I'm quite surprised that there isn't a section here on the FN. I think I only got one book by a Food Network Star - one of Emeril's.

Or maybe I overlooked it. But this is the 3rd cooking forum that I've joined and like, since about May or June.

Yes, I,m and avid fan of Aaron McCargo Jr., and I also wish him great success with his new show!! He's the very first black man to ever win the NFNS! No Afro-American has ever won it before. Reggie Southerlamd came close, but Guy beat him out and won.

And BTW, KYHeirloomer, I don't have a cuppa Joe, but I am drinking some Coke and I'm enjoying the festivities. Haha!!

Hello BD...and welcome...WHAT ? No Dr Pepper ! lol...

Thank you.

No, only once in a great while. Haha!!

I don't exactly know what you mean by section, BDK. There are been several Food Network discussions, though; both as a network and about individual celebs.

Almost seems as though you can't have a food-oriented web site and not have FN discussions; mostly negative.

The real problem is that most serious foodies feel FN has gone steadily downhill the past couple of years. They've abandoned the people (celebs and viewers both) who made them what they were. Now, most people who want to see real cooking shows do it at other venues.

In all due respect, many of the past few seasons we've seen shows that were developed not because the star was a good cook who happened to be ethnic, or a person of color, but, rather, they looked for the ethnicity and racial characteristics and then tried to build that person up as a great cook.

Here's just one example: Before I stopped watching FN they were touting their newest show called something like Real Cooking. The star, who'd name escapes me, was presented as:

A Real Air Force vet.
A Real DJ
And A Real Lover of Food

Great qualifications to have you're own cooking show, right? It was just an accident that she was a good looking black woman. And, of course, black, white, hispanic or from Mars, the main criterium nowadays seems to be that the star is 1. female, 2. conventionally good looking, and 3. is willing to bounce her boobies for the camera.

Do you think for one minute that if Giada DeLaurentis, for instance, was flat chested and ugly that she'd have any shows there at all, let alone a succession of failures? Do you think Sandra Lee brings anything to the table besides her 38D cup and sweaters two sizes two small?

If you're getting the idea that I'm no longer a fan of FN I certainly won't argue the point.

Can you tell me exactly where they are, please. Would like to post there now and then. Thanks.