# Iron Chef America? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 17, 2004, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iron-chef-america/234772 "2004-03-17T02:46:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Only\_Mostly\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/f19dbf/32.png) [@Only\_Mostly\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Only_Mostly_Dead)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2004, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iron-chef-america/234772/1 "2004-03-17T02:46:52Z")
Watching the Food Network lately, I’ve noticed ads running for what appears to be a new **Iron Chef** series. And whether they are planning to be contestants or Iron Chefs, I’ve seen (the best Iron Chef from the Japanese show) Masaharu Morimoto, Bobby Flay, and jolly giant Mario Batali of in the teaser. But there’s no information yet on the show on [food.com](http://food.com). I want to know if it has any relation to the two or three thoroughly disappointing **Iron Chef USA** specials hosted by Bill Shatner (and judged by Night of the Living Ron Popiel), or if it’s a fresh start. I realize that no American version will quite live up to the kitsch of the dubbed Japanese, but I hope that some of the magic can be recreated. So does anybody know about who the chefs or host will be? Any other sumptuous details? ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2004, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iron-chef-america/234772/2 "2004-03-17T07:02:05Z")
All I know is that Alton Brown was in CA filming Iron Chef America when he collapsed from exhaustion and dehydration. He didn’t mention if he actually finished filming, lol, but I sure hope so, because that’ll fucking rock. And also, he’ll kick everybody’s ass. ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2004, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iron-chef-america/234772/3 "2004-03-17T15:38:18Z")
\ Alton is the coolest ever. \ ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2004, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iron-chef-america/234772/4 "2004-03-17T21:11:12Z")
And now, iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit’s Monster Chef! Where Mario Batali and a crew of sous chefs who’ve never met transform a tub of lobsters and crawfish into a turbocharged laaaaaaaaaaaaawnmower! Cue the smoke machine. Cue the non-stick metal music. ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2004, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iron-chef-america/234772/5 "2004-03-17T21:26:01Z")
LMAO AskNott… That was brilliant. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2004, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iron-chef-america/234772/6 "2004-03-17T22:49:07Z")
> [@Only Mostly Dead](#): > > the two or three thoroughly disappointing **Iron Chef USA** specials hosted by Bill Shatner “Disappointing”? “Disappointing” doesn’t begin to describe the smothering awfulness of that show. **Iron Chef USA** was a tapdancing blackface abortion. “Disappointing,” my old lady’s corset cover. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![friggae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/45deac/32.png) [@friggae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friggae)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2004, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iron-chef-america/234772/7 "2004-03-17T23:03:07Z")
From what I’ve seen, the chefs to compete are Morimoto, Sakai, Batali and Wolfgang Puck. Who is battling who, I’m not sure. Also, Alton Brown is not competing - he is taking the place of commentator Yukio Hattori. ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2004, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iron-chef-america/234772/8 "2004-03-17T23:27:33Z")
> [@friggae](#): > > From what I’ve seen, the chefs to compete are Morimoto, Sakai, Batali and Wolfgang Puck. Who is battling who, I’m not sure. Also, Alton Brown is not competing - he is taking the place of commentator Yukio Hattori. ☹ The only dream I’ve ever had is to see Alton Brown compete as an Iron Chef. Who gives a fuck about Wolfgang Puck? Alton would mop the floor with him! _sniff_ ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2004, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iron-chef-america/234772/9 "2004-03-17T23:37:03Z")
I don’t see how an American version could ever match the “magic” that is the Japanese version. The best part is the dubbing of the judges comments. It’s like watching Godzilla … if he were being chopped up and made into several unique culinary dishes. ---
**Author:** ![Mearl\_Dox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/65b543/32.png) [@Mearl\_Dox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mearl_Dox)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2004, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iron-chef-america/234772/10 "2004-03-18T01:47:33Z")
_Iron Chef_ and _Good Eats_ are two of my favorite shows. If Alton Brown is involved in a new American Iron Chef show, I don’t care if he only comes out once an episode to do a little dance across the arena, I’ll probably still be thrilled. I’m easy to please. 😉 And besides, didn’t the Japanese commentator once take on the Iron Chefs as a challenger in the Japanese version? Maybe Alton could try his hand just once! This actually sounds like a lot of fun to me. I can’t wait to see it! ---
