When was the last time Food Network had a fresh idea?
By Brad Cramer
Food Network continues to prove that a television show doesn’t have to be original to draw an audience.
With the recent premieres of Vegas Chef Prizefight and Tournament of Champions, Food Network has proven yet again that there isn’t a food tv concept that they’re not willing to cannibalize. And their propensity to do so isn’t limited to just their own shows.
Vegas Chef Prizefight strikes us as the television version of the iconic Shake ‘n Bake. The network took a pinch of Gordon Ramsey’s Hell’s Kitchen, tossed it into the creativity Ziploc with a teaspoon of Bravo’s Top Chef and a healthy amount of Food Network’s own Chef Wanted before popping Vegas Chef Prizefight out of the idea oven.
Lest you think we’re throwing Food Network under the proverbial food truck, we’re not. We’re not only faithful viewers of the network, but our loyalty dates back to its 1993 debut when we basked in the glory that was How to Boil Water, hosted by some guy named Emeril Lagasse. We’ve been there since Food Network’s birth, having enjoyed the cigar and suffering through the early colicky years. But we digress…
Like most regular Food Network viewers, we don’t take issue with seeing many of the same chef faces that we’ve grown accustomed to. Instead, we’re simply and emphatically suggesting that the network’s powers-that-be challenge producers to pitch show ideas that are new, fresh, and original.
You want Scott Conant to host your new show? Fine, send him up into a treehouse and let him oversee a couple of cooks creating meals over a can of Sterno. Something, anything, just make it different. Please!
Supermarket Sweep begat Guy’s Grocery Games which begat Alex Guarnaschelli’s Supermarket Stakeout. From Chopped sprang Chopped Junior and now Chopped Sweets. And then there are the endless iterations of Baking Championship, whose well of possibilities will eventually run dry. We think. We hope. It will, won’t it?!
Hey Food Network, if you’re looking for new show concepts, just say the word! We’re here to help and have a number of ideas we’d be happy to share. The first one that comes to mind centers around two joyfully plump old men who ride around on a motorcycle and sidecar looking for unsuspecting people to cook for. We can call it Men Make Meals. Or MMM. Triple M. It’ll be great! Call us!
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What new show do you think that Food Network should create? Could some cooking creativity add some spice to the network?