Man v. Food

Back in the day this show was a fun, amusing and interesting show. Adam Richman seemed to respect the people, establishments, and the food while having a lot of fun doing his job. The scary thing was you could actually see him gaining weight rapidly and you knew he couldn't do it for long. He rode off into the sunset, while getting his weight down, and they replaced him with a dullard that is his polar opposite. While Casey seems to be a genuinely nice guy, he is just too awkward and cringey to take seriously. He stares at the camera creepily and often while making moronic comments that you can see the people around him with "Wtf?" looks on their faces. The show is watchable though because of the food, most of which looks very good. While Adam beat some seriously difficult challenges in during his stint, Casey rarely comes remotely close to beating any. He won't stop talking during the challenge. Eat, you fool! Entertain us, clown!

Food fanatic Adam Richman, is the star of the show. Adam travels the country, in search of eateries, with some of the most mouth-watering cuisine. Adam has a lot of boyish charm, and an engaging sense of fun. Which no-doubt help fuel the amazing popularity, of this show.

The premise of this show, is that Adam accepts 'challenges' to see if he can finish either enormous portions of food, or food that is unbelievably spicy-hot. The catch is, Adam has to finish the food placed before him, within certain time limits-and he does. At least 90% of the time, anyhow.

For example, I've seen Adam put-away some incredibly daunting meals, such as a 72-ounce steak, complete with two side dishes And this was within one hour. Adam has always wolfed-down three dozen oysters, in under 30 minutes, devoured 16 hot dogs in 30 minutes, and blindingly-fiery-hot chicken wings, in 20 minutes.

When Adam says that he's 'just a guy with a serious appetite', he most definitely wasn't kidding! Adam is a big, burly got, but not morbidly obese, as you'd expect of somebody, who eats like Adam does for a living. He also seems to be in surprisingly good physical shape, when he runs around acting exuberant, before each food challenge.

I don't know how Adam can eat so much often greasy, fat-laden food, in one sitting. My guess, is that he starves himself, hours before each challenge. My only beef (no pun intended) with this show, is that the Travel Channnel shows too many re-runs of each episode. It would be nice, if they broadcast new episodes more often.

To me the chief appeal of this program, is that the public can pig-out vicariously, through watching Adam Richman devour so many huge, calorie-laden meals. Once, when he was gorging on a huge hot-fudge Sunday, he said'I know those of you who are watching, are jealous right now'. Most likely, he was right. Especially viewers who have to stick to their boring, taste-less, low-fat diets.

It's very easy to write off a replacement - you like an original presenter etc, and this can be wholly unfair - people are different, and sometimes that's ok. But...

Not in this case! While OTT and silly, Adam was genuinely funny, quick witted, and knew his stuff.

It's all well and good being amusing, but to also know a thing or two about your subject just elevates the premise of the show.

I have tried and tried with Casey, but he just shouts, has zero knowledge, leaves pauses like he's caught in the headlights, and just isn't funny.

Some great eateries, some amazing chefs. But a real step down in presentation. And ultimately the subject makes you want to watch, but the host just pull you in. No longer, sadly.

For a couple of years now they're showing more and more Cooking- and Food-shows on German (private) Television, something that has been lacking for quiet a few years (this is, unless you enjoy a 60-something lady cooking "Toast Hawaii", a combination of toast, ham, cheese and a slice of pineapple). Gordon Ramsays "Kitchen Nightmares", Andrew Zimmerns "Bizarre Foods", Bourdains "No Reservation", to name but a few. Among one of the more entertaining of those shows is "Man v. Food" which, in my opinion has some very positive features, but also some rather negative aspects. Let's start with the bad first: For one, Adam Richman isn't the most charismatic of presenters. Quiet the opposite: occasionally he comes across as pretty obnoxious, something between a hyped-up Frat-brother, wanna-be Hip-Hopper and a professional glutton. Sure, the variations of the concept are limited, but then again: there are only so many ways with which to stuff food into one orifice within a limited time. During the final, "challenge"-segments, it occasionally also hurts the taste-buds to see plates of food, that look definitely delicious, being so mindlessly destroyed within a limited time. But maybe that's only the food-snob within me speaking.

Which brings us to the good: Many Europeans, who have never visited the US, have the preconceived notion that Americans live on Hamburgers, Steak and the occasional fried chicken alone. Apart from the mindless gluttony of the challenges, the show gives some very nice travel-tip for outsiders, showing them that there is another world apart from McD's, Burger King and (for the obesity-conscious) Subways. "Man v. Food" gave me quiet a lengthy list of "to-dos" when I visit the States the next time and once I sit down at the Orochon-Ramen-house in Little Tokyo, I'll do so on recommendation of "Man v. Food". However, no "challenge" for me. See, I do enjoy enjoying my food and taking less than an hour for a good meal does seem like swallowing in haste.

In other words: Thanks for the recommendation, Mr. Richman, as well as for the freak-show.

As far as the more "exotic" food-shows go, I'd give it a 6/10

There are a lot of shows on television that travel to a variety of locations to show off the different foods that we can eat, but Man V. Food is far and away the best of the bunch. Host Adam Richman travels the country to find the great pig-out places all over our great land. He also tackles a food challenge in every city he visits, ranging from 15 dozen oysters in New Orleans, to a giant burger challenge in Boston, to the Don Juan Taco Challenge in Austin, Texas(You have to watch the reruns on the Travel Channel to view the winner). Sometimes the winner is man, sometimes the winner is food. No matter who reigns victorious it is still an extremely entertaining half hour, even if you are not a big fan of these types of show. What sets it apart from other shows in this category and other shows period, is the host, Adam Richman. First of all, I can say, Adam can eat. You can clearly see after watching a few episodes that he is also having a lot of fun in what I would classify as one of the top twenty jobs in the United States. He gets to travel, he gets to eat. What else can I say. Beyond that he is intelligent about food, he is extremely funny for someone who has just downed seven pounds of burger and fries, and the viewer even gets to learn a little food history. Beyond that, its just fun to sit on the couch and say "I can do that" or "There is no @#$*& way I could eat that." So if you want to watch the best show on TV right now, turn to the travel channel. And Adam, if you ever want to try the Carnivore Pizza Challenge again, Give me a call. Great show.