TV Land

New Food Network Shows Are Kind of Like ‘Top Chef’ and ‘Dirty Jobs’

The Food Network has sent us its latest lineup, and there a couple of newcomers: Chopped, hosted by Ted Allen, “challenges four up-and-coming chefs to turn a selection of everyday ingredients into an extraordinary three-course meal. After each course, a contestant gets ‘chopped’ until the last man or woman left standing claims victory.” Guest judges include Alex Guarnaschelli, Aaron Sanchez, and Geoffrey Zakarian. Eat Me Daily has a promo clip and it looks a lot like Top Chef and, for that matter, Marco Pierre White’s upcoming Chopping Block. It’s no wonder FN is rolling out a Top Chef knockoff since, according to the Live Feed, 2.7 million viewers caught the premiere last week (up 19 percent from last season). But what could be the inspiration behind Will Work for Food, hosted by Adam Gertler of The Next Food Network Star? “The series exposes Adam to the world of little-known food jobs … Whether taking honey from three million bees, sculpting ice with a chain saw, foraging for truffles, or digging a wine cave, Adam will do anything in the name of food.” Hmmm, sounds kind of like Dirty Jobs. But will Adam Gertler castrate a sheep with his teeth?

New Food Network Shows Are Kind of Like ‘Top Chef’ and ‘Dirty