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Correspondence With Food Network’s Snotty PR Rep Lisa Krueger
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We know you guys are getting excited about Next Food Network Star Season 5, and we are too. So, we thought it would be a great idea to feature some brief, lighthearted e-mail interviews with some of the contestants to help you get to know them a little better before the show starts next month. To get the ball rolling, I sent the following e-mail to Lisa Krueger, the Food Network’s director of public relations:
Hello!
We wanted to run a few interviews with some of the NFNS contestants. Nothing mean spirited, nothing satirical, just a “get to know your chefs” type thing. I wanted to run it by you before actually sending out any questions or posting anything on our site. I understand topics are obviously off limits (as in talking about the winner, etc), so rest assured we wouldn’t even go there.
We have lots of site visitors with lots of interest in this show, and I think a few interviews would get people even more excited for the premiere.
Cheers,
Jillian Madison
FoodNetworkHumor
The next day, I received this snide, patronizing email from Lisa Krueger:
Hey Jillian,
This is Lisa Krueger from Food Network PR. [Gee, thanks for clarifying - I thought I had emailed Santa Claus.] I’m so happy to hear that your readers are interested, but as I’m sure you can understand, unfortunately we will not be able to set up any interviews for your site. Let me know if you have any further questions, thanks!Lisa
We all know when you see “Thanks!” at the end of the email, it’s the equivalent of the person writing “Screw you and die, bitch!” But still, I wanted to give Lisa the benefit of the doubt. So, I sent another email asking for clarification:
Hi Lisa,
Are you saying they are not allowed to do interviews at all, or specifically not with Food Network Humor?
Jillian
The next day, she replied with another patronizing email that once again showcased the word “unfortunately”:
Hey Jillian,
Unfortunately they cannot do interviews with Food Network Humor.
Lisa
That’s right! A Food Network PR rep denied our request for friendly interviews because we poke fun at the Food Network! How ridiculous is that?! Who turns down free publicity?! How stupid, and what a slap in the face to fans like us who appreciate the Food Network, but also enjoy laughing at its undeniable silliness. Apparently Lisa Krueger enjoys sitting high on her horse in some fictitious alternate world that exists only in her own feeble little head… a world in which she’ll only grant brown nosers and ass kissers the HUGE PRIVILEGE of interviewing virtually unknown chefs. Please. Reality, paging Lisa Krueger on line 1.
So. Once I stopped laughing at the lame, juvenile updates on Lisa Krueger’s twitter profile (“Starting the weekend with champagne and “Twilight”, bring on the vampire hotties!”), I composed myself enough to send one last e-mail back to Freddy Lisa Krueger:
Hey Lisa!
I approached you professionally, with nothing but good intentions, to help you promote your show, free of charge. Don’t they teach you “any publicity is good publicity” on page 4 of the “So You Wanna Work In PR” handbook?
Ironically, we started this site because we felt the Food Network and some of its chefs desperately needed to lighten up and learn how to laugh at themselves. The fact that you were so quick to brush us off – when so many of the Food Network chefs themselves have embraced us – is just further proof of that. [Some of the Food Network personalities themselves have contacted us, and have gracefully exhibited humility the ability to laugh at themselves.] And yet you “won’t set up” an e-mail interview with relatively unknown competitors? That’s laughable. You’re acting like I’m asking for a sit down with Bobby Flay.
We’ll still be covering NFNS5, with or without your help. And unfortunately, as I’m sure you can understand, since you’ve chosen to make us an enemy instead of a friend, I’ll also be alerting the Food Network Humor readers about your unwillingness to cooperate.
Thanks!
Jillian Madison
Editor, FoodNetworkHumor
So there you have it, Food Network Humor readers! UNFORTUNATELY, Lisa Krueger hates you. She neither respects your right to information nor values your opinions as a Food Network viewer. If you think she is being ridiculous, we urge you to share your feelings and write her an e-mail telling her to lighten up. She can be reached at lkrueger@foodnetwork.com, via telephone at 212-401-2430, or via fax at 212-302-7896. Tell her Food Network Humor sent you.
