kathyn2

I had nothing much to do this morning so I have been thinking about the Food Network and how much I used to love it. I used to watch it 24/7. All during the day and evening they had great chefs I loved to watch. The had Bobby Flay on a couple of times during the day and sometimes during the evening. I love to watch him cook. During the day they had Tyler on a couple of times a day with Food 911 and Tyler was also on in the evening with Food 911. 7 days a week. In the evening, before Food 911 they had on Martha Stewart which I loved to watch. It is gone now.

Then they had on the 2 Fat ladies and I got such a kick out of them. I wouldn't cook what they made but it looked good and I enjoyed them. Also late nite they had old Julia Child shows on and I loved them. Also the old Galloping Gourmet shows were on every nite and I loved them. They also had a show on a couple of days a week that featured ethnic cooking with Rocco Dispirito, Cat Cora and others. I liked that show alot. And let's not forget Jamie Oliver. Where the heck is he? Relegated to old reruns at 4am. What a shame. Since there were so many good shows on during the day and evening, I kept it on all the time and even watched shows I wasn't that thrilled with or are just so so to me.

But now, even tho there are shows on I like, I don't watch them much because most of the programming stinks in between. Of course, I don't miss Tyler or I tape him but besides him the only ones I like are Paula and Barefoot Contessa. I am sick of Rachael Ray and she was never anyone I was that thrilled with. Giada is a cute gal and makes nice looking meals but I can't get into her. She is someone I would be watching if she was on with others I liked alot. But who was before her??? Shamdra Lee!

So now we have all these diet shows. There are at least 3 of them and they bore me and so do the hosts. Then there is the kitchen makeovers and all the trivia shows. They also bore me. Even Bobby's shows are just travelogs. I want to watch him cook. I do like Food Nation, however. The BBQ show bores me for some reason. Ok, I could go on and on. Sorry I wrote a book. If you are still reading, what do you all think?

Suzan

I think Food Network is changing because of viewer demands. There was an article in the paper recently that stated Food Network is popular with the age group 16-35. Many of them enjoy Unwrapped, Iron Chef, Rachael and a few others. I always had my favorite shows. I liked the old Emerl show. Essence of Emeril the best. Of course Food 911, Barefoot Contessa, Everyday Italian and Rachael Ray. Bobby Flay's shows for grilling are sometimes interesting. I think it depends on what he's cooking. He is a great chef and I love his restaurants. I like Rachael because she is a hometown girl. She was on our local tv for years with her 30 minutes segments. She also does a lot for the area, She does a lot of cooking demos where all the proceeds are given to local charities. I personally never liked Two Fat Ladies, Jamie Oliver or Martha Stewart. I sure don't miss those shows. Of course Julia Child's was always a great show to watch. Melting Pot was interesting. I really like Cat Cora. I think she's a great chef. I also liked the Two Hot Tamales with Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken. They were great. I can't remember the name of the restuarant they had in Santa Monica but the food was excellent the time I was there. I'm looking forward to the new show starting this Saturday called Good Deal with Dave Lieberman. I've read some interesting things about him and I think he'll do well on his show. Some have said he'll be the new generation of Tyler Florence. I think that remains to be seen. As for the diet shows, they're much better than that stupid show called Cooking Thin. The recipes are pretty good and I think everyone is more health conscious these days so Food Network needed to follow that trend with some diet type shows. I've noticed a lot of the chef's/cook's are going with a lighter style of cooking as well. I'm sure a lot of the old shows that people miss can be seen on other channels. PBS sure has a lot of the old ones and I think the Style Network has several of Martha's shows.

Marlene

I agree with both of you and really do miss the original FTV network and really watch less and less of it now. I do watch more of PBS myself and enjoy seeing the ones who have left FTV on PBS.

It is fun seeing the original shows of Emeril and you can see a change in his energy level. I am sure after so many years it does have to wear on you. I see it with Bobby, Mario and even Sara.

Speaking of Sara, I do hope that maybe she will also go to PBS or maybe she will pop up on a morning show.

Tyler has been on the local AZ shows in commericals for foods doing cooking demo's.

kathyn2

I also watch cooking shows on PBS which I enjoy. They have Jacques Pepin for one. But we don't get Ming here. But the thing I liked about FTV is that they had 24 hour programming that for the most part I really liked and knew if there was nothing else on TV that I could find FTV enjoyable but not anymore. PBS only has cooking shows on Sat morning here. I also watch a Discovery channel that has some cooking shows on it a few days a week. That funny Rosemary that was on one of Tyler's Ultimate shows making a chicken dish is one of them. She is so funny and bossy. And they have a show called Friends For Dinner with several different chefs. One was Jamie Oliver. They go to someone's house and help them make a meal sort of like Food 911 for a gathering.

I guess FTV will never be the same and yes, I agree, they must be catering to the young crowd now. I am not a big IRon Chef fan but I have enjoyed it with some of the chefs I like like Bobby and Mario and Rick Bayless. I can't wait to see Tyler on it. He is filming one in Sept. Don't know when it will be shown. I wonder who his 'nemesis' will be? Oh well, the network doesn't run its shows for my benefit. lol but I do hear alot of complaining so I wonder what their ratings are with these changes and what the heck is Shamdra still doing on it? She must pay them to have such a big presence!!

jogirl5

I agree with you on that Kathy. I loved Galloping Gourmet! That Gram Kerr was so funny on those old shows! I do like R.R. Always have, always will. She is easy to follow when your somewhat new to cooking outside the box. (The 'pre-made boxed meals' box!) Ofcourse hubby calls her his (little sweetie-pie that's so darn cute.)
I loved those two fat ladies!! They would bicker at each other a lot haha! that will be me and my sister some day, Lord willing. (no, no, no. More butter dear!) People nowadays want to lighten up, and that's good, something I need to do! I thought that Rocco guy was SO cute and Ming! (yum!) :P My daughter and I both like Unwrapped because it's interesting to learn about the history of our favorite snacks, but that host! He's gotta go!! Last and least (tee hee) Giada! The only woman Mr.Jogirl would ever leave me for. yes, I do watch her show but I don't sit there and giggle like hubby does.
Tyler is King and Paula is Queen of F.N. (guess what Sandra Lee is!!)

Marlene

Not much better on Food Tv Canada either...look what I pulled off there:

NEW FOOD NETWORK SERIES LOOKING FOR HUNGRY PARTICIPANTS
From the producers of Surreal Gourmet, there’s a new makeover show. But it’s not about how you look, it’s about how you cook. This culinary reality show is designed to dig you out of your food rut and awaken the sleeping cooking giant within.

From shopping to presentation, the series will banish old habits and give the palette a new perspective. We will encourage you to explore and experiment, transforming your old favourites and creating new ones.

Do you have a spouse, friend, colleague or family member who is stuck in a food rut?

kathyn2

Now if that doesn't sound boring as all get out.

Marlene

LOL, talk about awhole lot of people turning off FTV.

texasmesquite

This whole topic should be copied and paste to Food Network Administrators. I pay for this network as a separate bill. So, I feel that we should have a say so in their programming. So there!

Calrose

I'd watch it...if Tyler hosted it! Yesterday I was in Barnes & Noble and looked in the cooking section, just in case they had some advanced copies of Eat This Book on display, but no luck. What I did see was a whole table covered with different Rachel Ray books; they were paperback and looked a little cheap.