Now Featuring Brian Boitano
Brian Boitano, the 1988 Olympic gold medalist in men’s figure skating, is taking a veer in his career. The 45-year old self-proclaimed foodie is hosting a new Food Network series called What Would Brian Boitano Make?
My question is …. who cares?
Although Boitano might have been a great skater in his day (and may still be able to execute some impressive moves on the ice), I’m not quite sure about his moves in the kitchen. Obviously, the Food Network executives see something in him.
I’m still looking.
The series takes place in Boitano’s San Francisco kitchen, where each week, he deals with a situation that allows him to demonstrate his so-called culinary skills, peppered with large chunks of childish silliness.
On the premier episode, viewers find out he loves to cook. They also find out he loves to ride his bike on rainbows (???) and loves playing Cupid for his friends … especially his friend Tony, who is the focus of this first show. Boitano is going to help Tony find a love match by throwing a party with 20 female guests and perfectly paired food.
If Boitano stuck to just cooking, the show might be somewhat palatable. But the former skating champ bounces between trying to be a serious cook and an intolerable goofball comic. At times, his antics are reminiscent of Pee Wee Herman.
Maybe there’s an audience for this type of show, but I doubt if serious foodies will waste their time watching Boitano mug for the camera and try to (badly) emulate Alton Brown. The food plays second fiddle to Boitano’s antics, which is a shame. This is the Food Network, not Comedy Central. Although there’s always a place for genuine, finely crafted humor in any program, What Would Brian Boitano Make? leaves me with the same question: Who cares?
Fortunately, the show is buried at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday afternoons, so it may end up dying a slow death once football season gets into full swing.
Brian, stick with your day job!
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