Everyday since the premiere back on May 13, hits for variations on AB being mean, rude, nasty, an asshole, and/or a pompous ass on the show have lit up keyword search terms.  Having not looked at it once, I don’t know if Alton is being that way or is a victim of editing like with the coddled egg and Michael Chiarello on Next Iron Chef.  Nevertheless, a lot of people are seeing him as either a meanie or a curmudgeon.

Apparently on the past episode (May 27), he yelled at one of his mentees and told co-host Giada de Laurentiis not to touch him.  So that must have sent the searches into overdrive.

Insert sigh here.

I’m not sure what’s going on with the show since I vowed not to watch.  No matter how much I adore Alton and support him, seeing other people live out my dream is just too hard to bear.  I would have given just about anything to be on Team Alton and have him be my mentor.  When he said he picked people who wouldn’t have a shot at FN otherwise, my heart sank even more because how else is a girl from the mountains of West Virginia going to get a shot?  I hoped against hope he would’ve liked me enough to help me out too.  Actually, I’ve asked him to be my mentor before all of the FNS nonsense but he never answered me.  I guess that was a no.

Anyway, reading some of his tweets during the filming of FNS and while the show airs, his own blog post on the matter, the fact that he admitted to crying during a part of the show, and some of the recaps from others discussing his demeanor, it is obvious he did not have much fun doing this program.  While I empathize with working a job you are unhappy in, I also don’t have much else to say because knowing if he had picked me, his team would have been assured the winner, someone who would have taken every ounce of his advice to heart and used it, and nice person to give support him for what he’s doing for all of us as well–not just looking out for myself to win to contest.

Just what I’ve gathered from second-hand sources, seeing Alton in this season of FNS would’ve been very hard to watch.  In past seasons, when he’s been on for one or two episodes, some people have called him similar things but this time it seems he’s fairing worse than ever.

Sad, because if you ever get the chance to met and talk with him, you don’t see him negatively.  Even a few weeks ago when I saw him, despite the number of times he’s blocked me on twitter and the fact that I feel he doesn’t like that I do this fansite, he was wonderful and gracious to me.  At one point while I was talking with him, someone from the event came over and told me to move it along and not to hold up the line (even though I was next to last in line and mostly only people left to met him were the event staff). Alton put his hand on my back and told the woman,  “no, it’s ok.”

He didn’t rush me away, even when he had the opportunity.  That more than anything tells you about his character.  Why would he still talk with me knowing I was holding up others getting a chance to met him?  Was that being arrogant? Was that being a prick?  I suppose you could argue that he was making up his rules but he was doing that for someone else, not himself.  So, that really isn’t what a jerk does now, is it?

While I may not be pulling for any of his team members to win, I will always be a loyal to Alton.   And still hope someday, he may want to stop by the site and read something I’ve written or take me up on the webmaster offer or mentor proposal or give me that interview.  Until then…

–Lisa, Team Alton since 2001.

Cost for the ticket is $125.  They go on sale for holders of Master Cards on June 11 and the general public on June 25.  For more information visit the official site of the 2012 NYCWFF

Something this grand makes even this country girl want to head to the Big Apple.

Just about every time I see him, I bring a small gift.  Usually just something as a little token of thanks.  However, this time I had a major stroke of genius.  Since I’m a knitter and one of his favorite Doctors is number 4, I just had to make a scarf.  I’ve wanted to knit one for a few years but didn’t really have a reason to do it–until now.

So I headed over to a website that carefully recreated patterns from the show.  I selected the original, season 12 version to make and began a 55 hour labor to make this 11 foot replica.

Once finished with the making of the scarf, it was only a matter of time until I could give it to Alton.  Luckily, the International Biscuit Festival came along and Knoxville just happens to be one of my favorite town ever AND it did not violate my “no more events north of the Mason-Dixon Line” rule.

So with the event in place, the scarf knitted everything was ready.  After Alton’s wonderful lecture on biscuits (more on that later) I waited near the end of the meet and greet to talk with him and hand the scarf over.

