Comeback Kitchen

[tawny411]

I'd watch Matt and Danushka. Guess I'm weird in that I like both. I could like Jamika's food, but her presentation is just too over the top for me. After a minute I'd end up changing the channel. I'm disappointed in Rob, I liked him during his season and expected better.

[Sew Sumi]

6 hours ago, Totale said:

That seemed odd, so I went and looked, they have actually scheduled 3 new episodes in a row of this next weekend in the hours before FNS starts.  That's a gauntlet I can't run, I'll read about them here.

They're repeats. My guide shows original airdates. There are two episodes preceding the 8:00 "finale," one aired 5/21, the second 5/28. 

[Christina]

Tregaye's show last year was supposed to be an internet show. They made four episodes, it bombed online, and those episodes were shown on FN or CC. I watched a few minutes of one but Katie Lee was on it and I couldn't hang. The food was what I imagine a college student would enjoy, and could be made without much equipment, like frozen french fries baked with some toppings. 

There seems to be a push for kids' competition shows, probably because I don't like them (narcissism is not just for Matthew :), yet someone has been posting the ratings in the Food Network forum and the Kids BBQ isn't doing great. If they are trying to get a teen viewing base, Matthew might fit. It was pretty clear last year that they wanted Damiano for something, they made him a judge on the baking shows, and he is not good at it. FNS should not be used to pick people for these jobs because the only two who have done well are Guy and Mauro and most everyone is tired of them. Damaris' show wasn't bad, either, come to think of it.

[TDT]

1 hour ago, Christina said:

Tregaye's show last year was supposed to be an internet show. They made four episodes, it bombed online, and those episodes were shown on FN or CC. I watched a few minutes of one but Katie Lee was on it and I couldn't hang. The food was what I imagine a college student would enjoy, and could be made without much equipment, like frozen french fries baked with some toppings. 

There seems to be a push for kids' competition shows, probably because I don't like them (narcissism is not just for Matthew :), yet someone has been posting the ratings in the Food Network forum and the Kids BBQ isn't doing great. If they are trying to get a teen viewing base, Matthew might fit. It was pretty clear last year that they wanted Damiano for something, they made him a judge on the baking shows, and he is not good at it. FNS should not be used to pick people for these jobs because the only two who have done well are Guy and Mauro and most everyone is tired of them. Damaris' show wasn't bad, either, come to think of it.

What was the name of Tregaye's show again..?

Speaking of Damaris i seen that she the new co-judge on Kids BBQ Championship,replacing Matthew Mcconaughey's wife(name escapes me at the moment)

[cooksdelight]

I watched Kids BBQ last night, only because Kent told me he was going to be a judge. Damaris and Eddie go good together.

If they aren't giving honest-to-god TV shows to the winner, why show up?

[xaxat]

8 hours ago, GenL said:

I'm currently at CIA going through orientations for my daughter, who is starting this week, and it's odd they haven't once mentioned him. They usually toot all their horns. I wonder if that means anything...  (i.e., even they can't stand him).

I suspect it's just because he's not accomplished enough. There are a lot of CIA grads who have more successful careers then he does.

[MortysCleaningLady]

11 hours ago, Christina said:

As an aside, since you are talking about cooking shows in general, both the ION and VICE channels have cooking shows. Mario Batali's show Moltissimo is on VICE. It wasn't great, he cooks for a few people while talking, but it wasn't awful either. The show about cooking with marijuana is actually interesting, even though I have no desire to cook with it. I've seen enough episodes that it is becoming repetitive, though.

ION has two newer shows, one is called Scraps and the chef goes to a location and shows how to use the entire part of a food. They did one with shrimp and using the shells and another using the grain left over from making beer. I enjoyed that one more than the other, but can't remember the name of it. Food Porn maybe?

As a cooking show aside, if I want recipes or techniques, I watch (or record) PBS.    Jacque Pepin, Julia Child, Martha Stewart, Sarah Moulton, America's Test Kitchen --  great programs for relaying knowledge with limited drama.  I watch Food Network when I can't find something else and it's too early to start my night time reading.  I'll have to check out Scraps -- that's my kind of program!

[Totale]

2 hours ago, cooksdelight said:

If they aren't giving honest-to-god TV shows to the winner, why show up?

