Earlier this month, after weeks of cook-offs and focus groups and pilot pitches, the finale of Food Network Star came down to two fledgling cheftestants. One was lucky to be there, having managed to survive the competition despite flashing questionable culinary skills and failing to demonstrate adequate food authority, presenting repetitive dishes that had more style than substance, lasting from week after week almost entirely due to their charming, fun, magnetic personality, despite a marked absence of ability, professionalism and on-camera talent. And the other finalist was pie-man Rodney Henry.
Tag Archives: Guy Fieri
R.I.P.I.E STYLE: GoodPie to Rodney Henry
Saturday Night’s All Right For Leaving
Much was made last week about the departure of Saturday Night Live stalwart Bill Hader, and still more was made when word broke just before (or, perhaps, during) last Saturday night’s show that longtime cast member Fred Armisen would be joining Hader in exiting Studio 8H. Add to that the speculation that Jason Sudeikis is a part of the exodus – only a year after show centerpiece Kristen Wiig left the show – and we seem to have a full-fledged panic. Hader, Armisen and Sudeikis – who accrued twenty-eight seasons of combined service on the show – will certainly leave a gaping hole, having portrayed such vital characters as President Obama, Vice President Biden, James Carville, David Patterson, the Devil, and, of course, Stefon. How could the show possibly survive such a great loss of talent, three of their leading men, a trio of go-tos. Losing one, sure, it happens. But all three, plus the farewell of Head Writer Seth Meyers at mid-season? Won’t that just be the end of SNL?
No, no it won’t. Despite some histrionics that seem to point to the opposite sentiment, the show will persist just fine. In fact, this is the circle of life for Saturday Night Live (it’s just Saturday Night Life?). Granted, if Sudeikis does, in fact, join Hader and Armisen, then you would have a more severe than normal bloodletting, but it’s not a lethal loss. The show has always and will always subsist on the infusion of new, exciting, eager talent. This season SNL was without Kristen Wiig, who seemed to have shouldered the load for so many seasons (to the show’s detriment, in our opinion) and it went on unencumbered in her absence, bolstered by noteworthy performances by newcomers Kate McKinnon and Cecily Strong, two fantastic young talents who might have not had the chance to breakout if Wiig was still around. And the show has weathered the loss of every great star during its history, with someone waiting in the wings to step up. Chevy Chase leaves after the inaugural season and Bill Murray gets the call. Farley and Sandler leave and we get Will Ferrell. Ferrell leaves but Armisen and Will Forte join the show and Amy Poehler receives more screen time. Every time SNL closes a door it opens a window, a window cracked just wide enough for a talented young sketch comedian to crawl.
And it will be the same with this loss, which should better be classified as a transition than a remaking; it’s certainly nothing as a dramatic as the turnover before Ferrell’s first season. Bobby Moynihan, who had a stellar season with his “Weekend Update” appearances as Drunk Uncle and Anthony Crispino, has already been doing much of the heavy lifting, appearing in cold opens, monologues, parodies, and Update visits, performing as straight man as well as Guy Fieri. He’s certainly more than capable of being the show’s anchor in his sixth season. Likewise of Taran Killam, whose squared-jaw good looks and Baryshnikovian dance moves make him possibly the show’s most valuable not-yet-ready-for-prime-time-player, and who is due for his breakout season. Then you have Kenan Thompson, who has only improved with age, as he shook off his All That trappings and grew into a reliable SNL presence, and Tim Robinson, who had a strong, confident debut season, and Jay Pharoah, who is an incredible mimic but still looking to find his groove, despite getting the nod to play Obama this season. Not to mention the fresh new talent they might recruit to replace the departing cast members. And add to that the terrific female players that we already discussed, and you have a dynamic, hungry, inspired cast ready to make their mark and define their era on SNL. If the show is guilty of anything over its last 38 seasons, it’s of being lazy, relying on the old standbys. With the old guard on its way out, SNL just might not have that luxury next season, and we might be better off for it.
Yes, we had to say goodbye to Stefon, and that was very, very sad. But Stefon had to move on, and so do we. Because there’s another Stefon out there. There always is. We just don’t know him yet.
Gratuitous Search Term Bait of the Day: You Look Wonderful Tonight
In just two short weeks Survivor competitor Phillip has already become a legend on this blog, taking his spot in the Jumped the Snark Hall of Fame with Tom Westman, Rashida Jones, Jason Sudeikis, Anderson Cooper, Guy Fieri, Jimmy Fallon and Tom Hanks. So it’s no surprise that one of our top search terms today was “survivor phillip.”
We talked about Phillip at length in last week’s Survivor recap and posted the clip of what will probably be his signature Survivor moment – hunting a crab with a spear clad only in his cherry red skivvies – but here’s a very quick moment of Phillip at his creepy, confident best (and a gratuitous cleavage shot) from later in that show. We weren’t able to include it the first time around, but we’re pleased to bring it to you now. Thanks for the second chance, everyone! Redemption all around.
Filed under Count Bleh, Gratuitous Search Term Bait, Tribal Council
Even the Restaurants Made Famous by Guy Fieri Resent Guy Fieri
In the latest Guy Fieri news, it seems that some of the restaurateurs featured on Fieri’s signature Food Network program, Diners, Drives & Dives, have found that life ain’t so grand after the “love, peace and taco grease” man rolls through town. Sure, according to this NY Times article, the complaint is that the restaurants have now become too popular, with regular patrons now being edged out by tourists and “Triple D” enthusiasts, which is a problem all restaurants wish they had. Still, the moral of the story is this: BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR IF WHAT YOU WISH FOR IS GUY FIERI. Also, THE GRASS IS ALWAYS GREENER ON THE OTHER SIDE OF GUY FIERI.
