Emeril Lagasse’s show, “Emeril Live” has been cancelled, according to NYT’s Changing Courses at the Food Network.
… The program taped its last installments and laid off a half-dozen staff members, bringing an end to an impressive 11-year, every-weeknight run.
Unbelievable. I still get the sense that Food Network does continue to grow in viewership, cf. “… its average 2007 prime-time audience of 778,000 viewers is its highest ever.” My hunch on why: more women chefs + hosts (with pretty faces like Rachael Ray, Giada De Laurentiis, Sandra Lee, and Nigella Lawson), and more food as entertainment — lots of road trips to foodie destinations and food competitions like Iron Chef America; cooking shows alone don’t do it. Could competitive eating be next, as in Major League Eating?
For the insatiably curious, I’ve started logging what I’m eating. This is not for a diet or anything, it’s only a record of what I’m eating. Snacks not included; I’m not much of a snacker anyways.
I love Bourdain’s assessment of what’s going on with food network. it was earlier in the year, but so very true.
oops. here’s the link
http://blog.ruhlman.com/ruhlmancom/2007/02/guest_blogging_.html
Did you read the piece in the NYTimes magazine?
I watch the food network some, but I must say I’m tired of Emril, and especially the ritual interactions with the studio audience. (There is no need to applaud garlic. It cannot hear you.)
Love Alton. Like Warren. Bored with Duff and the gang. I want to hate Rachel, but honestly, when I am stumped on a weeknight, her magazine is there for me. (Plus, in the magazine, you cannot hear her annoying voice.)
But what I most love: Iron Chef, but only the last few minutes, and only when my hero Jeffery Steingarten is judging. Now there is a man who deserves his own show. Daily.
If you are interested in this sort of thing, The Splendid Table on NPR (we hear it Saturday afternoons, it’s also podcast) rules.