I felt a little odd standing in line holding a rolled up scarf that was the size of a small pillow in its rolled up state, but I did.  As I was walking to Alton, I noticed he noticed this thing I was holding.  I told him I had something for him, which he relied, “You always have something for me.”

After I told Alton that I had a replica Dr Who scarf I knitted for him, he took it and unfolded then said, “You made this from scratch?” (What I was thinking, but didn’t say: Ok it is a biscuit festival so “making it from scratch” would be the appropriate lingo here–I suppose)

I said, “Yes Alton, I’m a knitter.”  He looked at me and didn’t say anything.  I then started rambling that I wanted a photo of him wearing the scarf.  He promptly said he wasn’t going to wrap it twice (like the Dr).  He put it on and stood back with his hands on his hips.  Unfortunately, the photographer for the event didn’t take a body shot of AB wearing it.  I wanted to show the whole scarf from head to toe.  But I did get this:

And, of course, every Doctor needs his companion…

This morning, AB appeared on Good Morning America making banana’s foster.  If you missed it, the link is here: AB on GMA

Sunday will begin the next round of Food Network Star, which has never been a favorite show of mine.  This year it’s million times worse because I tried out for the show, didn’t get picked to be on Alton’s team.  So, as with tradition, I will not be watching… sorry Alton.

Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, April 13 at all Tickets Unlimited outlets and the Tennessee Theatre box office at 865-684-1200 or through www.tennesseetheatre.com

Of course it wouldn’t worth a damn if playing with movie photos and I not include Jaws, a film he referred to a enumerable times on Good Eats, in the mix.
And fans know Alton’s desire to be a suave, martini drinking spy:

After Food Network Star premiers, more people may see him this way:

Finally, although not a movie, something else Mr. Brown would love to be:

Frankly, I’m sad to see this radical change in format because this time I decided to try-out for the program and it would have been the perfect match having Alton mentor me in person.  I have considered him my culinary mentor for 12 years and to have the opportunity to serve under his tutelage would have be one of my biggest dreams.  Alas, I was not picked.  Therefore, I highly doubt I will be watching other people getting to live my dream.

For those interested, here’s the promo for the show:

Tickets for Buffalo State students are $5 and go on sale Monday, March 26 (one student ticket per ID). Remaining tickets are $25 and go on sale April 4.

All tickets are available through the Performing Arts Center at Rockwell Hall box office: In person for students; online or at (716) 878-3005 for the general public.

Shortly after the question, Good Eats trended on Twitter!

I don’t know about anyone else, even AB, but that really made me happy.  Especially for Alton.  It was gratifying to see the show trend because I know, one, how much care he put into creating it over the years and, two, how special it is to him.  It must be really amazing to see your small dream blossom into a large and rewarding thing.

Honestly, he had many, many more years of topics and foods to explore.  One of the fantastic things about the show was it never got stagnant.  Alton never just relied on what he taught us once before or what he assumed we should know from watching “another episode.”

So, in leaving it behind this has to be very, very difficult time for Alton.  My hope is that he knows the impact GE had on people, how much it is loved by so many, and that others will continue to “discover” it throughout the years.  Each one of us who call ourselves GE fans have myriad reasons to love it; however, most would agree if not for Alton himself the show wouldn’t be the same. He is the heart and soul of it and will always be Mr. Good Eats.

Sadly, that can be a blessing and a curse to be universally adored but to have your identity so closely wrapped up in one thing.  Which, I’m sure AB is discovering now judging from the responses about ending Good Eats.  From hearing him talk as the show ended, he seemed ready to go head on into something new and exciting with his Food Files program.  This concept is a perfect match for him and I hope the powers that be at Food Network allow him the opportunity to broaden the channel’s current offerings.  Lord knows that change is much needed.  Most of what they program of late have been reality shows, cupcakes and well… crap.  I want a fresh and intelligent show and I know AB is just the person to make it!  And for as much as I love GE, it is always great to have something new as well.

I hope he will get to break away from his GE identity and bring his fans some fresh and fun projects.