June 12, 2001

6:34 AM

The only person that annoys me more than G.E. Smith is Emeril. As if his constant rotation on Food TV wasn't enough, he will now have a sitcom on NBC. Who wants to start the cancellation pool? How could this be funny?
posted by machaus (34 comments total)

stranger things have happened
posted by corpse at 6:50 AM on June 12, 2001

I give it two three episodes before a friends reruns is put in. Do they do that? I don't know, don't watch NBC, except an episode of Frasier sometimes.

Still, at least Bobby Flay didn't get one. *Covers*

Hmm... The Masaharu Morimoto variety hour! Hmm.. speaking of baseball, Chip and Whathisname are really boring these days, why doesn't the tribune replace them with Fukui Kenji and Hattori? "Fukui-san! I think that was a strike clearly, but the umpire is blind!" - "Fukui-san! It's going, going, going GONE!" and "Fukui-san! Take me out to the ball game... take me out to the....."
posted by tiaka at 6:53 AM on June 12, 2001

Here's an excerpt from a May 24th Boston Herald article:

Emeril Lagasse says, in the current issue of People magazine, he "loves" watching HBO's "The Sopranos."

Well, isn't that special? Next fall, when Lagasse's sitcom premieres on NBC, he'll be wishing he had a cappicola chunk of "Sopranos" creativity.

Of all the new shows announced for the 2001-02 TV season, the comedy starring celeb chef Lagasse sounds the dippiest. And NBC, a network without a "Survivor" or a "Millionaire," seems to be grasping for a gimmick.

Lagasse describes his NBC comedy to People magazine: "It's about a guy who has a cooking show on a cable network, but it's not just about that. It's a lot about the workplace and working relationships."

Emeril will star as a zany TV chef named, yup, Emeril, who must cope with all the requisite sitcom kookiness. If Bette Midler couldn't pull off the me-playing-me conceit, you have to wonder about Lagasse. At least Midler can sing.

...

Linda Bloodworth-Thomason, great friend of Bill and Hillary Clinton, will be writing NBC's "Emeril." Bloodworth-Thomason, who designed CBS' "Designing Women," is a pro at putting together ensemble comedy casts. She and her producer husband, Harry, would be wise to surround Lagasse with supporting players who will prop him up. Already, the show has signed actresses Lisa Ann Walter and Sherri Shepherd.

....

The problem here is not superchef Lagasse per se. He's obviously a star on the Food Network, slinging the hash. He's ubiquitous. Tune in anytime and there's usually a Lagasse rerun in progress. Fine for the Food Network, although it risks turning off viewers with its All-Emeril-All-the-Time programming.

...

The fantasy of a new wave of must-see TV unravels with the prospect of an NBC comedy starring a burned-out chef.

posted by bkdelong at 7:01 AM on June 12, 2001

I thought they already did this and called it "The Flintstones".

Bam! Bam! Bam bam!
posted by binkin at 7:02 AM on June 12, 2001

I bet this doesn't turn out half as funny as the average episode of Good Eats.
posted by harmful at 7:07 AM on June 12, 2001

I'm thinking that for some reason, the show will be popular. People love this clown. Sure, people love Bette Midler too, but come on: people at tapings of "Emeril Live" say "bam!" along with him like it's a knee-jerk reaction.

Anthony Bourdain's description of Emeril cracks me up. He calls him a "furry little Ewok."
posted by amyscoop at 7:17 AM on June 12, 2001

What's wrong with G.E. Smith?
posted by rodii at 7:23 AM on June 12, 2001

people at tapings of "Emeril Live" say "bam!" along with him like it's a knee-jerk reaction

'Bam!' is the 'woofwoofwoofwoofwoof' of the new millennium. Don't worry, in a few years Emeril's gonna be as high-profile as Arsenio Hall.
posted by darukaru at 7:32 AM on June 12, 2001

That kid ain't wired right.
It's like they shaved an ape halfway and taught it to cook.

And what the hell is essence of Emeril?
I don't want that in or near my food.
posted by dong_resin at 7:40 AM on June 12, 2001

I never post...but Emeril gives me hives. I cannot wait for the crash and trips to Betty Ford. The good shows on the Food Network almost make up for the Emeril/Flay pablum.
posted by anathema at 7:42 AM on June 12, 2001

It's G.E. Smith's arrogant/constipated smile during guitar solos that irks me.
posted by machaus at 7:43 AM on June 12, 2001

Besides being annoying he rarely makes anything that I want to eat. What the point?
posted by mmm at 7:56 AM on June 12, 2001

Emeril is about as funny and appealing as a bowel obstruction. This is a complete non-starter, so wrongheaded and backwards that you can watch it jogging with tachyons.

Emeril will star as a zany TV chef named, yup, Emeril, who must cope with all the requisite sitcom kookiness.

Wait, hold the phone. The hell you say! He's not just zany, he's also kooky? I take it back. That's just crazy enough to work!

Eeeeugh. Someone is already at work on the headstone.
posted by Skot at 8:17 AM on June 12, 2001

Ok if Richard Jeni couldn't pull off a sitcom about a zany cooking show-and he has some comedic talent (I can't even remember the name of his show) -I don't think Emeril is gonna make it
posted by miss-lapin at 8:23 AM on June 12, 2001

And what the hell is essence of Emeril?

