Why does Alton Brown always have terrible skits during his show?

[gorcorps]

Look, Good Eats is a solid show and I really dig Alton's style of showing you how to cook things and explaining a bit of how it all works and what is going on during the mixing, cooking, etc. But one thing I can't stand is how in every show he has some ridiculous skit where random people show up either acting like colonial folks while he's talking about some history, or stuff like that. They're usually so poorly done that I have to change the channel until it's all over.

Am I alone in this one?

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Originally posted by: gorcorps

Am I alone in this one?

No. Alton is unbelievably cloying and can't be taken in anything but small doses. He's about 1/50th as clever as he thinks he is.

 

[Crono]

They're so bad they're almost good. Almost.
Still, I like the info and history he gives, and some of the characters aren't so bad.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Take away the bad skits and all you have is someone who is not a Chef trying to convince you good food is either a product of science alone or an accident of history.

 

[StevenYoo]

I find them endearing.

 

[gorcorps]

Originally posted by: MagnusTheBrewer
Take away the bad skits and all you have is someone who is not a Chef trying to convince you good food is either a product of science alone or an accident of history.

Well that's the thing, I don't need to hear a bunch of high-end shit from a chef. He's a semi-normal guy making semi-normal things. The science/history aspect just makes it entertaining to me, but the things he talks about and cooks are things I see myself actually using. It'd be really fucking hard for me to make most of what the real chefs show.

The skits are still annoying

 

[Eli]

I think they're awesomely hilarious.

The dude is a dork. :thumbsup: to him.

 

[CKent]

I love it :thumbsup:

And anyone who says he's not a good cook should try some of his recipes first.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Originally posted by: gorcorps

Originally posted by: MagnusTheBrewer
Take away the bad skits and all you have is someone who is not a Chef trying to convince you good food is either a product of science alone or an accident of history.

Well that's the thing, I don't need to hear a bunch of high-end shit from a chef. He's a semi-normal guy making semi-normal things. The science/history aspect just makes it entertaining to me, but the things he talks about and cooks are things I see myself actually using. It'd be really fucking hard for me to make most of what the real chefs show.

The skits are still annoying

You don't learn how to cook from watching cooking shows, you learn from cooking, making observations and generalizing from previously learned cooking skills. I watch Alton Brown, just as you, for entertainment.

If you want to learn to cook, start with the basics i.e. knife skills. Trying to learn from cooking shows is like trying to learn to drive by watching the Indy 500.

 

[gorcorps]

Originally posted by: MagnusTheBrewer

Originally posted by: gorcorps

Originally posted by: MagnusTheBrewer
Take away the bad skits and all you have is someone who is not a Chef trying to convince you good food is either a product of science alone or an accident of history.

Well that's the thing, I don't need to hear a bunch of high-end shit from a chef. He's a semi-normal guy making semi-normal things. The science/history aspect just makes it entertaining to me, but the things he talks about and cooks are things I see myself actually using. It'd be really fucking hard for me to make most of what the real chefs show.

The skits are still annoying

You don't learn how to cook from watching cooking shows, you learn from cooking, making observations and generalizing from previously learned cooking skills. I watch Alton Brown, just as you, for entertainment.

If you want to learn to cook, start with the basics i.e. knife skills. Trying to learn from cooking shows is like trying to learn to drive by watching the Indy 500.

I don't mean literally 'learning to cook'. More like just getting recipes. The shows just give me a heads up on how involved something would be when I tried it myself, and how much I'd have to spend to make it. Alton shows more or less how to make fairly common things in a better and fairly easy way which I like.

 

[RagingBITCH]

Originally posted by: MagnusTheBrewer

Originally posted by: gorcorps

Originally posted by: MagnusTheBrewer
Take away the bad skits and all you have is someone who is not a Chef trying to convince you good food is either a product of science alone or an accident of history.

Well that's the thing, I don't need to hear a bunch of high-end shit from a chef. He's a semi-normal guy making semi-normal things. The science/history aspect just makes it entertaining to me, but the things he talks about and cooks are things I see myself actually using. It'd be really fucking hard for me to make most of what the real chefs show.

The skits are still annoying

You don't learn how to cook from watching cooking shows, you learn from cooking, making observations and generalizing from previously learned cooking skills. I watch Alton Brown, just as you, for entertainment.

If you want to learn to cook, start with the basics i.e. knife skills. Trying to learn from cooking shows is like trying to learn to drive by watching the Indy 500.

So why do you watch the Food Network at all then? Turn off the TV and go in the kitchen to "cook". Obviously the FN is completely worthless in teaching you how to cook :roll:

 

[Babbles]

I enjoy them. They are sort of geeky, but so is he and as such I think it works for his program.

