Alex Vs. America

Now we need a female version of Beat Bobby Flay. Nothing against Alex, but why do we need another Food Network retread? Why do we need yet another cooking competition? Here's an idea...go back to the ole days when Julia Child or Emeril Lagasse actually showed us how to cook. The Food Network has just become a parody of itself.

I'm an Alex Guarnaschelli fan to start with, and this is a fun showcase for her genius. Yes, it has some elements of other cooking competitions, but it's different enough to be interesting, e.g., contestants who are experts in certain cuisines competing against each other and Alex. Chef Adjepong makes a knowledgeable, well-spoken host, but it's hard to tear my eyes off him to look at the food. He's distractingly gorgeous. Alex maintains a nice balance between acknowledging her own talents and those of her guests. I'm hooked.

Seriously, each episode has someone on as a challenger who cooks something that in no universe imaginable would Alex have cooked, whether it's niche Mexican, authentic Asian, etc. So right away they no which one dish Alex DIDN'T make.

Why the Food Network continues to try and force feed her on the viewers is bizarre. She has no appeal from a TV show standpoint. Probably a great chef she just has absolutely no star quality. They've bounced her around on a dozen shows and she never lasts.

As much as I like Alex, there is nothing new here. It's an amalgam of other shows. Also the host a bit lost and boring. Hopefully, it will improve as the season progresses.