I don't know, but you can buy it at your local grocery store, if you're lucky. Seriously, the stuff is bottled.
posted by karenh at 8:24 AM on June 12, 2001

Bottled? Or..... milked?....(shudder)
posted by dong_resin at 8:28 AM on June 12, 2001

I can't even remember the name of his show

Platypus Man, one of the launching programs for UPN. Right before Pig Sty.
posted by hijinx at 8:54 AM on June 12, 2001

Re: 'essence of Emeril'
There's also 'Kick It Up' brand hot sauces on sale; they come in red and green. Me, I'll stick to Tabasco.
posted by darukaru at 9:02 AM on June 12, 2001

Okay, say what you will about the man (the *bam* crap is very, very annoying, he's rarely as funny as Justin Wilson, the original cajun tv chef, and that hair. . .) but, have you ever eaten at one of his restaurants? As a former New Orleans resident, I used to go to his NOLA restaurant all the time, before he was on tv.

People. . .

I've eaten at all the New Orleans biggies: Commander's Palace, Antoine's, Galatoire's, Brennan's. . .but, for my money you can't beat NOLA. Sure, the prices have gone up about 30% in the last three years or so, but it's still one of the best meals you'll ever have.

If I close my eyes, I can still taste that sweet potato cheesecake in a whiskey sauce. mmmmmm...

Bam, indeed.
posted by ColdChef at 9:13 AM on June 12, 2001

I have a feeling (or maybe it's just hope) that the show will resemble the Britcom Chef! starring Lenny Henry.

Except, you know, Lenny Henry was funny and all.

I've never been to NOLA, but Emeril's show on the Food Network was the only one I watched for the sheer droolworthiness of the food. When I wanted a giggle, I watched Alton Brown.
posted by likorish at 9:30 AM on June 12, 2001

Alton Brown is a true genius. I could give two farts about cooking, but I often catch his show just for the deft explanations of how and why food works like it does.

Plus, he taught me how to make decent coffee.
posted by dong_resin at 10:15 AM on June 12, 2001

My bet is that this lasts exactly until November sweeps, gets pre-empted for other stunt programming, and never returns until TV Land picks it up 30 years later and runs a weekend marathon.
posted by briank at 10:48 AM on June 12, 2001

doug: how do you make decent coffee?

machaus: who is ge smith?
posted by rebeccablood at 10:56 AM on June 12, 2001

This promises to be a big, embarrassing mistake on the part of everyone involved. I mean no disrespect to the Chef, but I hope this sitcom thing dies a quick and relatively painless death so that he can go back to what he does best -- cooking.

Say what you will about Emeril Lagasse, he's one of the most talented chefs in the country, and I've had some of the best meals of my life in his restaurants. (Do the eight-course degustation, or tasting menu, at Emeril's sometime. *boggle*)
posted by chuq at 11:03 AM on June 12, 2001

GE Smith is the cocky guy that used to be the SNL band leader.
posted by machaus at 11:14 AM on June 12, 2001

rcb: Here's a transcript of the show on coffee that dong_resin was talking about.
posted by harmful at 12:07 PM on June 12, 2001

I meant to link to that. Apologies.
posted by dong_resin at 12:11 PM on June 12, 2001

Before GE Smith was on SNL, he was a session musician. Probably still is. You may have records he's played on and not know it.
posted by kindall at 12:41 PM on June 12, 2001

I'm gonna buck the trend here and go on record stating that I am entertained by Emeril and his cooking show, its about the only thing besides Iron Chef that entertains me on that channel. But I don't say 'Bam' (although 'take it up a notch' sounds like a fabulous way to cook) and I don't see myself watching the sitcom, I'm just not much of a TV watching guy. And I dream of actually eating at one of his restaurants.

And yes, GE Smith makes funny faces and he is a damn fine guitar player.
posted by mutagen at 2:22 PM on June 12, 2001

"scrubs"
I don't know about you guys, but where I come from that's derogatory.
posted by starduck at 3:57 PM on June 12, 2001

GE Smith was also an integral member of Hall & Oates band - back when Hall was with Oates and they had a band. (And all the kiddies say who the hell are Hall & Oates?)

As to Mr. Legasse, all I can say is that this could be worse. They could've given a show to, oh crap, I forget his name - the Afro-English chef who liked to sing bad versions of Motown songs while he cooked, and shaked his butt when he stirred. He had a syndicated show that lasted one season - last season. (He replaced Dr. Laura in our market when they bumped her to 3 a.m.) That would've been a horror show. At least Emeril has a palatable personality.
posted by Dreama at 5:23 PM on June 12, 2001

I didn't really say "shaked" meaning shook - that was a typo.
posted by Dreama at 5:31 PM on June 12, 2001

the Afro-English chef who liked to sing bad versions of Motown songs while he cooked, and shaked his butt when he stirred.

That would be Ainsley Harriott. He is now the host of FoodTV's Ready...Set...Cook! cooking competition. He reminds me of a comic book character with his bald head and bulging eyes...
posted by gyc at 1:10 AM on June 13, 2001

How could this be funny?

It doesn't have to be funny. It doesn't even have to be good. It just has to be popular.
posted by Dirjy at 6:36 PM on June 13, 2001