Other posts on Food Network Humor:
---Farewell, Lisa Krueger, Farewell---ALERT: FNH Member Accounts Temporarily Disabled
---If I Ran The Food Network…
---UPDATE: Donations To FNH From Food Network Hosts (The Alton Brown Throwdown)
---Bob Tuschman Insults The Next Food Network Star Contestants
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100 Responses
That chick looks like Freddy Krueger. Sure you got her name right ?
Her behaviour is appalling.I will be calling her myself to let her know she sucks.
What?! This is the most laughably ridiculous thing I’ve read all day. Freddy, I mean Lisa Krueger, should be fired.
You know what? I’ll do without lame interviews. Just promise me you guys at FNH won’t start kissing Food Network ass like FOOD NETWORK ADDICT to get interviews, because I might barf.
Jill, your emails were polite and your requests were more than reasonable. This site is not so horrible or so mean spirited that this PR wench should have blown you off. Her emails were rude, unnecessarily snide, and she represented her company (Food Network) horribly. They should be ashamed.
Long time lurker, first time commenter, because I’m honestly flabbergasted. I work as a PR manager for a major television network (sorry, I can’t say which one) and we would foam at the mouth for a chance to promote one of our shows for free on a popular website that contains nothing but our targeted demographic. Especially a site as popular as this one, with readers and fans as dedicated as you guys all are.
Commenter Alex is 100% right. Lisa Krueger should be fired. If I worked at Food Network I’d fire her myself. What an idiot.
I say screw the interviews. I could care less about them. Why do the food network any favors. Let her go scrape the bottom of the barrel and beg lame websites to cover her shows.
When I was in college, I worked as an assistant at a firm that did did public relations for B and C List celebrities in Hollywood. Let me say Lisa Krueger would not have worked at our firm. What a total ass clown. This site is funny, it has loyal readers, it is popular, intelligent, well written and like Ken said, helllo, is filled with nothing but their target demographic. The truth is they should be paying you to get their stuff promoted here.
Your emails to Freddy Kreuger were way too nice.
Don’t they teach you “any publicity is good publicity” on page 4 of the “So You Wanna Work In PR” handbook?
—— no, that’s on page 1 of the handbook!!!
i’ll be writing a letter. let’s see if she replies or if she’s too busy watching twilight and drinking champagne
Gee Lisa, why the long face?
har har har
I agree 100% with Ken. I work for a small PR firm and whenever a popular niche blog contacts us about featuring one of our clients’ products, we are all over it like Rachael Ray on EVOO.
Lisa could just be a smurf following orders–Publicly exulting “Twilight” on her Twitter? Definitely not the brightest crayon in the box–but that means that the asshattery extends much further up. I’ll be composing a very professional email to let her and her fellow minions know they’re passing up a big opportunity here (a.k.a., they’re closed-minded idiots).
I don’t work in PR, but I know a mistake when I see one. And this Krueger chick made one. She should be begging you to do interviews and not the other way around.
Does anyone have the email address to her boss or superior? That is who we should be contacting. Please let me know!!!
Lauren has a good idea! We should express our disappointment and desire to see Food Network cooperate, via politely-worded messages to Krueger. If we go all rabid on ‘em, that just makes us look like the drooling savages of mockery Krueger seems to think we are. But being *professional* about our disappointment–now THAT makes a difference, and might make Food Network a bit more willing to work with Food Network Humor in the future.
Another aspect of the network is as amatuer as much of the new and existing talent working on air. Total AMATEURS.
You’re all being a little harsh. I doubt that Lisa has a personal vendetta against this site. Sure, Food Network should have granted FNH the e-mail interview, and Lisa absolutely made bad judgment in responding that specifically FNH would not be permitted to interview the contestants, BUT … assuming she is a low-level PR rep there, if anything, she was just the messenger of bad news after discussing the interview request with her superiors. I can understand the intent here is likely to rile up Food Network’s publicity department so as to ensure future coverage/greater respect for the site, but making a personal attack against Lisa and citing her Twitter page crosses the line. (And I say this as someone who has had bad experiences with publicists.)
