Food Network is either creating a new reality food competition program that sounds remarkably like a miniature version of Top Chef or this is the biggest coincidence in the world of cable television. Food Network has put out a casting notice that calls for professional chefs who are interested in testing their skills in the kitchen against other chefs by having their food judged on taste, creativity and presentation by experts.

They're looking for four contestants; each week one will be eliminated till a winner remains. The winner will then be -- wait for it -- top food maker. No, that part I made up. They're not saying what the winner will be called or even what the best chef will win. The details aren't spelled out in the casting notice.

To me, I can't see how this is going to make it on air. I can imagine lawyers are being called right now. Bravo and the producers of Top Chef, Magical Elves, must be thinking that this proposed chef show is a wee too similar to their golden goose.

Even if Food Network alters the edges, essentially it's same idea. How would Food Network react if Bravo began a competition show in a food arena where three professional chefs have one hour to create dishes using the same ingredients and called it Steel Cooker? Wouldn't they cry that it's too much like Iron Chef America?

The bottom line is that even if they can do it legitimately -- i.e., you can't copyright a similar format -- Food Network should be creating new ideas of its own. On paper, whatever this is sounds way too much like Top Chef, and that's just bad form.

[via Foodnetworkaddict.com]