Extreme Cuisine with Jeff Corwin: Another Unoriginal Idea

Here at Food Network Humor, we often point out that the Food Network has seemingly run out of ideas for original programming. Will Work For Food is virtually identical to Dirty Jobs, Chopped is an almost-exact clone of Top Chef, and so on.

Enter Extreme Cuisine with Jeff Corwin, yet another mind-numbingly unoriginal idea to add to the bunch. On Extreme Cuisine, Jeff travels around remote countries and eats extreme foods. You know, exactly like Anthony Bourdain and Andrew Zimmern do on the Travel Channel’s No Reservations and Bizarre Foods.

According to the press release, “the adventures begin as Jeff hikes northwest to the remote mountain region of Mae Hong Son to sample local delicacies like deadly wasp and bamboo larvae straight from the groves.” Like Anthony Bourdain does. “In the nearby Pai River, Jeff and his guide use traditional bamboo materials to catch and cook catfish mixed with forest-grown greens and spices.” Like Bear Grylls and Les Stroud do. “Next, Jeff veers off the beaten path in Bangkok for an extraordinary feast including silk worms, grasshoppers, and live shrimp that literally “dance” into his mouth.” Like Andrew Zimmern does. “Then, in the Muslim fishing village of Palian, Jeff learns the extensive production process of fish sauce and trudges through coastline mud to harvest and eat the area’s surprising treat.” Like Mike Rowe and Adam Gertler do.

You can tune in on Saturday, Feb 21, at 9pm if you have a crush on Jeff Corwin. Everyone else, we say SKIP IT, because unfortunately, the Food Network wouldn’t know an original idea if they walked out of the studio and tripped over it on the street.

Other posts on Food Network Humor:

1. Curly Earl

   February 9th, 2009

   I’ll watch it, but I don’t expect to see anything new that hasn’t been done or shown on other stations in the previous ten years.

   Will Work for Food was an idea that was borrowed from a UK show. It was show callled the Wild Gourmets, who crossed England in search of wild grub with the two people often exchanging labor in return for food and some staples. Except they used real shotguns to hunt. I wouldn’t let Gertler near a popgun.

   It would be nice to see these FN programming flunkies think of something original for once.

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2. manny

   February 9th, 2009

   this man knows nothing about food.. once its killed and ready to be eaten anyway.

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3. bananas

   February 9th, 2009

   From my tv guide:
   Will Work for Food – “BBQ Pitmaster and Competitive Eater”
   Adam Gertler visits Louie Mueller Barbecue in Taylor, Texas, to learn what it takes to be a pit master.

   That’s so weird. Fieri already went to Louie Mueller BBQ for DDD. You’d think they (whoever “they” are) could find a new BBQ joint to visit? hmm? Like, isn’t there more than one in the country?

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4. Voula

   February 10th, 2009

   FN Addict posted about this show, pleading for viewers to give it a chance. Late to the party, proving he is a FN bumboy (in more ways than one ).

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5. Anish

   February 20th, 2009

   I am a Food Network fan!
   Why don’t you start an initiative to invite your viewers to share innovative programming or content ideas on your website. May the best idea win! you solve your problem of being unoriginal & convert your audience from mere audience to participants & embrace co-creation!

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6. jerry jones

   February 20th, 2009

   Louie Mueller Barbecue is the best in Texas, so that is why all the shows go there.

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7. bananas

   February 20th, 2009

   Jerry, fine. LM BBQ is the best in Texas. Is TX the only state to have BBQ joints?
   I think not!

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8. Kyle

   February 20th, 2009

   Anish, I am almost certain FN flunkies would do or take any suggestions from anyone in hopes of finding anything that might fly.

   Crowd sourcing is a good suggestion because I seriously doubt Bob Tuschman has any good new creative ideas going on in that weird little head of his.

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9. Foodie

   February 21st, 2009

   I’m going to call you out on your poorly written article that insists this show is unoriginal, when you haven’t even seen it.
   (As it is still airing as I write this.)

   Sure, write an article with your criticisms based on the press release, and call it journalism. I call it sad.

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10. Chase

    February 21st, 2009

    This isn’t journalism. It’s a humor and satire site. You want journalism? Take your ass to the AP or Reuters. Bye bye.

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11. Food Network Humor Staff

    February 21st, 2009

    Actually, Foodie, we viewed an advanced screener of the episode. And having watched the episode again tonight, I can say it was even worse – and more unoriginal – the second time around. We didn’t write an article based on a press release, we simply referenced it.

    The show is, unquestionably, a blatant rip-off of Bizarre Foods, Dirty Jobs, No Reservations, and Samantha Brown’s Passport… except even more difficult to sit through, because Corwin has the personality of a corpse.

    Thanks for writing in!

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12. Bill Bianchi

    February 22nd, 2009

    Well, I’ll say it – the show was just awful. None of the people on camera with Jeff (in Thailand) even spoke English, so it was basically an hour of him blubbering on and on to himself.

    I know nothing about Corwin. But halfway into the episode, I was positive that he was gay. Then I saw the wedding ring and heard him mention his “wife.” Surely he’s talking about Jim J Bullock at home. The man has to be gay.

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13. Voula

    February 22nd, 2009

    I saw the show. It was real shitty. Corwin is a rump ranger that’s for sure.Surprised he was able to rough it for this episode.

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