I’ve taken the liberty of writing an email that you can copy/paste to lkrueger@foodnetwork.com until someone finds her superior’s contact information.
Dear Ms. Krueger,
I recently learned of your unwillingness to grant FoodNetworkHumor.com interviews with your Next Food Network Star contestants, and as a loyal reader of said site, am writing to voice my displeasure with your decision.
As you know, Food Network Humor is a well written, humorous niche blog with a large, dedicated reader base made up solely of your targeted demographic. It is a blog that I, as a fan of Food Network, turn to for news and humor on a daily basis. I would have enjoyed reading lighthearted interviews with the NFNS contestants, and feel you acted in bad judgment by rudely denying such a basic request.
Sincerely,
XXXXXXXX
Justin, the article didn’t link to her twitter page. It quoted it. That is hardly below the belt. So chill out.
Lisa Krueger is the DIRECTOR of Public Relations of Food Network. That’s not exactly the lowest level, but it ain’t the highest, either. I’ll make a call or two and see if I can find the name/number/email of her superior.
The snotty attitude of TFN management, of which this is a prime example, is exactly the reason we are such fans of this site in the first place. But I guess we are just asking a tiger to change its stripes.
“citing her Twitter page crosses the line” — LMFAO. If FNH wanted to cross the line, they would have linked to her Twitter page, blown up her picture, and defaced it with hysterical scribbles. Quoting one line from this lame woman’s Twitter page hardly qualifies as “crossing the line.”
Tatiana, really well said. Couldn’t have said it better myself.
Ken, great letter. I will use it as a starting point.
I agree, we must write professional and intelligent letters to be taken seriously.
I am a huge fan of this site, and am shocked by Krueger’s lack of basic judgment.
I think she lost the most respect in my eyes when she uttered the words “twilight,” “vampire,” and “hotties” in the same sentence. One, if she is old enough to PR, she is old enough to know “twilight” is a horrendous work of Mary-Sue wank, busting with clichés, misinterpreted acts of “romance,” and lame plot devices working against a plot-less book. Two, someone’s lonely! Spending a night with a crappy tween book and some alcohol? From her emails, we all now know exactly why she’s alone. :)
Ouch! I’ve never been denied an interview. Sometimes they don’t work out (meeting times, etc) but never outright denied. I work both in print media and as a sometimes PR consultant, and both sides of me are shocked at Lisa’s denial.
I’m not sure exactly how Lisa fits in to the FN corporate structure, but it was she I went through to get my interview with Fietti at a DDD location approved (which, btw, was a draconian process). And it was she who called and complained to my editor the next morning that I had behaved “inappropriately.” Apparently, I don’t lick ass nearly well enough.
Bravo Alex, Ken P., Neo & Lauren. I think Feikhal Madhur has a good point too – I’m frequently seeing FN awkwardly lurching about, trying desperately to define and reinvent itself, not unlike a 17 y.o. trying his damnedest to hang tough with the big boys. The network often forgets they’re still green n growin’.
Best of luck with your letter writing folks! I’ll sit this dance out. The last thing my editor wants is another Krueger phone call ….
i may or may not have emailed her saying “Can you see us all the way up there from your high horse?” and thats it.. :D that bitch :D
Doesn’t take a genius to realize that your readers are…DUH…watching their shows. Slick PR, FNC.
While others find it funny, I find it sad that, in 15 years, FN has become so high on its own horse that it deliberately tries to drive a wedge between its “talent,” (and I use that term as loosely as Madonna’s you-know-what), and the fans who wish to connect to these on-air personalities on a more down-to-earth level. It would appear that Kreuger was simply following the orders of superiors, so I wonder if complaining to superiors would result in any accomplishment. She could be fired or resign as a scapegoat, but it is the executives, who have decided it is in their best interests to further disconnect the subject from the audience, that must be held accountable, and be exposed for who they really are: conceited ego-trips who sit in their mansions in the Hamptons, sipping on champagne and nibbling caviar, and actually believing in the power of their own inability to understand how middle-class America operates. Meanwhile, the barriers that inhibited such communication 15 years ago have been broken down, and such behavior as this will further prove how FN will eventually have a hand in bringing in its own irrelevancy.
