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Time, they say, heals all wounds. In the hopes that we've all forgotten his cringe-worthy 2001 attempt at sitcom stardom, Emeril Lagasse is returning to prime time.
Okay, so his new employer, Ion TV, isn't really a network -- it's more one of those weird pseudo-networks that takes over a local channel and shows incessant repeats of "The Ghost Whisperer." And Emeril never really left our living rooms: He still graces the upper digits of our basic cable subscription on the Fine Living channel, hosts something called "Emeril Green" on the Planet Green network and just a few weeks ago he was Mario Batali's right-hand-man on the extra-special "Iron Chef America" White House challenge.
But judging by the description of Emeril's new gig, it seems the Cajun chef is jonesing to elbow in on Rachael Ray territory -- as if to remind us that he is, indubitably, king of the kitchen catchphrase.
Every Sunday starting March 28, Emeril will "break news and break bread" with celebrity guests, cooking, chatting and shooting the breeze. Whether the "news" involves a heated, Bill Maher-style debate over socialized medicine or a frank discussion of the merits of smoky paprika, we can only speculate. But we're pretty sure Emeril will ace the bread portion of his prime-time exam.
This is the whole nine yards of gab-fests: An audience, a live band, filmed "street" segments in Manhattan and the promise of pop stars, celebutantes, actors and other guests. In other words, it's more or less what he's always done, but with less okra and more talking. On the Ellen-Martha spectrum, this should put him somewhere closer to the Stewart end of the scale, although it remains to be seen if he will, say, reprimand Lindsay Lohan for partying too much and not eating enough. And should he aspire to Ellen-like levels of charisma, we beg of him: Please, don't dance.
Martha, not coincidentally, is the mastermind producer behind the new "Emeril Lagasse Show," something she announced with much fanfare on her show yesterday -- with Emeril standing by, sheepishly. "You know, it's been a long time," he admitted. The world of cheflebrities in 2010 is a competitive place indeed -- has the zeitgeist passed him by entirely?
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1-22-2010 @5:30PM Steven Ruza said... Never watched, maybe I'll give it a shot! - Steven Ruza
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1-22-2010 @3:21PM Nati Jay said... AWESOME!!!! Saw EMERIL on Food Network for the Super Iron Chef Battle. Really wish he was back on Food Network, but atleast he's back on prime time TV. He really was the original pioneer to begin that interactive cooking show experience. Food Network TV personalities like Bobby Flay and Guy Fieri have all been influence by the work and personality that is Emeril. He set the bar and the stars of today have taken what he has accomplished and created a new wave of Celebrity Chefs.
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1-24-2010 @1:12PM SEANEEN said... I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT HE HAS IN STORE FOR US. I LOVE HIS WITT AND HIS PASSION FOR THE FOOD HE COOKS. GOOD LUCK, I WILL WATCH YOU WITH A FULL STOMACH THOUGH, AS HE ALWAYS INSPIRES ME TO COOK.
1-23-2010 @2:36PM Me said... Emeril is NOT a Cajun chef. He was the executive chef at Commanders Palace in New Orleans. N.O. is NOT Cajun, but Creole. Cajuns come from Acadiana. Lafayette, LA is the hub of this area.
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1-23-2010 @4:24PM ron said... So what and who cares
1-24-2010 @10:31AM patrick douglass said... thanks for the Bio, someone once told me he is from Boston
1-23-2010 @2:39PM sharon said... Emeril Is a chef. a darn good one. Id prefer to see him on a better network, but hey, all good things come to those who wait
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1-23-2010 @2:46PM Jean said... I started watching the food network when he had a show and the line up was great. If I saw a recipe I liked I could print it right then - now the food network has shows that cater to the younger generation ; So I have found other food shows just like he has.
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1-23-2010 @8:06PM Dori said... Jean, I want to disagree w/ you. The food nework doesn't cater to shows for the "younger generation", we are never to old to try new recipes.
1-23-2010 @3:44PM PEPPA said... EMERIL SEEMS TO BE SUCH A NICE MAN. I WISH HIM WELL, BUT CONCERN OVER HIS WEIGHT IS TROUBLING.
I WOULDN'T WANT TO SEE HIM GO THE WAY A FEW PAST CHEFS DID...BECAUSE OF THEIR WEIGHT.
BEST WISHES
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1-23-2010 @7:24PM martha said... I saw him last week in a restaurant in New Orleans and he was looking good. He has obviously lost some weight.
1-25-2010 @10:37AM Thomas said... Emeril is not Cajun OR Creole- he is from Massachusetts- started by cooking Portugese food- His New Orleans "accent" is an affectation-
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1-23-2010 @4:05PM PEPPA said... NOT THAT ANY ONE CARES,.... BUT THE ONLY SHOW I WATCH ON THE FOOD NETWORK IS GUY FIERI' SHOWS.
THE FOCUS IS ON > REAL< PEOPLE WHO CAN COOK CIRCLES AROUND THOSE SO CALLED CHEFS, and, IT'S HOSTED BY A > REAL < GUY. NO PUN INTENDED.
MEALS PREPARED BY REGULAR PEOPLE (who work harder than we can imagine,)
THEY ARE THE ONES WHO DESERVE THE APPLAUSE, AND, NOT THE CONCEITED POMPOUS A$$ES LIKE YOU SEE ON THE F. N . !!!!!!!!!!!!!
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1-23-2010 @4:06PM PEPPA said... FORGOT ;0(.... MR. FIERI IS ONE HELL OF A CHEF. KUDOS SIR !
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1-23-2010 @4:09PM nick said... This is great. Want to know when NBC is going to fire Veria and Keith Olbermann for that smart ass remarks against SEN SCOTT BROWN, what a bunch of morons these left leaning progressive DEMOCRATS are, this is why the folks are pessed!!!!
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1-23-2010 @6:34PM Laura said... And what, on earth, do NBC and Democrats have to do with Emeril getting a new show? Please get a life.
1-23-2010 @4:12PM Dean said... Never understood why people want to watch someone cook.To each his own I guess.
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1-26-2010 @8:38AM Karen said... I am a chef and I still love to watch the Food Network. My family swears that out TV only gets channels that have something to do with food. If you aren't into cooking (or eating new things) then watching someone cook is probably not for you. But......watching someone cook something may just inspire you to get into the kitchen and try your own twist on a dish that they are demonstrating. So many recipes can be made so many different ways to please different tastes. I say to each his or her own...watch shows that interest you, but give something new a shot and you may be surprised.
1-23-2010 @6:40PM debbie mayberrie said... here here...My son's dad is a chef and pompous self absorbed deadbeat dad and he lives in New Orleans too!
1-23-2010 @4:27PM Ginger said... Good Luck to you Emeril ! I too remember watching you in the beginning. Loved you then and still love you now ! I will watch your new show when it begins as I hope to be able to make more good meals from them. . You are a great chef to me !!!
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