Next Food Network Star: Big Daddy’s House, A Review
Yesterday, I decided to follow through on my first season of “watching” Next Food Network Star and check out winner Aaron McCargo Jr.’s show. I figured the folks at the FN know more than I do about their programming lineup, and they had their reasons for choosing Big Daddy. Aaron’s show, Big Daddy’s House, airs at 12:30 pm on Sunday, just after Down Home with the Neeleys. So from noon-1 pm, you get a full dose of house and home, if you know what I mean. That said, Aaron’s show was better than I expected. Of course, the dude has been heavily coached, and who knows how many outtakes hit the trash after they taped the 30 minute show? It was edited to the max.
The set, meant to look like his house–heck, maybe it is his house–is downright tacky. The refrigerator is decorated with picture magnets, and stage right there is a picture hanging askew in the hallway. Aaron says “yeah, baby” a lot. And he refers to most of his ingredients as “bad boys.” When he picked up a raw New York strip he quipped, “I’ve got the goods, baby. I love it.” Then he kissed it. He made potatoes au gratin with his three favorite cheeses-cheddar, white cheddar, and processed American cheese. He used panko to top the potatoes. He brought our his best friend, smoky paprika, which in hindsight sounds like a chick he picked up on the strip in Vegas.
When Aaron was cooking, he was nervous and uneasy and he sweated a lot. (”I’m sweatin’ cuz I’m so excited!” he claimed.) However, the editor managed to splice in plenty of gushy, over-the-top Aaron moments. My three favorites: “What is steak au poivre? It sounds French, right? It’s not. It just means pepper.” “Call Big Daddy and tell him to come back to earth cuz he just took off.” And, finally, “Kiss your behind goodnight cuz here we go.”
Am I bitter they didn’t pick Lisa? Hell, no. I think winning these things cuts one open both ways. For now he has his 30 minutes of cooking fame. Then he’ll write a cookbook. For the rest of his contract–and, probably, his life–he will make appearances at food product conventions all over the place. If that makes Aaron happy, then I’m happy. I will say I wanted to eat every bite of what he cooked. However, next Sunday, I’m going back to the Dog Whisperer. Cesar makes a mean salad. Woof.
31 Comments to “Next Food Network Star: Big Daddy’s House, A Review”
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OMG, I watched it too for the first time. He was sweating like crazy. SO gross. ANd then to call attention to it. But i agree with you it was better than i thought it would be and they should change the color of the cabinets because when he stands in front of them he blends right in. But that steak looked good……….
You obviously missed the first episode where he made a salad with chicken fingers and breaded the chicken in barely crushed Doritos.
My biggest problem with them handing it to a guy whose food knowledge could fit in a comic book is that by far, the other guy (forgot his name) had the best show concept, and Lisa — for all her faults — definitely knew more about cooking than all of the contestants and Bobby Flay combined.
Lisa would have been just one more upscale, pretty girl show in the line-up — not a bad thing in itself. Aaron’s show is just another “downhome” cooking (re: low-brow and crass) ala Guy Fieri and Paula Deen and the Neeley’s.
The third runner up’s concept was by far the best and most original — a step up from the self-satisfied Throwdown concept. Of course, the fact I can’t remember the contestant’s name tells you his problem.
I’d prefer to have seen Lisa win and then have to execute the third guy’s concept — upscaling or punching up ordinary dishes as sent in by viewers. Don’t know if the webcam thing would have really worked out, but the basic idea was there.
…he looks kinda like a genie in that picture…like someone rubbed a lamp and out he came…i think its the gold hoops.
as for the show…yeah…watched 5 minutes and became disinterested…..i don’t like to watch people sweat over food. It’s one thing to have my mom slaving away in a hot kitchen cooking dinner for 10 people…but to have to watch some tv show with some guy seriously sweating…ick.
the sweat was a deal breaker for me.
He can get botox for that.
Ha ha.
Can we provide Aaron with a first rate kitchen?….too much clutter and guesswork with his measuring.
Exhausting to watch.
@ John: Let’s provide Adam or Lisa with the first rate kitchen, instead. I tried watching the show, and couldn’t sit through more than a few minutes.
