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I'm bummed I didn't run into Alex Guarnaschelli at all this past weekend in New York, but I'm slightly consoled by the fact that her new show Alex's Day Off premieres this Sunday, Oct. 18 at 9:30am ET.
Watching Alex on TV won't be as great as eating at her restaurant and meeting her like I did last year on my birthday, but it's a close second!
The first episode's description includes this line: [i]n an act of ridiculousness, Alex melts a wheel of cheese on a bed of crispy hash browns -- so we know that's gotta be good.
Looking forward to it, Alex!
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Obviously, Alex is posing in the pic above with Aida Mollenkamp and Aaron McCargo Jr. I actually ran into Aida right when I got to New York and went to The Standard hotel where the festival's homebase was. We had chatted once by phone last year, but it was nice to say hi in person. And, let me say, she looks even more model-y in person. Almost didn't recognize her!
I saw Aaron later in the day working on his computer by himself, so I didn't speak with him. Later, on Saturday night, I saw him at the Duff Goldman-hosted "Sweet" event and saw an Aaron fan trip right over a giant lamp on the floor in an attempt to get a hug from Big Daddy himself. Aaron was nice and didn't laugh in the poor girl's face, but it was pretty funny.
I was looking back through my archive recently. Did you know one year ago Aaron McCargo Jr. was still competing for the prize of The Next Food Network Star? If you remember, the finalists had to introduce their buffets in Las Vegas with a "special" introduction. For whatever reason, Aaron started his off very, very strangely with an admission he had an eating disorder.
"I have an eating disorder, I’ve been walking around with forks. I heard you can help me. You won’t help me? Who are you people?" said Aaron the judges and crowded room.
Ummm... okay. Your Next Food Network Star, America!
Let's hope Tuschelson+Flay give us one just as good this year!
Big Daddy Aaron McCargo Jr. appeared on Live with Regis and Kelly this morning to talk about Game Day Grub. While his tortilla encrusted chicken tenders looked pretty good (and Regis' pronunciation of "tore-till-uh" elicited a few chuckles), Aaron's choice of a white button-up shirt with a super sweet embroidery of some sort makes me fear our biggest of daddies has been taking fashion tips from the other big man on Food Network, Guy Fee-Eddie.
Well, season 2 of Aaron McCargo Jr's show Big Daddy's House premiered this past Sunday on Food Network. Despite a formidable advertising campaign including the reairing of season 1 and a barrage of commercials with fast-moving "house rules" urging us to "put the love" into what we make, the premiere ep showed little to no improvement over the first season.
There was one shining star, though...
The production value still looks atrocious— shaky cameras and more obnoxious music abound. I know we're in a recession and all, gotta cut back, yaddayadda... but come on.
Aaron himself was a little more in control and at ease. Again, to me, much of the problems stem from Gordo's influence. With a different producer, and a proper TV studio, Aaron might work out just fine.
Thanksgiving is quickly approaching. Get those turkeys ready!
Set the TiVos -- Food Net’s Sunny Anderson and Aaron McCargo Jr. will be appearing on Rachael Ray’s talk show this Wednesday, Nov. 19, offering their tips on creating a holiday feast.
Sunny has a great rundown of the taping over on her blog. Love the story about her almost eating all the fried goat cheese balls in the green room—something I’d probably do.
Also appearing will be former Food Network peeps Ming Tsai and Rocco DiSpirito.
Aaron McCargo Jr. (don't really understand why they cut the "Jr." from the show and now have that weird opening where Bobby Flay's voice just cuts off) got renewed for 13 more episodes of Big Daddy's House.
Note: I started this post after watching the 2nd episode of Big Daddy's House. While I think the show has improved a bit, I still have problems with it. Just as a warning, this post examines race and stereotypes on Food Network. If you're looking for more lighthearted reading, please skip down. I like to keep it light most of the time, but I do occasionally find something important enough to get serious about.
The first five episodes of Big Daddy's House have aired and I can't honestly say I'm happy with how they turned out. It wasn't Aaron's kissing of the raw steak that turned me off (although that was gross) or the fact that his TV kitchen looks virtually identical to that of the Neelys'. In fact, I don't even fault Aaron McCargo Jr. for the show's problems.
My real problem is with Gordon Elliott. Let me explain...
For those who don't know, Gordon Elliott produces some of the most successful programs on Food Network: Paula's Home Cooking, Paula's Party, and Down Home with the Neelys, as well as the recently premiered Big Daddy's House, featuring season 4 winner of The Next Food Network Star, Aaron McCargo Jr.
