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Food Network, Why Do I Try?

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SmokeInDaEye

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As some of you know, I have had an ongoing battle with the Food Network. I have created some videos for them that have been the most viewed and most rated on their site, yet ultimately they pick some actor to be on Grill It with Bobby Flay or other show.

Most recently they had a Washington State wine contest from which 20 of the 100 videos would be opened for public voting.

I created an original recipe from scratch, figured out how to cook it on the grill and filmed it all by hand. Am I just being pissy or am I being singled out?

http://www.ireport.com/docs... versus http://tinyurl.com/kpww9k ?
Seriously? I keep thinking that I can go on with a brethren t-shirt, talk about what bbq really is, and make the network a little more interesting but its getting a little tiring. Why try?
 
Just so folks know, here's the criteria used to select the second video over mine. I'm tired of wasting my time.


  • How well the Washington State ingredient(s) was used
  • How well the recipe pairs with the Columbia Crest Grand Estates wine that served as its inspiration
  • Overall quality of recipe
  • Originality
  • How well the dish was showcased in the video
 
Lose the hat, shades and SIDE banner. Don't try to show Bobby Flay up or "talk about what BBQ really is", because it would actually be interesting! The audience is not Brethren that the Food Network is targeting, you do great stuff, and we know it, so you may have to actaully "dumb down to the audience".
 
The one thing I have learned about food network, is there has definately been a switch in priorities. It happened back in about 2002. The network really moved the focus away from the food, and toward personalities. They slowly and sytematically got rid of alot of good chefs, and replaced them with talking heads. They wanted to sell merchandise and diversify their revenu streams and this was their way of doing it. I to this day dont like and rarely watch the channel any more.
 
Doubt your being singled out...

Sure it's frustrating.. but what's the motivation to keep submitting entries ?

If your having fun.. do it for that reason.. or change it up a bit and make some videos for grilling and BBQ and begin trying to market them online and through the online food community. This way you continue to put your love of cooking and video making together to help others improve.

If you really wanna win.. I think you should invest $5-$10K in a really good boob job and a wig of long blonde hair and get a really cute accent and softer voice... Bobby might take more interest in you..(maybe Cat too :biggrin:.. and I bet Giada and Rachel would dabble with a little wine)
 
swamprb said:
Lose the hat, shades and SIDE banner. Don't try to show Bobby Flay up or "talk about what BBQ really is", because it would actually be interesting! The audience is not Brethren that the Food Network is targeting, you do great stuff, and we know it, so you may have to actaully "dumb down to the audience".
Click to expand...

Thats great advice moving forward, Brian, though I've tried the no hat hat and glasses approach. My biggest problem is that I need to maximize each video shoot so not having my logo in there is tough. And I know food network is going to screw me constantly so I shoot video so its applicable to hundreds of foreign websites.

That said, I need to change something when this vegan woman who met absolutely none of the five criteria is a finalist. Seems like I wasted my time for something pre-determined.
 
Why dont you come up with a recipe and have somebody else do it, maybe your wife?
 
MilitantSquatter said:
Doubt your being singled out...

Sure it's frustrating.. but what's the motivation to keep submitting entries ?

If your having fun.. do it for that reason.. or change it up a bit and make some videos for grilling and BBQ and begin trying to market them online and through the online food community. This way you continue to put your love of cooking and video making together to help others improve.

If you really wanna win.. I think you should invest $5-$10K in a really good boob job and a wig of long blonde hair and get a really cute accent and softer voice... Bobby might take more interest in you..(maybe Cat too :biggrin:.. and I bet Giada and Rachel would dabble with a little wine)
Click to expand...

Nah, it's all good. A quick Google search for SmokeInDaEye yields 11K results. I'm just pissed that the freaking vegan girl who doesn't cook a damn thing is somehow in the running for a few $K. Whatever. I still challenge Bobby or any of them to step into my backyard and just cook.
 
