Comments on: News Shocker! Diversity Finally Comes to Food Network!

By: Masamba

Masamba — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 21:21:20 +0000

Great restaurant, Interstate BBQ in Memphis.

Shitty show and the Africanization of FN. This show is a piece of shit full of typical Afro-centric can’t keep it in their pants immorality. Eat shit, Neelys.

By: Mel

Mel — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 11:49:49 +0000

i understand… i just don’t like to think that producers would be that shallow… and ignorant maybe? I mean… i’m sure they know that not all “light skinned” people are actually “white”. lol

(oh yea! sorry i didn’t realize i was that late into the topic lol :D)

By: admin

admin — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 01:30:05 +0000

hey, mel… thanks so much for your comment on this post. at the time this post was written, the only sense of “diversity’ on the food network was ingrid hoffman. now (october, 2008), there are many, many more dark-skinned hosts than there were even just a few months ago. what bothered me about the choice of ingrid hoffman to represent the latino culture was that, regardless of her being born in columbia or living there now or whatever, was that she looked just like everyone else on the network at that time. i’m sure she’s from latin america. i’ve seen the show and she does use those spices/ingredients,etc. but, the greater point at the time was that it was very noticeable that the food network chose her to represent latin food b/c 1)she’s pretty and 2) she’s light-skinned (ahem, white-looking). that’s just my opinion, of course!

but, the food network has clearly realized they were very mono-chromatic b/c they have finally added much more diversity to their line up. they still have a far way to go, though!

By: Mel

Mel — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 19:30:21 +0000

Well, actually does anyone know if Ingrid Hoffman is actually colombian. It says she was raised in Colombia, and Caracao or something like that. But if thats the case, shes not necessarily “caucasian” looking. I’m colombian but I’m olive skinned and have dark hair and dark eyes. But my other Colombian friends have very much the same features as Ingrid. In Colombia, people can look very, (i hate to say(… white (blue eyes, fine nose, blonde hair)…and then you have people that are very dark skinned with course hair and of course… everyone else thats in between. I really think shes part of the “in between” kind haha. But shes also mixed thats for sure, her father is probably caucasian( Billy Hoffman)… But regardless, Shes not that bad. So what if Ingrid’s cooking isn’t 100% latino. She still uses many spices and flavors that no other show on FN really uses(because it is latino), and its more of a latino/american thing. THeres nothing wrong with that? And Flanboyant Eats makes a point, it is kinda hard with authentic hispanic dishes. Some recipes may not be too appealing to the majority of viewers, who may or may not be white/black/asian…or whatever. (Thats why we have hispanic channels, that stick more to the authenticity of hispanic dishes.) This is america, and its a melting pot of all races and cultures. So Ingrid’s Show isn’t THAT bad, her voice may be a little annoying, but other than that, i don’t mind the show.

want to hear some of the weird ingredients we (latinos) use in our dishes?

cow intestines
liver
cow udders
Morcilla (basically blood from any meat mixed with rice and shaped into a weiner form)(This is actually very colombian dish lol) I personally don’t like it lol.
tripe
pescueso (the rooster’s wattle)
chicken claws/hand thing lol
but other than that, many people find these dishes very tasty, but they certainly don’t sound very tasty.

Some other very delicious hispanic foods are really simple, and prob not “gourmet” enough, to make it on the food network lol

anyhow, I’m done.

I’ve watched FN a lot, i’ve heard of you guys mentioning PBS, at what times do cooking shows broadcast? All i ever see on PBS are Aurthur, Dragon Tales, and boring documentaries haha.

By: margaret

margaret — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 22:42:37 +0000

I really like the Neelys, but I am more excited with Aaron McCargos new show. He reminds me a bit of Curt Aikens, but with MEAT!! I love his enthusiasm and charisma and I can’t wait to see him grow with the show.

By: Swimmer Bill

Swimmer Bill — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 07:46:48 +0000

I’m not a fan of the Neelys. If I wanted to watch foreplay, I’d rent a porno video, not watch the Food Network. My feeling about their show has absolutely nothing to do with their race, but everything with the way they act on camera. I’m sure they’re lovely people in everyday life, but when I watch the show my comment is usually “get a hotel room!”

By: Danny Boy

Danny Boy — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 16:11:48 +0000

The show is horrible and corny. And this is coming from a black male who lives in Memphis. Gina comes off as extremely inauthentic and Pat is as dull as watching paint dry……….way too hen-pecked and accommodating. Actually, I think the show would be better without him. I’ve also eaten at their restaurant before. The food is average and I can’t see why Memphians make such a big fuss over it. It’s as if they feel they have to like it because he’s a “hometown boy”. I’ve gone to people’s houses and had better barbecue. Once again Memphians are portrayed inaccurately.

