tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133409.post4413428715125067260..comments2023-04-01T18:36:52.359-04:00Comments on The House of Boogie: The Next Food Network Star -- OyBoogiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11636861960548704495noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133409.post-34478811769598380502008-07-31T21:06:00.000-04:002008-07-31T21:06:00.000-04:00Glo -- agreed and agreed and agreed again ;-)Berta...Glo -- agreed and agreed and agreed again ;-)<BR/><BR/>Berta -- yeah, tell her to give up her mixer or shove it up her bundt pan ;-)<BR/><BR/>:DBoogiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11636861960548704495noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133409.post-21353955005615447282008-07-31T13:02:00.000-04:002008-07-31T13:02:00.000-04:00Not to stir the pot or anything ::evil grin::, but...Not to stir the pot or anything ::evil grin::, but look what I saw posted on another blog (which shall remain anonymous, so Boog doesn't start cyber-slapping her...)<BR/><BR/><B>What’d you think of The Next Food Network Star winner? I think the judges made a good choice.</B><BR/><BR/>From what I read here, the woman who asserted this opinion--who fancies herself a foodie and has a 2nd food-related blog--should have her KitchenAid mixer revoked (and sent straight to me!).Robertahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06629514005249000780noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133409.post-40228101581165435332008-07-31T10:13:00.000-04:002008-07-31T10:13:00.000-04:00whoa whoa and whoa again!whoa whoa and whoa again!glohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01963142785664948444noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133409.post-34136003281475239512008-07-31T09:57:00.000-04:002008-07-31T09:57:00.000-04:00Patti:Wellums I must thank you again...and if your...Patti:<BR/><BR/>Wellums I must thank you again...and if your opinion is similar to mine, it's worth far more than three cents -- we're prolly talking a quarter or fifty cents, at least ;-)Boogiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11636861960548704495noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133409.post-75438162626002668512008-07-31T09:47:00.000-04:002008-07-31T09:47:00.000-04:00I actually found you on Sidedish. I enjoyed readi...I actually found you on Sidedish. I enjoyed reading your point of view since it was so similar to mine ;-)<BR/>I finally added my 3 cents worth this morning.Patti Rambles Onhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15157225197448758745noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133409.post-62471575700523458552008-07-30T21:36:00.000-04:002008-07-30T21:36:00.000-04:00Thanks, Patti...I had no idea so many people had a...Thanks, Patti...I had no idea so many people had a similar reaction to the NFNS farce as me, but the bottom line is that we're all a bit tweaked over the outcome.<BR/><BR/>There's a lot of great commentary and observation at the Sidedish blog out of Dallas -- and lots of other places. I'm just glad I got irritated enough to blog it out :-)<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the props :-)<BR/><BR/>-B-Boogiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11636861960548704495noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133409.post-24946836124186875132008-07-30T12:59:00.000-04:002008-07-30T12:59:00.000-04:00Great blog, great comments. I'm glad I stumbled u...Great blog, great comments. I'm glad I stumbled upon it this morning. I was a Lisa Garza fan from day one and was totally disappointed she didn't win. As far as who I'd want in my kitchen, my door is open to Lisa anytime!Patti Rambles Onhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15157225197448758745noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133409.post-48358048938585249252008-07-30T10:50:00.000-04:002008-07-30T10:50:00.000-04:00LOL :)LOL :)Boogiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11636861960548704495noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133409.post-26998799335506523162008-07-29T20:07:00.000-04:002008-07-29T20:07:00.000-04:00Making the trip? Hell, man, I'm driving! ;)Making the trip? Hell, man, I'm driving! ;)Robertahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06629514005249000780noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133409.post-15238022470681591042008-07-29T13:03:00.000-04:002008-07-29T13:03:00.000-04:00Stop saying the M word! My parents/sister does th...Stop saying the M word! <BR/><BR/>My parents/sister does the same thing - except they combine it with another word I hate which makes me squirm even more. And no - I'm not letting you know what the other word is :) <BR/><BR/>Boogs - STOP or else! xxKaiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05191332632083648311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133409.post-3285427073795637682008-07-29T12:51:00.000-04:002008-07-29T12:51:00.000-04:00LOL...I've known for some time I'm going to hell i...LOL...