New Show, Same Theme

Food Network's got something new coming up called Ask Aida. It's billed as an "interactive cooking show" in which viewers can upload "creative and interesting" videos highlighting their culinary challenges to foodnetwork.com/aida and cooking expert Aida Mollenkamp will answer them on the show.

Why do I feel like singing Whitney Houston's "Same Script, Different Cast" right now?


"From recipe and ingredient issues to advice on kitchen machinery and tools, Aida can even offer guidance for impromptu parties, feeding a crowd, make-ahead dishes, and time-saving tips. Food Network is looking for viewers with burning culinary questions to be featured on the series, which is set to premiere on Saturday, August 2nd."

Firstily of all, let's forget the fact that the idea of answering viewers' "cooking challenges" is a standard feature on a number of other shows, both past and present. I'll give the network some credit for adding this "interactive" element, despite being about 5 years late on that front. YouTube is rad, man!

My problem with a show like this is that the entire concept rests too much in the hands of regular people.

No offense to the "regular people" of the world (myself being one of them), but there is nothing worse than watching a regular person who, despite being incredibly boring, thinks he is interesting. Typically it'd just be the casting people who'd have to sit through the onslaught of boredom, but by adding this "interactive" element you're certain to get a bunch of people uploading videos who just want to be seen on Food Network's website, many without any real "culinary challenge."

I don't know. Maybe I'm just being a sourpuss. Aida was trained at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris and served as CHOW.com's food editor, so she probably has the know-how. That's enough to at least tune in once.