Hosts/ed "Sugar Rush"???

I'm just curious... once a show on Food Network is no longer shooting new episodes and the lone reruns only air at 4:30 a.m., what's the standard length of time a news outlet can continue to promote one as "hosting" a show on Food Network? As long as the show lives on in rerunville, do you continue to "host" it--in the present tense?

The Washington Post seems to think so.



"Cake connoisseur Warren Brown, the lawyer-turned-baker who owns a popular D.C. bakery and hosts a Food Network show, will sign and discuss his new book, 'CakeLove: How to Bake Cakes from Scratch."

Warren's hosting a book signing tomorrow. The article indicates "samples of confections to tempt your sweet tooth" will be available. All for $4 apiece, methinks!

"The event begins at 4 p.m. tomorrow, Borders, 913-A Capital Centre Blvd., Largo. Free. 301-499-2173."

Largo? No D.C. Borders available to host?

An Open Letter to Warren Brown

In the spirit of Candy Spelling and Amy Winehouse's mother, I'm penning my own open letter.

It's going out to D.C.'s own, Warren Brown-- host of the ill-fated Food Network series Sugar Rush.


Dear Warren,

Hi. How are you? Gearing up for a busy holiday season? We district residents are always up for a little sweet indulgence. Our scandals are over the top and so are our appetites. Remember, we're not L.A.; D.C. is like Hollywood for ugly people. Those senators can pack on the calories, so don't skimp on the sugar.

But I feel the need to write to you now, Warren. You see, when I moved here, I was extremely excited to think I'd have the opportunity to drop by Cake Love or Love Cafe whenever the moment struck. I'd delight in the seemingly endless assortment of cupcake flavors and tasty treats.

But I gotta be honest: I've never been happy with a cupcake from Cake Love.

I'm not a big buttercream fan, and I'm especially not a fan of refrigerated solid butter cream-- buttercream so hard that you can't even taste the lemon or lime or strawberry or orange or whatever you got in that frosting.

And I know you say to let it come to room temperature, but who has the time for that? This is a tiny little cafe on U St. that sits about 10 people, at most. Any every time I've asked one of your darling employees to microwave it slightly, they refuse!

And that's if they even HAVE cupcakes. The sign says you're open until 11 p.m., and yet at 9 p.m. the only cupcake you got left is something like "mocha on lemongrass" (Not really. Exaggerated for effect. Aren't you letting that dissonant flavor combination roll around in your brain?).

I just don't get it-- this fascination with the $3 cupcake. Every time I buy one I promise to never do it again, only to go back and shell out another three bucks in hopes that this one will be good.

Now your cakes... your cakes are another story. The ones I've tried are great. But, once again, what is a slice of cake there? $9? And don't even ask me how much a full size cake is.

I worry about you, now that your show is defunct. Sorry, but it was boring and didn't really have a point. It was before its time, in a way. The network wasn't quite ready to do a show that wasn't about cooking, and hadn't really figured out what a good option would be. You, sadly, were the product of their indecisiveness.

So, as I continue to shell out my three dollars, hoping in vain that I'll bite into something amazing, I'll be thinking of you. I may not be proud of the purchase, but at least I'm contributing to the only D.C. resident the Food Network has ever known.

Oh... and I'll always treasure this commemorative headshot you had available on your Cake Love counter. Xmas is here early!

A Sugar Rush Can Only Last So Long

In news that probably was already apparent, Food Network's Sugar Rush is not coming back.


This comes directly from host Warren Brown's blog:

Alas, Sugar Rush isn’t taping new episodes.

I thoroughly enjoyed the experience of hosting a TV show to bring everyone closer to the art of baking and creating exquisite desserts. It was really fabulous. Probably the best part about it was and continues to be meeting people from all over the country who love watching the Food Network and are glued to the screen when cake, chocolate or sweets come across the screen! Making people who love dessert feel better connected to one another helps build a community that I’m happy to be a part of. Thanks for watching Sugar Rush and for all of your support. Keep watchin’ there’s fun is in every episode.

I think Warren just hit the FN at the wrong time. His show started right around the time that the network was trying to transition into a more entertainment-based channel. They weren't quite there yet, though. In turn, his show was part cooking technique, part interview, part travel and part entertainment. Unfortunately, none of those parts were very good. The show seemed disconnected.

Dang... and here I am gettin' sentimental about a show I never even liked. Somebody get me some Crunchy Feet.