Food Network Canceled?
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
04/01/12
POPULAR FOOD NETWORK TO CEASE PROGRAMMING AT MONTH’S END
New York City – The E.W. Scripps Company announced today that after 19 years in production their popular Food Network will cease programming at the end of April. The move took many in assembly by surprise. The press conference was held at Chelsea Market on 75 9th Avenue, home of the Food Network Studios.
Milton Funderburk, Acting Assistant Vice-Chairman of Cable Programming for Scripps was asked why the media conglomerate was closing the doors on its most popular cable franchise, “The time is right. After all when we purchased TFN back in ’97 we thought it would fail miserably. That was the plan.
“We acquired the Network as a tax right off. We never dreamed anyone would actually watch it. Our thought was why would anyone want to watch someone else cooking on TV? I mean if they wanted to see someone cook, they could just go cook something. Apparently we under estimated the American public’s desire to live vicariously.”
Comments from Guy Fieri on Food Network’s pending demise. Article continues below.
Since the Food Network began programming in 1993 viewership has continued to grow though it was shaky in the beginning. Those first shows featured chefs who were virtual unknowns like Bobby Flay, Mario Batali and Emeril Legasse. Now it is one of the most successful cable channels in television history which fueled more questions about why Scripps was giving TFN the axe.
Funderburk explained, “It wasn’t long after we took the Network over that we realized, we may have stumbled onto something here. Viewership was growing exponentially and other vicariousity networks were springing up. Not only were viewers watching people cooking instead of cooking themselves but they were watching the Travel Channel instead of going on vacation, eschewing exercise for the Fitness Channel and watching HGTV in living rooms that were literally falling apart around them. I’ve heard that Time Warner is actually planning on unveiling the Sleeping Channel for people who are too lazy to fall asleep for themselves.
“The trend even crossed over into mainstream media. Instead of keeping up with politics America was watching The West Wing. There was no reason to invite the annoying neighbor over when you could tune into Jay Leno. Why watch fact-based news programming when there was MSNBC?”
When asked about the future of Food Network Canada Funderburk replied, “That’s toast, too. Not that anyone will notice, it’s Canada. I know it’s the largest state in the US but hardly anyone lives there. Let’s be honest if it wasn’t for the band Rush America would have never bought Canada from the Alaskans.”
The ultimate reason Funderburk offered for 86’ing their most popular holding was it’s very popularity. The demand for food programming is so high that not only have other cable channels like Bravo and TLC entered the market but so have mainstream networks NBC and FOX.
Funderburk, noticeably angry, proclaimed, “If there is one thing I can’t stand it is being copied. If everyone is going to dabble with food programming then we’ll just wash our hands of the whole thing. It doesn’t matter to us. We’ve always got our newspaper division. That’s not going anywhere.”
Review: The Pioneer Woman
I have been really excited about one of Food Network’s newest shows, The Pioneer Woman with fellow food blogger Ree Drummond. Like millions I have been a fan of Ree’s uber-popular blog also entitled The Pioneer Woman. Ree’s tale is about how she made the switch from, “spoiled city girl to domestic country wife.”
Sure her story is interesting. Her early days were spent enjoying a cosmopolitan lifestyle – high-end restaurants, boutiques and day spas. But then she met a cowboy.
Now when I say she met a cowboy it’s not a euphemism for fella and I certainly don’t mean she hooked up with some Yankee who relocated to Texas because that’s where all the jobs are. Ladd Drummond is an honest to goodness hat wearing, boot sporting, horse riding, gun toting cowboy. That in and of itself makes the show worth a watch but that wasn’t what drew me to it.
Being filmed in the middle of Oklahoma miles from the nearest town of any size and considerably further from any town of perceived consequence is refreshing. Most cooking shows are produced in cities with access to virtually any ingredient one can imagine. Guess what – you’re not likely to find durian or harissa paste in Wichita, Kansas. It makes for a nice change of pace but that’s not why I was excited about The Pioneer Woman either.
No, my interest was predicated on the fact that Ree is not a chef lucky enough to live within a cab ride of Chelsea Market. Nor is she a pampered New England socialite who’s only credential is being Martha Stewart’s pal. Ree is a food blogger from middle America. Food Network is finally starting to get the picture that cyberspace is a largely untapped Eden of foodie talent.
As I’ve said before – mainstream viewers would much rather watch the comical antics of Average Betty’s Sara O’Donnell as opposed to the butter battered butter deep fried in butter of Paula Deen if only given the chance. They can learn far more about food from the brilliant Jadan Hair of Steamy Kitchen than they will the culinary atrocity that is Extreme Chef. There’s more genuine cooking going on in a single episode of Food Wishes than in an entire season of Semi-Homemade. And the best part of all – this online talent have established brands with built-in fan bases.
The Pioneer Woman wholly captures what it is like to be a foodie. I know those who do not follow food on the net may think to themselves, “who does that?” whenever Ree pauses to take pictures of each meal she prepares. The answer is I do, Sara does, Jaden does, Aarti does, Aida does, Chef John does and as we know Ree does. I love that the show offers a glimpse of what being a professional foodie is like. I also like that it shows that TV execs are starting to get the picture that the future of food TV is already established on the web.
After years of shows shot in New York or LA it’s nice to have one that is shot miles from Suburbia. Now if they could film a show in a midsize town (like say Mobile, AL) that would be perfect. The Pioneer Woman is great food porn with ample teaching moments. It also airs Saturday mornings at 11:30 Eastern Time/10:30 Central time on Food Network.