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Bobby Flay Annoys Cablevision Customers With Obnoxious Commercial
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Were you one of the Cablevision customers annoyed to death by the Bobby Flay commercial they played SEVEN HUNDRED TIMES over the weekend? Then this blog post is for you.
We just hit day 14 of the Great Scripps/Cablevision Blackout of 2010! We arrived at this stalemate because Cablevision refused to pay Scripps the 200% rate increase they were demanding. For those interested, that amounts to about $200 million dollars a year, or “pennies” as Food Network president Brooke Johnson called it.
Guy Fieri, Melissa d’Arabian, and Sandra Lee all filmed Scripps propaganda videos, which were crammed down our throats ad nauseum via the internet. However, that wasn’t the case for the Bobby Flay commercial that played this week during The Simpsons, and several other prime-time shows:
While the commercial may seem “vanilla” on its own, imagine having to endure it over. And over. And over. Literally dozens of times, during one evening. Many Cablevision customers wrote in to express their disgust, and I can see why.
Annoyed viewers also took to Twitter to complain about Flay’s ridiculous commercial, and how often it was played. “If I see one more commercial with Bobby Flay in it, I am mailing a box of dog shit to whoever is responsible for all of this,” TheAceOfKnaves wrote. “These Bobby Flay Foodnetwork/HGTV commercials come on every commercial break. ENOUGH ALREADY,” sad UCMyTwitts. And CandyValentinne noted that “you can start a drinking game with the amount of times that Bobby Flay commercial for food network keeps coming on.”
Aside from the frequency with which it was played, the commercial itself was quite pathetic. “We know you’re disappointed that you can’t watch Food Network and HGTV,” Flay muttered in between condescending breaths. “No one is more disappointed than we are.” Is that so? If you’re so disappointed, then tell Scripps to push a button and PUT THE NETWORKS BACK ON during negotiations with Cablevision. They’re the ones who pulled them, after all.
And honestly, if Scripps has enough money to pay for multiple 30-second commercials during prime time, they need to get real with this 200% increase they’re demanding. Perhaps they should come to the table with a realistic rate increase, and stop using their “loyal” viewers as pawns to help them leverage more money for themselves.
And until this all gets resolved (if ever), for the love of God, NO MORE BOBBY FLAY COMMERCIALS. Spare us all.
Other posts on Food Network Humor:
---UPDATE: Food Network and HGTV Back On Cablevision---Bobby Flay on Entourage: Part 2
---Bobby Flay On Entourage
---AT&T U-Verse Customers, Say Goodbye To Food Network
---Photos: Bobby Flay In His Youth
- Bobby Flay
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53 Responses
I didn’t see anything wrong with the spot. And his point of praising the viewers and not ripping Cablevision was mature, which did surprise me. Actually, Flay appeared quite professional, relaxed, and well poised.
You didn’t see anything wrong with it? That’s because you didn’t have to see it 30 times during The Simpsons.
How could you not see anything wrong with the spot? The irony is blatant. Him blabbering on about understanding us – understsanding how frustrated we are that we can’t watch Food Network when he knows damn well his company is the one who is depriving us of them.
If you didn’t see anything wrong with the spot, look past Flay’s $2,000 dollar suit, $800 haircut, and $500 acting lesson.
Personally, I saw a man dripping in cockiness. A man patronizing viewers by trying to convince us he can relate to what we’re feeling. Bullshit. He knows Scripps shut the networks off from Cablevision customers. Flay’s become nothing but a corporate shill, and I’m not buying a word out of his greedy little mouth.
Are we jealous over his wealth, spending, and success, or are we bitching about Flay to bitch?
Every company uses PR to spin their side of the tale, right? And he is a company man. I’ve been one too, whenever I get paid handsomely for my work.
It’s got nothing to do with jealousy, but how did I know you’d go there.
We’re bitching about the irony of a condescending Flay pretending to be able to relate to us, when in fact his network is the reason we’re without the channels.
oh my – just change yer provider.
Dank, I agree with you. I personally can’t stand the guy, but the ad seemed pretty vanilla.
I’m not surprised by your reactions. I honestly didn’t expect everyone to be able to relate to this post. Unless you’re a Cablevision customer, who was forced to endure this commercial over and over, I can see how you would think it was “vanilla.”
Hopefully, all of this BS will be over soon, and we can go on to discussing more interesting topics. Like the brand of Ted Allen’s eyewear.
/end sarcasm
Jillian, you know we all stand with you and behind you. And it wasn’t the ‘good’ vanilla.
First time poster, long time lurker, chiming in to say that I didn’t see a problem with the spot either.
As far as the comments about the cost of his suit, acting lessons, etc. That just smacks of class envy, not a nice trait to have…
Once again, I’ll reiterate this post is really for Cablevision customers who had to endure this commercial dozens of times over a 2-day period. Perhaps I should add that to the original blog post to clear up confusion.