SmokeInDaEye said:
Thats great advice moving forward, Brian, though I've tried the no hat hat and glasses approach. My biggest problem is that I need to maximize each video shoot so not having my logo in there is tough. And I know food network is going to screw me constantly so I shoot video so its applicable to hundreds of foreign websites.

That said, I need to change something when this vegan woman who met absolutely none of the five criteria is a finalist. Seems like I wasted my time for something pre-determined.
Click to expand...

I feel for you brother. You recipe was 'hands down' better than the vegan chick.

Political correctness, talking heads and greenhouse gas is the new 'theme' of the Food Network. I'm so sick of it. I have to come here to the Brethren Forum just to maintain my gastronomic sanity.

Be yourself. Keep on doing what you enjoy. When all the PETA, Veggie heads' dishes are pushed over to the compost pile, the "Que" is still SMOKIN'!!

Don't let them suck the FUN out of what you love to do... Cookin' up the QUE!
 
Should I stop wearing Bobby's Iron Chef jacket around?

iron.jpg
 
What about a video with girls in bikinis? That seems to sell quite well these days. Maybe you didn't provide enough "flair".
 
I would start with loosing the logo. I learned long ago that media wont do anything they would see as free advertising or promotion. If that was on a tee shirt and you were on camera, they would blur it out.
 
3640583398_b78a635ef7_o.jpg

Where was the Spice Fairy?:lol:

Honestly, I can even begin to imagine how they chose her over anybody. She looked "sickly." Probably a side effect of being a vegan.:icon_sick Redwingsfn31 made some damn good points. It's no longer about the food, but the faces and personality. Personally, I didn't see either in her video and none of the food. You obviously have the food part covered, no doubt about that. Who knows what they want. It all comes down to the committee that does the selecting and what their tastes and preferences are I guess. Don't stop trying though. Persistance pays off!!
 
Being from WA I thought that whole contest was pretty silly. The majority of the people competing clearly have no clue as to what WA ingredients and styles are (last time I checked mangos weren't grown here, and we don't eat a lot of Jamaican food; in fact, I'm pretty sure we don't have any Jamaican restaurants in all of SW WA.

Like a lot of others have already said, this is about personalities. I don't happen to care for Bobby Flay; personally I'd like to see you kick his arse in a real BBQ cook-off, but we know that FN wouldn't show it if you did. Keep doing what you are doing, and keep having fun. When it isn't fun, do something different.
 
swamprb said:
Lose the hat, shades and SIDE banner. Don't try to show Bobby Flay up or "talk about what BBQ really is",... so you may have to actually "dumb down to the audience".
Click to expand...

I would have to agree

SmokeInDaEye said:
Just so folks know, here's the criteria used to select the second video over mine. I'm tired of wasting my time.


  • How well the Washington State ingredient(s) was used
  • How well the recipe pairs with the Columbia Crest Grand Estates wine that served as its inspiration
  • Overall quality of recipe
  • Originality
  • How well the dish was showcased in the video
Click to expand...
Based on the criteria, I would say yours is hands down better than hers. The problem may be that you did not suck up to Bobby Flay through most of your video, and you kept your deformed shoulder hidden...:twisted:
 
I gave up on the food network probably about 2002 when they turned into a "contest" show instead of a cooking channel......teaching about the joys of cooking. The ONLY show I watch is DDD, and sometimes Gida!
 
Great recipe bro! I would say I second the banner, logohat glasses thing. Maybe suck a little "Flay Brat" if you know what I mean... I am sure they hand him the top 10 videos, he watches and says, "the chick"

Is food network the only place you can get out there and do your thing? Maybe look for something in your local tv market like the local news. Talk to them about getting a segment for cooking gourmet meals at home on a dime..

I'd think outside food network if you feel snubbed.

Cooking is supposed to be about the fun of it. If you aren't having fun doing it, you need to find a way to bring that part of it back.

Goodluck man!
 
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