Chef Mario Batali dropped WOW

pamjd said:

Saw this on the Good eats fan page forum. WOW

September 5, 2007 -- Chef Mario Batali has been chopped from TV's Food
Network, the influential cooking channel that made him a household
name.

Sources said that network executives told the spotlight-loving chef
last month his multiple shows, which includes the long-running "Molto
Mario," would not be renewed and that he would no longer be competing
in the popular "Iron Chef America" series.

Wow, that's cold.

--

Ham and eggs.
A day's work for the chicken, a lifetime commitment for the pig.

pamjd said:

Saw this on the Good eats fan page forum. WOW

September 5, 2007 -- Chef Mario Batali has been chopped from TV's Food
Network, the influential cooking channel that made him a household
name.

Sources said that network executives told the spotlight-loving chef
last month his multiple shows, which includes the long-running "Molto
Mario," would not be renewed and that he would no longer be competing
in the popular "Iron Chef America" series.

He must have [censored] someone off, or else there's a scandal of
some sort brewing.

He was one of the better personalities on the show, at least from
what I remember when I used to watch TFN.

-sw

In article <[email hidden]>,
[email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

Saw this on the Good eats fan page forum. WOW

September 5, 2007 -- Chef Mario Batali has been chopped from TV's Food
Network, the influential cooking channel that made him a household
name.

Sources said that network executives told the spotlight-loving chef
last month his multiple shows, which includes the long-running "Molto
Mario," would not be renewed and that he would no longer be competing
in the popular "Iron Chef America" series.

Too bad. Despite his [censored] personality, he was one of the last - if
not the last - real chefs on Food TV.

--
Peter Aitken

"pamjd" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Saw this on the Good eats fan page forum. WOW

September 5, 2007 -- Chef Mario Batali has been chopped from TV's Food
Network, the influential cooking channel that made him a household
name.

Sources said that network executives told the spotlight-loving chef
last month his multiple shows, which includes the long-running "Molto
Mario," would not be renewed and that he would no longer be competing
in the popular "Iron Chef America" series.

Geez, I thought this happened quite a while ago. I'm watching his old reuns
on the Fine Living Channel. There hasn't been a Mario program except for
once a week and then it was a re-run for sometime now.

Mario fan.
Dee Dee

"Steve Wertz" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

pamjd said:

Saw this on the Good eats fan page forum. WOW

September 5, 2007 -- Chef Mario Batali has been chopped from TV's Food
Network, the influential cooking channel that made him a household
name.

Sources said that network executives told the spotlight-loving chef
last month his multiple shows, which includes the long-running "Molto
Mario," would not be renewed and that he would no longer be competing
in the popular "Iron Chef America" series.

He must have [censored] someone off, or else there's a scandal of
some sort brewing.

He was one of the better personalities on the show, at least from
what I remember when I used to watch TFN.

-sw

He's the pick of the litter. Comes no better IMO.
Dee Dee

Peter A said:

Too bad. Despite his [censored] personality, he was one of the last - if
not the last - real chefs on Food TV.

It could be his appearance. On TV, looks are everything. Of course,
they did not throw Julia Child off the air.

Becca

Becca said:

Peter A said:

Too bad. Despite his [censored] personality, he was one of the last - if
not the last - real chefs on Food TV.

It could be his appearance. On TV, looks are everything. Of course,
they did not throw Julia Child off the air.

Becca

I just read that he hasn't done anything new with FTV in 3 years; they've
been airing re-runs. He's got his hands full with 14 restaurants and he
recently signed with PBS. That's what I read, anyway.

Here's the United Press article:

Food Network loses appetite for Batali

Published: Sept. 7, 2007 at 11:34 AM

NEW YORK, Sept. 7 (UPI) -- The Food Network will stop airing reruns of
"Molto Mario," a U.S. culinary show starring Italian-American master chef
Mario Batali, ABCNews.com said Friday.

New episodes of the series Batali has presented for nearly a decade haven't
been taped in three years, however, "Molto Mario," has been seen in constant
reruns and raised the profile of the network, while making Batali one of the
world's most recognizable chefs.

