Emeril Live(s) on in Reruns

Dang! You travel for a day and you miss something big like this: Emeril Lagasse is leaving the Food Network!

Oh wait.. actually he isn't. At least not entirely...



Of course Emeril isn't really leaving the food Network (but Mario probably "really" is)-- just Emeril Live is. He's still got other shows and specials in the works.

FN peeps must have flipped and immediately sent a round of clarification emails out to everyone in the food blog universe (myself included) urging them to correct or clarify any information.

Here's the word from Carrie Welch, vp of public relations at Food Network:

'Emeril Live' has been an incredible journey and a great collaboration between Emeril Lagasse and Food Network for over ten years. Emeril has been the cornerstone of Food Network's success and helped pave the way for chefs on TV.

Food Network and Emeril look forward to continuing our long partnership and Emeril remains an integral part of the Food Network family.

Bascally, Essence of Emeril will continue production and Emeril Live will be done on Dec. 11. It will surely live on for many a month in reruns (and will slowly get pushed to more and more obscure time slots).

And here's why I'm fine with Emeril Live ending:

1. It wasn't live. True, Emeril was "alive" during the taping and in front of people, but it still--even after ten years--looked like an infomercial.
2. I hated that he came out from a bookcase in the beginning. Why enter through a bookcase? Did he have to jiggle the candlestick on the wall to get back through?
3. Even though it was live, it was incredibly old school with all the swap-outs used. Swap outs are done. This isn't a segment on morning television; this is 2007.
   
4. It really looked like an infomercial. I know, I know... there was many a cooking tip to learn during each episode, but I thought at any minute Mr. Lagasse might try to sell me something that could dehydrate meats and blend me a margarita at the same time.

It's obvious that Emeril is a great talent and he truly shines in front of an audience. Now it'll be up to some intrepid new producers to figure out a way to utilize that talent in something a little more cutting edge.

Monday Hap Haps

Hello there. Happy Monday to you all.

Did you have an enjoyable Easter weekend? Mine was spent moving from a 3rd floor apartment with no elevator to another 3rd floor apartment with no elevator. For lack of a better expression, it sucked an egg.

In better "egg" news, Jordan posted last week about the official White House Easter egg chosen for the state of Louisiana.



It has a Tiny Emeril! trapped inside. Because we all know what the White House wants us to think of when we think of Louisiana is Emeril and his crazy sayings and shennanigans, not. . .oh, I don't know. . .the fact that much of the state remains an uninhabitable disaster area because of FEMA's mishandling of Hurricane Katrina?

Haha! That is pretty sad that a state with so much history ended up getting Tiny Emeril for its official egg. I wonder what the little childrens out there on the White House lawn think about it?

Oh well. Just don't BAM your eggs into your baskets, kids. You'll wind up breaking 'em!

IN OTHER NEWS

Trent of pinkisthenewblog.com must have checked out my "Handy Rachael Ray Spelling Guide" because he finally got her name right, today! :-)



Trent originally had some problems here and here, but I forgive him.

No eggs for me this year. No church. Not even any ham. My mom sent me a Panera giftcard-- the modern day equivalent of an Easter basket. :-)

Who will be Ina's date?

Congratulations to Rachael Ray, Paula Deen, Michael Chiarello, Emeril Lagasse, and my fave Ina Garten for receiving Daytime Emmy nominations for their respective Food Network shows.




A list of all the nominations is available here.

True, a lot of the awards are going to the show itself or, in some cases, people other than the host who work on the show. Still, it's a honor just to be nominated, right?

I wonder who Ina will take to the awards? I'm voting for that T.R./P.R./whatever his initials are-guy. I'm sure jOffrey will be out out town.