Jillian is right on the money. Earlier this week my boyfriend and I were home sick, and we saw this stupid Bobby Flay ad TWICE a commercial break. Even Cablevision’s own anti-Scripps ad airs less than this. If Scripps misses us so much they’d stop bombarding us with patronizing ads featuring hack cooks, and just freaking suck it up and make a deal with Cablevision!
It was very patronizing. He was talking to the ‘viewers’ as is there were four year olds.
…much like my writing. Perhaps I should go work at FN.
AMEN SISTER. I haven’t seen the commercial for a few days, but there was a 2-day window (right before the Iron Chef rebroadcast on PIX) where Scripps was playing it multiple times during each commercial break. I wanted to shoot my television.
Disclaimer: I read the post first, then watched the ad.
I don’t see it myself. I think Flay is arrogant and overrated overall myself, but other than getting the impression he wanted to shoot it and get it over with, there wasn’t the smugness I was thinking there would be.
And after seeing the Throwdown episode where he managed to cram chipot-uh-le into a freaking lobster club sandwich, I was ready to want to smack him with a poblano, but I holstered my pepper.
The Melissa or Drunkie spot is probably far more irritating.
I still can’t get over his Brooklynese lisp.
Is that what that really is? I thought it was Elmer Fudd Syndrome but now that you mention it I know other New Yorkers who have a similar affliction.
Add me to the list of people who wanted to murder someone after having to see that ad spot 30 times over the weekend. You can’t understand how annoying it was just by watching a youtube clip of it once. That’s all I can tell you.
Also I agree with you Jill. If Scripps can afford Lord knows how much money to pay for all those ad spots, they can certainly be putting their money to better use, and demand less from Cablevision.
I completely agree with Jill and Alexis on this one. I mean I love Food Network, but Sandra Lee pleading?! C’mon! I don’t need to watch some vapid lady schlepping together cans of God knows what with frozen foods! If I want to watch real authentic cooking, then I’ll watch Lidia’s Italy, Cook’s Country, Colameco, and Jacque Pepin. Shame on Food Network!
If the Food Network really cared for their stars, then they would not exploite them so much; instead of just limiting the number of commericals they show and circulating the commericals of different stars sending essentially the same message, they might get somewhere (maybe not very far, but it would be better than where they are now).
Then again, maybe there is a conspiracy going around TFN about trying secertly to destory Flay, even if he is cooperating in their scheme in taking over the television world. If Alton jumps ship, then there is only one original star left with power; if they can either get rid of him or take complete control of him while still making profits off of his image, then they will have the power to do whatever they want and not have to worry about making good quality tv anymore. Oh FN, what a monster you have become…
Forget the conspiracy; it’s too far fetch. Just remember this… Debbie is still Korean.
While not a Flay fan, at least he called Debbie out on the fact that she couldn’t get from one side of the kitchen to the other without mentioning her Koren-ness. And to think my money was on that she was of Danish descent.
I meant Korean-ness. I really need to learn to proofread.
Yeah, that’s the last think I need… the lovechild of Opie and Alfred E. Newman telling me what to do w/r/t Food Network and Cablevision…
Hey Bobby, I might’ve been willing to fight for the cause if the FN didn’t turn into the food equivalent of MTV… all reality/contest shows, and no shows with real chefs about actual cooking. Instead I get some bootleg-ass contest winners showing me how to make food from TGI Fridays
He is totally starting to look a little like Andy Griffith! Bereft of the talent, of course. (Andy, if you’re reading this I am proufoundly sorry.)
OMG..he is a disgusting pompous Troll!.. I had prior to this debacle cancelled Cablevision for Direct TV..and now I am more pissed because I am still stuck having to watch this ass on commercials..hmm.. apparently I need to stop watching the Simpsons and the Office on Fox to get away from the barage of Bobby Flay.
Wait, I’m confused: if you can’t view Food Network and HGTV, how is it that you’re being subjected to all of these ads? I mean, when you bring up the FN channel, do you see these ads airing in a loop or something? Or is Scripps airing them on other channels? (Now that I reread the post and see the comment about seeing it during the Simpsons, I assume this to be the case.)
And why the hell does he pimp an Iron Chef rerun if your FN is blacked out and you can’t even watch it? Is that some kind of passive agressive thing (ha, ha, we’re airing Iron Chef Super Battle at 8, but you can’t see it)?
They played the commercial for Cablevision customers, but on other networks like FOX.
And Food Network struck a deal with New York channel PIX 11 to rebroadcast the White House episode of Iron Chef, so Cablevision customers could see it.
Man he is really turning into a strange looking dude.
Does anyone notice his phony little laugh that tends to come out a few times during his shows.
Leprechaun Boy.
