Feb 02 2007
Even Stupider TV
What is the attraction of idiot hosts on TV shows? The list goes on and on (Paige Davis on Trading Spaces comes to mind — though to be fair, the perky, mindless Paige was the least annoying character on that show), but why would you have a food show with an idiot host who knows nothing about food — or at least pretends to know nothing about food on the food show?
I’m referring to Mark DeCarlo of the Travel Channel’s Taste of America.
It’s not a food show like you see on the Food Network. DeCarlo goes from place to place lamely trying to be funny as he tries local foods. Yesterday, the TC broadcast an episode where he goes to Lancaster County (as in Pennsylvania Dutch Pennsylvania) for the Fall Farm Days celebration.
He made a complete ass of himself — even more than usual.
First, he made cracks and faces at the thirteen year-old girl who was working in the slaughter house. It seems DeCarlo never knew that pork came from hogs, or that hogs have to be killed and butchered to put that pork roast in the store where he shops. Not little cracks, either. Fairly nasty ones, and he was amazed that the 13 year-old girl (she wasn’t Amish, by the way) wasn’t disgusted by the whole thing.
Then, he outdid himself in the idiot department by watching the men make sausages, and remarking how gross it was that they were using hog intestine. What the hell did he think sausage casings were, anyway?
Finally, he managed to even make an ass of himself when he “helped” make apple butter. First, when he found out how much labor went into peeling and slicing the apples (they have to make a lot), he made a nasty crack about how they should use machines — in Pennsylvania Dutch country. Then, he asked when they were going to put the butter in — really, he did.
What a frakking idiot — worse, an idiot who thinks he’s cute.
4 responses so far
4 Responses to “Even Stupider TV”
I agree WHOLEHEARTEDLY. I only saw that program once, and that was enough. It was an episode on Alaska, in particular, eating moose. As a hunter and someone who dreams of one day living in Alaska, I was quite interested. But he ruined it with his cheesy jokes-lamely executed-and his obvious disgust over the whole process.
If you want to be ignorant as to what goes into making your food, fine-stay that way. But don’t start a show to look into it and then be condescending and insulting about every process.
Sausage casings are made from WHAT?!
I’m sorry, I had no idea.
Yup, hog intestine. It’s paper thin and has no flavor. Did you think the casings were made from lettuce?
I guess she doesn’t want a lesson on how to make bologna either.