Fishbowl New York is reporting that negotiations between celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse and Food Network have gotten nowhere and he won't be returning to the cable channel. The last day of taping for his show is December 11, though reruns will continue on the network, probably forever.
First Sara Moulton, then Mario Batali, now Emeril. I can't say I'll be sorry to see him go though. I'm sure he's a nice guy, but his Emeril Live show is unwatchable. I mean, come on, a live studio audience and a band? That's just ridiculous. The audience has orgasms every time he mentions that he's going to put garlic into a recipe, and applauds when he adds alcohol. And his "oh yeah, babe" is even more annoying than his "bam!" I'm sure he'll pop up on TV some place else.
Who will be next to go? Alton Brown? Sandra Lee? Bobby Flay? Nah, I say all of those people stay on for a long time.
Update: Food Network e-mailed Serious Eats to say that only Emeril Live is ending. Lagasse will continue to do the audience and band-free Essence of Emeril on the network.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
11-26-2007 @ 2:46PM
Hank said...
Alton goes, I go. He's the only thing I watch on that channel. I love knowing why beans make you fart. Thank you, Mr. Brown.
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11-26-2007 @ 2:49PM
Akbar Fazil said...
I too love Alton but I fear Good Eats is getting near its end. How much more can he really do? More and more shows have been more recipie/cooking and less food science. Many episodes of this last season have been very lackluster. The fact that he has done two successful Feasting on Asphalt shows and MC of Iron Chef just proves more to me that GE is slowing down.
As for Emeril, no big loss. The man is a bore.
IIRC, Mario is still on ICA so he isn't fully gone from the network.
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2-06-2008 @ 2:29PM
Jutta said...
I was very upset that Emeril Live was taken off. I used to watch the Food Network station, but not any longer. I prefer Create, and the offerings on WLIW, PBS.
11-26-2007 @ 3:21PM
Ed said...
Oh just great. As much as Emerile was annoying, at least he taught you how to cook. Pretty soon the Food Network will be full of programs on cake decorating contests and barbecue cookoffs. Yawn!
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11-26-2007 @ 3:31PM
ac said...
I ate at his restaraunt once. Best meal ever. Loved the appetizers.
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11-26-2007 @ 3:33PM
Oreo said...
Essence of Emeril is good, Emeril Live sucks.
I didn't even know Sara Moulton left, I liked her.
And I was wondering what happened to Mr. Mario, because they replaced him on Iron Chef.
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11-26-2007 @ 4:06PM
Fabrice said...
'The audience has orgasms every time he mentions that he's going to put garlic into a recipe'
That line made me laugh. Funny stuff ;-)
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11-26-2007 @ 6:07PM
Victor said...
I liked Emeril and went to his Orlando restaurant because of knowing him from Food Network. I can only say that the Food network put this guy on the map and if he left because they coudn;t pay him enough then shame on him. If it wasn't for this network, I bet he would not be nearly as popular. I know I never would have gomne to his restaurant. I probably would have gone to Margaretaville.
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11-26-2007 @ 6:37PM
Allan said...
been to his restaurant in New Orleans called NOLA great food and presentation
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11-26-2007 @ 7:20PM
leo satter said...
I really like Emeril Lagasse. I wish I could cook like him...dont we all though? LOL! I know this is off the topic, but Just out of curiosity....Does anyone know where I can get quality ingredients online? I am trying to order from online stores only because of various reasons.......can anyone send any suggestions my way??????
These are the places I have tried:
delivery.com
celebrityfoods (which was the best out of the 4 by the way)
dinewise.com
seamlessweb.com
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11-26-2007 @ 10:23PM
eugene said...
I couldn't stand his show, but my mother in-law loved that show.
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11-27-2007 @ 9:01AM
Philip said...
He's been gone from Food Network Canada for a while now, and I can't say I was sad to see him go. I just find his TV persona to be so acerbic and grating, it wouldn't matter if his food were the best in the world!
Can also go at any time, please: Jamie Oliver.
Needs to stay: Tyler Florence, Dave Lieberman.
Needs to get his show on Food Network USA (I don't think it's shown there yet): Heston Blumenthal ("In Search of Perfection")
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11-27-2007 @ 4:57PM
lori said...
The food Network did not make Emeril Legasse, Emeril made the foodnetwork. He is the one who put them on the map and it is a shame they are now not willing to give him what he wants. Emeril was extremely popular before the food network was on air.
His restaurants are phenomonal. He knows his stuff and taught all of us who were willing to learn and it was fun.
I will watch him wherever he is.
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1-03-2008 @ 6:12PM
Tom said...
AMEN!!!! Regardless of the criticisms, he knows what he is doing and the live audience is no different from the live audiences of so many famous chefs before him... on TV as well as in restaurants. He should continue as long as he has air to breathe. So glad they are at least keeping Essence of Emeril, but wish they had both. Thanks for being one of the very few to write in support of him Lori.
1-08-2008 @ 3:56PM
Lou Lenci said...
I go along with you in your comments. I really enjoy his show. An as for his Bam, another notch. That is a part of the man. Where ever he shows up, I will be watching.
1-08-2008 @ 6:17PM
Mary said...
You took the words right out of my mouth.. Emeril IS the food network and the only " original chef " on the the network. I have met him on sereral occasions and his enegery and zest is almost contagious. I agree 110%
11-27-2007 @ 6:37PM
Mark said...
Sad Sad Day for the Food Network. Emeril Live is a great show. Giada, Flay, Batali, ICA, all great. But there are so many other shows that could be cut. Dont cut one of the best on the Network.
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11-28-2007 @ 4:18PM
Hilda Pezzotti said...
This is the end of the Food Network for me. They have lost me as a viewer. First Mario Batali and now Emeril. The truth of the matter is probably that the Network is hurting for money and won't admit it. There's no doubt in my mind that another network will pick them up. What a stab is the back for Emeril. They forgot so quickly that he put them on the "map".
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11-29-2007 @ 9:27AM
Carol said...
Emeril, the old stand by......he's great....why not get
rid of "Iron Chef" yuck, and all those contest shows.
Is Food Network competing with all the reality shows.
Bring back Jullia Child.......Rachel, she's a little much at
times, and other than Guy I turn the channel when the
"new"chefs" come on......Go Emeril........and long live
Paula
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12-01-2007 @ 6:24PM
Marion said...
How sad. Emeril built the house. Now you "bite the hand that feeds you". Shame on you! Many people, including me, have picked up many cooking points just watching the show, not to mention the entertainment value of the live audience & the interchanges between him & his guests & the band. Cliche - maybe, but oh so light hearted, informative & so much fun. You should keep Emeril & get rid of all those travel shows. I for one prefer to learn to cook regional dishes from seasoned chefs as opposed to viewing the locales & listening to a host/hostess expound on their impressions & discoveries. Please return to being a cooking instructural network & stop trying to be all things to all people. Seems to me continuing along this present path might just be a Rx for annihilation!
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