Cooking shows...where did they go????

I talked a few posts ago about my sadness for Gourmet leaving us.  Where I still wish Conde Nast had made a different choice, I'll likely move over to Bon Appetit for my continued food education.  I've also been thinking about what Sara Moulton is up to.   Her PBS show was a welcomed addition.  After leaving (or being pushed?) from the Food Network, I was happy to see her on the TV again.  I really miss the Cooking Live show that really brought me to Food Network in the first place.  Which brings me to why I'm writing out my thoughts…

I read a discussion on YumSugar tonight about Brian Boitano's show coming back next March.  Is Food Network for real?  I've never seen a more staged show.  The production borderlines on Pee Wee's Playhouse.  I'm not seeing or hearing anything that I haven't heard before.  I tried watching the Next Food Network Star last season.  Actually, I forced myself to watch through the whole season.  I grew more and more tired of hearing the network big shots tell the contestants that they weren't appealling to the audience, they were lecturing, they weren't bringing anything new….Weren't bringing anything new?  Training a celebrity to talk about basic cooking techniques and make himself look like a silly idiot is not new.  Like I said, Pee Wee Herman. 

I sincerely hope that Food Network brings back a little of what made the network.  Emeril, Sara, Bobby, etc.  I know that we've turned into a "reality show society."  However, I still am interested in watching new ways of cooking, learning traditional methods of cooking and learning about cuisine and culture.  Food Network…What are you going to do for the person that wants to continue to build his food/cooking expertise and doesn't turn on your network to watch people fight for some silly award or make fun of themselves or others for the sake of entertainment?????