Slight edge? Alton laps her.
Posted on 06/08/2011 7:50:27 PM PDT by iowamark
Marietta food guru Alton Brown announced yesterday that after 249 episodes, he is shutting down “Good Eats,” a Food Network staple since 1999.
Beau Benton, his spokesman, confirmed that “Good Eats” will no longer be a regular series though Brown does plan three one-hour specials this year. He said Brown was not available for interviews.
Brown’s “Good Eats” has been a standard dish on Food Network’s menu for years, frequently in prime time. A fast-paced, intricately-created concoction, the show provides viewers with food history, cooking tips and oddball trivia on a single topic in Brown’s signature light-hearted and frequently sardonic tone. Over nearly 250 episodes, he chewed on almost every food subject there is, be it olives, steak or bouillabaisse. With some common staples like pasta or eggs, he’s done multiple episodes. And he’d hire local actors to play goofy parts.
One of those actors, Vickie Eng, who played the mysterious W character on about 30 episodes, said Brown put “blood, sweat and tears” into the show as director, writer and star. Her favorite moment was dangling from the ceiling Tom Cruise/”Mission Impossible” style for an episode on oysters.
Bobby Flay, another Food Network staple, said in an interview yesterday that he admires Brown for his “encyclopedic knowledge” of food and how he’s able to leverage that in multiple arenas.
Brown owns a 15,000-square-foot studio in Atlanta where he has shot “Good Eats.” Much of his staff and crew has been with him for years, a testament to his good works as a boss. “Everybody there is like family,” Eng said.
The Welch’s spokesman and author recently re-signed a new contract with Food Network and has an entrenched job with “Iron Chef” and its various incarnations. Undoubtedly, he has another show idea in his fridge.
I agree......my bread recipe comes from his video which is as much science, as it is about baking.
This is a shame. Alton has the best show on the network.
Rachael Ray is a close second but Alton has a slight edge on her.
This is a shame. Alton has the best show on the network.
Rachael Ray is a close second but Alton has a slight edge on her.
I think so. I am sure there is a wiki page.
Slight edge? Alton laps her.
Supposedly his original kitchen was in a real house, but the neighbors complained about all of the studio trucks/ noise, etc. so he built a studio. There’s an episode where he goes behind the scenes and shows off the huge test kitchen, prop room with the costumes, technician room, and even the front lobby. Very cool. I always wondered about the trapdoor in the floor that he goes into to talk about pickles and cellar goodies.
I was surprised to find out that Brown is a born-again Christian. He worked as a videographer on REM’s videos. He must have been very quiet about his views, because Michael Stipe is about as left wing as you can get.
Your analysis pretty much mirrors my take. Bobby Flay... puhlease... always about him! I don’t watch anything with him in it. Alton actually was a good teacher with a lot of humor thrown in.
It could be the money. Alton has said that he makes virtually nothing on the show, because it is so expensive to produce. Other Food Network personalities have complained about the low pay as well. But they make big bucks on the lecture circuit, from endorsements, and cookbooks.
Justin Wilson died in 2001.
Alton parodies Justin in Bowl o’ Bayou:
Part 1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SzAz6RfkYo
Part 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvfczuivTd8
I also like Guy Fieri’s D, D & D, and have learned a few things I employ in my cooking, and enjoy exploring US joints with him, especially to places I have visited. (Mostly Kansas City, SE Kansas, Oklahoma.)
I also watch some of Bobby “Bray's” shows. I have not ever tried any of his techniques or recipe's, because they sound gross or too complicated to me, I already have one that works for me, or I have no interest in that dish.
Loved his show, loved the science and how he taught the “mechanics”. And of course the off beat humor. His show fits me as a cook. The others not so much.
Sorry to see it go. Hopefully we can buy all the episodes somewhere as well as the recipes.
I don’t know if he was always a born again, Its possible he was saved later on, but I do know that he is very deeply religious now. I remember reading an article about him referencing his strong evangelical faith.
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