Sarah. You hit the nail on the head. I was just thinking that the older he gets, the more he looks like a Leprechaun!!
Friggin Leprechaun, Freckle Dick……..there I feel better now.
I think we must be paying for the purchase of the Travel Channel
This video seems like standard FN BS. Bobby just reading the teleprompter. Boring.
But pretty please, where’s Mommy McBacon’s ad? She’s the one I want to flatten with an Acme anvil.
I fail to be bothered by a pretty innocuous ad. Your threshold for annoyance seems mighty low.
Did you see the ad 15 times in one evening? No? Then get back to me when you did and talk to us about a “low threshold for annoyance.”
Maybe you could set the video to run in an endless loop so the rest of us could get the idea of how Cablevision customers are suffering?
I only saw the ad twice and was ready to “go Postal” on Booby Boy!
If you aren’t annoyed by a stuttering, redheaded, patronizing lisper, perhaps your threshold for annoyance is “off the charts”
Things I have FTW!:
FIOS = FTW!
High Flay tolerance = FTW!
DVR = FTW!
Apathy = FTW!
Call Verizon and order FIOS, unless you live in the sticks, then call the Dish Network. If not, I heard UHF has some nice Spanish novellas.
Realize Flay is a ginger and gingers are generally held in low regard.
FF thru the commercials with your snazzy DVR. Mine came free with FIOS. Thanks Verizon!
Either way, I don’t care…
You cared just enough to comment…
I didn’t need to see that commercial 10 times to be annoyed by it. I already want to kick the guy in the balls with my boot. But hey thats just me.
Inoffensive enough. But one time only, haha. Poor people having it replayed times infinity for you – kind of like political ads at election time.
Hmmm – I seem to remember Flay once saying that he would like to be mayor of NYC.
Sandra in governor’s mansion.
Is this an upcoming trend?
Everything about B F (which could be Bobby Flay or Butt F*ck, pretty similar I must say)annoys me. He’s a puke and shouldn’t even be paid for what he does.
Thank god I live in Michigan and don’t have to put up with that annoying SOB.
I don’t care if the commercial is the coolest/funniest thing I’ve ever seen. If I have to see the SAME commercial so many times, I’d go crazy!
I’m soooo glad I didn’t have to see it!
I’m not sure which side I’m on, to be honest. Can’t really say that FN is worth paying a penny more for, their programming is worse than ever and I don’t care if they’ve gotten the highest ratings ever, people will watch anything. And if Cablevision and FN do reach an agreement, Cablevision will just pass the cost onto me anyway. Looks like a lose/lose proposition.
Am getting a lot more done at night these days, without having Scripps Television to watch. If only Good Eats were available as a pod cast, or BETTER YET, moved to PBS, then the only thing I’d be missing out on is all the great stuff that you make fun of here.
I don’t care if you watch the ad once, or 200 times a times a day – the issue I have with it is unwavering. Food Network demanded more money .. and now Bobby Flay is telling (stuttering) people he understands, and that “no one is more disappointed than they are” .. if they are SO disappointed, then why don’t they reverse their demand for more money, I mean, if it’s all about the customers right? They are on our side? Or are they on the side of wanting more money, and using Bobby as a ploy to get it and appear like the victim along with us?
Why do you think cable companies like Cablevision end up raising their prices on customers? Perhaps it’s when pompous stations who had one good year demand more money from them.
Aside from that, Bobby is smug, annoying, and patronizing in the clip.
I think many people can see the Scripps greed in this one.
It’s pretty reprehensible and Flay should be ashamed for being such a lame ass Scripps flunkey trying to spin people back to their side.
You gals should be commended for bringing these truthful facts to FN viewers who might be convinced otherwise.
Man how is it that such a TV station like FN can be so heavily loathed by so many ?
Bobby Flay annoys Cablevision customers? Bobby Flay annoys half the people who watch Food Network. I never liked Flay but he was with FN from the start, so we’re stuck with him now. I wish he’d do more cooking and less talking. Cable companies execs are a special breed of demon spawn. I don’t understand taking off a channel that so many folks like (or like to hate). Get rid of one of those bleepin’ weather channels or something.
On a side note, I have to say Jillian manage to capture one of the most f*ugly images of Bobby to date; that image of him before you hit play is truly horrifying.
I don’t get the privilege of seeing Bobby 15 times a day when I tune into the food channel, but with my cable provider, I do get the joy of watching 25 commercials a day for eHarmony. That can’t possibly be any less annoying.
Personally I am fed up with re-run after re-run Scripps has to know that a new cooking network is launching tomorrow and they stand to loose a lot of viewers and revenue They chased Emeril off and now they are going to loose a lot of their Chefs I for one like to watch a few of the shows and if the Neeleys would get a room and get it over with I would really enjoy their show They don”t have to convince me they are happily married Too much kissy touchy on the air They come up with some awesome recipes