Oh, and for the fans out there, pretty much every episode of Good Eats is on YouTube (although they’re split into two parts)
I think he actually announced his intentions to bring Good Eats to an end several years ago around the time of the 10th anniversary special. I don’t think he had an exact time in mind, but he knew it was time to begin bringing it to a close.
As a close follower of the show, the new episodes are not as good as they used to be. He has really fallen away from the teaching the basics of an ingredient or method.
If anyone has not seen Feasting on Asphalt, especially the first series, it is worth your time to seek out.
“Good Eats” was the only cooking show I watched consistently. To me, he was the anti-Bob Flay, who can complicate mac and cheese, as I could run into my average supermarket, find the ingredients, and cook like I knew what I was doing. Thanks, Alton. I don’t cook large meals that often, but if and when I do, I know I can do it thanks to him.
As I was reading this thread, one of his grape juice commercials came on.
I am very disappointed by this, but I’ll survive.
Oh, some of the episodes are also on Hulu
For sure. The idea for the show came first. His background and education were in film and cinematography and it shows. Shots where the camera is looking out from inside the oven or fridge, quick cuts, and a lot of action. Alton went to school to learn how to cook so he could make a cooking show! That is awesome. Also, his wife is the executive producer.
He is a charismatic dude and his idea to use a story as a premise for each episode changed the game. Also, science!
And god forbid if they have him host another show like Iron Chef…
FN desperately NEEDS an instructional show or two. I’m sorry, but food isn’t entertainment 100% of the time, especially if you have no idea how to cook. And considering a good portion of FN’s audience probably thinks Sandra Lee can cook…:eek:
Random Good Eats story. Someone got me the first season a while ago, and I just started watching them this morning. I like the show, but the first couple episodes are pretty rocky, and you get the impression that at least some of the footage is something Alton shot on his own to try and convince FN to pick up the show, as it looks pretty amateurish.
Anyhoo, in the “eggs” episode, we get to where Alton has to flip his egg up and back into the pan. He gives some dialouge about how its not that hard, and towards the end of the dialouge there’s like three edit-breaks in relatively quick succession just before he flips the egg. Its pretty obvious that he kept messing up the flip, and instead of going back and refilming the whole thing, they just had him repeat the last couple lines and then try again. And again. And again.
But anyhoo, humble beginnings aside, great show. Only cooking show I’ve ever enjoyed.
He filmed every episode himself. Food Nerwork wasn’t really involved in the production of Good Eats.
WHY AB! WHYY! Another bummed "Good Eats fan checking in. This season being so short, I’m not surprised he’s ending it. Though I agree hew coulda done 1 MORE episode to end on a nice round number.
Food Network is turning into a wasteland.
I hate this for a few reasons, but the biggest is that Alton will now only be appearing in his disguise as Tinpot Dictator Alton on those execrable reality shows, and not as Affable Approachable Alton as on Good Eats. Bleh.
I seem to remember that AB mentioned that he had to fight just to get a tenth season out of Food Network (i.e. they were going to cancel it). This was in the tenth anniversary special he did at that Atlanta (his home town) theater.
That show, by the way, was everything his regular episodes weren’t. IOW it was absolutely godawful!
I’m bummed, but I do think maybe it’s about time.
That sucks. Alton really helped me step my egg game up.