Chef Mario Batali has been chopped from TV's Food Network, said yesterday's New York Post.
Now in today's Post, Batali says he is not done. He might stick around on Food Network's Iron Chef America. Gotta love the tabloid headline: "TV Chef: Don't Stick A Fork in Me."
New York magazine chimes in: "The only New Yorker we've ever forgiven for wearing Crocs has been fired from the Food Network."
Is Food Network dumping another kitchen heavyweight to make room for more reality shows? Would Next Food Network Star champ Amy Finley look good in orange clogs?
Mario and Gwyneth Paltrow are taping a show about Spanish food for PBS.
Awesome! More room for Rachel Ray and Marc Summers!
http://community.livejournal.com/rachael_ray_sux/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marc_Summers
I saw this coming. Mario is overqualified for a network that is on its way down Paula Deen's insinkerator.
view art's profile
I'm with you, Art. What is the food network trying to do? Somebody shoot me if they add another Sandra Lee to the schedule.
view Joy R.'s profile
What a shame. The Food Network has the potential to be so great, but it's just so disappointing. Hopefully Mario will move on to something bigger and better in terms of tv airtime. We no longer get the Food Network, but seeing as how they only show competitions and friggin' Emeril 24/7, it's not a loss.
view lindsey's profile
I've long since stopped watching that Channel..I got tored of all the reality food shoes.
view Keisha Kornbread's profile
i mean shows...hehehe
view Keisha Kornbread's profile
Good Eats is the only show I watch, and the only show that's been worth watching on FN for a long time. As soon as they abandoned the shows where people actually cooked (or put them on at less than desirable times) in favor of reality shows, cooking contests, and product placement I jumped ship. Rachael Ray is too perky, Sandra Lee's food looks disgusting, and I could never bring myself to eat anything Paula Deen cooks, lest I have a heart attack.
view cyn's profile
I can't believe they dumped Mario. He was one of the only decent chefs on the network, him and Ina Garten and Bobby Flay and Giada DeLaurentiis. I want to watch chefs, not bimbos and airheads that cook.
view tgray99's profile
I'm not sure how this is news. There was a New Yorker article a year ago in their food issue about the transformation of the Food Network and moving Molto Mario to Fine Living. I don't know if he can really offer anything more to a reality-tv/non-chef dominated network. There are better places for him (Discovery Home, Fine Living, PBS).
view Scazza's profile