Unpack Your Knives!

The Next Food Network Star returned to some big changes on Sunday for season 6 including the addition of Giada De Laurentiis as a mentor and a spectacular move to Los Angeles.

“We’re using Giada as a mentor figure, where she talks about her experiences being a host on a network, and that’s one more element we didn’t have before", said Co-host Bobby Flay.

Quite frankly, I once overheard a couple in the grocery store bantering the ingredients of one of Giada's recipes (Apparently, they had watched her show and were attempting to make whatever dish that was prepared on television). My immediate thought was...Well, never mind what my initial thought was at the time...Let's just say that I was on the verge of laughing at them in public.

Anyway, back to the show. I appreciate the lively tempo of the new format (Moving to L.A. was an obvious good decision) and a change-up in host/judges also certainly helps to enliven what was once viewed as a very dry program.

I would change a few other things about the show, as well - such as stocking the entire panel with Food Network stars (Why have only one on the panel?), appoint Guy Fieri as host (Agreed, his looks are distracting, but he does bring personality), and completely, unequivocally change the set. Moreover, there are a number of things that I would overhaul about the ENTIRE network - but, that is a discussion for another time (Remind me later).

With the latest season, the show appears to be patterning after Bravo's ultra successful cook-off program Top Chef, which might not be a bad idea...

Top Chef Roulette

This week Bravo also aired the season finale of Top Chef: Las Vegas (Magical Elves) on Wednesday evening.

My Comment: Who won? No really, have you EVER seen a more confusing season finale? If you have read the judges blogs (I am not encouraging you to do so, unless you have about an hour of free time to spend on being unproductive), but there appears to be some 'Surprise' conclusions as to who wanted whom to win.

Now then, it appears the determined winner was contestant Chef, Michael Voltaggio - according to you - the "Completely unlikeable of the two bland Voltaggio brothers", who appeared on the show. Quite frankly, I would have preferred Kevin (aka Yukon Cornelius), for the win.

Moreover, 'unlikeable/bland' is an astute commentary on your part, as I could not agree more and also personally found the entire season 'bland' and filled with unlikeable and generally irrelevant characters.

For some reason, Top Chef has become literally a characture of itself - a disturbing version of 'Jumping the Shark'. I have analyzed the show with you and continue to be slightly puzzled as to why the gloss is beginning to rapidly fade.

Is it the contestants (Now appearing more like characters in a reality show, more than professional Chefs), or could it be the judges (Padma appears to be trying at great lengths to carry the show, while Tom appears to minimizing his appearances in the show), or is the incessant "Apprentice-like" product placement, "Your reward/prize is (Insert cookware, appliances, or Glad family of products here)".

Let's hope the Chefs can finally figure out how to make dessert by next season, before someone comes up with the idea for a Just Desserts show...oops, too late.

Your Reality TV Emmy Nominees...

Friends!

Well, here we are in another great week...Hope all is well. On this side, business is robust and I could not be happier (Ah, let me rephrase this comment, on the subject of more profits, I am always in a good mood).

Speaking of, I bring even more good news. We have received the latest group of Emmy Nominations, so without further delay, let us get right down to business.

Here is what we have that pertains to our favorite subject of Reality TV...

Twenty-two reality television shows received a total of 63 nominations in last week's announcement of the 61st Annual Primetime Emmy Awards nominees -- with the number of shows and amount of total nominations both representing the genre's highest figures ever.

Leading the 2008-2009 reality TV Emmy Awards nomination field for the third consecutive year is Dancing with the Stars (ABC), which received 10 nominations from the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences -- besting the eight it had received each of the last two years.

In addition, Dancing with the Stars (10 nominations) represents the most ever for a reality series in a single year and the show was able to claim two Emmy Awards last year after it had previously been shut out in 2006-2007. The series had received six nominations in its first season in 2005-2006 and won a total of exactly two, to be precise.

American Idol (Fox) received eight nominations, tying its previous record in 2005-2006 and placing it second behind only Dancing with the Stars. AI has claimed one Emmy Award in each of the last two years after it had previously been shut out during its first four years of eligibility, despite receiving 22 nominations.

The Amazing Race (CBS) quite possibly the most successful reality show at the Emmys with 11 statues -- received seven nominations, placing it behind only Dancing with the Stars and American Idol. The seven nominations represent the highest total ever for The Amazing Race, which had been nominated for six Emmys last year and five Emmys in each of the previous three years.

Moreover, The Amazing Race was once again nominated in the Outstanding Reality-Competition Program category, which it has won every year since the Academy first created the category six years ago.

The host of the show, Phil Keoghan, was recognized by receiving a nod in the Outstanding Host For A Reality Or Reality-Competition Program category.

Keoghan will be competing in a six-nomination field that also includes a shared nomination for Top Chef (Bravo) host Padma Lakshmi and "co-host" and top judge, Tom Colicchio.