For FN, I think it's because for ratings purposes in the dead summer, in FNS the journey not the arrival is what matters.  For the participants, they get their 15 minutes on TV which may lead to 15 minutes more another time.

Edited May 30, 2017 by Totale

[Mlhokerk]

14 hours ago, backformore said:

I think they're looking for an audience of young hipster foodie types, people who watch more youtube videos than TV shows.  That's why they keep trying to make Matthew happen - it's about the audience they think he would bring to the network. 

[JTMacc99]

10 hours ago, Christina said:

There seems to be a push for kids' competition shows, probably because I don't like them (narcissism is not just for Matthew :), yet someone has been posting the ratings in the Food Network forum and the Kids BBQ isn't doing great.

Tell you what, if they want to put a kids show on that will get ratings with the hipster crowd, make Danushka the host who has to interact with the kids. Because that would be awesome.

[bluepiano]

1 hour ago, JTMacc99 said:

Tell you what, if they want to put a kids show on that will get ratings with the hipster crowd, make Danushka the host who has to interact with the kids. Because that would be awesome.

Wow, that could be the formula for a really entertaining train wreck of a show. Because I don't imagine Danushka would have much patience for the special little snowflakes on a kid's cooking show, and her sarcastic comments would probably go right over their heads.

That might actually get me to watch a kid cooking show. Otherwise, I would have as much interest in watching a kid cooking show as I would in watching a boy band or girls dance pop band, which is to say way less than zero.

Edited May 30, 2017 by bluepiano

[akr]

Eddie and Damaris are great together on that kids BBQ show.  I'm watching because I liked Eddie when he was on FNS, and I've kept it up because the dynamic between the two of them is fun, so it's a good background thing to have on while doing something else.  I like Aarti, too; the rest of them I'm indifferent to, at best.  Melissa, fine.  Guy, annoying.  Mauro, slightly annoying but mostly just forgettable.  Lenny, unspeakable.  I suppose other people won this show, too, but I couldn't tell you who. 

Of this group, Danushka bugs me less than in the past, but a little goes a long way.  Matthew is better, too, and it seems like he can actually cook very well, so that I might actually trust his tips, but he's still annoying (but so are most of their successful "stars" so I guess my point of view on that is irrelevant).  Jamika could be ok if she settles into a little more relaxed version, which could theoretically happen over the course of a season, but more likely they'd push her in the opposite direction).  The other two (Joy and whatever the lunch guy's name is) seem to be filler.  

[ITALIA]

On ‎5‎/‎28‎/‎2017 at 7:55 PM, smiley13 said:

So close, but unfortunately Danushka lives to be rude another week.

She's such a rude a hole.

On ‎5‎/‎22‎/‎2017 at 3:26 PM, smiley13 said:

Danushka comes across to me as totally staged, at least I hope she isn't really that rude and witchy.  

She's both. Hope she gets booted off soon. Conceited, narcissistic beyotch.

[Skyfall]

On 5/28/2017 at 11:23 PM, cooksdelight said:

It happened in tonight's episode. When Danushka said she couldn't concentrate while hearing Tyler talk.

I meant the TGFTR one.

[Skyfall]

On 5/29/2017 at 10:00 PM, Christina said:

As an aside, since you are talking about cooking shows in general, both the ION and VICE channels have cooking shows. Mario Batali's show Moltissimo is on VICE. It wasn't great, he cooks for a few people while talking, but it wasn't awful either. The show about cooking with marijuana is actually interesting, even though I have no desire to cook with it. I've seen enough episodes that it is becoming repetitive, though.

ION has two newer shows, one is called Scraps and the chef goes to a location and shows how to use the entire part of a food. They did one with shrimp and using the shells and another using the grain left over from making beer. I enjoyed that one more than the other, but can't remember the name of it. Food Porn maybe?

Danushka's voice would make me not be able to watch her show. It's why I can't watch Ree Drummond and Katie Lee, too, and Katie is just awful. Melissa D'Arabian(sp?) on Guy's Grocery Games was also nails on the chalkboard to me. I think my television doesn't air some women's voices very well, because people I've never noticed having a screechy voice now do, except for Katie, who has always had one.

I think you meant FYI and not ION.

