Ducky: there are two versions of Iron Chef, the real one (Japanese, dubbed and subtitled…often with…um…comic effects, of which some three hundred episodes exist) and the American Version, which I haven’t seen. It features William Shatner and one episode has been aired to date.
Assuming you get the Japanese version (with luck, you will!)
Chairman Kaga says “Allez Cuisine” (Hurry up and cook!) when he tells the chefs to start cooking. Since he’s trying to speak French with a Japanese accent, it’s hard to tell. Chairman Kaga is also a star of the Japanese equivilant to Broadway, having starred in Les Miserables and Jesus Christ, Superstar (I’ve got the JCS CD: He’s a great Jesus!)
Otah is a heavy-set guy in a tux who’s hanging out on the actual cooking arena. You don’t see him much as the camera focuses on the chefs and the food.
There are two regular commentators, Hatori (older, distiguished looking guy who sits on the left): a professional cook and who runs one of the premier cooking schools in Japan. He supplies the sous-chefs that appear, too. The other commentator is Fukui (during the battle, you’ll hear Otah yelling “Fukui-san” to get their attention). Fukui is an announcer.
The two of them are usually accompanied by a “BDJ” or Bimbo-Du Jour. Usually the BDJ is an actress of…um…dubious talents who is often a star of…semi-adult films. But not always.
There are four groups of episodes in syndication:
[list]
[li]The original versions: I’ve never seen them but apparently they’re completely subtitled. No theme music, no English at all.[/li][li]The very first batch of dubbed episodes. Kaga is dubbed with a Darth Vader voice. The Iron Chef Japanese is a tall, young guy named Morimoto (wears a grey outfit) and there are 4 judges who sit on a long table with Kaga. This is around the second or third season from the end of the show and features Morimoto’s first appearance[/li][li]The next batch: Kaga is completely subtitled (he’s famous for his voice and raised a fuss). Morimoto is Iron Chef Japanese (and four judges) and this batch of episodes concludes the run of Iron Chef.[/li]
[li]The new batch: These episodes start at the original season 2 (season 1 was 1/2 hour episodes and won’t be shown)These are the ones currently showing on FoodTV. Kaga is dubbed again, but this time with a British Dr. Evil sort of voice. You keep expecting him to tie a BDJ to a railroad track somewhere (everyone hates the voice, but there’s some legal reason why Kaga has to be dubbed…something about a certain amount of change from the original episodes). These early episodes feature a short, older Iron Chef Japan named Michiba (wears a blue outfit). There are only three judges and they sit at individual tables.[/li]
In other words, excluding the original group of subtitled only episodes, FoodTV started with season 6 (or so) and showed 'em through to the end. This year, they’ve gone back to season two and are showing them straight through 'till they catch up with themselves.
Some other tidbits:
Bonito Broth is a sort of fish soup made from dried fish flakes. (Tuna?)
Fon Du Voe (I’ve spelled it phonetically) is Veal Broth
Yes, they do use caviar, truffles and fois gras like it’s going out of style!
“Natto” is fermented soy-beans and looks like rice-crispy treats from hell
If you’re squeamish, don’t watch Big Battle Octopus! If you’re easily nauseated, don’t watch Battle Soft Roe (soft roe=fish sperm…the male equivilant of caviar)
On overtime battles, they’re shown in a seperate episode (it’s not clear when you watch if you’ll be shown the overtime battle. You will be)
Yes, you’ve heard some of the theme music before if you’ve seen the movie Backdraft.
Hope this helps!
Fenris
