I wonder if Pat and Gina Neely act the same way at home, as they do on their Food Network series.
Since their first program aired in February 2008, the dynamic duo’s flirtatious and frolicking kitchen antics helped propel “Down Home with the Neelys”to become the highest rated series debut in the five-year history of Food Network’s “In the Kitchen”weekend block. The series continues to be a top ratings performer.
Clearly, the Neelys have found a niche for their not-so-subtle brand of slow cooked southern-style barbecue and calorie-laden, down-home cuisine. Last summer, Food Network added another show to their television resume, “Road Tested with the Neelys,”where they travel across the country sampling one-of-a-kind edibles at specialty stores and family-run businesses. The Neelys have been very busy.
Sounds perfect, doesn’t it? A cute couple cozying up and cooking together in the kitchen..developing devilishly delicious dishes, peppered with suggestively sexy innuendoes. Well, as entertaining as this may sound, many feel this banter belongs in the bedroom, not on daytime television.
The problem seems to center around Gina Neely, who comes across to many of her critics as disingenuous, overbearing and inappropriate. Some of her critics have written on food and recipe blogs, “Tone it down, Gina!”or “The steam on the set isn’t from the asparagus.”The comments relate to the frequency and intensity of the remarks she makes that have nothing to do with the heat of the oven, if you get my drift. Viewers also find her to be shrill, domineering, patronizing and offensive. That’s quite a list.
Pat Neely, on the other hand, has fared better with the fans and viewer base. The worst comments anyone had about Mr. Neely was that he appeared to be henpecked by his wife.
It’s hard to tell whether the connection this husband and wife team have on the air mirrors their relationship at home or whether this is all part of the way Food Network is positioning and packaging the show. Are the Neelys as lovey-dovey at home as they are on the air, or is this all a big public relations ploy? How much of their shtick is scripted and how much is spontaneous?
The couple dated during high school in the 1980s, went their separate ways and then reconnected 10 years later at a reunion. They married in 1994. Fifteen years and two daughters later, they co-own Neely’s Bar-B-Que and have become barbecue royalty in the south. They appear to be genuinely in love and enjoy working together in their restaurant and on the show.
Pat Neely is fun, folksy and family-oriented. Gina Neely is fiery, feisty and frenetic. Although viewers find her on-camera behavior “excessive,”a National Public Radio interview with the couple shows a much softer, calmer side.
A cooking show should not be so much about the personalities, but about the food and the recipes. However, unless viewers find a connection with the hosts, the show will have an uphill battle trying to be successful. Critics have no issues with the Neely’s recipes, cooking techniques or menu items. In fact, most of their recipes receive rave reviews on the Food Network’s web site. I personally can recommend their Rum Raisin Bread Pudding. However, on-camera presence can wreck havoc, even with the most carefully planned production.
“Down Home with the Neelys” is only in its second year of production. It often takes three years for a series to hit its stride after going through the proper assessments and tweaking. Hopefully, Food Network executives are currently reviewing the show and keeping their ears to the ground for critical remarks from fans and detractors. The producers also need to evaluate the on-camera personae of both Pat and Gina Neely. They’re restaurateurs, not professional television personalities .. yet. It takes time to grow and mature in front of the camera. Give them both the opportunity to get more comfortable and strike a better balance between their “he said, she said”routine. The potential is there if viewers will be patient.