The remaining competitors also within the category, American Idol host Ryan Seacrest, Project Runway host Heidi Klum 'Seal', Dancing with the Stars host Tom Bergeron, and Survivor host Jeff 'Dimples' Probst -- all of whom were included in the category's inaugural set of nominees last year and the group of hosts that cannot ad-lib in front of a live audience, if you may recall (Minus Howie Mandel).

Bravo's Top Chef and So You Think You Can Dance (ABC) each received their highest total of nominations ever with a total of 5 nominations (Both in their fourth year of eligibility and won one award each last year).

Other nominees included: Kathy Griffin's My Life On The D-List (Bravo), Dirty Jobs and Deadliest Catch (Discovery) - Hi Tom B!, Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations (Travel Channel), MythBusters and Dog Whisperer (National Geographic), Intervention (A&E), and The American Life (Showtime).

How I Met Your Mother star Neil Patrick Harris, who was nominated as an outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series, will serve as your host.

The 61st Primetime Emmy Awards airs September 20th, on CBS.

Your Reality TV Schedule for 2008

Hello, hello, hello...

As we have officially returned back to regularly scheduled programming (Amidst the horrific writer's strike - which continues to halt production here in Los Angeles and now apparently around the entire world). Friends, neighbors and countrymen/women - Stop the MADNESS!

Where's The Promised Hollywood Ending?
Before we begin today's escape, I wish to quickly mention just as friends at the Weinstein Company, we are also in the process of making our own deals with independent writers - if all of the independents joined together, we can force an end to this debacle. We need a Hollywood Ending.

More Reality on The Schedule
Now, on to a more hopeful subject is the new and returning reality offerings for 2008.

I am often asked, do I know about shows before the air on television - um...YEAH! Sometimes I hear about shows a year or more in advance and by the time it is aired I am usually thinking, "Did we not already see that show?".

The second most frequently asked question is "Do I actually watch reality shows?". Again, yes. When I make time, I am usually watching a reality show or a movie when I REALLY create time.

So, let's see what we will be watching this season (Yes, you may print this list and tape to the refrigerator):

• American Idol 7 (FOX), Jan. 15
  
• My Fair Brady…Maybe Baby? (VH1), Jan. 20
  
• Millionaire Matchmaker (Bravo), Jan. 22
  
• Gauntlet III (MTV), Jan. 23
  
• Survivor 16 (CBS), Feb. 7
  
• Big Brother 9 (CBS), Feb. 12
  
• Baby Borrowers (NBC), Feb. 18
  
• Pussycat Dolls 2: Girlicious (CW), Feb. 18


• America’s Next Top Model 10 (CW), Feb. 20
  
• Oprah’s Big Give (ABC), March 2


• When Women Rule the World (FOX), March 3


• Dancing with the Stars 5 (ABC), March 17
  
• The Bachelor 12 (ABC), March 17
  
• Top Chef 4 (Bravo), March 19


• Hell’s Kitchen 4 (FOX), April 1
  
• The Real World Hollywood (MTV), May 21

Not to worry, there are many more reality shows beyond May 21st and I will provide witty analysis (aka 'Comment') on each of the shows as we near closer to the broadcast date.

We can still look forward to the debut of Randy Jackson's Best Dance Crew (Formerly known as World Moves), Farmer Wants a Wife, and My Dad is Better Than Your Dad (Return to 5th grade - this is not part of the title, however the statement should be)...

As well, all of this reality fare around Superbowl 500 (Not really, I am just feeling largely despondent that my Seattle is no longer in contention for the title, for yet another year!).

Wait There's More...
Having said, future Blogs are guaranteed forthcoming on the new shows, such as Millionaire Matchmaker (Bayonne Entertainment), Baby Borrower's (Love Productions), Oprah's Big Give (Produced by Harpo Productions), When Women Rule the World (Rocket Science Labs) - which promises to be not only realistic (IMHO), but as well, entertaining - Can you say, "Man Servant?" - this should be good fun!

The good news is that from the appearance of the above schedule, you should have continuous reality entertainment each and every night of the week (Or, at least that is the idea)...

Hey Bravo!

I'm watching you...

Is it just me or have you noticed that Bravo TV is rising in the ranks of quality entertainment on cable television?

Within the past couple of years, Bravo has given us high-caliber reality programs such as Blow Out, Work Out, Top Chef, Project Runway, Hey Paula!, Being Bobby Brown, Kathy Griffin's "My Life On The D-List", Flipping Out and many others - it's amazing.

The New Darling
Admittedly, I am becoming quite smitten with the network and Bravo is my favorite choice when I actually have time to watch television. I am often asked which network is my favorite - alas, an answer has been revealed.

According to the Bravo Press Kit: Bravo is currently seen in more than 79 million homes and was the first service dedicated to film, drama, and the performing arts when it launched in December 1980.

In the early 2000 the network modified it's programming which had covered performing arts, drama, and indie film to being focused on pop culture like reality shows, fashion shows, makeovers, celebrities, and so forth. Bravo's programming schedule includes feature films.

All Smiles
For me, it all began right around that one weekend when Bravo had aired back-to-back showings of the movie Vanilla Sky (Directed/ Produced by Cameron Crowe).