Its obvious lots of folks from foodnetwork know about this site and have blacklisted it.
Food Network really needs to get over themselves… I am only speaking for myself here, but I’m sure I’m not the only one who can manage to read this blog and laugh and actually still watch the shows on FN. If they didn’t want this site to exist, maybe they shouldn’t hire overblown toolbags with huge egos and can’t pronounce balsamic, etc. They should be flattered that they have such a cult following.
is giggling @ “… overblown toolbags with huge egos and can’t pronounce balsamic …”
Chris, I’ve noticed the same thing – particularly at the NY Wine & Food Fest where all the on-air personalities stayed well behind a cordoned area behind a curtain. Shoot, I mean why go if it isn’t to have a bit of face time with the fans, hmm?
Manny, I dunno! It seems that some of the FN folks dig the FNH site – “Some of the Food Network personalities themselves have contacted us, and have gracefully exhibited humility the ability to laugh at themselves.” – I’m just thinking the PR people want ALL the press to be sunshine and roses 24/7. And hey, that ain’t how it works.
I am new to this site so I don’t know how many people visit it, but I would think that the chef’s on NFNS would spend what little time they have to do PT doing interviews with larger outlets, like USA Today or TV Guide. You think they have time to talk to every blog out there?
Also, if you have made your fame out of mocking Food Network, why would anyone at the network believe that you would write, “nothing mean spirited, nothing satirical?” Now that you have gone the immature route and actually trashed talked the rep, I doubt you’ll ever get to speak to any of the talent. Way to be professional.
I agree with Sarah. The pr rep was being polite. Maybe you didn’t like the answer, but obviously the pr’s choice to not allow the interviews is no reason to call her crude names.
It seems obvious to not allow interviews with a website that could potentially (and proven from the last email) use their fans to create a biased opinion of the unknown chefs before the show even starts. And this would be bad press that isn’t worth pleasing the small community from this website.
Man, I agree with you guys. She’s acting like a girl who’s just been dumped by Stereotypical Hunk #872.
I agree with Kitty too.
Sarah, what crawled up your butt and died?
Ken P., I’d like to get an interview with somebody from one of your shows from your channel. Now, if I knew what channel you work for, I could be properly readied…
Sarah clearly works for the Food Network.
I couldn’t disagree with your comment more. FNH did not handle this in an “immature route” – Food Network did.
Round of applause for all of these hysterical replies to Food Network’s laughable bureaucracy. Chris, loved your comment.
Man, I love this site.
Sarah, if you’re new here, let me give you a bit of advice: you’re not going to get off on the right foot and make friends here by being a C U NEXT TUESDAY.
Sarah doesn’t know “how popular the site is” and neither did I, so I looked it up on Alexa. Congratulations, Food Network Humor, you are ranked 271,000 of all the sites on the internet… and you achieved that milestone IN JUST FOUR MONTHS. That is amazing and I just want to say, keep up the great work.
You’ve come this far without Food Network’s cooperation, and you’ll go even further without them.
Deb
Well, FNH — congrats on getting some FN wonk to dislike your site. What this means is You’ve Arrived!
As a total outsider, I am surprised that FN would direct anyone to respond as Lisa Krueger has. Shame on them. They’ve created (or allowed, depending on your stance) an awful lot of bad publicity on this site without much forethought. I can only guess at how this will play out during season five’s NFNS.
Oh but what fun it will be! Keep givin’ to ‘em, FNH.
I find what Lana said about the FN stars remaining secluded at the Wine and food Fest very telling. You have a network that spends a lot of money grooming these “personalities”, promotes them to the point you don’t even want to look at them anymore, then, in public, corrals them in an area where only approved attendants can be in contact with them. Heaven forbid there should be any spontaneous contact; otherwise, we just might find out their experts aren’t so expert! But, hell, we already know that.