<BR/><BR/>I've known for some time I'm going to hell in a handbasket (what a handbasket is, I have no idea). Glad you too are making the trip, 'Berta ;-)<BR/><BR/>:-DBoogiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11636861960548704495noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133409.post-57981340498761508672008-07-29T12:42:00.000-04:002008-07-29T12:42:00.000-04:00Yes, B...MOIST. Hear that, sis? MOIST!!!!! LOL ;...Yes, B...MOIST. Hear that, sis? MOIST!!!!! <BR/><BR/>LOL ;)Robertahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06629514005249000780noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133409.post-5407421757238273582008-07-29T12:08:00.000-04:002008-07-29T12:08:00.000-04:00What word, 'Berta? Moist? :-DI know, I'm gonna pay...What word, 'Berta? Moist? :-D<BR/><BR/>I know, I'm gonna pay for that tonight and for the next week ;-)<BR/><BR/>But it's so, sooo worth it ;-)Boogiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11636861960548704495noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133409.post-44968466805615488102008-07-28T23:54:00.000-04:002008-07-28T23:54:00.000-04:00Kel, my sister hates the 'M' word, too. She actua...Kel, my sister hates the 'M' word, too. She actually shudders when she hears it.<BR/><BR/>Sometimes, we (the parents and I) say it around her just to watch her squirm.<BR/><BR/>Yeah. We're mean. ;)Robertahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06629514005249000780noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133409.post-40411949141110444682008-07-28T23:44:00.000-04:002008-07-28T23:44:00.000-04:00LOL...the 'm' word... :-DLOL...the 'm' word... :-DBoogiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11636861960548704495noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133409.post-13169953475561203512008-07-28T23:17:00.000-04:002008-07-28T23:17:00.000-04:00Ug. You know how i feel about the "M" word... Sha...Ug. You know how i feel about the "M" word... <BR/><BR/>Shake it off...just shake it offKaiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05191332632083648311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133409.post-55182087982558857742008-07-28T20:37:00.000-04:002008-07-28T20:37:00.000-04:00Good call, Berta...unless the chicken is one o' th...Good call, Berta...unless the chicken is one o' them-thar mini's, a tall can will keep the chicken up whilst getting moist, juicy and extra-crispy :-DBoogiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11636861960548704495noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133409.post-16228244196218776912008-07-28T19:20:00.000-04:002008-07-28T19:20:00.000-04:00The only thing I'd add, Boog, is to find the 16 oz...The only thing I'd add, Boog, is to find the 16 oz. "tall" cans of beer...it'll make it easier to balance on the grill. :)Robertahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06629514005249000780noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133409.post-82125473110237154562008-07-28T18:48:00.000-04:002008-07-28T18:48:00.000-04:00Kaiamama, I agree -- in fact, if we analyze the fa...Kaiamama, I agree -- in fact, if we analyze the factors that make up an ideal TV cook (not chef -- cook), they are charisma, a sense of humor, inspiration, cooking ability, and the ability to impart technique or other knowledge. If we follow those criteria, I can't honestly pick any where Aaron would surpass either Lisa or Adam.<BR/><BR/>As they say in the rodeo business, this was some big load o' bullshit.Boogiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11636861960548704495noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133409.post-41048837869165305772008-07-28T18:34:00.000-04:002008-07-28T18:34:00.000-04:00"Your comment reveals that perhaps you have not an..."Your comment reveals that perhaps you have not analyzed the entirety of the show and the outcome with a reasoned mind."<BR/><BR/>I have - and there is no way - given the entirety of the show -that Aaron should have won. Absolutely no way was he the most qualified, knowledgeable, creative, inspiring or camera friendly/ready. <BR/><BR/>Back to Boogie's point of having them cook at your house - Lisa or Adam - in that order - no point in having Aaron over - I already know how to spice my food.Kaiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05191332632083648311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133409.post-79455360616149855112008-07-28T18:28:00.000-04:002008-07-28T18:28:00.000-04:00Charles:With respect to your second comment, keep ...Charles:<BR/><BR/>With respect to your second comment, keep in mind that both of the quotes you attribute to me were made by other people, not me. I'll answer each of them but God is in the details, so to speak.<BR/><BR/>When Paula Dean said "I hate it" to Lisa it struck me as a bit odd, not because goat cheese is the most incredible thing in the world. Personally, I could do without goat cheese and try to avoid it whenever possible. However, it seemed a bit over the top. If it were me, I would have politely said "I didn't care for your dish only because I felt the goat cheese overpowered the rest of the flavors" or something akin thereto. Saying "I hated it" was really blunt, and I remember being a bit surprised when I heard her say that. I personally would have been equally surprised if she had made them to Aaron because of the extreme nature of the comment.