[Wings]

It really doesn't matter who comes back, they will be up against new talent.  Out of Matt, Danuska, Janika and Rob (?) who is the likely winner?  Looks like Matt and Jamika are the contenders.  Rob no, they have Guy filling that kind of space with his DDD.  Danuska will not make it but I would not be surprised to see her turn up as comic relief somewhere.

[Blonde Gator]

On 5/23/2017 at 4:37 PM, cooksdelight said:

Susie Jimenez, she's a self-employed caterer/chef now, and she's doing great. Cooking food HER way. :)

She was another one who SHOULD have won, but didn't.  I had no idea she wasn't actually cooking "her food"....which I loved.  As I think of that season, it makes me sad to contemplate all of the dishes I didn't get to see Suzie cook (I love cooking authentic Mexican....and that girl brought it!)

HATE MAURO to this day.   So many of the 2nd place finishers should have won.  I don't watch any of the winners, they all suck.  Justin (lipstick), D'Naris who has the worst accent ever, stupid Sammich guy, who is dumber than dirt, Tregay-fleek, can't stand her, etc.  The football guy is a bore, can't teach me a thing, and so on.  I also really liked Bobby's protege from a few seasons ago, with the short spiky white hair, I can't think of her name, she did the New England cooking and was laid back (dressed the part, too) and made wonderful looking dishes.

For the life of me, I can't figure out why FN doesn't do actual cooking shows any more (without celeb chefs).  Every single one of the runner ups on NFNS could have found a following.  We've been reduced to awful game shows....in order to get a peek of something new, like Gauntlet....at least Stephanie showed us something new (chicken feet, those crazy chick pea noodles, etc.).  THAT's what I'm looking for, not some doofus to cook a chicken in jello or some other idiotic thing.

[Joe Blow]

Well, I still would have loved to watch Emily Ellyn, or Jyll Everman, because I had crushes on both of them...but I also liked Brad Sorenson, too.  

But then I also thought butcher babe Loreal was very attractive, so there it is..

[Lura]

Jeff Mauro has run out of steam.  He's down to making one sound: OOOM-PAH!  It's time for him to pack up his salami and go home.  I still haven't forgotten how he dripped sweat all over his food until they finally had to tell him to put something around his forehead.  Duh.

I would spend my last penny to watch a series hosted by Danushka.  She is definitely the most original character I've seen on FNS.  It looks like the producers have already decided that Matthew is their boy, though,  I wouldn't watch his show if he had one.  He may be talented, but I just don't care for him. 

[cooksdelight]

Matthew may be the most epic crash and burn if they do give him a show. I think producers haven't realized the hatred most people have for his pompous ass.

[seacliffsal]

I am always amazed when producers believe that they could get a specific demographic group to start watching a show if only they put 'someone like them' in a starring role.  Has this ever worked for any show?  Instead of focusing on the viewers they already have, they chase after the ones they don't have and most likely never will have.  

This is not the only reality/competition that goes after the elusive non-viewer.  But, at times, it might seem to be the most obvious one.

[Wings]

13 hours ago, Lura said:

I would spend my last penny to watch a series hosted by Danushka.

I like her, too.  I think she would fare better doing commentary on something.  She had comedic skill. 

I am not sure their ultimate goal is to give the winner a show and expect it to work.  This competition probably draws more viewers than any stand and stir show.  

Any good cook will read a recipe rather than spending time watching Ina or whoever cook it.  

22 minutes ago, seacliffsal said:

I am always amazed when producers believe that they could get a specific demographic group to start watching a show if only they put 'someone like them' in a starring role.  Has this ever worked for any show?  Instead of focusing on the viewers they already have, they chase after the ones they don't have and most likely never will have.  

This is not the only reality/competition that goes after the elusive non-viewer.  But, at times, it might seem to be the most obvious one.

I agree, absolutely!  It seems so obvious.  I just don't envision a majority of young people watching a cooking show and if they are seriously into food they will go for the big guns.   Most are on during the day or early Saturday morning when they are working, going to school or sleeping.  

[ITALIA]

20 hours ago, Lura said:

Jeff Mauro has run out of steam.  He's down to making one sound: OOOM-PAH!  It's time for him to pack up his salami and go home.  I still haven't forgotten how he dripped sweat all over his food until they finally had to tell him to put something around his forehead.  Duh.

