422791 Thu Jul 19 12:47:03 -0700 2007 21 33 Food Media and News 0 2765275 Is it me or do the sets on these reality food shows look too staged, like something straight out of design school. I wouldn't be surprised if food network had like Vern Yip designing the sets. What do you guys think ? Thu Jul 19 12:47:03 -0700 2007 112935 Rex45 1 2765530 Of course they look staged - they are stages. Why would you hide the fact that they are sets? They *are* sets, why wouldn't they look like sets? Are you merely expressing a preference for shows that are taped in an actual home, rather than the shows taped on a set with a studio audience? I know that's my preference. Thu Jul 19 13:40:32 -0700 2007 2765275 88555 pgokey 1 2766048 Funny this topic was brought up. I worked from home today (meaning I drank coffee, made a great lunch and watched tv or read/mtn biked) and happened to turn on Robin Miller. While I will refrain from comments about her cooking, her looks or her obvious lack of eating, I did notice that the window behind her had cars driving by. Hold on, stop the car. Is she in an actual kitchen? I studied. I Tivo'd. Rewind. Fast forward. I've concluded it was a sham. Other than what could only be described as the Flying Nun riding by on a bicycle, the tape seemed to be canned. There is a car across the street in some scenes and not in others. The car door opens and someone gets out; then this repeats later in the episode. A black Lexus rolls by heading, by the direction, directly for her house.... I think they recorded the angle wrong. However, the Flying Nun part was pretty interesting. Why don't they just admit they have sets and stop trying to fool people? Thu Jul 19 16:06:00 -0700 2007 2765275 88192 holy chow 2 2766163 No, some of the shows are cooked in actual homes (Barefoot Contessa, Everyday Italian) and some shows are in studios with sets (Paula Dehn's new show, Emeril live). Thu Jul 19 16:44:15 -0700 2007 2766048 88555 pgokey 3 2766616 Alton used to film in a producer's actual home. Then the neighbors complained and they had to move to a studio. They built the set to resemble the original kitchen. Thu Jul 19 20:04:29 -0700 2007 2766163 76025 mojoeater 4 2767416 Tyler Florence's set is a clone of the kitchen in his apartment. The gimmick with the activity outside the window is a cool idea. It's hard to say with a straight face that they are trying to fool people...suspension of disbelief is somewhat fundamental to any type of performance. Unless you're working on a redux of "Cookin' Cheap" (and I'd support anyone that does this in earnest) I don't really see why you wouldn't want the set to look nice. Fri Jul 20 07:36:15 -0700 2007 2766616 69452 jzerocsk 5 2791808 If Tyler's real kitchen looks like that, man he must be making the bucks to live in a loft like that in NYC. That is my favorite cooking show set, hands down. Sat Jul 28 10:45:03 -0700 2007 2767416 16852 jim1126 5 2795917 "Cookin' Cheap" God I miss that show. Mon Jul 30 08:39:38 -0700 2007 2767416 17481 QueenB 1 2766831 I think most people appreciate nice looking digs and high production values...my theory is however that if you're distracted by the background or lack of quality, then the show doesn't engage you or isn't so good. Just a guess.... Thu Jul 19 22:07:04 -0700 2007 2765275 27275 ML8000 2 2781947 holy chow, I was watching Robin Miller and I did notice cars driving by... not too sure if it was a staged scene but it was kind of wierd noticing that instead of her cooking. Staging is not an easy thing to do, because I have experience with that, and I think those have to be left for interior designers & construction workers to do. Talking about designers, I was also watching the new season of "Design Star" and it was great! I'm anticipating for the next show that's going to be airing this Sunday on HGTV @ 9pm. Some crazy personalities are out there so far & they're also doing these sweepstakes, http://fantasydesign.hgtv.com/intro.asp. Wed Jul 25 10:03:35 -0700 2007 2766831 112935 Rex45 3 2781970 I saw a special behind the scenes on Giada's TV show a while back....she's in a real kitchen, not her own - but a real one. For her show, they just went around asking different people to film in their homes.... I