If you like food shows and you like a good competition then you've probably seen the travel channel's Man vs. Food. I've seen it several times and I have to admit I like watching it. I like seeing the small mom and pop stores receive national attention and I like to see what kind of creative challenges each of these places can come up with.
If you haven't seen the show (where have you been??) let me take a minute to explain. The shows host, Adam Richman, travels around the country looking for food challenges from small food business's. The challenges are typically ones in which you have to eat a huge amount of food in a limited amount of time. I'm sure you know what I'm talking about. You've probably seen them yourself. Maybe you've gone into a steakhouse or something and seen where contestants have eaten a huge steak in a certain amount of time and won a t-shirt and their photo on the coveted "wall of fame". Well Adam makes it his mission to seek and find these challenges and take them on. Usually "Man" wins the challenge but I have seen a few episodes where "Food" got the best of man and he just couldn't finish the challenge.
Adam Richman
These challenges are meant to be difficult. Therefore a huge amount of food is usually prepared for the challenger to face. The food always varies depending on the type of restaurant he is visiting on that particular episode. I've seen challenges from huge pizzas to huge doughnuts, 54 oz steaks to towering hamburgers. I've been watching the show for a while so I've about seen it all. Here are some examples of what the usual challenges look like...
Would you even attempt any of those?
The reason I bring this up is because just recently (Sept. 29) Food Network host Alton Brown spoke out against Adam Richman and Man vs. Food calling it, "disgusting" and an "embarrassment". He went on to say, "That show is about gluttony, and gluttony is wrong. It's wasteful. Think about people that are starving to death and think about that show," Brown, in an interview with Zap2It, via the Huffington Post. "I think it's an embarrassment."
Richman didn't hesitate to respond. On Twitter he said, "Alton Brown: MvF is about indulgence - NOT gluttony - & has brought loads of biz to Mom-n-Pop places. You were my hero, sir. No more."
He went on to say, "My previous Tweet is not to start some foolish Twitter feud," Richman tweeted. "Merely my hurt response to insults hurled my way from the man who inspired me."
So, now that you've seen a closer look at what Man vs. Food is all about and what's being said about it, what do you think?
You decide. Is Man vs. Food just an innocent show about a man taking on food challenges? Or is Alton Brown correct in saying that it is a disgusting act of gluttony?
In your opinion, who wins the battle between Adam vs. Alton?
I've actually never seen this before!!! I just want to know how this man is still alive? How his arteries arent clogged up? ... Will there be a "very special episode" with Bob & Jillian joining him for the trip?
ReplyDeleteMy stomach hurts looking at all this food...
But hey - its entertainment - let the man do what he wants to do... like any of the other reality shows dont have disgusting act of gluttony?
I think the premise of the show was to entertain,which I don't see this as entertainment, but that's just me. Don't care for many food shows. They just make me hungry and I go and eat and eat and eat, because I can't get what they make.I think food shows and food commercials should be banned, like cigarette commercials. I say print out your cookbook to claim your fame, you don't need to show me.
ReplyDeleteok so I love this show! I love all food shows!! I think alton brown is pompous and arrogant. Adam does bring attention to small hometown restaurants. It saddens me that he felt the need to "condem" Adam for his show. He said inspired him. How hurt would you be to hear that from someone who inspired you? Have you seen Alton's show? It is not so popular. I guess that is why he is putting MvF down.
ReplyDeleteI just want to go on the record and say that I really enjoy this show.
ReplyDeleteAnd if this post has sparked your interest you can catch Adam in action on Wednesday nights @ 9pm on the Travel Channel.
We LOVE MvF!!!! I completely agree that he has brought a ton of business to small town "diners" as well as "Triple D". When we travel anywhere I have to check the websites to see if any restaurants will be near where we are. I do not think the show promotes gluttony. I do find it entertaining and most food show inspire us in the kitchen. It has taught me to not even think about eating a ghost pepper...the show also gave me the answer to a question my boss had the other day...the scale used to judge the hotness of pepper...the scoville scale.
ReplyDeletePS...In case you didn't get it Adam wins hands down...I don't even like to watch Alton...he drives me nuts!!
ReplyDeleteAs we no longer GET the Food Network (*tears) we don't get to see this show. But when we were on vacation we watched it EVERY NIGHT at the hotel(yes, we are THAT boring!). We love the show, but I used to watch Alton, too. Because he did TEACH while he cooked, which was interesting to me. Do I feel that MvF promotes gluttony... no more so than watching Paula Dean cook everything in a POUND of butter!!!! It is reality TV, and in reality, those places do exsist... they want customers just like the Paula Deen Buffet wants customers, but can't afford the publicity... so this is a great way for them to be promoted!
ReplyDelete