I know, you're shocked. My favorite TV show just might run on the Food Network Mondays at 10 eastern.
(Okay, it's a couple of special effects shots away from being in league with Doctor Who and Battlestar Galactica, but I look forward to it as much as either of them.)
There's a moment in every episode of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives when Guy Fieri looks at the owner of the restaurant and says something like, "Look at what you did, this is an accomplishment, you've done well."
Believe it or not I tear up just a little when I see the reaction of the recipient. Because they're working non-stop trying to make their joint a place where people feel at home. It's more than a business, having a restaurant, it's an act of creating community, and this show celebrates that every week.
And the food is right up my alley; I categorize the food "bar grub gone wild," "our family favorites just for you" and "this is what we eat here."
After last night's episode, I'm on the prowl for a great Halushki recipe, per owner Kelly at the Pittsburgh pub Kelly O's.
But back to Guy, I know he has a cooking show on the network and he hosts Ultimate Recipe Showdown, but Triple D is Guy at his best. Today at the TV Week website they've posted Jon Lafayette's profile on Fieri and how he's helped the network drive down their average viewer age to cater more to those demographic hounds at the ad agencies:
It was a shock for Mr. Fieri as well.
“I don’t think I could have ever imagined it was gonna be such a whirlwind of challenges, personal growth and opportunity,” he said via e-mail. “My life went from making food for thousands to making it for millions.”
About five years ago, Food Network was concerned about its median viewer age, which was between 51 and 52, close to the top end of the 25-to-54-year-old demographic it targets.
“We started looking for formats and shows and talent that could drive our median age down,” Ms. Johnson said. Now, the network’s median age is 48.
“Guy certainly represents that in spades. He’s a kind of rock ’n’ roll chef and he has a very youthful demeanor, style and mode of expression,” Ms. Johnson said.
Click over for more, including more with Guy. I'm currently angling to do something about the show, possibly a ride-along (if I can get the go ahead, cross your fingers!) which would just be the coolest thing ever. I've offered to carry equipment or plug stuff into outlets as those are the only two TV production skills I possess, and when that happens you know you'll hear from me.
In the meantime, click over the jump to see Guy in action on Triple D, and click here for his website with all kinds of stuff of interest.
And of course, the companion volume to Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives (pictured above), which you can get at Amazon and your local bookseller.
The clip is from his visit to Tioli's Crazee Burger in San Diego, which is on my list along with an SD pizza place of places to check out. I've been to four of the Triple D locations so far, three of them even before the show shot there.
Note that just about every restaurant that has a website and has been graced with a visit from Guy mentions it on their homepage. If if wasn't for the TGIFridays coop marketing that goes with Ultimate Recipe Showdown Guy could be considered the savior of the independent family restaurant in out country.
Network executives and people of the press aside, people love him until they meet him. Charming on camera, not so when no one else is around and the cameras aren't rolling.
I've met Fieri several times, and each time I've walked away appalled at his callous, insolent, sophomoric, rude and insulting behavior. Once, I could understand - we all have a bad day. But several times? ugh.
Weren't you annoyed when Fieri had the audacity to tell Karen O's how to cook their turkey?! The arrogance! I hope you get your chance for a ride-along. I expect you'll see what many of the rest of us are seeing too.
Posted by: Bananas | February 18, 2009 at 11:57 PM
Well, I guess you've had some negative experiences with the guy.
Did I get annoyed when he told Kelly O (not Karen)how to cook the turkey? No, maybe if I were Kelly I might have been, but she didn't seem to mind so I let it go.
I'm sorry you had a bad time.
Posted by: Joe B. | February 19, 2009 at 09:20 AM