think they try to do this when possible. I think the one set that looks ridiculously staged is Rachel Ray's....I was flipping thru the other night and it looks like she has a newer version (????) of 30 minute meals on Food Network. Its a new set made to resemble her old one. They also changed the camera lens to make the picture quality less crisp, if you will, more like watching a movie. It just looked utterly ridiculous to me. Anyone else seen this? I hadn't until the other night. Wed Jul 25 10:09:29 -0700 2007 2781947 82143 amanda3571 4 2789252 yeah, i totally agree. it does look like RRay has a new set. and i love that as she gets fatter, they have to use extra lighting and special camera lenses to make her look more tv ready-- she's the new oprah! but yeah, aren't you as into Design Star as i am? i loved the last season, and this season is shaping up just as well. i'm also a huge fan of vern yip (his stuff on trading spaces was amazing). it airs sundays @ 9pm. you can check out this awesome game the show has up right now @ http://fantasydesign.hgtv.com/intro.asp . go have fun! Fri Jul 27 10:31:17 -0700 2007 2781970 112935 Rex45 5 2791817 I thought when RRay got her own talk show she kissed Food Network bye-bye and they were just showing reruns. Interesting that she's back to doing new 30-Minute Meals again. Until now the newest ones were a couple of years old. Maybe she knows something we don't? Sat Jul 28 10:49:13 -0700 2007 2789252 16852 jim1126 5 2794550 Just for chuckles I glanced at RRay's new kitchen and was DUMBFOUNDED. Spit take narrowly averted. C'mon, the retro appliances work but BRIGHT ORANGE cabinets?? GREEN CHECKERED wall tiles and splashes?? I wonder how many homeowners will flush $1000's by installing similar decor. The next homeowner :-) will rip those out in a microsecond. Sun Jul 29 17:39:03 -0700 2007 2789252 23712 DiveFan 6 2795773 Wait. Didn't I already live through the butt-ugly Harvest Gold, Burnt Orange & Avocado Green appliance era? (And believe it or not, my family had tangerine/orange colored countertops and the same on the kitchen table!) http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/decorating/article/0,1793,HGTV_3545_1473563,00.html http://wesclark.com/am/williams_sonoma_page.jpg (Notice how W-S now calls them Cinnamon, Olive, Dijon and Terra Cotta?) So help me God, if foil wallpaper and shag carpeting come back in style, I'm gonna scream! Mon Jul 30 08:02:53 -0700 2007 2794550 10532 LindaWhit 7 2795809 Shag carpet is back already! Fortunately you can now get it in neutral colors. I have some in my bedroom (beige/cream) and it's great. Mon Jul 30 08:13:42 -0700 2007 2795773 69452 jzerocsk 6 2834391 I dont know i love the cabinets. Iv been looking for some like them not in that color but the look i think ther vary nice Fri Aug 10 15:41:48 -0700 2007 2794550 118302 mellissa20 1 2781986 I tend to notice this too. I loved that in Julia's later years she shot her shows in her own kitchen. It made her seem more approachable to me....maybe that's why I like the shows of Giada, Ina and Nigella. I appreciate that they take the extra effort to shoot from a real home kitchen. (Plus, the way they film these ladies shows - Giada and Nigella - cooking is a sensual experience...which draws me in. ) What I don't like is blatant staging....ala Sandra Whatshername on Semi-Homemade. I suppose the prevailing thought is that since everything about that show (and the host) is fake....why shouldn't the set be redecorated for each show in order to match the schmaltzy theme of the day. Wed Jul 25 10:12:23 -0700 2007 2765275 105292 HungryLetsEat 2 2795931 Sandra Lee is staged? I would have never guessed! (/sarcasm) Ever see the one she tapes outside a winery? She announces her guests are showing up, looks directly stage left, as if she was looking at them arrive, then promptly exits stage right. Cracks me up every time. Mon Jul 30 08:42:05 -0700 2007 2781986 17481 QueenB 3 2796011 Sandra Lee at a winery. How frightening. ;-) Mon Jul 30 09:04:45 -0700 2007 2795931 10532 LindaWhit 4 2796661 Was it Gallo? Mon Jul 30 11:27:58 -0700 2007 2796011 105292 HungryLetsEat 5 2796799 Thunderbird, I think. ;-) Mon Jul 30 12:01:58 -0700 2007 2796661 17481 QueenB