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Food Detectives doesn't acknowledge Top Chef

by Allison Waldman, posted Mar 30th 2009 4:24PM

Ted Allen FoodDoes Food Network think that we don't know that other networks do shows about food? The reason I'm asking the question is this: season four Top Chef finalist Richard Blais was a guest on Ted Allen's Food Detectives last week talking about how to freeze alcohol with liquid nitrogen to make really cool looking cocktails.

I recognized Richard right away, as did probably most other foodies who watched the show...but you'd never know about his Top Chef tenure if you listened to Ted's introduction. It was like the other show didn't exist.

Ted called Richard a chef. That's true, but he's most famous for something else. There was no reference made to Top Chef or his brilliant run on the show. He was one of the three finalists and if not for a couple of missteps in the last challenge, he was a likely winner.

Anyway, this is a strange twist for Food Network. There's bound to be food star crossovers, so why not acknowledge other networks and shows? I don't think they'd be accused of promoting Top Chef by talking about Richard's most famous accomplishment to date. The way it seemed to me, they called more attention to Top Chef by not mentioning the show at all.

Here's the thing, when a star from another network appears on David Letterman or Jay Leno, they mention the other network. It's just good manners. Food Network should follow suit. It would have been wise to acknowledge that Richard Blais – and Ted Allen, too, for that matter, who's been a judge – were a big part of Top Chef. If you're not afraid of the competition, you can say their name.

And on a show like Food Detectives, which is all about telling the truth, they owed it to viewers to be completely upfront and honest about Chef Blais.

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JD

Bad blood over MONEY? It has to be that Ted Allen has NO personality, NONE AT ALL! Everything he does is so monotone it's pathetic. Listening to him judge on Iron Chef..OK, but don't give him a show for a whole hour or 1/2 hour. Listening to him on Chopped and FD is like nails on a chalkboard.

March 31 2009 at 9:40 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Lisa

In an even more bizarre twist, two former Top Cheftestants have been on 'The real Housewives...", one on OC, and Sam just recently on NYC, and neither were acknowledged for having done so. This is on the shows native network...so it might be that they're not allowed to mention it anywhere.

March 31 2009 at 7:40 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
The Midnight Penguin

I refuse to watch TOP CHEF as it's a reality competition so did not recognize the guest. I watch FN fairly regularly, but had NO idea who Ted Allen really was until a friend asked me if it was the Queer Eye guy, another show I never watched. I don't care where the other person has been, as if I didn't "recognize" them in the first place, does knowing what they've done really help me? And I agree, if I knew he was on Top Chef, I may not have listened.

March 30 2009 at 10:27 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to The Midnight Penguin's comment
Laura

Wow - you "refuse" to watch Top Chef? And, if you knew Richard was on Top Chef you wouldn't have listened?! You are missing out on some wonderful food, new techniques, a variety of cuisines, and a look at some up-and-coming chefs receiving some great advice from established chefs. Yeah, there's a bit of reality drama mixed in, but it doesn't dominate the show. This probably won't change your mind (or your viewing habits) at all, but I just wanted to say you are missing out on something that's pretty special!

April 10 2009 at 8:57 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Ian

Did you guys even stop to think that maybe this was recorded before he was on Top Chef, or before the season was finished shooting?

Example: Ariane was a sous chef on Iron Chef America last week, on what they called a new episode.

March 30 2009 at 8:27 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
cynmack

It could be because Bravo doesn't want Food Network referring to the show. You never know which direction that's coming from. Ted Allen has moved from being a Bravo guy to a Food Network guy.

March 30 2009 at 7:11 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
backflip

So... Food Detectives decided not to advertise for their competitors. And you're surprised why?

The fact that Leno and Letterman mention each other once in a while is completely irrelevant because both of those shows are well established and have their own fan bases. Am I going to go watch Leno after Letterman makes fun of his chin? I think not.

Whereas if Food Detectives were to mention Top Chef and praise the show, I'd be much more likely to switch networks and check out Top Chef.

In sum, this article was pointless.

March 30 2009 at 6:19 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
lawl

Who fucking cares?

Worst TV Squad post ever.

March 30 2009 at 6:12 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jimmy

Well, Food Network is probably jealous because Top Chef alone gets as many viewers as several FN shows combined. Also, wasn't there some bad blood between Top Chef and Ted Allen over money? Isn't that why jumped to FN?

March 30 2009 at 5:14 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
JW

Well far as I can remember, they haven't really acknowledged Ted being from Queer Eye either. It doesn't really matter anyways if no one watches those other channels anyways. It's not a talk show, it's Food Detectives.

March 30 2009 at 4:41 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Zachary

If I had been told he was on Top Chef, I would have taken him less seriously.

March 30 2009 at 4:35 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Zachary's comment
sarah

i co-sign.

a lot of science takes place on Food Detectives, so to hear that someone on the show participated in some insipid cooking show would not increase his credibility.

and, its not that serious.

March 30 2009 at 11:11 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply

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