And people keep mentioning Paula Dean. She’s in the pocket on her show. Meaning, she comes off natural like she’s being herself. Even if she isn’t she does a good job at pretending. Neither Pat or Gina compliment one another. She’s over the top with the false persona and Pat is equivalent to a cardboard cutout.

I wish more of us (black people) could be objective about out shortcomings and not so easily offended by criticism. This show is as painful as watching one of Tyler Perry’s menstrual films.

By: Pebbles

Pebbles — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 14:30:08 +0000

Also if you people must now that the Neelys are being set up so their show maybe cancelled.See if you must forget the White peoples are the ones who write the dialogues for these shows.These shows arent being written by Blacks. (African Americans.) However it just looks like thats what were doing. They need to give them better material. SO it wont look or and sound so Iggnorant. Curtis was a beautiful person you could tell.I met him in personw hen the food channel started up he was one of the first to do the show. It was awesome. But he was illeterate and wasnt shame to let people now it.Theres white people that can read or write too. Why not work with him and help him to read he was a pleasant pleasure for that show. Loved it GIve the Neelys a chance. Also write the food newtwork channel let them now. Theyd love to hear from you. especially when you down grade the blacks..

By: Pebbles

Pebbles — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 14:19:43 +0000

I’ve been reading on the comments people been making.Unfortunetly im really offended by the comments.Especially the ones made about the Neelys. It’s ok for Paula Dean and Racheal Ray to make Hey Girlfriend and get youyr cooking on commentsbut, when it comes to our culture expressing themselves about it the urban way its out of character or its not appropiate.Come on people this is 2008. Further ore it was’nt ok for blacks to wear braids and be recognized for the are till BoDerek wore them.You people need to get a grip.Open your minds up If you were blind it wouldnt effect you in any kind of way.Thats how God sees us. All are Beatiful tohim no matter what color or nationality you are. Love one another . By the way does anyone now what happen to Curtis Atkins

By: FlaNBoyant Eats

FlaNBoyant Eats — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 16:32:06 +0000

I’m bbbaaaaaacccck. Amy, someone you calling a racist because of the white remarks you make is just insane. We’re all here to have a discussion of the lack of diversity on FN. I’m a fan, and don’t like the fact there are few, actually no one that looks like me. While I’ve yet to see the Neely’s, or Sunny and am not a huge fan of Ingrid, I understand their job. The network, producers, etc… have control over how it all looks on camera. There’s a huge element of acting going on, wether we want to accept it or not, like it or not. It’s TV ya’ll. Really. Yes, they’re there to cook and share new tricks, techniques, recipes, etc.. but ultimately TV is entertainment. Case in point: Martha Stewart’s cooking show on Fine Living. I saw all of 3 minutes by accident the other day and could not believe at what I was witnessing. It’s worse than all of FN’ “bad” cooks/chefs/shows. It was bland, boring, stale, unmoving, uninteresting, boring, boring. Probably not her fault, but the aim of it I’m sure is a PURE cooking show with no entertainment value. Could I have learned something? Sure. But I, and I bet you, couldn’t have stood to wait to learn given the lack of energy and momentum.

I’m a Latin girl who is very much a black girl too. I understand and can id with the Neely’s. Could they tone it down, sure. We all can, but when in front of the camera, you are conscious that you have millions of viewers and so you have to find a medium where most will watch and understand. The network shouldn’t do them a personal disservice if it turns out that its an uber exaggeration of their real personality. But something’s gotta give and if they’re following suit (ie, MTV, VH1, other reality shows, etc..), they know what works. Clearly something’s adding right in the accounting office: they just got a 2nd show right?

As for Ingrid not cooking latin food. You’re right. I can testify to that and I only saw it once. I’m speculating here, but what I think they’re doing is again, finding a medium that most will understand. Not everyone will get me cooking pata y panza (chick peas and tripe), which is very authentic Latin/Cuban dish. So, in order to keep the popular viewing audience (which I’m guessing is probably mostly white and not vastly exposed to many other eating cultures), they have to do something that will still come off as “Latin”, be appealing and “exotic”. Unfortunately, this means sacrificing authenticity. So, I don’t blame her fully, unless of course she’s creating the menu’s herself, in which case, shame on her!

IN any case, I’m down for being the real soulful Latin chick on the network that would do real Latin and fusion, so as to allow for everyone to feel welcome and interested!

I’ll be back!