The Food Network

[lemons]

valueofaloonie--And if I really want to feel old, I'll remember when egroups merged with onelist and then egroups got munched up by Yahoo.
Back on topic--You're not the only person to not see this show. I haven't either.

topher--Good observation.

[genevieve]

I think I have problems with respecting Alton Brown because he has never really worked in a restaurant kitchen. I know that is total snobbery.

I also miss the Two Fat Ladies. They made things so much fun.

[thingamajig]

I dig Alton Brown. I don't like onions but I still enjoyed watching an old rerun where he made onion soup.

I know, I watched the entire mussel episode a few days ago, and I absolutely hate shellfish. But he makes everything look so cool, even if I know I'll never eat it.

Okay, let's start in on Sandra Lee from Semi-Homemade.

So much snark, so little time. She sucks.

[vegasbaby]

I think I have problems with respecting Alton Brown because he has never really worked in a restaurant kitchen. I know that is total snobbery.

I give him a pass because he outright states (in his books and I would assume elsewhere) that he is not a chef, that he doesn't create recipes. He says he's a nerd who likes food and science and likes to figure out why things work. He's helpful if you want to tinker with recipe results. (See the chocolate-chip cookie ep. Sure I could look up a chart about how to get different cookie textures, but having the why explained to me--however schtickily, and sometimes the conceits do bug me--made the ideas stick. Jesus, now I sound like Malcolm Gladwell.)

I also miss the Two Fat Ladies. They made things so much fun.

I love that they were these wild posh former private school girls carrying on a lifelong love affair of plus gras butter and motorcycles.

Rachel Ray's personality annoys me (I can't stop watching her overgesturing on 30MM. Gah!), but damn her, her "30 Minute Meal" recipes (esp the soups that I REFUSE to call "stoups") are pretty easy to do and come out pretty well.

[polygal]

I was watching The Secret Life of... the other day, and it succeeded in making me feel like less of a loser for my irrational bee fear. When Hotty McHost does the same "freak out and run away as fast as you can" when you see a bee, I feel a little better about myself.

Did anyone else watch the Wedding Special thing? I thought it was super boring, but thank God that it was Giada hosting instead of RayRay, who would have seriously bugged.

[WitchyPoo]

Okay, let's start in on Sandra Lee from Semi-Homemade.

I give you Kwaanza Cake.

Canned frosting, corn nuts, apple filling! And it's grey to boot. Bitch be crazy!

[woopdedoo]

What about my girl, Paula Dean? I loooove her. Everything has cream, butter, and salt. One day she even battered and deep fried green beans! She seems so happy to be wallowing in all that good food. The Barefoot Countessa chick, however, always seems very, very po'd and aggro. Don't like her one bit.

[Deleted]

Sorry, I don't like Paula Dean. For one, her accents bugs (I hope I don't offend any Southerners here) but I also think she plays it up for the camera. I've never heard any other Southerner use 3 syllables to say "oil". The second thing that annoys me is that it seems like every. single. recipe requires a stick of butter.

Tyler Florence. Flirts with anything with a uterus. Seems hopped up on cocaine -- the profuse sweating, talkingreallyfast, flailing about in the kitchen.

And speaking of spazzes in the kitchen, Jamie Oliver. I'm scared to watch his show on HDTV, because I'm sure I'd see him spitting on the food as he talks. His tongue does not fit in his mouth and he seems a wee bit Fetal Alcohol Syndrome-y.

Giada. It took me a minute to figure out who that was, because I call her Big Head. I do like her show, but the woman has an enormous head and sometimes it's really distracting. I have a feeling that those mini-bites she plates for herself are actually her meals.

Rachel Ray. Word on the EVOO thing. And someone needs to tell her that her foodgasms are very annoying and unnecessary. Why do they show us the host eating their food? They always act like it's the first time tasting it.

The thing I don't like about $40 a day, is 100% of the time when Rachel is trying her food, it's The. Best. Meal. EVER. She gives every single thing her gushing seal of approval so it longer has any meaning.

Sometimes on 30MM she seems drunk or stoned with her constant giggling at nothing in particular, knocking things over and acting extra ditzy. And you KNOW she was high during her $40 A Day segment in Amsterdam (she was also flirting with that boat taxi driver).

[marywebgirl]

Seems hopped up on cocaine -- the profuse sweating, talkingreallyfast, flailing about in the kitchen.

That makes so much sense! I'd never thought about it, but boy it's clear as day now.

[Deleted]

And you KNOW she was high during her $40 A Day segment in Amsterdam (she was also flirting with that boat taxi driver).

Man, hosting $40 A Day has got to be the best job EVER!