The hosts of these shows: Paula Deen, an agoraphobic restaurateur from Savannah, Ga. turned TV chef; Pat and Gina Neely, owners of a successful barbecue joint in Memphis; and Aaron McCargo Jr., a hospital catering chef from Camden, N.J. are southern, African American southerners, and African American, respectively. Most of you probably know that, but I threw it in for the sake of clarification... and for the sake of focusing on it, as these groups of people have long histories of being stereotyped.
Also focus on the fact that Gordon Elliott, a man born in Liverpool and raised in Australia, is at the helm of these shows. Liverpool and Australia are just about as far removed from America's Southern and African American cultures as you can get.
Gordon found major success on Food Network with Paula Deen. I've bit my tongue as I watched ole' Paula transform from a sweet, knowledgeable Southern cook into a cackling, sex joke-spewing, verging-on-obnoxious caricature of her former self (most evident in the nightime Paula's Party series). I've refrained from commenting overtly on Gina Neely's "you know how I like it Daddy!" sexually laced humor that many find at best somewhat uncomfortable, and at worst completely off putting and distracting.
When you watch Aaron's show pilot (shown in the last episode of Star) and compare it to this finished product, the difference is striking... and not in a good way. The warm, kinda shy, kinda uncertain guy that we saw on Star has become nearly unrecognizable.
Aaron has been reduced to a "Big Daddy" repeating, "bad boy" referring stereotype of his former self, all done in an apparent attempt to appear like a larger-than-life host. His dishes have, thus far, been rather unremarkable -- often featuring some large cut of red meat and a fat-drenched side dish or two.
He's no longer just Aaron from Camden, but Big Daddy -- a nickname he supposedly picked up on the show, although I don't remember anyone calling him that. Big Daddy, which Aaron repeatedly refers to himself as, shouts "Look at yo bad self!" and refers to nearly every ingredient, pan, or condiment as a "bad boy." Besides being obnoxious in a cooking show, these phrases all have strong racial connections that many would find disparaging.
It's no real surprise that Food Network would go this route, though. The most successful winner of Star, Guy Fieri, is just as over the top in his own way. It makes sense that they'd try to recreate that persona, although it's sickening that being yourself just isn't good enough that often. It's also sad, because I found Aaron's personality on Star to be enjoyable, most of the time.
Looking to capitalize upon Paula Deen's success, Gordon premiered Down Home with the Neelys. From the very first episode, Pat and Gina Neely were basically bouncing off the walls with catchphrases and Southern twang. No easing into anything on that show. The show was met with high ratings, but at what cost to the countless viewers in the South who decry this type of characterization for the network's first show hosted by an African American couple, especially considering Food Network was nearly 100% white for so long. "Why this particular portrayal?" they argued.
Despite representing some of the network's best talent, it's my opinion that Gordon cheapens the hosts by painting them as outlandish, stereotypical characters and not real, multi-faceted people.
Yes, there is the off chance that Paula, Gina Neely, and Aaron McCargo's new "TV selves" are identical to their true personalities and that a little time and coaching was all that was needed to bring them out fully on TV... but I highly doubt that. Aaron's show was being filmed before anyone even knew who he was or that he even won the contest. I can't help but assume that any would-be Food Network host would be vulnerable to complying with whatever "personality tweaks" the producer requested, especially if said producer had several successful shows under his belt.
While there are surely other southern and/or black hosts waiting in the wings, the fact that they'll be measured against Gordon Elliott's shows is scary. Where are they to turn if Gordon tells them they're not ______ enough?
And then I remember the way Paula used to be:
After watching Paula like that, I feel bad that someone (maybe even herself) told her along the way that that wasn't enough -- she wasn't loud enough or memorable enough or "Southern" enough and she'd need to push it even more.
The Paula of today -- the y'all yelling, nasty granny from the South who always knows a good sexual innuendo -- is barely recognizable in that video from her early years. She doesn't even use butter! Butter being the metaphorical gold in Paula Deen's success story.
Even Paula's excessive and unremorseful use of butter hearkens a stereotype: that of the "dumb Southerner" who's just too stupid to know using that much butter could kill you. Yes, Ina does it too, but definitely not in the same, clowny, "watch me drink this melted butter just for fun" way that Paula does. Ina's use of 5 sticks of butter is presented like a smart caterer who wants the food to be so incredibly decadent, knowing it's being served at a special function--not at your morning breakfast table day after day.
Perhaps I am overreacting. Perhaps it's just a coincidence that Gordon Elliott's Food Network shows all feature hosts I find to be unrealistic stereotypes that capitalize upon questionable behaviors and over-the-top antics. Perhaps it's wrong to assume that anyone wouldn't alter his own personality for a TV show if the promise of fame and fortune were involved.
