, so he gets help creating recipes and a plan before he goes to "throwdown" with the other chef.
Speaking of the other chef, they have no idea they are about to "throwdown" with Flay. The Food Network lies to these people saying they are getting a show/segment on the network to showcase themselves or their food. Flay then "interrupts" the filming to challenge them.
Now, granted I do not like Flay. I haven't liked him because the network had him challenge Iron Chef Morimoto years ago and he whined like a child and was disrespectful.
This show is only on to boost the already huge ego that Flay has. I don't like when reality shows lie to people and push people to think they are better than others.
This show is the poster child for what is wrong with reality shows today.
4 comments:
Tim, no disrespect, but you have no idea what youre talking about...
#1 The food network never had Bobby Flay and Morimoto battle each other. Flay and Morimoto battled each other twice on the original Iron Chef (before the food network had the rights to it)
#2 Then, not only did he not whine, as you said... but he actually was quoted as saying that he was very excited to battle someone who had so much more experience and that Iron Chef allowing Americans on the show was amazing and that he hoped to show the Japanese what Americans were all about.
#3 Next, he was only disrespectful in one way. And thats that he stood on his cutting board. The thing is that in Japanese culture cooking equipment is practically holy. He then apologized shortly after the show when he found out it was considered so heinous. So it was more of a cultural misunderstanding than him actually being disrespectful or rude.
#4 He also only stood on the board because he had just gone through a horrific experience, the set was horrible and there was a leak so he had to cook while up to his ankles in water, then he got electrocuted by the water after a camera's power cord slipped into it, and on top of that he sliced his hand open and just bandaged it up and kept going... through all this he continued and finished the battle.
#5 I dont know how many times youve watched the show, but the chefs who are being lied to are actually getting some of their speil that they want the country to know about on the air getting them much more attention then they normally would get. So they may not be getting their OWN personal segment but its still more than they would normally get.
#6 Every time that Ive watched the show and Bobby Flay has won he always seemed like he was sorry for winning and when he loses he talks about how amazing the other chef is and how great it is to watch them work. And whether he wins or loses he always says that he just wants to see how these other chefs do under pressure and that he hopes it helps them improve upon themselves. I mean, maybe its just me, but when someone actually seems happier by LOSING he probably isnt doing the show for ego.
#7 You were talking about making people seem better than others. I think my last point proves that if anyone is being made to think theyre better its the chefs he challenges.
Flay and Morimoto first had a challenge in New York, which was put on by the Food Network. After his loss, he got a rematch in Japan. Both of those where specials put on by the Food Network, not episodes of the original "Iron Chef."
Second, it doesn't matter if these people got to promote themselves for a few minutes or not. The fact remains they were lied to, there is no disputing that.
Thanks for the comments though.
Imagine being a chef that has worked most of your life to try to excell. You're told by Food network you'll finally catch a break... and then Bobby Flay comes out and decides that he wants to "fight" you?
First off, it's food. This competitive food thing is ridiclous. All standards are subjective. So the idea itself is dumb. Then bobby Flay surprises people like this? Can you tell me anyone who, deep down, thinks "Hey, alright! I'm not getting a special,; Bobby Flay wants to sho that he's better than me. Alright!"
No, it doens't happen. The show is pointless. If Bobby Flay wants to be in the spotlight to promote places, have him do a show where he interviews these up-and-comers, tours their establishments, gives them tips. THAT would be a useful show. "Throwdown" is a bad concept with an egotistical chef out to only entertain.
I pretty much can't stand Bobby Flay and the herd of celebrity chefs that populate the current culinary landscape. An interesting book to read--The Reach of A Chef by Michael Ruhlman-- I did a blog post about the current crop of food based reality tv shows if you wanna check it out:
http://www.hellchef.com/foodblog/2007/6/14/reality-tv-food-shows.html
chefjp
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