I do not work for Food Network, and I’m not trying to be condescending, but a lot of the comments here indicate a general lack of understanding in how Food Network and the television business work. Two main points:
1) The contestants on TNFS are not groomed, prepped television people. They are normal, regular people who are on a game show. Food Network is probably trying to prevent them from leaking information about the show, which might negatively affect ratings/buzz. Often, reality stars are under contracts where they are specifically prevented from talking to the press until after they are either eliminated or until the season concludes. It does seem that Lisa has been rude in her wording to Jillian though, and that is … “unfortunate” indeed.
2) The Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival is produced by Karlitz & Company and Southern Wines & Spirits of New York. It is not directly overseen by Food Network. For better or worse, the Food Network personalities that appear there are acting as their own free agents in choosing not to mingle with the crowd. It is not a representation of Food Network, but of the Food Network stars themselves, in how they choose to interact with the public. And it may not be that they think they are too good to meet the public, but that they have busy schedules and have to move on to their next gig. Food Network talent participate in signings and events all the time – they’re definitely out there with the fans.
Thanks!
Since FN continues to tune out their fans by giving us shows of ever-lower quality which they appear to find mainly in the region of their asses, why would any of us be surprised they’d pass up an opportunity for free publicity? As a newspaperwoman, I’d say the effort to get the interviews was professional. Condescending refusals like that will come back to bite them down the road when they DO realize they need the publicity.
Gosh James, it seems like you missed the earlier comment:
“We all know when you see “Thanks!” at the end of the email, it’s the equivalent of the person writing “Screw you and die, bitch!”
Same goes for comments, no?
I don’t know. It’s pretty sad that FN won’t allow it’s chefs to do interviews with blogs, but I don’t think her emails were all that snotty or bitchy. I don’t think a FN worker bee deserves the vitriol. Poor taste.
Obviously you’re doing something right if FN is aware and wary of you.
James is wrong about the food and wine show FN personalities are paid to be there. FN is highly promoted within the event. Sara needs to get a grip.
I do have some sympathy for Ms. Krueger look at the ‘talent’ she has to work with, defend and promote. Irvine and his truth issues. The Deens where does one start with this group. Giada the pampered princess with a nasty streak a mile wide. The NFNS contestants and their on going self esteem issues. Managing Sandra Lee after a three…hour lunch. This can’t be an easy job trying finding good things to say, and creating positive spin about these people. It must be an on going losing battle.
It is also should a rule to avoid any grown (inevitably single) woman who is into Twilight.
Keep you the good work!
Sorry that should be keep UP the good work.
They made a mistake and I’m sure they now realize that. It’s never a good thing to make the people who watch your network pissed off. Hopefully they wil remove the stick up their ass and get over themselves.
I wrote to Freddy Krueger wanting to interview contestants from the last TNFNS, and she didn’t even bother to respond to me. Bitch is soooo important.
You’re terrific, Jillian :)
I wouldn’t want Krueger’s job. It’s got to be tough to provide PR for clowns pretending to be, and promoted as, chefs. I mean, how many cake decorating contests can you have on one channel as your prime time line up? No wonder she has to start the weekend with champagne….hic urp
You people are just shooting the messenger. Good maneuver though. Wrecking some low level flak’s life to promote your blog.
Jake, do your homework. Krueger is not just the messenger. She is the decider. She’s the director of public relations. “Good maneuver” but you’re wrong. And if a post like this “wrecks someones life” then I do believe their life is pretty pathetic. This post is about as harmless as it gets.
If this post wrecks her life, that is laughable. There’s not one life wrecking thing here. The post is professional and is simply calling out a self centered woman who made a mistake.
Looking at these comments, it seems she’s pissed off a lot of other people, too.
Exactly. Kind of ruthless to launch personal attacks against the PR equivalent of a 7/11 sales clerk.
Okay, so now PR DIRECTORS are the equivalent of 7/11 sales clerks? LOL.
I agree with Jake on this one. After reading the entire email chain, Jillian comes of pretty immature and spiteful.