 

[Adam8281]

I find him very endearing. If he were any less earnest it would too groan-inducing to bear, but since he goes all out I actually like i.

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: RagingBITCH

Originally posted by: MagnusTheBrewer

Originally posted by: gorcorps

Originally posted by: MagnusTheBrewer
Take away the bad skits and all you have is someone who is not a Chef trying to convince you good food is either a product of science alone or an accident of history.

Well that's the thing, I don't need to hear a bunch of high-end shit from a chef. He's a semi-normal guy making semi-normal things. The science/history aspect just makes it entertaining to me, but the things he talks about and cooks are things I see myself actually using. It'd be really fucking hard for me to make most of what the real chefs show.

The skits are still annoying

You don't learn how to cook from watching cooking shows, you learn from cooking, making observations and generalizing from previously learned cooking skills. I watch Alton Brown, just as you, for entertainment.

If you want to learn to cook, start with the basics i.e. knife skills. Trying to learn from cooking shows is like trying to learn to drive by watching the Indy 500.

So why do you watch the Food Network at all then? Turn off the TV and go in the kitchen to "cook". Obviously the FN is completely worthless in teaching you how to cook :roll:

MtB is the best Chef ever to grace the earth, he's made that obvious many times.

Alton Brown is cool because he explains WHY things are done in the way they are. Sure you could know to pull popovers after 40 minutes and live with it, but he explains why you should do the things the recipes and rules tell you to do.

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

Originally posted by: MagnusTheBrewer

Originally posted by: gorcorps

Originally posted by: MagnusTheBrewer
Take away the bad skits and all you have is someone who is not a Chef trying to convince you good food is either a product of science alone or an accident of history.

Well that's the thing, I don't need to hear a bunch of high-end shit from a chef. He's a semi-normal guy making semi-normal things. The science/history aspect just makes it entertaining to me, but the things he talks about and cooks are things I see myself actually using. It'd be really fucking hard for me to make most of what the real chefs show.

The skits are still annoying

You don't learn how to cook from watching cooking shows, you learn from cooking, making observations and generalizing from previously learned cooking skills. I watch Alton Brown, just as you, for entertainment.

If you want to learn to cook, start with the basics i.e. knife skills. Trying to learn from cooking shows is like trying to learn to drive by watching the Indy 500.

I disagree. Alton Brown and others on the Food Network often demonstrate techniques to people and provide tips along the way. They are teaching. When people teach, those watching hopefully learn. By actually using those techniques people are putting them into practice and gaining proficiency.

I first saw how to trim a beef tenderloin by watching Alton's Tender is the Loin 1 and then doing it myself. I learned the basics from him. I've gained proficiency and familiarity now by doing it many times over.

 

[nanette1985]

Like the OP, I think Good Eats is a solid show and I like Alton Brown and the way he cooks and explains stuff scientifically. And I also think the sketches are awful - ditto about changing the channel or fast forwarding.

I used to make a point of watching Good Eats, but not any more. If I'm channel surfing and i'm not doing anything else, I'll watch it, but I'm not so much a fan any more.

I have a couple of his cookbooks and I find them much more entertaining. My idea of entertainment is reading about why egg whites explode into meringue, etc.

 

[Rebasxer]

I rarely remember how to cook the stuff I've seen on FN, however ocassionally I do and its always really good.

I like alton, his show is interesting and his cook books are really good. I especially love the cow magnets in the latest one.

 

[Wheezer]

I love his show...those cheesy skits are what make his show entertaining as well as informative...IMO.

 

[mb]

Originally posted by: Wheezer
I love his show...those cheesy skits are what make his show entertaining as well as informative...IMO.

:thumbsup:

Agreed.

 

[So]

Originally posted by: Babbles
I enjoy them. They are sort of geeky, but so is he and as such I think it works for his program.

 

[Chryso]

Everything about Alton is awesome. Especially the skits.

 

[Feldenak]

Originally posted by: Wheezer
I love his show...those cheesy skits are what make his show entertaining as well as informative...IMO.

 

[Insomniator]

Originally posted by: Feldenak

Originally posted by: Wheezer
I love his show...those cheesy skits are what make his show entertaining as well as informative...IMO.

 

[effowe]

Originally posted by: Rebasxer
I rarely remember how to cook the stuff I've seen on FN, however ocassionally I do and its always really good.

I like alton, his show is interesting and his cook books are really good. I especially love the cow magnets in the latest one.

You don't need to remember how to cook any of the recipes, they are all listed on the FN website. I've gone back many times after seeing something cooked to get the recipe.

On topic, I like the skits and AB. They are corny and nerdy, as is he, but that's what makes them good in my opinion. You learn something and it doesn't take itself too seriously.