'Lessons'
This thread is for non-fiction TV, including but not limited to reality television (So You Think You Can Dance, Top Chef: Masters, Project Runway), documentaries (The History Channel, The Discovery Channel), and sundry (Expedition Africa, Mythbusters), et al. [NAFDA]
Hmm, I wonder who will be the next Iron Chef. If it's Giada DeLaurentis, I'm picketing the building.
Food Network is getting like MTV. Fewer cooking shows, more random bullshit like "Great Festivals" and "Decorative Fruit and Vegetable Carving Challenge"
A&E has also gone down that path (Miami Ink, Airline, Gene Simmons).
I'll admit to liking Ace of Cakes on Food Network, but for straight cooking shows, the only one I watch on FN is Good Eats. PBS is starting to get me with America's Test Kitchen, which I watched for the first time a few weeks ago.
If you want good cooking shows that actually teach something, it's slim pickings these days.
As for me, I stopped watching FN several years ago. It just got too insipid. I miss my Two Fat Ladies (and yes I know the one died, but the other one is still living and breathing, and cooking I bet).
ATK is great.
I read that they're going to get rid of two of the current ICAs. Then I know that they are choosing at least one Iron Chef through the contest "The Next Iron Chef."
I like the cooking shows I see on PBS or it's digital companion Create.
I love ATK, I just wish they had more new episodes.
Oh, no! I adore Mario Batali. I cook his stuff all the time and it's flawless without fail.
I loved the Two Fat Ladies, too. That was some good cooking.
Hung's little presentation is infinitely amusing to me. I don't know when that'll stop being funny. The SO just called from the other room to see if I was okay, if I was laughing or crying.
CJ cracking up over it was the funniest bit. I heart the Giant. (I'm also glad he was able to stand upright in the boat challenge. I was a little worried about him.)
I've heard from too many people in the restaurant industry that Batali is an asshat when he's not on TV to be upset about his departure. By all accounts, he treats his staff like crap.
I'm guessing the other chef to leave (if that rumor is true) will be Morimoto -- he's been pretty bored with this gig for a while.
I'm also guessing/hoping that the new chef(s) will come from outside FN.
(And I haven't watched the most recent TC yet.)
Of the contestants on the Next Iron Chef show (can't remember who they all are, but I'm sure it was a sumi link here), I think I had only heard of one, so odds are good.
Edit: OK, I've seen two of them on FN (Sanchez and Symon) [link]
Frankly? I'm tired of the same chefs being on ICA. I'd be more likely to start watching again with some new blood.