Wow – I ‘m blown away by the outpouring of support here. Thanks, guys. We appreciate it more than you know.
To clear a few things up, Krueger is the director of PR at Food Network. She is the one who sends out all their press releases, and as I understand it, has full authority to make decisions as to who gets to speak to the talent – and who doesn’t.
Also, a note to the commenters “Nancy” and “Jake” who are defending Lisa Kreuger – I know you are THE SAME PERSON. I can see your IP address. FAIL.
Kreuger is the one acting spiteful, immature, and even worse – high on her horse. If they keep dissing the little people, soon they won’t have any little people left watching their network.
Thanks again for the support, guys.
HAHAHAHA Nancy and Jake are the same people. Of course they are. The only one person here who is defending Freddy Krueger.
Yes we have the same IP address. We are in the same room. I assure you we are two different people.
You really do seem desperate and immature. We still like your blog for the most part. Just thought this whole thing seemed a bit high school Freddy Krueger? I’m sure she’s never heard THAT one before. Are you, like, 14?
Also, if you can see our IP address, you can easily ascertain that we are in TEXAS, no where near Food Network PR machine. Not defending Krueger or her actions. Just dissing yours. Cheers.
I’m definitely not picking sides here, but I vaguely recall you saying that you don’t care if you meet the FN hosts. Does meeting also include interviewing?
Mike, I have no interest in meeting the hosts, nor will my life end if I don’t interview the NFNS contestants. I simply thought it would be fun for you guys to get to know them.
There’s no reason for Food Network to grant a blog access to its talent or reality competition contestants. And let’s face it, this is a completely mean spirited site. If this blog wanted any credibility it wouldn’t do things like post the photo of the PR staff member at Food Network.
I don’t see anything wrong with posting her picture. She chose to put it out there so we have every right to look at it.
And I don’t think this site is mean spirited! Some of the jokes are a little over the top, but come on, it’s satire and humor. Just because a site isn’t licking the ass of the talent doesn’t mean it is “completely mean spirited.”
So maybe I should create my own website and post photos of the Food Network “Humor” authors and beckon readers to contact and harass them? They put their photos out there for everyone to look at so I’m sure they won’t mind being demonized, right?
Again, seriously, this isn’t a journalistic site or a significant media outlet so FN is under no obligation to grant access.
Matt, if you want to buy a URL and post photos of me and ask readers to contact me, by all means, GO AHEAD. I’d love the publicity. You can find various photos of me at jillianmadison.com and pophangover.com. Thanks in advance!
I could not disagree with everyone defending the Food Network and Lisa Kreuger more.
I have been in the PR business for decades. I’ve worked my way to the top PR position at a major TV network (though I can’t say which one because I value my job and I’m not a moron), so trust me when I say Kreuger was way out of line.
Fact: Any PR rep with an ounce of talent doesn’t care if a site or media outlet is mean spirited or not. All that matters is the numbers. If there is a site or outlet that contains nothing but your targeted demographic, and that site or outlet is offering to publicize your show or event free, good lord, YOU LET THEM. I’ve checked out the site statistics on Alexa, and the numbers are there. Your viewership has been growing by staggering amounts.
Fact: this site is not totally mean spirited. I’d say it’s 20% mean spirited and the other 80% is hysterical satire or other newsworthy stuff. People who think this is mean spirited need to seriously lighten up.
Fact: If Kreuger didn’t want her face out there, she shouldn’t have posted her photo or publicly written in her Twitter profile that she works for the Food Network.
Fact: We’re not discussing if FN is under obligation to grant access. Of course they’re not, you moron. The issue is SHOULD they have, and the answer here is, overwhelmingly yes.
Fact: When you work in PR, you’re supposed to kiss ass. Everyone’s ass. Whether you like the people or not. Kreuger in my opinion acted spitefully and very immaturely, made piss-poor decisions, and wouldn’t be hired to work the copy machine at my company.
LOL! Fact: interest in FNH will wane.
Fact in FNH will wane? Mine sure hasn’t! I’m telling everyone I know about this site, and they’re telling everyone they know because they enjoy it so much. I love it!