<BR/><BR/>It also kind of struck me as odd that Bobby, Paula and Susie and Bob all gushed about Adam adding lobster to macaroni and cheese. That's not Vegas, that's the seafood restaurant down the street. I would have expected more than a rehashed dish -- want to impress me? Put some finely minced jalapeno and shitakes in the mac and cheese along with the lobster. Do something unique, creative and different. That would have deserved universal praise.<BR/><BR/>What's interesting about your point, unfortunately, is that Paula Dean's success is built on butter. It's not high-falutin' cuisine and -- based on my girlfriend's trip to The Lady and Sons in Savannah -- it's not very good cuisine. She's a southern cook who does everything -- especially butter -- to excess (eg does crab butter sound appetizing to you? It doesn't to me). Having said that, I respect her but whomever that comment was directed to, it was over the top.<BR/><BR/>As far as the issue of whether they made a mockery of the entire process, it seems to me that most people believe this was rigged in Aaron's favor -- which is fine. The problem is that when you purport to have a contest and then it's clear that said contest is not actually a contest but a pre-determined presentation that is masqueraded as a contest -- like a pro wrestling match -- people feel cheated. The word "sham" is being tossed around in connection with last night's finale for good reason: most people who saw it were shocked that Aaron won based on the facts, not just over a one- or two-week period but the entire "contest."<BR/><BR/>True, now lots of people know the names Adam Gertler and Lisa Garza, but your statement suggesting whoever won the top prize is insignificant is flawed. The reason being that if a "contest" -- whether a reality show, a game or a Presidential Election -- appears fixed, people are going to feel cheated and then will, subsequently, give less credibility to the contest itself. No question, the participants gained a lot of notoriety and it's likely most, if not all, of them will be better off having been a part of this process, it's clear that this was not quite an even playing field.<BR/><BR/>That's why most people feel like it was a sham -- because the facts and the outcome are incongruous and incompatible.<BR/><BR/>To your suggestion that the commenter -- again, not me -- didn't analyze the entirety of the show and the outcome with a reasoned mind reveals another flaw: obviously, all of the participants will (attempt to) use this appearance to their benefit. But if I was a viewer and I believed this was rigged, I would be pretty disappointed. As for the entirety of the show, once people believe it's fixed and a complete waste of time, how long do you think the process -- and the show -- will retain its credibility? And further, how much "street cred" do you think people will give to the participants if it's suggested they were part of the process? Or worse, won a title or prize they didn't deserve?<BR/><BR/>I think the notion of seeing the entirety of the show and the outcome means first and foremost protecting the integrity of the process; without integrity, it's just another hour of television that's soon to be cancelled.<BR/><BR/>And finally, regarding the possible failure of Aaron's show, the people you anoint as having "far more experience producing successful shows and building successful brands know more about what it takes than you and I" have managed to put two past winners in the toilet (The Hardy Boys and Amy Finley) and another sitting on it (Guy Fieri). They have shown they're not interested -- really -- in technique or knowledge but extreme personalities and/or demographics -- which is fine. But the hypocritical nature of this process -- and the history behind it -- is what I think irritates most people the most.<BR/><BR/>I'll put it this way -- as much as I like Aaron and hope the show does well, I believe he'll have spent more air time on The Next Food Network Star than on the show that he "won."Boogiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11636861960548704495noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133409.post-76623659536035326712008-07-28T17:40:00.000-04:002008-07-28T17:40:00.000-04:00In re-reading your original post, I'd also like to...In re-reading your original post, I'd also like to comment on a few points which you make which are purely conjecture and used without factual basis:<BR/><BR/><I>Paula Dean? Oh yeah, her telling Lisa "I hate it".. As I read on another site, someone mentioned Paula Dean wouldnt know the difference between goat cheese and government cheese.</I><BR/><BR/>Would you or anyone have criticized Dean's sense of taste if she had made them to Aaron? I don't think so. It's not a reasonable point to make considering that Dean is quite accomplished as a self made success.