I would spend my last penny to watch a series hosted by Danushka.  She is definitely the most original character I've seen on FNS.  It looks like the producers have already decided that Matthew is their boy, though,  I wouldn't watch his show if he had one.  He may be talented, but I just don't care for him. 

I wouldn't watch homely, horse face Doucheka if someone paid me. She's a conceited non-talented beyotch.

Edited June 2, 2017 by ITALIA

[chenoa333]

On 5/30/2017 at 1:11 AM, Christina said:

Tregaye's show last year was supposed to be an internet show. They made four episodes, it bombed online, and those episodes were shown on FN or CC. I watched a few minutes of one but Katie Lee was on it and I couldn't hang. The food was what I imagine a college student would enjoy, and could be made without much equipment, like frozen french fries baked with some toppings. 

There seems to be a push for kids' competition shows, probably because I don't like them (narcissism is not just for Matthew :), yet someone has been posting the ratings in the Food Network forum and the Kids BBQ isn't doing great. If they are trying to get a teen viewing base, Matthew might fit. It was pretty clear last year that they wanted Damiano for something, they made him a judge on the baking shows, and he is not good at it. FNS should not be used to pick people for these jobs because the only two who have done well are Guy and Mauro and most everyone is tired of them. Damaris' show wasn't bad, either, come to think of it.

I can't stand Katie Lee. I don't trust anorexic chefs. 

I don't really like any of the chefs on Comeback Kitchen this season but I do like the show.

P.S. I wish Giadia would go away forever 

[bluepiano]

10 hours ago, wings707 said:

I am not sure their ultimate goal is to give the winner a show and expect it to work.  This competition probably draws more viewers than any stand and stir show.

That's exactly it. People love reality/competition shows, and I believe that Food Network Star has consistently been the network's highest rated show. There are tons of qualified chefs and TV food personalities out there who would love a show. They don't need FNS to find a host. But the show gets ratings. If they get a useable TV personality out of the deal that's icing on the cake.

Please don't tell me that Food Network actually had a show where they offered recipes for frozen French Fries. That's even lower than I ever thought they could go.

[pinguina]

I am watching the season (Don't know the number) where Dom, Matthew, Emilie (sp?), and Arnold were on.

I always wondered how someone sooo uncomfortable in front of a camera wanted to be on a show like this.  Dom always seemed so nervous and scared when he had to present anything.

Anyway, Matthew was just as annoying on his original season as he is on Comeback Kitchen.  Plus that condescending smirk that he seems to consider a smile was just so...so...soooo irritating!  (Seeing the reruns reminds me of even more reasons to dislike him.)

I couldn't stand Jeff Mauro (AKA "sammich" guy - gosh, I couldn't stand his voice).  All that sweat until someone actually had to say something - he couldn't figure it out???  

I always thought it slightly racist (?) or maybe uneducated that judges can't/couldn't seem get beyond what a person looks like. Whether it was skin color, attitude, personality - the contestant would get pigeon-holed into what they thought he/she should be.  So it didn't matter that Susie preferred a different type of food than just Mexican or South American.  It mattered that she cook how they perceived her to be.  She is not the only one the judges have done this to - Martita (or as Geeeadah would say, "Marrrteeeeta") is another one.  There have been some men that they have done this to - I remember a gentleman who I think was Cuban but wanted to take unhealthy food and show how to cook in a healthy way, but noooo he had to cook what judges perceived not what he could do.

[cooksdelight]

I just realized I am FB friends with the older lady, Nancy Manlove. She's promoting her stint on the show, asking for votes, etc.

[Christina]

On 5/30/2017 at 5:30 AM, TDT said:

What was the name of Tregaye's show again..?

Apologies for not responding sooner, the Teen Moms are being extra trashy lately, and I've gotten behind in my PTV reading. Tregaye's show was Kitchen Sink. The first season had five episodes and used people from The Kitchen. Tregaye's season was the second season and only had four episodes. 

On 5/31/2017 at 11:55 AM, Skyfall said:

I think you meant FYI and not ION.

ION shows some old Canadian cooking shows, but you are correct, Scraps is on FYI. 

[Mabinogia]

12 hours ago, pinguina said:

I remember a gentleman who I think was Cuban but wanted to take unhealthy food and show how to cook in a healthy way, but noooo he had to cook what judges perceived not what he could do.