Who cares about these interviews. I don’t! Bring on the humor!
Nothing’s waning but women’s interest in matt. bitterness is ugly matt
Everyone needs to seriously lighten up – this is a humor site! But whoever said this place is completly mean spirited is smoking crack. Mean spirited? Visit fugly.com – or dlisted.com – or other sites that simply exist to cut people down. A few jokes on this site poke fun at people, but so what? Calling it “completely mean spirited” is ignorant and a total fallacy. People need to learn how to laugh and take a joke, like Paula Deen can, instead of getting their panties all up in a bunch.
could care less about reading interviews with nobodies.
we will all have plenty to laugh at once the season starts.
’nuff said.
I love this site, I’ve been a fan since day one and I’m really happy it’s growing. My coworkers all love it too.
I agree with the commenter before me. Don’t really have any interest in reading their interviews anyway. If I wanted to learn facts, I’d go read Food Network’s website.
Keep up the great work FNH, I love what you’re doing.
First time commenting on your site (which I’m enjoying, thank you); found it through kitchensaremonkeybusiness.com. I am amazed that Ms. Krueger actually responded, knowing it would be seen by all who read your blog, unless that was the point.
And Jake’s comment about Nancy being in the same room with him, thus the same IP address, truly classic.
I love this website! LOL
Jillian – Wondering if you had reached out to Food Network PR previously? Are they familiar with the site?
(And how do I set up a profile pic?)
Justin, yes I have worked with Food Network PR a few times in the past. Most recently, they provided the high resolution photos of the Next Food Network contestants for an earlier post. Also, Rachael from the FN Dish blog (the Food Network’s official blog) posts comments here all the time – and said she enjoys reading it.
And to get a picture to show up next to your name, you have to go to gravatar.com – and upload a picture. Then, it will appear here based on your email address. Voila!
Ken is my new hero! Brilliant comments and observations.
Jillian, glad you’re getting support – not surprised by it in the least. I mean, here’s the deal. The majority of dedicated FNH readers are, in fact, fans of Food Network shows. Well, maybe “fan” (short for fanatic) is a strong word, but we watch the shows, we know the personalities and we give enough of a rat’s ass to tell our friends and post a few comments.
Proof that humor is good publicity: I have some YouTube video of meeting Fietti. Over the past 8 months or so, that video got some 15 – 25 hits a day. The day after that baseball game Fietti impostor video hit YouTube, the hits on *my* video jumped to 250 – 300 hits a day. Incredible!
Just goes to show that when folks read or see something funny, it sparks curiosity. Lisa, babe, I think fear made ya miss the boat, honey.
Kruger missed the boat. She could have given us the opportunity to know the contestants on a more personal level and get invested in them, which would have us watching NFNS throughout. Instead, some of us will be watching for the drag queen and hope that he throws a diva tantrum befitting Rupaul’s Drag Race. The rest of us will wait for the recaps that will undoubtedly be more hilarious and interesting than the show itself.
I just made a phonecall to Scripps and got the name of two more media contacts, just because this issue pissed me off so badly.
Anyone who wrote emails to Krueger should also forward them to Carrie Welch (cwelch@foodnetwork.com) and Lauren Mueller (lmueller@foodnetwork.com) to make them aware of the issue.
Ken, you’re awesome. Blogs like Project Rungay get interviews with eliminated contestants from all the Bravo shows they cover all the time. Anyone familiar with that blog knows full well they snark on the contestants and shows just like Jillian does here. Yet Bravo allows them access; why won’t FN?
I emailed Ms. Krueger to remind her of the publicity she’s missing out on by neglecting this blog, reminding her that any interview Jillian conducts will be professional and presented to we readers in that context.
[...] hasn’t even premiered yet. And thanks to Food Network PR rep Lisa Krueger (hey girlfriend!), we know very little about the contestants other than the generic bios they released last month. So when I found this [...]