Here's some more FN-related nominees:

Outstanding Achievement in Single Camera Photography (Film or Electronic)

EVERYDAY ITALIAN * FOOD
RICHARD DALLETT, DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY

Outstanding Lifestyle Directing

EASY ENTERTAINING WITH MICHAEL CHIARELLO * FOOD
NATALIE GUSTAFSON, DIRECTOR

Outstanding Achievement in Single Camera Editing

EVERYDAY ITALIAN * FOOD
ROBERT KRISCH, EDITOR
MICHAEL SELLERS, EDITOR

Outstanding Lifestyle Host

ESSENCE OF EMERIL * FOOD
EMERIL LAGASSE, HOST

THE MARTHA STEWART SHOW * SYN
MARTHA STEWART, HOST

PAULA'S HOME COOKING * FOOD
PAULA DEEN, HOST

Outstanding Lifestyle Program

BAREFOOT CONTESSA * FOOD
RACHEL PURNELL, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
OLIVIA BALL, SUPERVISING PRODUCER
SOPHIE SEIDEN, PRODUCER
CARL GREEN, PRODUCER

PAULA'S HOME COOKING * FOOD
GORDON ELLIOT, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
MARK SCHNEIDER, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
JESSICA SHWEKY, PRODUCER
AIMEE ROSEN, PRODUCER

Food Network Awards Pics

Lots more to come! It's been a blast so far. I am out the door again to go see Dave! Everyone go swoon now:-)

Snowflakes and Sandra Fun

Sorry for the late post. D.C. has gone pretty crazy over the 1/4" of forecasted ice accumulation. It's nothing compared to what's going on back in the Midwest or upstate New York.

Anyhow, the Food Network continues to provide me with warmth and entertainment during this icy day.

Let me tell you... Miami is looking better and better each day.



How do you think Emeril will be as the host/master of ceremonies for the first-ever Food Network Awards? Hopefully better than his ill-fated sitcom.

In other news, D.C. blogger Jordan Baker has up a hilarious recap of her Sandra Lee Potluck.

They really went all out with their Cosmoritas, Champagne Punch, Cheddar Ranch Dip, Crab and Shrimp Dip, NACHO POTATOES, stuffed crescents, and Boston cream cupcakes.

Jordan even created a nifty little rating scale based on: ease of preparation; visual appeal of finished product; how interesting/innovative the recipe sounds; how appealing/tasty it sounds; smell; texture on palate; flavor; whether they would eat/drink the dish again.

Unfortunately, Sandra's potluck only seemed to prove what many of us probably thought all along:

In summation, the best thing I can say of our Sandra Lee cuisine is that nothing was better than mediocre, and many things fell far shy of that mark. And if mediocrity works for you, that's fine. Eat your Hidden Valley Ranch and your imitation Krab meat. Get all your fruit and vegetables out of a can. Fill your clinically obese bodies up with even more salt and preservatives. Drape a different color of Christmas lights around the room every day and pretend that means you care about your home and family. Die of heart disease or complications of diabetes before you hit fifty. See if I care. But please shut up about how Sandra's way is "great and simple." It's not.

In the Astronaut's Defense:

You may remember that NASA recently enlisted celebrity chefs Rachael Ray and Emeril Lagasse to prepare meals for astronauts in orbit.

WELL, if you're living in the U.S. (and probably the rest of the world knows too) you know about Lisa Nowak and her crazy 900 mile, diaper-wearing, pepper-spraying, kidnapping/murder attempt.

Think it could have been Rachael's Thai Chicken that sent Ms. Nowak over the edge?!?!?!

:-)

Emeril Live Lottery

I really don't have much to report today.

Someone e-mailed me yesterday wondering how to get tickets to a taping of Emeril Live, and luckily--despite no real affiliation with the Food Network--I found the information.



There's a lottery going on until Feb. 26 for the chance to win tickets to a taping of Emeril Live.

Most people know that Emeril Live is not actually live. There's an audience and a band and usually some guests that come up and taste the food.

It has a decidedly "infomercial" quality for some reason, though. I think it's those reaction shots of everyone in the audience "Ooing" and "Ahhing."

Also, doesn't Emeril come out of a bookcase in the beginning???

That is just weird.

I much prefer his other show, The Essence of Emeril, as it's a lot more toned-down. That's just me, though.

It'd still be fun to attend a taping. I just don't know if I'd be able to scream out everytime he added CINNAMON or something crazy like that.

What do you think?

South Beach Wine & Food Fest Auction!

