by Allen Salkin
cancellation of, 233, 235
cohosts of, 45–47, 52–53
hard news of, 46, 66, 118–19
pre-launch practice episode of, 63–65
refocus as entertainment program, 135, 210, 232
Forgione, Larry, 84, 87–88
$40 a Day, 281
The French Chef, 48, 67–68, 167
Fresh Food Fast, 389
Gaines, Jim, 53–54
Gardner, Frank, 175, 176, 276
Gardner, Gayle, 66
Garten, Ina, 294–300, 310, 394–96, 405, 419–20
Garten, Jeffrey, 295, 300
Genzlinger, Neil, 280
Getting Healthy, 62–63
Gibson, Cynthia, 415
Gilbe, Peter, 150–51
Giosia, Nadia, 405
Girard, Judy
on David Ruggerio’s arrest, 204
instructional programming of, 280–81
on Paula Deen, 279, 286
personal habits of, 230–31
personnel and programming changes, 234–35, 241–43, 246, 312, 316, 357
positions at Food Network, 229–30, 231–32, 324
prime-time entertainment programming of, 240–45, 305
on Rachael Ray, 246, 266
on Anthony Bourdain, 308–9
widening of Food Network’s appeal, 234, 246, 275, 322
Goldman, Duff, 345–46
Good Eats, 206–9, 217, 224, 241, 309
Goodman, Walter, 92
Gordon, Shep
backstory of, 79–82
Big Feast on the Beach festival, 93–95, 171
Emeril’s brand of spices and, 89, 95, 260, 262–63
meeting of Emeril, 82–83
Tamales’ brand of chilies and, 122
vision for marketing of chefs, 79, 83–88
Gore, Rich, 170–71, 190
Greene, Gael, 102, 399
Greenspan, Dorie, 63
Griffin, Jim, 5–7, 259, 261–63, 280, 316, 355
Grillin’ and Chillin’, 124–25
Griscom, Nina, 71–73, 138
Gruen, Erica
accomplishments as Food Network CEO, 193–94
changes in programming personnel, 156, 157–59
defense of Food Network programming, 167
on Emeril’s value to network, 145–46, 154–56
entertainment-driven prime-time formula of, 187
on network operations and production values, 156–57
on porn during Too Hot Tamales, 148
position as Food Network CEO, 142–44, 182–83, 194
on Two Fat Ladies, 151, 152
Guy, Pat, 341, 371
Guy’s Big Bite, 340, 362
Gyoury, Chris, 206–7
Hale, Mark, 179
Hall, Steven, 139
Hanover, Donna, 45–47, 52–53, 63, 232–33, 235
Harris, Betty, 116, 133–34, 144
Hayes, Darlene, 163–64
Hendra, Tony, 48–49, 66
Hesser, Amanda, 192–93
HGTV, 132–33, 173, 174–75, 218, 357
Hiers, Earl “Bubba,” 412
Hoban, Phoebe, 92
Hodes, Jason, 330, 342
Hoffmann, Shelley, 374, 375–76
Hostetter, Amos, Jr., 38
Hot Off the Grill, 189, 241
How to Boil Water, 8, 53–55, 57–59, 76–77
Huffman, Sue
on Emeril’s value to network, 78
ownership stake in Food Network, 45, 221
positions at Food Network, 42–44, 45, 156
power and authority of, 73–74
on recipe testing, 112, 126
role in Julia Child’s Food Network appearances, 44–45, 68, 193
In Food Today. See Food News and Views (later In Food Today)
In the Kitchen (ITK) (formerly “Cooking School”)
celebrity appearances on, 286, 290, 300, 357, 392
instructional programming of, 280–81, 302
name change of, 294
ratings and viewership of, 323, 341, 392, 413
smartphone app, 408
target audience of, 302
Iron Chef (Japan)
concept and format of, 196–97
dubbed broadcast on Food Network, 198–203, 216
Flay-Morimoto battle, 236, 238–40
Japanese crew in New York, 236–38
Japanese pride in, 199–200, 203, 239, 240
subtitled airing in U.S., 197–98
Iron Chef America, 5–6, 312–14, 324–25, 332–33, 393