I had seen the movie with one of my best friends in the theater, however it was an unclear experience until I watched the marathon on Bravo that one weekend. After repeated viewings, the message within the movie began to make more sense.

My friend has since moved across the country and every time I watch the movie, I think back to how much fun we had being confused (Ah, good times....).

Now, I am discovering that I love pop culture programming and Bravo is delivering the goods!

The Unique Bravo Factor
This week, we have already seen the return of long-time runner Queer Eye (Producers dropped the "For the Straight Guy" portion of the title) and a monumental 75-minute finale to another new fan fave Top Chef (Congrats Hung!).

• Queer Eye (Scout Productions) now in the final season is poised for it's 100th episode. The series which began in 2003 quickly became a big ratings success and cultural phenom for Bravo.

  What is interesting is that this show in particular has helped the network refine an identity that had previously been largely unnoticed. Equally, the show has also greatly impacted other makeover shows on other networks and gave the world a front and center TV show with a cast of five openly 'alternative' men.

• The Top Chef final battle had a enormous ratings of nearly 3 million viewers last Wednesday.

  Every producer's dream is to have a show become a franchise. Top Chef has proven to be a franchise that continues to gain popularity and producers have already started casting it's fourth season as many have reported seeing the show's host Padma Lakshmi out filming opening sequences about Chicago's Green City Market.

• Project Runway (Now in it's 4th season) has been confirmed for a November 14th premiere.

  Earlier this week, Bravo began teasing us with the identities of just a few designers, all of the 15 designers and their bios are on the Bravo site. There are seven men and eight women ready to stitch and compete for the title, under the watchful eye of Tim Gunn and supermodel Heidi Klum.
  

• And a ton of other new shows - Tim Gunn's Guide to Style, Better Half, Make Me Supermodel (We talked about this one in a previous post).

Not so fast...
While the above are returning with great longevity, Paula Abdul announced earlier this week that she will not be returning for another episode of Hey Paula!, claiming "hard for HER to watch and disturbing" - I will refrain from comment, but you know what I am thinking...Yeah, we will see about that Paula.

My Big Prediction
Ah, the good news is that I see a very bright future for Bravo and it's diversity of cutting-edge programs.

Having said all of the above, I better get busy and start developing some new shows while I'm feeling the LOVE...right after I play TV Bigshot!

Anyone Hungry?

Yum! I do not know about you, but I actually enjoy watching food while I eat food and this summer we can look forward to a another batch of recurring reality shows around the concept of cooking.

For your culinary viewing pleasure, we have Hell's Kitchen 3 (Fox), The Next Food Network Star (Food Network), and Top Chef 3 (Bravo). If you were not eating before, you will after watching these treats.

The Fork On The Right Is The Salad Fork

Quite frankly, it is easy to get the shows confused (Forgive me fellow producers), and they all have the key events in common: Professional Chefs of various personality, living together all competing for a career as a professional chef.

Congratulations - You have just won yourself a JOB!

Considering most of the contestants on these shows are all moderately and/or professionally trained chefs already working in their chosen field, the main premise of each show is a competition among members for some type of job or 'career' related to cooking -

• Top Chef - 15 aspiring chefs compete for a chance to win the prestigious title of "Top Chef".
  
• The Next Food Network Star - 12 aspiring chefs compete for a chance to win their own 'cooking related' show.


• Hell's Kitchen - 16 aspiring chefs compete for a chance to win the coveted position as Executive Chef of a chain restaurant in Las Vegas.
  

Further and even more confusing is that the above shows are all on the schedule during the same season, at relatively the same time.

Let's Eat!
Other similarities also include COOKING (Of course). Now, the food prepared on these programs are not everyday meals and not the way most people dine (Most people do not have the desire to create a culinary masterpiece from vending machine novelties).

Maybe Not...Out of the few times that I have seen these programs, the food is great for visual appeal, however, not at all what one would consider satisfying. Perhaps, I am not speaking from the position of 'gourmet', most of the food created (On one show in particular) not only sounds unappealing, but looks largely inedible.

Having said, it is possible that food can be over thought, over prepared and over presented, and although I consider myself a very picky connoisseur, I do not eat magazine pictures of food - I like things simple and for the most part plain; taste matters more than a grand presentation.

If you are feeling inspired or adventurous, the good news is that you can actually go to the websites of Top Chef (Bravo site) and Food Network Star (Food Network site) and get the actual recipes of the dishes prepared in the show- Oh my, I wonder if the recipe ever turns out like how it appears on TV!

So, maybe in just someway these shows are teaching us it's not the job - but, how you COOK that matters...

The Top Chef

--SPOILER ALERT--

Okay for the fans of the show Top Chef, Ilan may have won the competition. Disappointed? This was an incredibly long season of Top Chef and admittedly, I did not watch more 3 or 4 (At the most) episodes this season.

My suggestion to Magical Elves (The Production company), please make fewer episodes of the show next season....