I just saw the opening to the American version of Iron Chef, although I had to fight with my wife to not change the channel.
Two things, one, the opening is funny as hell as far as I’m concerned, and two, someone should tell William that Asian, as in “Iron Cheff Asian”, isn’t a country.
Prompted by your post, I just flipped to the food channel.
Just in time to see the crowd do “the wave.”
Priceless!
I like it! It’s not exactly the same as the original, but it has that same “Godzilla,” over the top, almost cartoonish dramatacism. Shatner is PERFECT as chairman!
Maybe sometime I’ll try watching a whole episode, but for that I’d have to get my wife out of the house, but for various reasons, that’s almost imposible 
I doubt that I’d watch it on a regular basis, but I’d like to see one whole episode at least.
I thought the whole thing was painful and embarassing for everybody involved.
When will they air the original again? I need my Iron Chef fix!
You can allways watch re-runs, but I doubt you’ll ever see a new episode of the origional. From what I hear, in Japan, they cancel a series when it’s doing well or when it’s in its prime, and that was true of the origional Iron Chef. I don’t know if they’ll ever bring it back, but I kind of doubt it. Sorry
I think there are still episodes that we in the US haven’t seen yet, even though the show is long-gone in Japan. I like those much, much more than the episodes of American Iron Chef.
The only thing I like about the American version is how crazy Shatner is and how much he tries to act like the real Chairman.
With Shatner at the helm, the main ingredient will always be “Cheese!”
This new show is basically unwatchable so I won’t be watching. What I miss the most is little Ohta running around crying “Fuke-san!” and describing in manic detail the ingredients and process of the chefs. The floor commentator they have now basically sticks to “what’s that? wow, looks yummy”.
This Iron Chef USA was a two-time special on UPN, trying to capitalize on the success of the Japanese version. Obviously, they didn’t realize the sheer originality of the original was one of its strong suits, and was about as successful at recreating its Japanese source as the American Godzilla.
It’s my fault. I’m sorry. I take full responsibility.
You see, after taking the suggestion from people in this thread, I began taping the show two weeks ago. I got the Caviar show (where I learned the Japanese word for caviar is…well, “caviar”) and another show the next day, but last week – well, let’s just say that I tend to have very Bad Karma when it comes to taping TV shows, sometimes. (Kind of like screwing up my tape of TAR last week…gaah.)
It doesn’t always happen, though. I’ve had no problems with taping the Sopranos, for instance. (Hmm, does that mean God doesn’t want me to learn how to cook, or travel extensively all around the world, but he’s okay with me whacking rival gangsters and dumping them in the ocean? There’s something to be learned from that…)
In fact, it’s really kind of weird, because the Food Network schedule STILL LISTS episodes from the original Japan show, instead of the cheesy American knockoff!! Until now, I was almost thinking that only my TV had been infected.
So anyways, my deepest apologies to all for bringing down this Bad Karma on myself, and everyone else apparently. I think what I’ll do is buy a cat-o-nine-tails and flagellate myself until God is pleased again. Does anyone know if there’s an S&M shop in Los Angeles, somewhere? They aren’t listed in the Yellow Pages. 
And the secret ingredient . . . . The SET!!!
Shatner has chewed enough scenery in his time, it’s the only logical ingredient.
I just can’t get into the American Iron Chef. I know that the original was over the top, but the American version is over that top pushing it almost to the realm of professional wrestling and I just don’t enjoy it.
Yea, I’m all about the Japanese version, but the American version doesn’t do it for me.