Iron Chef USA (UPN network), 312–13
Irvine, Robert
Dinner: Impossible, 365, 369–71, 381–82
falsified résumé of, 366, 367, 369–71
fan loyalty to, 394
pitch to Mark Summers, 363–64
Restaurant: Impossible, 382, 394
Restaurant Express, 411
superhero-like appearance of, 364–65
ITK. See In the Kitchen (ITK) (formerly “Cooking School”)
Jackson, Jesse, 418
Jackson, Lisa, 412
Jackson, Richie, 188
Jay, Sarah, 73
Johnson, Brooke
analytical approach of, 3, 314, 325, 328, 350
cancellation of Emeril Live, 4–5, 352–53
Cooking Channel spin-off, 384–86, 388
Iron Chef America concept of, 312–14
The Next Food Network Star concept of, 333–34
positions at Food Network, 310, 312, 324
prime-time strategy of, 325–26, 391
programming department restructuring of, 310–11
with Rachael Ray, 323–24
on Robert Irvine’s falsified résumé, 370
as Scripps consultant, 309–12
skepticism concerning Food Network, 310
sponsorship of SOBE festival, 360
on Top Chef (Bravo) as rival, 343
on unrealized profit opportunities, 311, 341
Johnson, Steve, 207
Johnson & Wales (J&W) University, 17–18, 27, 34, 411
Kafka, Barbara, 66
Kaga, Takeshi, 197, 236, 312
Kanemitsu, Osamu, 196–97
Karlin, Keira, 75
Katz, Karen, 164–65, 166, 327
Kretchmer, Jerry, 101–2
Kuharsky, Sergei, 368
Lacob, Jace, 381
Ladner, Mark, 314, 350
Lagasse, Emeril. See also Emeril Live
agent representation of, 260–62, 355
backstory of, 55–56, 213–14
broadcast rights, 155–56, 341, 354
on cancellation of Emeril Live, 5–8, 352–55
control over image and show, 89–91, 163, 193
Emeril and Friends, 77
Essence of Emeril, 4, 7, 78, 89–91, 316
failures in television, 58–59, 76–77, 264–65, 279–80
Fresh Food Fast (Cooking Channel), 389
How to Boil Water, 8, 54–55, 57–59, 76–77
instinct of, 56, 57, 82–83, 90, 166
with Julia Child, 56–57, 58
on New York restaurant critics, 399
on Rachael Ray, 275
responsiveness to fans, 141–42, 144–47, 166
seriousness about cooking, 55–56, 163, 193, 317
showmanship of, 90, 142, 165–66, 192, 231, 339
spice brand of, 89, 95, 262–63
Super Bowl sweepstakes promotion of, 169–70
as Top Chef (Bravo) judge, 408
value to network of, 2, 14
1, 154–55, 316–17
LaManna, Ross, 389–90
Land, Mady, 25, 29, 53–55, 57–58, 75, 76
Lando, Brian, 381
Langhan, Joe
background in cable programming, 9–12
on Belo Corporation’s distaste for cable, 176
creativity of, 9–12, 21, 39, 183, 185, 421
Emeril’s live-audience proposal, 141–42, 147
on Emeril’s value to network, 146, 154–55
food channel concept and launch of, 17–23, 27, 33–34, 59, 61, 117, 221
Food Network website of, 97–98
on low production values at Food Network, 157
mission to create cable channel, 15–17
ownership stake in Food Network, 39, 184–85
proceeds from Reese Schonfeld buyout, 221
production position at Food Network, 39, 42, 156–58, 162–63, 183–84
quiet and unimposing nature of, 12–13, 65, 117, 118, 158, 185
on theft from network, 117–18
Lansing, John, 384, 386
Lawson, Nigella, 248, 291, 298–99, 327, 349
Lea, Linda, 379–80
Leach, Robin, 34–35, 63, 64–65, 66–67, 111, 255–56
Lee, Sandra “Sandy,” 291–93, 317, 318–19, 327, 393–94
Legendary Hangouts, 210
Leser, Lawrence, 37–38
Levine, Mark, 411