<BR/><BR/><I>If they wanted Aaron to have a show, give him a%$&* show, dont make a mockery of the contest and the other chefs' ability and dreams.</I><BR/><BR/>On the contrary, each and every contestant is tremendously more recognizable now. Regardless of whether they won the top prize, <I>millions</I> of people now know who Adam Gertler and Lisa Garza are. <I>Millions</I> of people now know about Suze. It's huge street cred to say you even made it to the top 4. Kelsey has great cred now as does Shane. Each contestant has gained incomparable fame from this that they never could have accomplished without this show.<BR/><BR/>Your comment reveals that perhaps you have not analyzed the entirety of the show and the outcome with a reasoned mind. It's abundantly clear that each of these contestants will only utilize their appearances on this show to their benefit.<BR/><BR/>As for Aaron's show, even if it failed, it would not necessarily be a failure on Aaron's behalf. The long term success of these shows and the presenters is always hard to predict as mentioned, but you can believe that folks who have far more experience producing successful shows and building successful brands know more about what it takes than you and I.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133409.post-80848927978993898282008-07-28T16:35:00.000-04:002008-07-28T16:35:00.000-04:00Charles:Unfortunately, I’m going to have to disagr...Charles:<BR/><BR/>Unfortunately, I’m going to have to disagree with you on a number of points.<BR/><BR/>First, while I do agree Lisa is not as approachable as Aaron, I wasn’t put off by her personality or by her promo. Behind the scenes she was a type-A pain in the ass at times, but all of the finalists had moments. Aaron’s reaction to Adam and Kelsey on the train comes to mind.<BR/><BR/>The other aspect of this is the sense of authority: if you were to have one of the three people to your house and cook something, how much would you really learn from Aaron or Adam? The point being that Aaron's a nice guy, but why would I watch a guy do something on television that I can do? Is he an authority of anything? Based on the past eight or so weeks, he's an authority on being a nice guy and shaking spices onto pork and steak.<BR/><BR/>Your suggestion that Lisa was suggesting that if you couldn’t do it you were no better than a 13 year old is incorrect. She was encouraging the viewer to try something that seems daunting by suggesting a 13 year old could do it so the viewer should be able to do it. And frankly, if you saw the preparation that she made, you would see she nailed the goal of showing something that sounds really fancy but is really simple. That you thought the 13-year-old comment was condescending reveals your bias.<BR/><BR/>There’s nothing wrong with cooking everyday foods – but doing it well and educating the viewer is the key. Did Aaron’s demo teach you how to prepare plaintains or steak or collard greens? Did Adam’s demo teach you anything about preparing a chicken in a new way? Did Lisa’s demo teach you anything? Based on the overwhelming majority of responses, Aaron’s demo was underwhelming and didn’t really show anyone much of anything except how to make a basic steak, plaintains and collard greens. Judging by the responses to my original post, most people are more interested in Lisa’s black cod and Adam’s Beer Can Chicken (go to google and count the hits for each of the three searches if you want to bother).<BR/><BR/>And incidentally, Alton Brown’s show about mayonnaise is reinforced by him showing you how to do it properly. If his show “about mayo” was just taking it out of a jar he would have been off the network awhile ago. He takes the everyday and shows you the methodology behind it, which was similar to Lisa’s thing, ie showing you how to take high-falutin’ foods and de-mystify them. Aaron shows you how to shake spices onto meats, chickens and dishes. It’s not educational and it’s not very entertaining.<BR/><BR/>“Motivation in its purest form” is an overstatement on your part. Aaron showed up for his demo not knowing the name of his own show. When Gordon asked him what he does, he says he puts spices on foods.<BR/><BR/>Lisa showed up with a game plan, three presentational boxes and several choices for a show title.<BR/><BR/>Adam – “Kid Chaos” – showed up having had the forethought to incorporate having a live webcam setup to allow different users to interact with him live.<BR/><BR/>The point is it wasn’t motivation, it wasn’t foresight or planning. It was demographic.<BR/><BR/>Personally, I don’t find Aaron an inspiration to get in the kitchen. I did find myself thinking “I’d like to try making that sauce” that Lisa prepared, and as I indicated earlier, I would definitely like to try making Beer Can chicken as did Adam.<BR/><BR/>Contrary to your “connect with the viewer" suggestion, I’d be shocked if Aaron’s show runs past October, if that long. It's not that he's a bad guy, but the "Hardy Boys" connect with the viewer too. They do so at 5AM every Thursday.