I hate The Food Network. That's not to say I hate cooking shows - I loved The Frugal Gourmet (before he was wrongfully accused of molesting an intern). I also liked The Cajun Chef and even The Galloping Gourmet - and, of course, Julia Child. These shows actually showed you how to cook - they were fun, but also instructional. Today, we don't get instruction from The Food Network. We get reality shows and genuflecting at the altar of Almighty Food.
Shows like "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" just revel in the splendor of food. Oooooo, doesn't that look deeelish! (ugh) They look like their having full-on orgasms when they taste a freaking reuben! It's a sandwich for chrissakes. I might be interested in learning how to cook it, so as to eat it myself; but, I damn sure am not going to sit and watch you wet yourself over it.
Admittedly, during the daytime, The Food Network actually is okay. The shows seem to make an attempt at education. However, in the evening it all goes to hell. Sadly, these are their most popular programs, and so the real blame lands on the stupid f***ing public who seem to lap this garbage up. Justin Wilson and Jeff Smith would be woefully out of place on Food Network primetime, I'm sad to say.