Which is a damn shame because I'd love a show that takes unhealthy favorites and gives me healthy alternatives but I'm not that interested in a show about nothing but Cuban food, or Mexican, or yet another all Italian, etc. I prefer shows that focus on a way of cooking, like healthy alternatives, or flavorful dishes with few ingredients, or budget cooking, maybe a gluten free show, that sort of thing. For the contestants I think it's also better to focus on what they enjoy making rather than what is made in the place they (or in many cases their ancestors) were born. It's insulting to the audience to think we can't handle someone with an accent making food that doesn't match their accent.

I guess I'm lucky, as a white mutt with no discernable accent I'd be allowed to make whatever I want. And I have no kids, so I wouldn't get stuck in the mom hole either. Maybe I'd be accused of having no POV because I'm not ethnic, or a mom, or sassy, or any other stereotype they can exploit.

[backformore]

5 hours ago, Mabinogia said:

I guess I'm lucky, as a white mutt with no discernable accent I'd be allowed to make whatever I want. And I have no kids, so I wouldn't get stuck in the mom hole either. Maybe I'd be accused of having no POV because I'm not ethnic, or a mom, or sassy, or any other stereotype they can exploit.

Me too.  And not all of us learned to cook from Mom and Grandma, so there's no story to tell there either.   Except maybe "my mom was raised in Ireland, where she learned to take a hunk of meat and boil it with potatoes until it was cooked, then boil it some more. The only dessert she knew was dry bread with raisins.  I got tired of bland soft food, so I learned to cook by reading recipe books."

[bluepiano]

5 hours ago, Mabinogia said:

 For the contestants I think it's also better to focus on what they enjoy making rather than what is made in the place they (or in many cases their ancestors) were born. It's insulting to the audience to think we can't handle someone with an accent making food that doesn't match their accent.

I guess I'm lucky, as a white mutt with no discernable accent I'd be allowed to make whatever I want. And I have no kids, so I wouldn't get stuck in the mom hole either. Maybe I'd be accused of having no POV because I'm not ethnic, or a mom, or sassy, or any other stereotype they can exploit.

Food Network Star is all about pigeon holing people based on their country of birth or heritage. But even if you're not an ethnic type you can always come up with a dead grandmother you're paying tribute to.

[cooksdelight]

I've said this many times....I'm playing for my dead cat.

[Wings]

I agree @Mabinogia.  I want to see good innovative food that is no particular ethnicity.  My grandmother never cooked she employed one though!  My mother was an excellent cook and a white mutt so no point of view to speak of.   

[Snarklepuss]

On 6/2/2017 at 1:17 AM, bluepiano said:

That's exactly it. People love reality/competition shows, and I believe that Food Network Star has consistently been the network's highest rated show. There are tons of qualified chefs and TV food personalities out there who would love a show. They don't need FNS to find a host. But the show gets ratings. If they get a useable TV personality out of the deal that's icing on the cake.

I agree - I also thought it was interesting how they shifted from putting the winner in a stand and stir show to hosting and judging roles.  After Damaris' cooking show, she has found her niche as a judge.  Same for Justin Warner.  I wonder if they'll do that with Tregaye since "The Kitchen Sink" bombed.  Also, where Matthew is concerned, I think they may be angling for someone to do another online show.  Justin had one for a while too.  It's not mainstream enough for big ratings, but it may actually attract a certain younger audience that they're always salivating to engage.

[Wings]

So tonight we get the final comeback episode followed by the first episode of FNS where we see the winner join them.  

Since the final challenge on CK involves the chefs using instagram to chronicle their hacking a salad bar, seems clear Matt will be the winner.  FN is trying to be current, bless their hearts. 

[cooksdelight]

I hope Danushka gets something good out of this, better than an online show. 

[smiley13]

I hope Danushka disappears after this, never to be seen again.  What a rude woman!  She may think she is funny when she is bashing the others, but it's not.  Who cares how Joy says gratin, or about Rob's chins?  

[TDT]

31 minutes ago, smiley13 said:

I hope Danushka disappears after this, never to be seen again.  What a rude woman!  She may think she is funny when she is bashing the others, but it's not.  Who cares how Joy says gratin, or about Rob's chins?  