<BR/><BR/>The fact that most people were so irritated and angry by last night's finale is that it seemed ludicrous for the person who seemingly is least qualified to be a TV personality to be a TV personality. Nice guy -- give him his own talk show on UPN or the WB.<BR/><BR/>My $0.02.Boogiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11636861960548704495noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133409.post-21034970540600928032008-07-28T16:09:00.000-04:002008-07-28T16:09:00.000-04:00The reality is that Lisa does not come across as a...The reality is that Lisa does not come across as a likable personality, regardless of her skill level. In the end, in television, it's not about being the best at what you do, it's about being good at what you do and being a likable personality.<BR/><BR/>Lisa is lacking in that department and people can't connect with her. She also tends to talk down to people. For example, "If I could do this at 13, you can do it today!" As if to insult the viewer by implying that if they cannot make the dish, they are no better than a 13 year old.<BR/><BR/>In my opinion, Aaron won because the judges felt that the people can connect to him as a personality and to his dishes. It doesn't matter if the dishes he makes are dishes you make every day. Even Alton Brown did an episode of Good Eats on mayonnaise and meatballs. It's not what's on the menu, it's not about exotic ingredients or fancy dishes: it's about motivating, guiding, and adding insight. <BR/><BR/>I believe that's what Aaron brings not only in his dishes which use simple and common ingredients, but also in his personality and his success. His success against the odds stacked against him (far more "mainstream" contestants, more skill contestants, and even some more polished presenters) is motivation in its purest form.<BR/><BR/>This is not to take away from the other contestants. Garza is incredibly knowledgeable and skilled in her craft, but she doesn't inspire in any way. Adam, while a great presenter and showman, lacks the motivational insight (and I think a big part of any how-to type of edu-tainment is motivation).<BR/><BR/>Ultimately, McCargo brought a different human quality to the show. He is not infallible and he knows his insecurities, like you and I. He has prevailed not because he is polished, perfect, and the most skilled chef; he has prevailed because he is none of those and <I>knows</I> that he is none of those. It is because of this that he is able to connect to the audience and inspire us to get in the kitchen.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133409.post-51516849629659622372008-07-28T15:32:00.000-04:002008-07-28T15:32:00.000-04:00In response to Anonymous #1 ;-)Why I initially lik...In response to Anonymous #1 ;-)<BR/><BR/>Why I initially liked watching Rachel Ray's show was the reasons you mentioned, ie showing people how to make simple, easy meals. She's not -- nor does she purport to be -- a chef. But the quick, easy, weeknight meals (as opposed to reservations/take-out) is a definite plus. The problem is the high-energy hand-waving, jumping around, the ymm-oh, the EVOO and the high-energy hand-waving (listed twice intentionally). They kept nagging Kelsey to dial it down, I wish they succeeded in getting Rachel Ray to do so as well.<BR/><BR/>For my money (time is money, after all) Good Eats is by far the best show on the network. The pomp and circumstance of Iron Chef America is getting increasingly irritating, but watching (and hearing) Alton Brown identify foods from all over is worth the price of admission. I'd much rather have intellectual humor (as with AB) than the other dummy-up fare on the network.<BR/><BR/>Once they pushed Emeril out (and while I like Emeril I think it was time -- the "cheap seats" and the other regurgitated one-liners were getting old), it was clear this was/is Bobby Flay's network. The throwdown thing isn't awful because he does deconstruct dishes and compares two methodologies, but personally, I think he's a bit too arrogant to be self-deprecating like AB.<BR/><BR/>The network is definitely changing. Lisa showed she has her shit together and knows which direction in which she wants to go, and Aaron didn't even know the name of his show. She had three plans/presentations of ideas, and Aaron said his show was about using spices.<BR/><BR/>Really, really pathetic -- and that refers not to Aaron but to the "Selection Committee" and the network in general.<BR/><BR/>Basically, any moron can follow a recipe. It's about teaching people how and why so they not only learn a dish but a methodology. I think most of us are disappointed because we know that we lost a great opportunity to learn a lot from Lisa and that opportunity would have not only been educational but fun.<BR/><BR/>O well. Maybe for their next trick the food network can try and duplicate "Good Eats" by creating some shit-bird show called "Food Detectives."<BR/><BR/>Um...nevermind.Boogiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11636861960548704495noreply@blogger.com