# What happened to the Food Network? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 7, 2009, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-the-food-network/484820 "2009-02-07T18:30:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![Sapo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Sapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapo)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-the-food-network/484820/161 "2009-02-13T03:12:29Z")
> [@Cluricaun](#): > > Ok, a few things. > > Tyler Florence used to be the biggest cunt on Earth. That show where he went and smirked all over some poor woman’s kitchen while berating her utensils and food know how made me want to kneecap him, but he’s mellowed a bit as he’s gotten fatter and I don’t hate him as much as I used to, plus his food is awesome. > … What show was this? I hope you don’t mean Food 911, because I thought he was nice then. I do like him better in Ultimate, but I didn’t find anything wrong with him in 911. ---
**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:** [February 13, 2009, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-the-food-network/484820/162 "2009-02-13T04:06:40Z")
> [@acsenray](#): > > Come on, what’s not to like about boobage? It’s not like she’s naked or anything. They just happen to be on her show, because they’re there, right below her collarbone and right above the stove. What’re they going to do, just show her in mugshots? Boobage and foodage. Mmmmmm. > Okay, I don’t like her show either. I just don’t get how _that’s_ a reason for not liking it. How do you show someone cooking but not have her (ample ample) chest in the shot? I have nothing against boobage, I just don’t think it’s needed. Also, see Ferret Herder’s quote below. > [@Cervaise](#): > > I read an article someplace that the people who make food TV (this network and others) consciously shoot the food like they’re shooting porn. Glistening closeups, overmiked slurpy sound effects, the works. Nigella may be a goddess, but really _watch_ the show sometime, and you’ll crack up. They also use porn music. > [@Ferret\_Herder](#): > > It’s not so much her “tracts of land” as it is the plunging necklines and near-overhead shots used to emphasize same said tracts. Poor girl’s gonna catch a nasty chest cold at some point with all the airing they get. Yes, it’s the overemphasis on the boobage that bugs me. ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-the-food-network/484820/163 "2009-02-13T12:32:41Z")
> [@Sapo](#): > > What show was this? I hope you don’t mean Food 911, because I thought he was nice then. I do like him better in Ultimate, but I didn’t find anything wrong with him in 911. Yeah, I’m afraid it was Food 911. He came off as very arrogant and demeaning. If someone ever came into my house and talked to my wife the way that Tyler used to talk to those women I’d have tossed him out on his ass. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-the-food-network/484820/164 "2009-02-13T12:41:00Z")
> [@Cluricaun](#): > > Yeah, I’m afraid it was Food 911. He came off as very arrogant and demeaning. If someone ever came into my house and talked to my wife the way that Tyler used to talk to those women I’d have tossed him out on his ass. I’m with Sapo on this one. I remember thinking that he was incredibly patient with people who basically didn’t have any clue. “Hi, Tyler. The last time I made Beef Bourguinon, it turned out a mess. My cooking skills begin and end with instant oatmeal. Help!” After dinner was done, he always gave them full credit for cooking a meal that he essentially made. ---
**Author:** ![Sapo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Sapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapo)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-the-food-network/484820/165 "2009-02-13T12:46:57Z")
Yeah, that was the impression I most often got. And he did make fun of some gadgets, but mostly in an Alton kinda way. Except that when Alton makes fun of a gadget it is not a gadget that someone on camera paid for. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-the-food-network/484820/166 "2009-02-13T16:44:50Z")
> [@Cluricaun](#): > > Yeah, I’m afraid it was Food 911. He came off as very arrogant and demeaning. If someone ever came into my house and talked to my wife the way that Tyler used to talk to those women I’d have tossed him out on his ass. There was a “kitchen rescue” show where the host wasn’t a dick, but it didn’t last long on the Food Network - Bob Blumer’s [“The Surreal Gourmet”](http://www.bobblumer.com/sgindex.html). He traveled around with a tiny Airstream trailer made to look like a giant toaster. ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-the-food-network/484820/167 "2009-02-13T16:55:25Z")
I totally understand that my hate of Tyler Florence is irrational, much like my hate of Cris Collinsworth. Some people just do that to you. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-the-food-network/484820/168 "2009-02-13T17:08:37Z")
> [@Cluricaun](#): > > I totally understand that my hate of Tyler Florence is irrational, much like my hate of Cris Collinsworth. Some people just do that to you. Are you sure you’re not confusing [Tyler Florence](http://blog.syracuse.com/family/2008/05/tylerf.jpg) with [Bobby Flay](http://www.celebchefs.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/bobby-flay.jpg)? ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-the-food-network/484820/169 "2009-02-13T17:14:28Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > Are you sure you’re not confusing [Tyler Florence](http://blog.syracuse.com/family/2008/05/tylerf.jpg) with [Bobby Flay](http://www.celebchefs.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/bobby-flay.jpg)? Yup, I’m 100% certain. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-the-food-network/484820/170 "2009-02-13T17:16:39Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > There was a “kitchen rescue” show where the host wasn’t a dick, but it didn’t last long on the Food Network - Bob Blumer’s [“The Surreal Gourmet”](http://www.bobblumer.com/sgindex.html). He traveled around with a tiny Airstream trailer made to look like a giant toaster. There was also Doorknock Dinners with Gordon Elliott. (FYI, the Wikipedia entry on the show says that this is where Paula Deen first became famous.) The idea was that they’d make dinner in your home using only what you had there. I always thought that this was an interesting idea, since many of us claim there’s nothing to eat at home, but they show how it’s possible for someone who is creative and knows what he’s doing to make dinner out of what’s in the the pantry and the refrigerator. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-the-food-network/484820/171 "2009-02-13T17:55:02Z")
Wow, I forgot about “The Surreal Gourmet.” That was a good show! ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Onimous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ea5d25/32.png) [@Ann\_Onimous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Onimous)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-the-food-network/484820/172 "2009-02-13T17:59:10Z")
BBC: Tarts on the Tardis. Men would watch that, I think. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-the-food-network/484820/173 "2009-02-13T18:03:41Z")
> [@Cluricaun](#): > > Yup, I’m 100% certain. Tyler Florence’s Adonis-like features put me off. Boy chefs shouldn’t be so good looking. I have no problem with his personality though. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-the-food-network/484820/174 "2009-02-13T18:44:06Z")
> [@Juliana](#): > > BBC: Tarts on the Tardis. Men would watch that, I think. 😃 Dress Rose like Giada and I’ll do more than watch. I’ll underwrite. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-the-food-network/484820.md?page=8)