I have to agree with Trey about Adam having the best concept for a show, and wish the powers at FN would have decided to pursue him instead of Aaron. Supposedly, a new series, “Ask Aida”, is similar to Adam’s webcam concept, but I don’t know if her personality will carry it as well as Adam could.
Adam will be in a new show premiering in September called “Will Work For Food.”
Aaron will go further than you think. He has already been on CBS today as a featured chef and was intervieved in USA Today.
Considering this was his second show, he is doing very well. No one knows how many outtakes it takes for his show. Probally the same amount as anyone else. This show was put together really fast.
His show was rated in top five in his time slot. Good job Aaron.
I followed the show the entire season and was really rooting for Adam. I thought he was the best out of the top 3. Lisa is just too snooty and Aaron, well I just didn’t really get him at all. I have watched the first two episodes of Big Daddy’s House and I was pleasantly surprised. Aaron still has a lot of polishing to do on his camera presence and sometimes it seems like he tries too hard to be cute/funny/witty when he could really get by just fine without being so over the top with his exclamations. I have loved everything he has cooked so far and I plan on making some of his recipes. I agree with everyone else on the sweating issue. That is just not a good thing. I know some of the other big guys on FN sweat. Standing over all of those boiling pots and pans, underneath the studio lights, it has got to be hot on the set. I’m sure Emeril sweats but he DOESN’T bring it to the audience’s attention and even ask the camera man to get a closeup…come on Aaron that was just gross!
When did Xzibit take up cooking?
Look, anyone who wins this show is a puppet. They are bound to the FN. The brunette (Amy?) that won a few shows back didn’t renew her contract so she could be with her family. That should say something. Granted, I was rooting for Lisa, if for nothing else because I always root for the home team. Nevertheless, she might be better off for having lost then winning. There isn’t one person out there save for Aaron and his family and friends that think he should have won it all. I thought of a new show for Aaron, following in Guy’s footsteps: gas station food. 1st up - Allsups burritos. Now that’s a burrito baby!
Did he really use crushed Doritos as an ingredient? I watched the “premiere” (LOL) episode for about 30 seconds before I changed the channel (for good).
Doritos, paprika and sweat. Good lord, I guess I DO have the makings of a TV chef.
Coke up the van, I want in.
Nancy you crack me up. Couldn’t bring myself to watch the show and now definitely will not - In fact as former food network junkies I don’t think we have had the channel on in our house since the last episode of NFNS. We are better off with Lisa back in Big D!!
especially this:
“What is steak au poivre? It sounds French, right? It’s not. It just means pepper.”
Holy mother that is funny
when did Xhibit take up cooking?
bwauahahahahaa!!!
We need to do a Top 10 McCargoIsms. I’ve got two so far:
1) Coke The Van
2) What is steak au poivre? It sounds French, right? It’s not. It just means pepper.
I prolly won’t be adding anymore because I refuse to sit through the show, but since he seems to repeat himself a lot (based on the commercials), I’m sure we’ll likely be able to cull more McCargoisms from the spots they’ve been running regularly.
BTW Mattie, it’s actually not his second show, it’s his second “Big Daddy” show. He’s had a lot of time to prep for this. Either way, aside from the fluff, (CBS and USA Today), who rated his Top 5 in his time slot?
BoogieNYC,
Please say it’s not so. You will not be watching Aaron’s show? How will he continue to live?
Mattie:
You didn’t answer my question: where did you get the info that his show was rated in top five in his time slot?
And in answer to your other question, I suppose after his six episodes (aka 15 Minutes) are up and his show disappears along with the Hardy Boys and Gourmet Next Door, he’ll realize that it’s embarrassing for a guy who has been a food network “Star” to go back to being a hospital cook in Camden.
Boggie,
Visit this link: http://www.cynopsis.com/content/view/3710/53
I am sure you don’t believe half the things you say about Aaron. You are just another person who has fallen short of achieving success and you are mad.
I think his title was Executive Chef. But if you think he is a cook that is OK. It is an honest job. Get off your high horses.
Aaron will be around for a long time on FN or any media output he desires.
Guest what? I own a company and I don’t have time to communicate with an underachiever like someone from NYC. I will not take the time to respond to your ranting. See a psychiatric therapist and get over your pity party.
Mattie:
That link doesn’t refer to Big Daddy’s House on any level, just the finale. In case I’ve not made myself clear, please provide a link that specifically backs up what you claimed, which was that Aaron’s “show was rated in top five in his time slot.”
