Food Network Runs Top Chef Marathon, Eh?

Canadians have got some of the best stuff in life: Canadian bacon, Molson beer, marriage for gays and lesbians... and, apparently, a Top Chef marathon on Food Network's sister station up north, Food Network Canada. Just pack your knives and watch this Easter Sunday, eh?


I've been a longtime fan of the Canadian version of Food Network, and its Top Chef marathon this Easter weekend only reinforces my love for the station that always seems to have a leg up on programming.

While it seems kind of weird to think of the Padma/Tom lovefest show airing on FN—considering how different the Bravo series (in the US) looks and feels when compared to anything on Food Network USA—it makes sense to have the best food shows airing on the food network.

Hope my Canadian readers enjoyed the marathon!

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Sorry for not posts over the last few days. My parents came down for some non-denominational weekend excitement, so I was a little overwhelmed playing host. They've been here before a million times, so I luckily wasn't dragging them up the steps of the Washington Monument at 6 a.m.... but it was still taxing.

And speaking of taxes, I did my taxes for FIVE hours today. Spent about 3 hours wasting time trying to do them with a variety of online services before just biting the bullet and paying for TurboTax again like I did last year. Get me that refund fast! Hope you all had a great Easter weekend!

Emeril Lagasse To Guest Judge Top Chef Finale

Emeril Lagasse isn't letting his nearly complete absence on Food Network get him down. He's got a new show on the Planet Green cable network, got $50 million in spending money from Martha Stewart, and still has episodes of his classic Food Network show Emeril Live airing on sister network Fine Living.

And now he's going to Bravo!



Lagasse will be the guest judge on the final episodes of Top Chef: New York, set to air on Feb. 18 and 25. Bravo says a "shocking twist" will narrow the four down to three on the 18th, with the winner being revealed on the 25th.

Also, the supersized finale was filmed in Emeril's hood of New Orleans.
"In Louisiana, we have an amazing selection of local ingredients: andouille sausage, frog legs, turtle, catfish and rabbit. I was interested in seeing if the chefs would venture out and really try to explore our local flavors and culture. The challenge for some was finding a balance between the bold spices we love and their own personal style. All I can say is that you'll definitely want to go back for seconds for some of their final dishes!"

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I've been a bad Top Chef viewer this season (yes, I do watch other networks), so I'll have to catch up before the 18th. I'm sure Bravo will have about 7 mini-marathons before then to help me.

Topper Chef

Now that I've resolved the whole Was Ask Aida ripped off from Adam Gertler? bloglemma (No! Let's try to think, people.), here's a new show certain to get a lot of peeps riled up:

Can You Make the Cut?
Food Network is casting for a new cooking competition and is looking for professional chefs who want to test their culinary skills against those of their peers.


Four competitors will race against the clock; their food judged on taste, creativity and presentation by the experts. Three are eliminated along the way, and only one remains the ultimate winner.

Hmm... professional chefs testing their culinary skills, having their food judged on taste, creativity and presentation? Sounds awfully similar to a certain show hosted by certain bald man and certain Indian model/actress/author, doesn't it?

Who knows if Food Network will throw in some crazy twist. The posting doesn't promise a TV show or prize money, so maybe they just win bragging rights. [Source]

Wow! Food Network Beats Project Runway Premiere

TUSCHELSON mean business. They didn't let a little old show like Project Runway on Bravo best its ratings winner The Next Food Network Star.

Last Sunday's episode of "Star" drew in 3.2 million viewers, beating the fifth season premiere of Project Runway (which only got 2.9), garnering the Food Network competition show the biggest reality show audience for the week, among cable stations.


It should be noted that media gossip blogs speculated Bravo was attempting to sabotage Project Runway before it moves to Lifetime next season by not promoting it heavily or allowing critics to screen it in advance, so that could be an indication for the lower ratings.

It should also be noted that this season's contestants on Project Runway, including "bad meth teeth" Blayne, aren't really proving themselves to be watchable.

But still... congrats to TUSCHELSON and the Flayster. You're beating a biggie.

Is there such a thing as a BRAVO ADDICT?

In my meeting last week with Bob Tuschman, senior vice president of programming & production at Food Network (oh yeah... :-) more on that to come eventually), we discussed the unique, personal connection that regular viewers of Food Network have-- a connection that doesn't seem to hold true with other networks.


In particular, Bob mentioned Bravo. Is there such a thing as a "Bravo addict?"


While there are numerous shows on Bravo (Project Runway, My Life on the D List and Workout come to mind) that I love, I don't consider myself a Bravo addict... and that's not just because I'm the proprietor of this blog.

I don't just turn Bravo on randomly after work or on the weekends, and since that network doesn't have a selection of regular hosts--other than perhaps James Lipton of Inside the Actor's Studio--I don't have any particular connection or investment with the ones that appear for a few months, only to go into hiatus for the rest of the year.

I watch the shows that I like, with enthusiasm, but still change the channel at the end. That's not the same with my beloved Food Network. I'll watch the same episodes over and over and keep watching even after one show segues to the next.

So what is it that makes up Food Network addicts, particularly? Is it the natural human need to eat that keeps our eyes glued to FN, or does it just do a better job of keeping us entertained?

Giada and her Pushup Buddy

Sorry for the lack of post yesterday, but I literally spent most of my day looking for photos of Giada De Laurentiis with Jackie Warner of Bravo's Workout.

Let me explain...

A livejournal post came across my Giada ticker (you all have one, don't you?) that read:

giada de laurentiis was on the today show and jackie warner from workout was showing her how to do pushups. so giada was down on all fours and jackie was behind her, holding her hips up. OMG!!!!! i ain't gonna say nothing. fuuuuuck.

So, naturally, I was intrigued. Workout is a fun show and Jackie--the owner/head trainer/lesbian temptress--is obviously sexy and charismatic.

Anyhow, I don't know if the Today show is against posting photos and/or videos of situations that would make countless men, women and children drool (I'd just like to see it to see it. All right, maybe I'd drool. Just a little bit.), but I can't seem to find any ANYWHERE!

Then, last night, I think I figured it out.

Kathy Griffin appears on this episode. Jackie is her trainer and she pulls the same hip-holding-pushup-move on her!

I don't have an actual pic of the move, but I'm sure there are others out there who can back me up. Jackie holds onto the hips while Kathy complains about not being able to do a pushup.

NOW... either this Livejournal poster CONFUSED Giada with Kathy (which I would think would make Kathy's day) OR Jackie re-enacted it on the Today show. It's also possible that this Livejournaler was stoned out of his mind.

Who's right? Who's wrong?