blondelliott

Shrieking host can't enliven this dulled-down version of Alton Brown's classic show. In the old show, anything could happen. In the new show, nothing happens.

Unphysical "shenanigans" include taking away a chef's salt or making them use a dented pan. Really? That's all you got?

They must be terrified the chefs will sue the network if they get injured. So ... why bother? What's the point to this fizzle?

Drama queen Brian Malarkey certainly doesn't help. He lacks the witty menace Brown brought. Since he is pals with Guy Fieri, my guess is Fieri is behind this yawner in an attempt to boost Malarkey's FN exposure.

As soon as they showed the contestants and judges and because the judges knew who cooked what, we knew who the winner was.

Scott Conant is a good judge but not a good host. The overall concept, what with all the medieval motif, is corny as hell.

The Asian chef can only cook Asian food but with an Asian judge that's no problem. For the noodle challenge she makes dumplings but still wins? All her dishes reminded the Asian judge of home and her childhood. Baloney.

How about a challenge that forces her to cook something Italian or Mexican or Southern?

Rigged from the getgo because of Food Network's new obsession with Asian cooks.

One of the network's worst shows with two of my unfavorite network personalities. Drummond and Jackson are both smarmy and phony as they ooh and ah about cookies.

The episode with the puppet show and the hosts pretending to be so enchanted and interested in the foolishness stupid puppet thing was nauseating.

Neither host has a real personality on camera. Phony smiling automatons without a hint of humor. They might as well be reporting on the weather. They are at the level of youtube personalities making shows by themselves in their home kitchens.

Jackson has picked up a few phrases like "warming spices" which he repeats over and over again. Drummond has no personality at all. Zero.