Alton Brown's ten year anniversary show, Good Eats

[James Cristinian]

This is a new low for the Food Channel, and Alton Brown in particular. It's a live show with Ted Allen doing a game show format. Now they're going to commercial with AB going inside the "vomitron." My wife seems to be enjoying it, but I can't hang with it. I'm taking my flu infected body back to the spare bedroom for more football.

[mlukan]

Just wondering people, what is there to like about Ted Allen?? I really want to know. IMHO he is the worst host in the history of hosts. DRY. I have no idea why the food network is obsessed with this guy right now. When he comes off, I change the channel. Please xplain :)

[Popkin]

I find his sort of dryness cute. He comes off as a very polite guy, with no need to be showy. Even the smidge of snob fits in well with the humor style.

[cmvan]

I believe Alton referred to Ted as a "fellow food geek with glasses", or something to that effect, when he introduced him.

Plus, as we've seen repeatedly, once you're a FN personality, you get inserted into all sorts of programs. No "uni-taskers" allowed on that network!

[alkapal]

i was thinking that about alton -- he's on everything (it seems) on food network. he's like the godfather of food network, now that emeril has receded....

btw, alton looked really skinny. it didn't look good on him.

[Shrinkrap]

"Gaunt" was what I called it, on the Next Iron Chef commercial. I figured it was the lighting.

[alkapal]

gaunt is it exactly! was that the lighting? sci-fi lighting?

[MartinDC]

I like Ted Allen when he's doing non-scripted work, like when he's on a judging panel. But he tends to be monotone and fake-serious sounding when he's working from a script, like his recent food science show and the Alton Brown anniversay show (for which I lasted only 15 minutes).

[HabaneroJane]

can someone please explain to me the allure of Alton Brown? I find his delivery to be that of a host of a children's show. I don't get his popularity at all.

[paulj]

Some of us just refuse to grow up. :)

[Paul H]

In the "Squid Pro Quo" episode, Alton opens the refrigerator and sees that it is full of squid. "Ah, a cabinet of Dr. Calamari," he depans. If you don't find that funny, there is no way to explain the popularity of Alton Brown.

[mels]

I became a Ted Allen fan from back in his Queer Eye for the Straight Guy days. I am slightly embarrassed to admit that I loved that show.

[CookieWeasel]

I love Good Eats. I love AB. I HATE audience shows. Turned it off after ten minutes or so. What a disappointment!

[Popkin]

Watched it. Found it funny. Alton seemed to be enjoying it :)

[cmvan]

"Seemed" is the operative word. Sort of obliged, isn't he?

But I suspect we do have to blame Alton for the hokey, not particularly funny stuff in this special since he pretty much calls the shots for his own show(s).

[NYCkaren]

I watched five minutes of it. Couldn't tolerate more than that. And I love Alton.

[chazmo]

Watched the whole show and it was bad, really bad. I like both Alton and Ted and was expecting much more for a 10th anniversary show.

[paulj]

My impression was that it was playing to the diehard fans, especially the ones that like the gadgetry and gimmicks. It wasn't aimed at serious cooks.

Another way to put it - was it aimed at people who occasionally talk about the show on Chowhound, or to fans who participate in a 'good eats forum', catalog all the props he has used, and are willing to travel to Atlanta to attend a 10th Anniversary special?

[jeaniek]

I was also disappointed in the show; all those years of fun and scientific explanations diluted to an hour of whatever it was. I sure hope AB is okay; his weight loss was considerable. WIsh him many more good anniversarys.

[Shrinkrap]

I couldn't watch it either. Poor Alton.

[mels]

Good Eats is one of the few shows left on Food TV that I actually like. Being an Alton fan and a Ted Allen fan, I watched the 10th anniversary special. Good god that was painful. I am even more disappointed than when I discovered Alton was hawking Welch's Grape Juice.