Also, I appreciate your suggestions. They’re very entertaining and immensely creative. They have no relevance, of course, or resemblance to reality. You should consider working for the Food Network if you don’t already.
Your agenda’s very interesting, incidentally. I hope your “company” remunerates you according to your abilities.
Incidentally, you made the Top 10: “See a psychiatric therapist and get over your pity party.” That one comes in at #4 as an honorary McCargoism.
Thanks for playing.
Mattie:
I re-loaded your link and I saw the line you referred to… It’s a partial demographic. Do you have the actual share/numbers?
BoogieNYC and to the rest of you who are dogging Aaron McCargo Jr. I must ask what difference does it make who likes him and who doesn’t fact of the matter is he is he has accomplished more than any of you have in your jobs. He is on television doing what he loves to do, cook (rather you all think he is good at it or not); I am sure he is making a nice paycheck, more than most if not all of you!!! SO GET OVER IT!!! He has six episodes that none of you can take from him, they will still come on the Food Network rather any of you watch them or not. If they don’t renew his contract, so what, right now he is living out his dream; how many of you that have dogged him can say that? Most of you don’t even have a dream or still chasing it, which may be the reason you are hating on him. I read the opening blog how she says that he comes on after the Neely’s so from noon-1 so you get a full does of from house to home, if I didn’t know any better I would say that was a hit on race, being that the Neely’s are also African American. I think a lot of people on this blog and other blogs I have read about Aaron McCargo have a problem with the FN bringing a little color to the network. People want to say he uses to much oil, well no one says anything when Paula Dean (my girl)uses all her butter and oils, when she deep fries mac and cheese, so what is the difference? I guess I have said enough and have realized that some people in this world are just ignorant and always have something to complain or talk about.
Why does the Food Network and other reality shows make African-Americans appear primitive? Giada, Rachel and a host of other FN stars have issues that are rarely pointed out by the critics but when Aaron does anything that doesn’t fit society’s norm, then there’s a problem. Also, I am fuming at Gordon Elliot for making the Neely’s and “Big Daddy’s House so urban, or should I say “too over the top.” he would have never had Giada speaking the way the Neely’s and Aaron does. To me, and I am not African-American, the Food Network doesn’t help change the stereotypical images that Blacks have fought so hard to remove. People like Gordon Elliot should not produce Black network stars if his concepts are still in the days of Jim Crow; move into the 21st century FN and start giving Blacks the same type of shows that you give their white counterparts. Not all Blacks say, “ya’ll” nor are all Blacks loud and over the top. Show some class FN; there are classy Blacks in the world - hasn’t Gordon Elliot experienced this in all of his travels?
jbidder: as an AA woman I initially cringed when I saw the first episode of Down Home and Big Daddy. Immediately I said… here we go again. Then I thought about it. I was raised in NY but a lot of my family is in SC and the deep south and they CAN identify with the “ya’lls” and all that jazz. Instead of judging the network or even the hosts I chalk it up to that’s how they are and I accept it. Though not a representation of all of us, they do represent how some of us are. I just have to hope one day they will add balance and have “the Cosbys” of FN
Yes, Big Daddy was over the top.
Yes, he was flashy, loud and sweaty.
But,,,if you remember from NFNS…his was the ONLY food the Iron Chefs liked and most of the “celebrity’ judges as well.
He is genuine, tries a little too hard, but that is probably direction from Gordon Elliott.
Give the guy a break. He is trying and yes, he can cook!
He only won because he’s black, and the FN obviously wants to increase its black viewership. Sad that the concept of blacks watching television is based on the concept that blacks only want to watch other blacks. Where is the racism in that? Oh, I forgot, 98% of blacks voting for Obama isn’t racism either. My bad.
JT–
JT– What’s the difference, whites have been voting for whites for years. Blacks finally get a chance to vote for someone who looks like them and who will listen to THEIR interests, problems and concerns. It’s LONG overdue.
I THINK THE SHOW WAS GREAT. I WANTED TO GO THROUGH THE TV TO GET THE FOOD. AARON KNOWS WHAT HE IS DOING.THAT IS FOR SURE. WHEN WILL THE SHOWS BE BACK ON?