To Watch or Not to Watch?

There are several television shows that are worthy of watching, and there are many others which are not. Here’s my take on what to watch and what not to watch.

First, the what-not-to-watch list. Keep in mind this is in no way an official list and it is based entirely on my subjective opinion based on the few shows I’ve seen, and I’ve only seen them usually because one or more of the children are watching them and I just happen to be in the room. And, to be fair and honest, some shows make the list based simply on what I’ve heard or inferred about them and I haven’t watched them at all. But it’s my list, so I can do that. The list is also in no particular order, just as the shows happen to come to me while I type.

Many of the reality series out there qualify as bad television and should be avoided. These include shows like Toddlers & Tiaras, Honey Boo Boo (I know that’s not the exact title, but I know you know what and who I am talking about), Teen Mom, and Dance Moms. This list could go on and on, and any shows that are similar to these would make the list. It seems to me that these shows not only exploit folks but also encourage others to follow in their footsteps based on the popularity of the shows. Yes, a show like Teen Mom has the potential to show how rough it is to be a teenage mother, but in its own way, it also glorifies it.

Other shows on the list of what not to watch include Vampire Diaries, Pretty Little Liars, Switched at Birth, and the new Beauty and the Beast. I can’t stand the character of Elena on Vampire Diaries. Pretty Little Liars is just about a bunch of sneaky and manipulative teenage girls. Switched at Birth had potential to be a good show, but after a few episodes, it just didn’t work for me. And the new Beauty and the Beast decision if based entirely on the fact that Kristin Kreuk plays Catherine. I couldn’t stand her as Lana Lang on Smallville and that has carried over to Beauty and the Beast.

So, what would I suggest for your viewing pleasure? In the realm of reality shows, Pawn Stars and Duck Dynasty will both make the list. When Rick and the guys call in their experts on Pawn Stars, I learn a lot of interesting trivia. When it comes to Duck Dynasty, the guys on there remind me of my brothers. I also like that they express some good, core family values. Many folks include Survivor in the reality series, but I think of it more as a game show, since there is a winner. Not every season of Survivor has been spectacular, but for the most part, they are fairly interesting.

Other shows on the list of what to watch include Justified, Dr. Who, Dallas, NCIS, Law & Order: SVU, Monk, How I Met Your Mother, Big Bang Theory, and most of what is on Food Network (as long as it’s not Sandra Lee, Michael Chiarello, or Ina Garten). The Food Network competitions The Next Food Network Star, The Next Iron Chef, Worse Cooks in America, The Great Food Truck Race, Chopped, Iron Chef America, and Celebrity Cook-off are usually always fun and entertaining. Restaurant: Impossible, Mystery Diners, and Restaurant Stakeout are also interesting. In fact, on Food Network, it’s hard to go wrong. I catch a lot of Dr. Who, NCIS, Law & Order, How I Met Your Mother, and Big Bang Theory in reruns. I’m looking forward to the returns of Justified and Dallas, though Dallas will not be quite the same after they have to address the death of Larry Hagman.

If you want to go really old-school to find something to watch, then I suggest these oldies but goodies: The Brady Bunch, Gilligan’s Island, The Beverly Hillbillies, The Andy Griffith Show, The Facts of Life, The Cosby Show, Family Ties, Growing Pains, Full House, Family Matters, Boy Meets World, Little House on the Prairie, and The Waltons. I know I’ve probably left some out, but those are what came to mind off the top of my head.

I don’t really spend a lot of time watching television. Usually I just have it on in the background while I’m doing something else, or the kids have it on something and I just happen to be in the room. If, however, I’m in the mood to watch something, this list is where I would start when I’m flipping through the guide to see what is on.

It’s Hummus vs. Hubris on Next Iron Chef

As you already know, my husband and I are huge Food Network fans. We have particular hosts we love to watch, including Giada de Laurentiis, Bobby Flay, Anne Burrell, Paula Deen, Rachael Ray, Michael Symon, Guy Fieri, the Neeleys, and Robert Irvine, just to name a few. We also enjoy the competition shows, such as Next Food Network Star, Chopped, and Next Iron Chef. So, when this season of Next Iron Chef was being promoted, we anxiously awaitedthe  October 30 premiere of the Super Chefs. Of course, we had our favorite picked out the moment we saw the lineup. We’re for Anne Burrell all the way.

Ideally, I would’ve liked to see it come down to Anne Burrell and Robert Irvine in the final episode, with Anne winning. I like Robert Irvine, but I like Anne better, and I do enjoy watching her beat him, as she did on Worst Cooks in America and Chopped. I was hoping for showdown number 3, with Anne coming out on top again. Last week, when Chef Spike chose to put Anne and Robert together for a team, it was quite funny, especially for those of us who know their history. It was with great relief that we learned that they were not the bottom team and did not have to face off against each other in the premiere episode. There was hope that they still might get the chance to fight it out in the finale.

That hope died tonight when Robert Irvine was eliminated from the competition. I was speechless. Robert manages to complete Dinner: Impossible and Restaurant: Impossible challenges all the time. Robert is very well respected among the chefs employed by the Food Network. How can it be that it is episode 2, and Robert is gone? For what it’s worth, which isn’t really much since he was eliminated, the decision wasn’t unanimous. At least one of the judges wanted Robert to stay. And I’m going to guess that more viewers would have liked for Robert to stay than for Chef Michael Chiarello to stay.

Robert Irvine is such a popular chef, it was startling not just to viewers but also to the other Super Chefs that he was eliminated so early. And as Alton Brown pointed out, because his hummus was too thick. Personally, I thought Chef Chiarello’s attitude was too thick. Of course, since this is Super Chefs, there are going to be some Super Egos to contend with, and while the viewers get to see all the comments the chefs make after their food has been evaluated, I’m guessing that the judges don’t get to see all those comments. And that’s probably a good thing since if I were one of the judges and I heard one of the competitors dissing how I judged, I’d be more likely to eliminate them.

Tonight’s episode was a huge wake-up call to fans and chefs alike. If a chef like Robert can be eliminated so quickly, anybody can. As for this fan, though, I still have a preferred order for elimination, which simply calls for all the chefs I’m not really familiar with or that I just don’t like as well to go first. The next ones I’d like to see go are Michael Chiarello (didn’t like his attitude), Elizabeth Faulkner (just don’t really know anything about her), and Chuck Hughes (don’t really know anything about him). After that, Geoffrey Zakarian, Marcus Samuelsson, and Beau MacMillan would be the next three to go, leaving Anne Burrell and Alex Guarnaschelli to compete for the final spot. Since I can’t have Anne and Robert in the finale, then let’s have Anne and Alex and add a female Super Chef to the prestigious Iron Chef crew.

Of course after tonight, it’s hard to speculate about who will win this competition, but it’s certainly going to be interesting to watch, and it’s not going to be an easy task for the competitors. But since it is Next Iron Chef, it shouldn’t be easy for them. One thing I’m wondering, though. When this is over, will those who serve as Chopped judges be any more sympathetic to those competitors than they were before? That may be as interesting to watch as these episodes are.