* * * * * Anthony Bourdain on the Food Network > **SANDRA LEE:** Pure evil. This frightening Hell Spawn of Kathie Lee and > Betty Crocker seems on a mission to kill her fans, one meal at a time. She > Must Be Stopped. Her death-dealing can-opening ways will cut a swath of > destruction through the world if not contained. I would likely be arrested > if I suggested on television that any children watching should promptly go > to a wooded area with a gun and harm themselves. What's the difference > between that and Sandra suggesting we fill our mouths with Ritz Crackers, > jam a can of Cheez Wiz in after and press hard? None that I can see. This > is simply irresponsible programming. Its only possible use might be as a > psychological warfare strategy against the resurgent Taliban—or dangerous > insurgent groups. A large-racked blonde repeatedly urging Afghans and angry > Iraqis to stuff themseles with fatty, processed American foods might be > just the weapon we need to win the war on terror. > Via columbina [1], “Guest Blogging: A Bourdain Throwdown [2]” Ouch. Anthony Bourdain, formerly a Food Network [3] chef, has some biting commentary on the remaining talent. And some of the comments are just as biting: > What sucks for anyone who really appreciates food is that Food Network is a > business. An advertising and affiliate sales-driven business. They have to > hire talent who will actually use the products that advertisers are buying > time to promote. And, they have to hire talent that appeals to the lowest > common denominator when it comes to cable subscribers. TVFN (Television > Food Network) has become a hybrid of WWF (World Wrestling Federation), > NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing), The View and > Friends— appealing only to people who say “hey buddy” and do finger-guns > with a wink when they meet people, and find the jokes on popsicle sticks > hilarious. > “comment [4] by DinerGirl [5]” Double ouch. [1] http://columbina.livejournal.com/69196.html [2] http://blog.ruhlman.com/2007/02/guest_blogging_.html [3] http://www.foodtv.com/ [4] http://blog.ruhlman.com/2007/02/guest_blogging_.html#comment- [5] http://www.typepad.com/t/comments?__mode=red&id=28986661 Email Sean Conner at sean@conman.org .