Dinner Time Live with David Chang

I love David Chang thanks to reading the books by the late great Anthony Bourdain. I also loved Emeril Live! On Food Network back in the day, but not as much as dining at his restaurant NOLA a couple of times, drool. So having said that, this live show feels like a brilliant culmination of both. Completely enjoyed both guests on the first episode and looking forward to more.if you've listened to Dave's audiobook you already have a good idea of his personality with the sharp wit and somewhat self-deprecating mood swings. The live show definitely keeps him on his toes, making him sweat a bit literally and figuratively while charming his guests. I hope this succeeds.

Man, it's such an awkward show.

First off, maybe it needs some music or live band (there's a reason why talk shows employ them). I do understand that calls for huge fees. Even the cooking is missing some sizzling, smokes... sounds and pizzazz to make live shows interesting.

Or maybe it can use some funny animation effects to liven things up. Or stage this in a private area in a real restaurant so that we can still see the buzz in the background. I understand that Netflix might want to minimize any unexpected incidents.

Never been so thankful for a relatively funny extra guest - Chris Ying - to show up midway to provide comedic relief with close-ups of mistakes and commentary.

And David Chang seems a bit nervous. It's the first attempt in pioneering something, I get it. But since the premise is already being casual and entertaining and not being worried about screwing things up, why not just... be more relaxed. He doesn't even have to take the guests' questions seriously (even though I know he has a reputation as a famous chef to keep). On top of that, to spell out how difficult it is to do something that's meant to be entertaining? Maybe get a sous chef? Or at least a buffoon archetype?

It's just so, so dry as it is. Even a decent mukbang featuring no one well-known is more watchable. Thankfully Steven Yeun and Rashida Jones are easygoing guests. Will things get better? Hope so.

Absolutely love this series. David's face when a guest has just blown the f-bomb budget Hilarious!!!

Also great when the guests get to cook along, sooo funny. "Are you even trying?"

Netflix need to keep this going as long as possible! Fantastic. Love the cook at home recipes too. Downside, makes me hungry watching, get the popcorn in.

Chris Ying "voice of the internet" attempts to keep things on course which actually makes it funnier and David desperately trying to talk about the menu and avoid marital strife with awkward questions from the guests. Will definitely be trying out many of these recipes.

Overall, I've enjoyed it more than I disliked it.

I enjoy the concept. Cooking/meal prep with elements of dinner conversation. The food looks delicious, and it definitely caught my attention.

When it comes to the dinner guests, the mileage greatly varies depending on who the guests are.

Some guests are fun and have entertaining conversations. Rashida and Steven were a great example. Terry Crews and Fortune Feimster were an entertaining duo, too.

Other guests shift the dynamic of the show. Some of the conversations become a bit too low-brow and end up being off-putting. I appreciate that variety is the spice of life, but a little goes a long way.

I'll keep an eye on future guests to see whom I'd like to watch, but I worry it'll become very hit and miss.

*Updated* I'm updating my review because I think I was unfair to a new show that was finding its groove and I believe this show has found it. David Chang is really interesting to watch and listen to and I love that he explains why he does something with the food but he's not actually teaching how to cook.

The format of the show is similar to a podcast as compared to traditional talk shows that give you between 7 to 12 minutes with guests that are only there doing a quick shallow promotion of their recent work. But the guests on this show stay for the entire show so they have actual conversations. This is how a evening with good friends is like.

* * * (Previous review) I enjoyed the episodes with Steven Yuen/Rashida Jones, Fortune Feimster/Terry Crews, Iliza Schlesinger/Paul Scheer. It's like a talk show with guests and they're having a good conversation, sharing thoughts, opinions, and experiences.

However, I really did not enjoy the episodes with Nick Kroll/john Mulaney and the most recent one with Seth Rogen/Ike Barinholtz. It's like watching a bunch of guys in high school cracking jokes and making innuendos, snide remarks, and just being obnoxious. I'm a guy and I get it..but these episodes were not interesting or entertaining watching them guffaw, snort, chuckle, with outbursts of shouting over each other. The food in the episode with Seth/Ike was actually disgusting and not creative. David Chang just scooped gobs of caviar on everything, including pizza, like he was too stoned to cook.