Not to mention talking back to Tyler(it kind of seemed like she was)

[Surrealist]

On 6/1/2017 at 8:45 PM, ITALIA said:

I wouldn't watch homely, horse face Doucheka if someone paid me. She's a conceited non-talented beyotch.

I might want to hang out with Danushka for an afternoon. That said I don't think I'd watch her on a show. She's too monotone.

[smiley13]

So Matthew again...

[cooksdelight]

I started an episode thread since I couldn't find one anywhere...

[Wings]

Thanks.  I will move over there. 

[leighdear]

Danushka is a stone cold bitch.  There is no humor in her "humor".  I'd love to shove her in a closet with Penny Davidi and pervert Cowboy Lenny, NEVER to be seen again.  

[ITALIA]

1 hour ago, smiley13 said:

I hope Danushka disappears after this, never to be seen again.  What a rude woman!  She may think she is funny when she is bashing the others, but it's not.  Who cares how Joy says gratin, or about Rob's chins?  

She's a TOTAL beyotch horse face and thinks WAY too highly of herself.

[CraftyHazel]

On 5/31/2017 at 4:28 PM, Blonde Gator said:

She was another one who SHOULD have won, but didn't.  I had no idea she wasn't actually cooking "her food"....which I loved.  As I think of that season, it makes me sad to contemplate all of the dishes I didn't get to see Suzie cook (I love cooking authentic Mexican....and that girl brought it!)

HATE MAURO to this day.   So many of the 2nd place finishers should have won.  I don't watch any of the winners, they all suck.  Justin (lipstick), D'Naris who has the worst accent ever, stupid Sammich guy, who is dumber than dirt, Tregay-fleek, can't stand her, etc.  The football guy is a bore, can't teach me a thing, and so on.  I also really liked Bobby's protege from a few seasons ago, with the short spiky white hair, I can't think of her name, she did the New England cooking and was laid back (dressed the part, too) and made wonderful looking dishes.

For the life of me, I can't figure out why FN doesn't do actual cooking shows any more (without celeb chefs).  Every single one of the runner ups on NFNS could have found a following.  We've been reduced to awful game shows....in order to get a peek of something new, like Gauntlet....at least Stephanie showed us something new (chicken feet, those crazy chick pea noodles, etc.).  THAT's what I'm looking for, not some doofus to cook a chicken in jello or some other idiotic thing.

Michelle Ragusis!!  I really wanted her to win...still follow her on social media.

[ITALIA]

4 hours ago, cooksdelight said:

I hope Danushka gets something good out of this, better than an online show. 

I hope she goes away.

[leighdear]

Michelle was great.....The coastal cooking, focus on New England....She almost took the title from Justin "ridiculous rebel" Warner.  I SO wish she had.  

[Irlandesa]

53 minutes ago, Surrealist said:

I might want to hang out with Danushka for an afternoon. That said I don't think I'd watch her on a show. She's too monotone.

I've said before that I think she'd do great color commentary on a show and I stand by that.  I think The Kitchen would be a thousand times more enjoyable having Danushka giving them shit.  It'd be like the Previously TV forums come to life. 

[Maverick]

 Danuska could do dry commentary on some shows or should could replace Alton Cutthroat Kitchen---except she apparently has very little food knowledge so, no.  The biggest problem though is she doesn't stop at snarky....she gets personal like ragging on Rob.

[Blonde Gator]

On 6/3/2017 at 10:55 AM, Mabinogia said:

Which is a damn shame because I'd love a show that takes unhealthy favorites and gives me healthy alternatives but I'm not that interested in a show about nothing but Cuban food, or Mexican, or yet another all Italian, etc. I prefer shows that focus on a way of cooking, like healthy alternatives, or flavorful dishes with few ingredients, or budget cooking, maybe a gluten free show, that sort of thing. For the contestants I think it's also better to focus on what they enjoy making rather than what is made in the place they (or in many cases their ancestors) were born. It's insulting to the audience to think we can't handle someone with an accent making food that doesn't match their accent.

I guess I'm lucky, as a white mutt with no discernable accent I'd be allowed to make whatever I want. And I have no kids, so I wouldn't get stuck in the mom hole either. Maybe I'd be accused of having no POV because I'm not ethnic, or a mom, or sassy, or any other stereotype they can exploit.

Sounds like you have the BEST POV......"I cook what I LIKE, and I'm damned good at it".  Works for me!