Judging from most of the comments this blog has received about Aaron (and Paula and the Neelys), I just don't think this is an overreaction. I think people accept it because it's "just a cooking show." They're really not, though. People are making a LOT of money off of "just cooking shows" and they deserve a little more thought when it comes to determining what is and isn't ethical.
I can't help but wonder what Aaron's show would look like under a different producer's control. Maybe I wouldn't even need to write this.
Aaron McCargo Jr., winner of season four of The Next Food Network Star, was featured in yesterday's New York Times. It's a pretty basic article, filled with tidbits that most of you who watched the show will already know.
I find this sentence particularly interesting: "Fans — 1.2 million, enough for executives to consider renewing the series, according to the network — have taken notice."
Why the hesitation, Food Network?
As for my thoughts, I'm working on a post about Aaron's show, but haven't finished it yet. Sometimes I actually like to put some serious thought into these things if I'm going to be making pretty bold statements.
But to give you a preview: In short, the show is a disaster. The "good"/somewhat surprising news is that it's not Aaron's fault. I'll explain soooooooon. I haven't heard anything that great from you guys, though... so I'm pretty sure you'll agree with me.
I haven't posted about Aaron McCargo Jr.'s show Big Daddy's House yet because I didn't get a chance to see the premiere episode yesterday.
And due to what's kind of a long story, I didn't even get to DVR it because my cable was down. It should hopefully be restored tonight.
Add all that to the fact that I'm still crying over the demise of Redlasso, the Internet godsend that allowed me to watch and clip shows at any time. (Why did you have to sue, NBC and FOX?!? Why?)
So, I'm basically left helpless... at least until next Sunday, upon which I can watch the 2nd episode. Thanks to you all for getting the ball rolling on the "Lisa Garza Wins" post below.
There were apparently some issues involving grease... and grapeseed oil?
Someone asked me in the comments to "come out" and write about how I feel about Aaron. Not having seen the first episode, I can't comment on that. As far as my thoughts on Aaron as a person and a Food Network host, he wouldn't have been my first choice. Like many of you, I found the way his pilot was presented in the finale to be verrrrrry edited. Aaron would say a few words and then we'd get an shot of the audience "reacting" over and over. He'd hardly get a full sentence out before they'd cut away to laughing or seat-jumping or whatnot.
It gave me the impression they were trying to sweeten up something that was probably a little sour to begin with—more so than the other finalists.*
Soooo, I was kind of upset about that.
Also, Aaron's food isn't typically the kind of stuff that makes me go gaga. That doesn't mean I won't watch a host like that, s/he just better have the kind of personality that will force me to sit there and watch, even if they're sautéing an old shoe. It's not easily defined, but I know it when I see it.
Based on Aaron's performance on The Next Food Network Star, I don't know if I see it. Maybe that'll change with his own show... but I'm not counting on it.
What are your thoughts? There seem to be people on both sides of the aisle. Too much gab about grease and grapeseed? _____________________________________________
* Food Network has every right to do this, though. People seem to confuse this TV competition with something as honest and sound as the presidential election (okay, bad example). The fact of the matter is the show's producers reserve the right to do pretty much anything in terms of "story telling" and mid-taping rule changes. Ever notice how at the end of Project Runway you see: Judges considered both their scores and input from the Producers and Bravo in reaching their elimination decisions?
Bob, Susie and Bobby could have "legally" decided to just scrap the final three contestants and give the show to Kelsey. Now, that might not have been ethical, but they could have done it.
The show is edited and designed to get high ratings, and it does that quite well. So when people complain about if this was "the best talent they could find?", I'm pretty sure you'd get a confident "yes" in response from the producers. These were the best contestants for generating interesting stories and high-drama moments, all of which they hoped would turn into high ratings. And it did... nearly 4 million people watched the finale, beating all kind of records at Food Network. There isn't much more to it than that.
Nothing like a delicious molten choco cake cooked over 100 watts of pure lightbulb!
Check out this nugget of info, taken off of Aaron "Big Daddy" McCargo Jr.'sFood Network bio page:
"Aaron's passion for cooking was sparked at the age of four when he started baking cakes in his sister's Easy Bake Oven."
I think that's cute. I hope he uses one in the first episode of his show this Sunday.
See, Hasbro? Even big daddies use Easy-Bakes. It's time to remove that "a girl’s first real baking experience" line from your marketing copy after 45 freakin' years.