Batali owns 14 restaurants in New York, Los Angeles and Las Vegas, has
written several best-selling cookbooks, secured a sponsorship deal with
NASCAR and is reportedly in talks with PBS to produce a special on Spanish
cuisine.

"Mario Batali is still part of the Food Network family," Carrie Welch, a
Food Network spokeswoman assured ABC News.com. "Sometimes family members go
off and do other things. We completely blessed his decision to go to PBS and
he is still going to appear on 'Iron Chef America.'"

Insiders have said the decision to take the show off the air is part of the
Food Network's plan to replace older personalities with fresher faces and
more reality-style programming.

kilikini <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
[snip]

Quoted message said:

Published: Sept. 7, 2007 at 11:34 AM

NEW YORK, Sept. 7 (UPI) -- The Food Network
will stop airing reruns of "Molto Mario,"

[snip]

Quoted message said:

Insiders have said the decision to take the show off
the air is part of the Food Network's plan to replace
older personalities with fresher faces and more reality-style
programming.

And this last paragraph is the main reason no one I know watches
FTV anymore. Those "fresher faces" and greater-number of
"reality-style programs" just don't appeal to anyone I know.

Too bad; they ruined a great concept.

The Ranger

"kilikini" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

I just read that he hasn't done anything new with FTV in 3 years; they've
been airing re-runs. He's got his hands full with 14 restaurants and he
recently signed with PBS. That's what I read, anyway.

Funny you would say that, when I saw this thread I thought
He's been making new shows with them? I thought he's been
gone for some time.

nancy

Nancy Young said:

"kilikini" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

I just read that he hasn't done anything new with FTV in 3 years;
they've been airing re-runs. He's got his hands full with 14
restaurants and he recently signed with PBS. That's what I read,
anyway.

Funny you would say that, when I saw this thread I thought
He's been making new shows with them? I thought he's been
gone for some time.

nancy

Apparently you were right again, Nancy! :~)

kili

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

It could be his appearance. On TV, looks are everything. Of course,
they did not throw Julia Child off the air.

Becca

Julia would not make it on FoodTV. She was intelligent, knowledgeable,
and actually taught people how to cook. FoodTV these days is mostly
aimed at the lowest common denominator of mindless stupidity. And they
are raking it in, I am sure.

--
Peter Aitken

kilikini said:

"Mario Batali is still part of the Food Network family," Carrie Welch, a
Food Network spokeswoman assured ABC News.com. "Sometimes family members go
off and do other things. We completely blessed his decision to go to PBS and
he is still going to appear on 'Iron Chef America.'"

Yeah, that's why Ming Tsai is still a regular on TFN, too.

I think that's a good move. PBS seems to be getting a lot of the
better TFN chefs while they go down the drain. I think this says
a lot about the former TFN chefs: That they're more interested in
doing what they do than becoming the next big Food-TV star (which
doesn't offer much except Crest Toothpaste commercials)

Quoted message said:

Insiders have said the decision to take the show off the air is part of the
Food Network's plan to replace older personalities with fresher faces and
more reality-style programming.

Oh, puhlease.

OK, so I just turned on FoodTV for the first time in over a year
and Giada is just bouncing all over the place right now in a
tight maroon shirt making some sort of balsamic reduction.

-sw

Steve Wertz said:

kilikini said:

"Mario Batali is still part of the Food Network family," Carrie
Welch, a Food Network spokeswoman assured ABC News.com. "Sometimes
family members go off and do other things. We completely blessed his
decision to go to PBS and he is still going to appear on 'Iron Chef
America.'"

Yeah, that's why Ming Tsai is still a regular on TFN, too.

I think that's a good move. PBS seems to be getting a lot of the
better TFN chefs while they go down the drain. I think this says
a lot about the former TFN chefs: That they're more interested in
doing what they do than becoming the next big Food-TV star (which
doesn't offer much except Crest Toothpaste commercials)

Quoted message said:

Insiders have said the decision to take the show off the air is part
of the Food Network's plan to replace older personalities with
fresher faces and more reality-style programming.

Oh, puhlease.

OK, so I just turned on FoodTV for the first time in over a year
and Giada is just bouncing all over the place right now in a
tight maroon shirt making some sort of balsamic reduction.