Levy, Ken, 17–19, 353–54
Loeb, Lisa, 306–7
Lomonaco, Michael, 116, 119–20
Lowe, Ken
cancellation of Emeril Live, 6, 352
confidence in Food Network’s potential, 133, 175–79, 180, 226–27
Cooking Channel start-up, 384–86
on David Ruggerio’s arrest, 204
on Food Network’s concept and focus, 37–38, 133, 230, 240, 252
HGTV concept and start-up, 37, 132, 173–75, 210–11
on Iron Chef, 200, 226
managers’ retreat in Tennessee, 185–86
on movies in Food Network programming, 227–28
network bundling strategy of, 218
on New York location of Food Network, 181–83, 333
personnel decisions of, 183, 194, 228–29, 231, 325
positions at Scripps, 231, 358
on Scripps’s conservative sensibilities, 237–38, 248–49
at first sight of Food Network studios, 179–80
Lynne, Jonathan, 41, 90–91, 104
Malouf, Jacqui, 189
Marcus, Jeff, 69
Marin, Rick, 217
Martin, Kim, 348
Matthews, Kathryn, 213
McCormack, Mark, 85–86
McDavid, Jack, 123–24
McGarvie, John, 118–19
McTear, Paul, 22–23
Melting Pot, 210
Metcalf, Michael, 12, 13
Michiba (Iron Chef Japanese), 237–38
Miller, Bryan, 103
Milliken, Mary Sue, 87, 120–22, 148–49, 243
Ming’s Quest, 275, 278
Mitgang, Todd, xi
Molto Mario, 106–7, 135, 190–91, 281
Montgomery, Ben, 369
Morimoto, Masaharu, 236, 239, 240, 314
Morris, Justin, 76
Moulton, Sara
appeal to men, 115–16, 327
as behind-the-scenes worker, 111–12, 114
Chef du Jour episodes, 113, 115
Cooking Live, 115–16, 244, 305, 329
as educator and food evangelist, 115
Feeding Your Family on $99 A Week, 115
Food Network’s interest in, 112–13
Food Network Thanksgiving special, 321
Good Morning America appearance, 112, 113
marketability of, 327
Sara’s Secrets of, 281, 328–29
short stature of, 115, 244
slights endured at Food Network, 329
training for television, 113–15
My Country, My Kitchen, 210
Myrhen, Trygve “Tryg”
on food channel concept and potential, 23, 126–27, 408
mission to create free cable channel, 14–16, 32, 38
position at Providence Journal, 13–14, 130
on Reese Schonfeld for food channel start-up, 25–26, 97, 107, 128
sale of ownership stake in Food Network, 175–76
The Naked Chef, 247–48
Neely, Pat and Gina, 392
The Next Food Network Star, 333–35, 339–40, 341, 390–91
The Next Iron Chef, 390
Nigella Bites, 248, 298–99
9/11 attacks, 276–79, 281, 383
Nordlander, Charles, 346, 364–65, 381
Not My Mama’s Meals, 391–92, 415
Ober, Eric
on David Ruggerio’s arrest, 204
on Emeril’s sitcom, 279–80
on Good Eats, 209
independent style of and friction with Scripps, 210–11, 227–29, 230–31
on Iron Chef, 201–2
position as Food Network CEO, 194, 231–32
program and format changes of, 209–10
on Reese Schonfeld’s sale of Food Network share, 220–21
risk-taking of, 202
on role of star personalities, 210–11
on Two Fat Ladies following star’s death, 222
upgrade of network operations, 223
O’Gorman, Pat
aversion to food and cooking, 26, 78
Big Feast on the Beach production of, 94
as Chef du Jour talent scout, 105, 113
on concept of food channel, 26
ouster as F.O.R. (Friend of Reese), 143, 223
search for Food Network home, 61, 77
Oliver, Jamie, 247–48, 249–50, 311
Opatut, Eileen
on Bobby Flay, 189
childhood food memories of, 214, 289