**Author:** ![rdky1997](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c67d28/32.png) [@rdky1997](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rdky1997)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2004, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iron-chef-america/234772/11 "2004-03-18T03:28:39Z")
I dont think it will be marimoto,sukai,batali or puck I think it well be “newer” chefs like todd english and those of that crowd.although I hope the new version is far better than the other one.And I dont want the stupid reporters talking to the chefs while they are cooking rich in seattle (no offense meant to anyone) ---
**Author:** ![Tentacle\_Monster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba9def/32.png) [@Tentacle\_Monster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tentacle_Monster)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2004, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iron-chef-america/234772/12 "2004-03-18T07:04:33Z")
I heard about Iron Chef USA a long time ago. I think they just swept it under the rug with a embarassed cough. I’d watch at least one episode, because I heard William Shatner was supposed to be in the Chairman Kaga type role. Seeing what Kaga usually wore, I just gotta know what they suited up Shatner in. Maybe he got some of Rod Roddy’s hand-me-downs? ---
**Author:** ![PalJuicy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a8b319/32.png) [@PalJuicy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PalJuicy)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2004, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iron-chef-america/234772/13 "2004-03-18T13:14:27Z")
**Pepperlandgirl** , how about dumping Mario in favor of Alton and keeping Wolfie? I luurrve the Wolfman! ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2004, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iron-chef-america/234772/14 "2004-03-18T19:52:45Z")
The casting of Alton as the interviewer or chaiman or whatever, if true, is pretty inspired. He’s said before that he’s not a chef, but only a cook, and I am glad that he is being involved somehow. Why the man hasn’t been catapulted to Food Network’s poster boy by now is beyond me. Also, if the lineup posted is true, I think they should have gone with slightly different chefs. Morimoto and Batali are both good choices in my opinion but couldn’t they find someone else that knows French cooking other than Sakai? I mean, if this is going to be an American Iron Chef, shouldn’t they try to rely on as few of the Japanese stars as they can? And why is Puck of all people included? And just what nationality is he supposed to be representing? Even with these complaints, I’ll still watch. Should be fun. ---
**Author:** ![Only\_Mostly\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/f19dbf/32.png) [@Only\_Mostly\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Only_Mostly_Dead)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2004, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iron-chef-america/234772/15 "2004-03-18T20:50:25Z")
> [@Aesiron](#): > > And why is Puck of all people included? And just what nationality is he supposed to be representing? > > Even with these complaints, I’ll still watch. Should be fun. Like I said in the OP, I don’t remember anything about Puck. I thought I heard Bobby Flay, though, which nobody else has confirmed. ---
**Author:** ![brianjedi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@brianjedi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brianjedi)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2004, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iron-chef-america/234772/16 "2004-03-18T21:09:57Z")
[Iron Fans](http://www.ironfans.com/episodes/specials/ftvironchef/) is reporting that these are the battles: Batali vs Morimoto Flay vs Sakai Flay and Morimoto vs Batali and Sakai Puck Vs Morimoto Alton will be Fukui-san/Dr. Hattori. ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2004, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iron-chef-america/234772/17 "2004-03-19T00:00:23Z")
Oh jesus, we get to see Booby Flay embarass himself and all the Americans again? I’m exasperated and excited. ---
**Author:** ![rdky1997](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c67d28/32.png) [@rdky1997](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rdky1997)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2004, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iron-chef-america/234772/18 "2004-03-19T01:29:12Z")
I would much rather have batali than flay in the group.also,I agree on the french line up there must be some good “all american” french cooks out there. also,Alton Brown as main interviewer,that would be cool,even if he is only director rich in seattle