This year, the Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival (Feb. 22-25; click on the logo in the sidebar for more info) will be hosting several auctions benefiting the Share Our Strength organization Florida International University's School of Hospitality & Tourism Management Teaching Restaurant and its Southern Wine and Spirits Beverage Management Center. Also, Art Bulls for Charity has collaborated with the Share Our Strength Organization for this auction, and are ready for bidding.

In the auction catalogue you will find one-of-a-kind culinary experiences, fantastic getaways, fabulous jewelry and unique wine lots. There will also be a limited number of tickets to some of the sold-out events at this year's Festival. If you missed out on some of the most popular events of the weekend, now is your chance to get these coveted tickets at the last minute.

One of the most sought-after lots is, of course, the "Rachael Ray in New York City and Burger Bash in South Beach," which is currently going for $1,700! Here's what you get:

If you are a Rachael Ray fan, this lot is for you! You and three friends will receive tickets to a taping of The Rachael Ray Show in New York City. While you are there you will spend two nights in a large room at the NYC luxury boutique hotel, Dream. To go along with your spectacular experience, you will get the Furi Rachael Ray Kitchen Trio, signed by Rachael Ray. Finally, to top it all off, you will receive four tickets to the Amstel Light Burger Bash hosted by Rachael Ray at the 2007 Food Network Wine & Food Festival, on Thursday February 22, 2007.

Wow! Can I be one of the three friends?

If you have the opportunity to attend the festival this year, I'd seriously recommend it. Not only will Food Network stars Giada De Laurentiis, Rachael Ray, Emeril Lagasse, Michael Chiarello and more be there, but you're sure to learn quite a bit, eat quite a bit, and have a once-in-a-lifetime experience, if I may be so bold. And did I mention the wine?

Make sure to check out the online auction catalog for your chance to bid on the items. If you're planning on attending, be sure to stop by the Delta Airlines Live Auction, Feb. 25 at the Publix Grand Tasting Village.

Backstage Photos of Emeril

My facebook friend Dave has some great photos from his Food Network internship in his facebook photo album. He's had the opportunity to be on the studio floor all summer and help during the tapings of a bunch of shows including Emeril Live, The Essence of Emeril, Party Line with the Hearty Boys and Tyler's Ultimate.



I have always loved anything to do with backstage and behind the scenes-- all the little secret tricks that are a part of live entertainment. So when I find out that not only is The Essence of Emeril shot in this studio, but also Party Line, Tyler's Ultimate, and even 30-minute Meals (at one time), it just blows my mind:-) When I was four and saw my sister in a play, all I wanted to know was where the stairs onstage led to!



Here you get a little bigger view of the entire Essence operation. Dave's album has a lot of awesome pics of the food network kitchen, their huge spice rack, more candid Emeril shots (when can you get some Dave Lieberman shots, btw?), and even some pics of Dave himself stirring up some of Emeril's chocolate on the set! Check it out if you have a Facebook account and thanks a lot to Dave for letting me post these.

How would Giada pronounce "PEZ"????

UPDATE: Rocky Mountain News is reporting that Rachael Ray will release "a line of Ray-branded compilations and voicetones in a deal with Epic Records." Her first CD will be "Holiday Themed" and hits stores Oct. 3! What is a Ray-branded voicetone?

Just a little taste to get you through your work day...

TV Week is reporting that the Food Network is beginning negotions with several of the network's stars in non-TV endeavors. That is the Emeril cookware, the Ina food products, the Chiarello "Napa-Style" kind of things that the FN had previously not held a stake in. Evidently, freakin' Emeril is making $150 million every year ($90 million from restaurants) and the network caught on that this might be a good idea to cash in on the earnings of many of the people it helped make famous.

I don't know how I feel about this. The article quotes the president of a licensing organization who deals mostly with cartoon character products. Obviously, cartoons are easier to deal with than, say, Sandra Lee on her 5th cocktail.

Food Network wants to "be more like Nickelodeon," which earns huge amounts of money from its licensed products (think of all the Spongebob crap out there right now).

So, what will this mean for the future of Food Network products? There are already a few books, some DVDs, and other things out right now, licensed exclusively by the Food Network. What's next? Giada Pez dispensers?

I'm still working on my Ace of Cakes review. It might be up later today. As many of you have commented, I agree that the show was plesantly entertaining. Good job, FN!