-sw

I just read Paula Deen's autobiography this morning and she doesn't point
fingers (we all know who she's talking about), but she mentions that most of
the cooks on FoodTV spit out their food after it goes in their mouths.
That's why the camera shuts down immediately after the fork is inserted.
Paula was like, "Hell, I'm eating my damn food!" I've never really gotten
into her show, but after reading and enjoying her book, I'm going to pay
more attention to her. She cooks in a style completely different from the
way I would, but she seems really down-to-earth.

kili

Becca said:

Peter A said:

Too bad. Despite his [censored] personality, he was one of the last - if
not the last - real chefs on Food TV.

It could be his appearance. On TV, looks are everything. Of course,
they did not throw Julia Child off the air.

Becca

I believe the contract negotiations broke down over money rather than looks.
Some time ago, I read that Food Network was now trying to get a piece of
the off-air revenue its celebrities generated; books, endorsement, etc.
Food Network believes they create the celebrities and deserve to be rewarded
with a percentage of the outside revenue. Obviously, this is a lot of money
for the big names and the most likely reason you see many of them
disappearing from FoodTV and being replaced with unknowns

An unknown will be much more likely to sign away a percentage of
non-existent but potentially huge revenue to get their shot at celebrity.
The ones that make it big will make a lot of money, for themselves and Food
Network.
--
Change Cujo to Juno in email address.

The Ranger said:

kilikini <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]... [snip]

Quoted message said:

Published: Sept. 7, 2007 at 11:34 AM

NEW YORK, Sept. 7 (UPI) -- The Food Network
will stop airing reruns of "Molto Mario,"

[snip]

Quoted message said:

Insiders have said the decision to take the show off
the air is part of the Food Network's plan to replace
older personalities with fresher faces and more reality-style
programming.

And this last paragraph is the main reason no one I know watches FTV
anymore. Those "fresher faces" and greater-number of "reality-style
programs" just don't appeal to anyone I know.

That may be true, but it doesn't matter. If stand-up cooking shows
brought in the ratings, then that's what you'd see. Those are far
cheaper to make than travelogs.

Brian

--
If televison's a babysitter, the Internet is a drunk librarian who
won't shut up.
-- Dorothy Gambrell (http://catandgirl.com)

kilikini said:

Here's the United Press article:

Food Network loses appetite for Batali

Insiders have said the decision to take the show off the air is part of the
Food Network's plan to replace older personalities with fresher faces and
more reality-style programming.

Aw, cripes, Can't you see it now:

Food Network presents "Pimp My Kitchen!!!!"

Food Network presents: "Kitchen Mythbusters"

Food Network presents: "Kitchen Hard-Bodies Competition"

Food Network presents: "Flip this Kitchen"

Reality-style programming stinks. It's all about winning
phony competitions and who can show the most cleavage.

gloria p

kilikini said:

"Mario Batali is still part of the Food Network family," Carrie Welch, a
Food Network spokeswoman assured ABC News.com. "Sometimes family members go
off and do other things. We completely blessed his decision to go to PBS and
he is still going to appear on 'Iron Chef America.'"

Thanks for the article. Some day, I will see him on PBS.

Becca

Steve Wertz said:

I think that's a good move. PBS seems to be getting a lot of the
better TFN chefs while they go down the drain. I think this says
a lot about the former TFN chefs: That they're more interested in
doing what they do than becoming the next big Food-TV star (which
doesn't offer much except Crest Toothpaste commercials)

In Houston, and here in Louisiana, PBS has shown some pretty good local
chefs. My favorite show in Houston, was Johnny Carrabba and Tony
Mandola. It is a shame PBS does not offer these shows all over the country.

http://www.carrabbas.com/company_founders.asp

Becca

Becca said:

Peter A said:

Too bad. Despite his [censored] personality, he was one of the last - if
not the last - real chefs on Food TV.

It could be his appearance. On TV, looks are everything. Of course,
they did not throw Julia Child off the air.

You could be right. I read an article several years ago that Paul
Prudhomme's PBS show was picked up in very few markets because the
public has a "Cook like me, look like me" mentality. Julia was
everybody's grandma.