The most disturbing revelation in the article, and indeed a legitimate complaint, is that Fieri often concocts his own artery blocking, gut busting, killer combo dishes in these kitchens, giving the impression that these are normal menu items. This was apparently the case at Fairfield, Connecticut’s Super Duper Weenie, where the Frankenstein, “a three-hot-dog, multirelish, cheese-and-condiment monster,” was invented by Fieri for the cameras. Now customers from all across the country, let’s call them “Fieri-heads,” come in requesting the item, only to be dissuaded from the heart attack-in waiting behemoth by the hot dog joint’s owner. There’s nothing worse than being lied to through food. Lesson learned: LOOSE FIERIS SINK SHIPS.
We actually had the good fortune to stop at Super Duper Weenie last spring. In fact, we had been trying to make pilgrimage for many years, well before the tiny restaurant was featured on the show, but found the place closed in our previous attempt. However, all it took to entice us was a billboard along I-95 (and an awesome name). We didn’t need Fieri to tell us to stop on our way to Boston and order a hot dog that doesn’t exist. No, our stomach is our compass. And when we finally made it to Super Duper Weenie, what did we encounter upon our arrival? A long line and the mark of Fieri.
So the question now becomes: is this the new scarlet letter for restaurants?
And it’d be dumb not to post this again:
MMMMMMmmmmmmm
NY Times via Grub Street
Guy Fieri Eating: Why Didn’t We Think Of This?
A Guy Fieri Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives supercut. Or should we say EXTREME-cut? We should say EXTREME-cut. It’s everything you need to know about Guy Fieri in 1:16:
So having watched that, what do you think? Did we nail it?
We nailed it.
(just a regular Thursday night, btw)
via Videogum.
Filed under It's gross., Other people's stuff, Tex Wasabi's
When God Closes a Guy Fieri Door He Opens a Guy Fieri Window
Last decade I wrote semi-extensively about Guy Fieri and his Food & Rock’n’Roll Road Show, an extreme food, drink and music extravaganza. So imagine my excitement a couple months back when my brother called to tell me that he had tickets to that very show that very Thursday. Oh the delight! I’d finally get to see Guy Fieri live and “in concert.” I mean, the guy had been stalking me, so it only seemed fitting that I should see him as he righteously rolled through Los Angeles. So, then, imagine my disappointment when I found out my brother was actually calling to ask if I could babysit so he and his wife could attend the fiesta. A dream deferred.
All wasn’t lost, however, because as a thank you my brother gave me his signed copy of More Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives: A Drop-top Culinary Cruise Through America’s Finest and Funkiest Joints (and, I guess, he really had no need for two signed copies of More Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives: A Drop-top Culinary Cruise Through America’s Finest and Funkiest Joints). It wasn’t the same as seeing Fieri in person, the spotlight glistening off his backwards sunglasses and bleached spikes, but it was a nice token. A little piece of Fieri to hold onto forever. Yes, most certainly off da hook.
And that’s not all. They even captured video of the party, some of which I managed to hijack. So if you were curious about that 25 gallon margarita machine, or wondering how literal Fieri’s song choice would be, your prayers have been answered:
Filed under Commodore 64, Tex Wasabi's, The Sixth Taste
Carefully With Those Chili Peppers, Guy Fieri, Don’t Want To Get Too Extreme!
Food + Rock + 25 Gallon Margarita Machine + DJ = Guy Fieri Road Show!
Finally (!) more details have emerged about the Guy Fieri Road Show, where Food Meets Rock (again, finally!!!). In a Q&A with the LA Times Mr. Fieri answers all our burning questions about this unique concert/cooking experience. In talking about the origins of the show, Fieri thought “What if we take a cooking demonstration and fortify it with a lot of good music?. . . . Drive it to the next level?” And here, this whole time, I thought the idea is to fortify cooking with unique flavor profiles, or at least some essential vitamins and minerals. The good news? Fieri says that the show will be “everything they won’t let me do on TV,” which we presume means that he’ll now be allowed to wear his sunglasses properly and put on a pair of pants.
Gets even better! Want the chance to try a margarita made in a 6 ft, 25 gal mixer? How about the opportunity to sample The “Bomb” Calamari or “Maui Onion Straws?” Want to sit closer to the DJ who will be playing “everything from old school rock ‘n’ roll to theme-oriented stuff?” Well, for $250 you can sit on the stage and have your dream come true!
Killer.
Via Pop Candy
Filed under Tex Wasabi's, The Sixth Taste, Top Scallop
Stop Following Me, Fieri!
I can’t even escape him at the coffee shop. I walk out of the bathroom and there he is, taunting me from the bulletin board.
Fine, Fieri. I’ll go. Now will you stop???
Notice how the poster explicitly states the show is a fusion of Food and Rock. Finally!
(Oh, and speaking of the coffee shop, I’m afraid I’m going to start hanging out all day making Cinammon Milk. Totally not extreme.)
Filed under Tex Wasabi's, The Sixth Taste
How Did Facebook Know I Love Chipotle BBQ Pork Soft Tacos?!
Courtesy of Facebook’s sponsored links section:
“Food, fun, and Fieri.” Isn’t that a little redundant, Facebook?
I wonder if he’ll teach the crowd how to make the Screaming Gobbler, the turkey sandwich-sushi hybrid available at Fieri’s Rock-n-Roll Sushi BBQ restaurant Tex Wasabi’s. According to the menu, “First you’ll gobble, then you’ll scream!”
Ah, no thanks.
Filed under Interweb, Local Flavor, Tex Wasabi's, The Sixth Taste
Jumped The Snark 