competence as manager, 310–11
on competition and game shows, 305–6
“Cooking School” concept of, 281
on David Ruggerio’s arrest, 204
after departure from Food Network, 405
East Meets West reruns, 277–78
on Emeril’s value to network, 164
on Giada De Laurentiis, 303–4
on Good Eats, 208
on Ina Garten, 298–99
Iron Chef broadcast rights, 198–203
on Mario Batali’s viewership decline, 190–91
on Paula Deen, 265
position at Food Network, 158–61, 181, 316
programming refocus of, 161–62, 187, 265, 307–8
on Rachael Ray, 269, 271–72
Scripps’s disapproval of, 228
and staff changes, 183–84, 234–35
on Tony Bourdain, 308, 309, 314, 315
on Two Fat Ladies following star’s death, 222
on Tyler Florence, 214–15
O’Reilly, Brian, 364–65
O’Reilly, Marilyn, 212
Packard, Susan, 179, 227, 383
Page, Alison, 310, 362
Page, David, 361–62, 396, 397–98
Paglia, Camille, 122
Passy, Charles, 327
Paterson, Jennifer, 150–52, 221–22
Paulsen, Sarah, 375, 376
PBS and WGBH affiliate, ix–x, 18–20, 48–49, 67–68, 207, 343
Pinsky, Charlie, 50–51
Pizza Cuz, 411
ProJo. See Providence Journal Company
Providence Journal Company
choice of Trygve Myrhen as CEO, 13–14
; Colony cable division, 13, 128
conservative approach to cable content, 11–12, 14
funding for Food Network, 126–27
purchase by Belo Corporation, 175–77, 180
resistance to cable investments, 14, 127, 128
share in Food Network, 39, 132–33
Puck, Wolfgang
accent of, 212, 290, 315
disrespectful treatment of, 83–85
endorsement deal of, 86
Food Network show, 272, 290–91, 315
Iron Chef competition and, 314, 326
promotion of, 87, 88
Purnell, Rachel, 298–99
Rachael vs. Guy, 391, 407
Ray, Rachael
agent representation of, 281–82
backstory of, 266–69
books and products of, 269, 282–84, 328
cheerfulness and warmth of, 269, 274–75, 281, 290, 328
detractors of, 275
drinking and revelry of, 319–20, 323–24
Food Network pilot of, 271–74
$40 a Day, 281
natural talent of, 323, 376
pitch tape of, 246, 266, 269
Rachael vs. Guy, 391, 407
sexy image of, 327
at SOBE festival, 359
30 Minute Meals, 272, 281, 376, 407
Today Show appearance, 270–71
Week in a Day (Cooking Channel), 389
Ready ... Set ... Cook!, 136–37, 171, 241–42, 243
Recipe for Health, 109–10
Reichl, Ruth, 78
Reid, Allen, 25, 29, 53–55, 57–58, 75, 76
Reinhardt, Christianna, 361, 362
Restaurant: Impossible, 382, 394
Richman, Alan, 138
Rieger, Emily, 108, 329
Rivers, Leigh, 377
Robins, Wayne, 92
Rockmore, Adam, 246–47
Roker, Al, 270–71, 401
Rose, Jeffrey and Elana, 414, 417
Rosen, Jon
ambition and success of, 259–60, 262, 355
Bobby Flay and, 284–85
Giada De Laurentiis and, 305
Ming Tsai and, 258–60
Rachael Ray and, 281–82, 284, 328
Rosengarten, David
dismissal from Food Network, 234–35
fan recognition of, 139
Food News and Views screen test and practice episode, 52–53, 63–64
as food writer, 48, 50
friction with network staff, 73–74, 233–34
The Next Food Network Star invitation, 354
skill as television personality, 51, 63
Taste, 23, 68–69, 73, 125
Taste Test, 210
Three Men in a Kitchen pilot (PBS), 49–51
Rosenthal, Barry, 60
Ruggerio, David, 203–4
Russo, Jonathan, 255–56, 413
Safer, Morley, 210
Sara’s Secrets, 281, 328–29