I would be glad to grant you an interview as the ‘someone who thought about being on The Next Food Network Star until he realized the extreme amount of douchery being passed of as work at food network’ guy. Think about it…
[...] wait a minute! That’s kind of what we do here! I hope Lisa Krueger does her job and prevents him from talking to the [...]
I’ve dealt with Krueger before and she is simply awful. Fake, and awful. This post made my week. You go, girl.
Whatever happened to any publicity is good publicity?!
I also have a popular blog and made a similar request.
I never even received an answer from her.
Ah Jillian. You’re learning what all of us in the business already know: if you don’t kiss everyone’s ass, you won’t get any interviews. It’s the story of my life, and honestly it makes me – literally – sick. I’ve been writing for [insert major national blog here] for 3 years and I hope you never know the degradation of having to turn around and apologize for doing nothing wrong, to some c-nt who has been insulting you and putting you down for 3 days, just so they’ll allow YOU the privilege of interviewing THEM.
And in comes this website (and Pophangover). You don’t hold back, and I’m jealous of that. You don’t care about the backlash, and I’m envious of that too. This site is incredibly funny, and honest, and I can see why many have embraced it. You say what we’re all thinking, and what other bloggers/writers like myself can’t (and won’t) say because we’re pussies.
I’m just saying good job. Lisa Krueger is an imbecile, who doesn’t know Paula Deen’s ass from her elbow.
I think Giada is a snot. She seems so pleasant on her show but on the NFNS, she is condescending, snide, makes faces at contestants,etc. I don’t like her any more.
Imagine what she must be like in private.
[...] wound’s going to be with Boitano for a while, even if it doesn’t get mentioned past today.) They’ve already done it once before. Keep denying certain bloggers interviews with your personalities, Food Network, especially if the [...]
You guys are being a bunch of babies and sound like your little feelings were hurt. Awe, how cute. I should start a ‘Food Network Humor = Big Baby’ page. If you guys are meant to make people laugh, then this was the first time you pulled that off for me. And please tell me all these responses are part of the joke!! HAHAHAHAH! Love It! You guys almost made me think this was all real.
“You guys”?
You’re a dumbass who obviously never worked in corporate America before. You think that the lawyers would let your little blog have anything to do with their programming? Lol.
Seeing Emily Hobbs break down into tears and hearing the praise she received from all 3 judges made me wonder why Food Network doesn’t offer scholarships for talented but cash-poor budding chefs of tomorrow. If $25,000 is all it would take to get Ms. Hobbs ready into the French Culinary Academy and prepare her for what I’m sure would be a stellar career why wouldn’t Food Network want to do that? Bobby Flay got his culinary education very early through a friend who recognized his talent. What a great PR that would be for Food Network.
[...] they’re all real and all straight from the horse’s mouth. And by horse, I mean my homegirl Lisa Krueger. And by mouth, I mean keyboard. Whatever. Technicalities. Let’s just take a look at the new [...]
I’m a Krueger and I’m ashamed she’s on my team.
I cannot believe that I just heard someone call FNH a “Big Baby.” How ridiculously intelligent do you have to be to come up with an insult like that one? We’re not woorrrtthhyyy!
No, TheSpark, you’re making US laugh!
Basic comment about Food Network:
Been watching for years. What are you doing? Purposely trying to destroy the network? Reruns, constantly. And what is with all of the “baking” shows???? It’s the Food Network NOT the Baking Network!!!!!!!
[...] and put her in a very bad light. The title of the blogpost itself projects a bad image, “Correspondence with Food Network’s Snotty PR Rep Lisa Krueger“. Throughout the article and the comments, the public calls the representative “Freddy [...]
[...] and put her in a very bad light. The title of the blogpost itself projects a bad image, “Correspondence with Food Network’s Snotty PR Rep Lisa Krueger“. Throughout the article and the comments, the public calls the representative “Freddy [...]
You’re a ridiculous jerk. This publicist was nicer to you than you had any right to expect. I hope you develop the basic human decency to be embarrassed by this article at some point.
Unlikely. But I do have the decency to tell you to go fuck yourself. Bye!
You’ve obviously mistaken me for someone who’s going to go away. So, how was charm school today?