This is a real inquiry, ladies and germs. I have three related questions for you:
1. Why is there no wine-themed program on any of the cable TV networks? Several of you have written about the failings of the Food Channel (home to the perky Rachael Ray) on this score.
2. What would it take to put together a wine show that would actually attract viewers?
3. Where would such a program fit best -- on one of the cable nets, on PBS (think of the good cooking shows, like Lydia's Kitchen), on Logos??
If there are any wine-themed programs, tell me what and where. I haven't heard of them. But then I watch only about three shows a week, five when HBO has new episodes of Entourage and The Sopranos.
Britain's got Jancis
America needs someone smart like her
without glasses
Speaking of Sopranos, there were 25 people arrested and charged on Monday for involvement in gambling and taking over unions. Among the arrested were some Gambino & Lucchese crime family members from the area near my NJ office, including the brother of the head of the Lucchese Family. A pizzeria/restaurant I have eaten at was raided. That is real life New Jersey Sopranos!!
Posted by: Richard | May 24, 2007 at 03:37 PM
hey, what's wrong with glasses?
Posted by: Fredric Koeppel | May 24, 2007 at 03:41 PM
"Men seldom make passes at girls who wear glasses." Obviously, FK, no one cares if we wear them. But this IS America -- no glasses or buck teeth allowed on TV women here (sorry, Sister Wendy.)
Richard, that's a colorful tale. Shows why New Jersey is one of the best loved states in the Union.
Posted by: Terry Hughes | May 24, 2007 at 04:37 PM
What about some young crazy enthusiastic kid from New York running around the world not pretending to know everything about wine but always on a obsessively passionate search for more and more knowledge and always trying to ask questions and teach the viewers something new each episode. Then this crazy kid can go to local restaurants and eat the food and pair the wine and discuss why local food and local wine are meant for each other. And what if this kid was a geek....yeah, like a wine geek...from New York....hmmm...AHA! We'll call him the East Village Wine Geek and throw him all across the globe to explore differnt wine growing regions of the world...especially burgeoning ones. Brilliant!........;)
EvWg
Posted by: East Village Wine Geek | May 25, 2007 at 12:21 PM
Hm, very interesting EVWG. Maybe we could sell it to MTV -- "Real Wine World"? Or would send the wrong message to the sterling youth of America?
You need a beautiful, slightly older but wine-savvy lady of Italian origin to make a (wine) man of you...we get it on A&E or Bravo, produced by the guys who did Queer Eye, so everything would be faaabulous....Still feeling it, dude?
Posted by: Terry Hughes | May 25, 2007 at 12:43 PM
WATCH WWW.WINEPEEKS.TV
We're here to the rescue--and 24/7 on demand. Please log onto www.WinePeeks.Tv for one of the most comprehensive wine TV/video libraries on the Internet. The site is an offshoot of the show "Taste" on NBC5 Chicago. We now also offer a monthly video Newsletter, which you can subscribe to.
Lots of wine info out there but networks have been quite hesitant to move into any alcohol - related programming. We figured the Internet is the place now to be for programming and we're filling a much needed niche. Enjoy and please send comments.
Posted by: Laura Levy | May 25, 2007 at 03:19 PM
Hey in both the Sopranos and Entourage they actually drink a fair amount of wines.
For the show I think something like the Jimmy Kimmel format.
The guests are wine related and the show is on the funny side.
I can be more detailed too but then somebody might take the idea.
Terry do you anybody that is actually interested in producing a wine show?
www.de-vino.com
Posted by: Gabrio Tosti | May 25, 2007 at 07:38 PM
Gabrio, I don't know anyone who wants to produce one, besides me that is. On TV, not the web (no offense, Laura!). It's a great idea and if those birdbrains at the Food Channel wouldn't want to do it, maybe someone else will. But there'd have to be a twist to it, it can't be a bunch of wine geeks sitting around spitting.
Needed:
Drama, comedy, "plotlines," definite and appealing personalities. Preferably female, because that's who buys most of the wine and who is most concerned about food pairings, not the average guy. Not in America anyway. And everyone, male and female, likes to look at pretty women. Cleavage is good too; wine and sex seem to be a natural fit, eh?
Posted by: Terry Hughes | May 25, 2007 at 08:33 PM
I'm with you on the girl, and no spitting allowed ahahaha
Posted by: Gabrio Tosti | May 26, 2007 at 03:08 PM
Terry,
Am & I know a Food & Wine show TV producer. We can discuss in further detail.
R
Posted by: Richard | May 26, 2007 at 07:28 PM
...unless you can find & groom the wine world's equivalent of Anthony Bourdain: even my UFO-watching, born-again, self-medicating bipolar macho man youngest brother would ring me up in the middle of the night
(I don't have cable) to fill me in on what Mr.B was eating & drinking in his 'Without Reservations' wanderings...
Saludos, Senyor Terencio, sorry I've been such a stranger-- struggling somewhat-- may be in NYC for a couple weeks next month, finally. Meanwhile, I've thrown my hat, however wobbily, into the ring...
http://vinomadic.blogspot.com/
ciao!
Posted by: David J Rodriguez | May 27, 2007 at 03:10 PM
Ciao, David, thanks for commenting...just got back from an Internet-free weekend upstate, will check your blog later and add link.
Richard, back to you soon.
Gabrio, you're a naughty boy.
Posted by: Terry Hughes | May 27, 2007 at 08:03 PM
Terry,
I have Jancis Robinson’s DVD set from about 20+ years ago, and it is so very interesting to see where the wine world was then and what people thought. I recall when she visited Australia and asked what the winemakers thought their break-out grape would be only one out of at least ten made mention of Shiraz. Also, her visit to CA during the 80’s was very entertaining. We need more shows that! I love those classic clips.
Have a great weekend friend!
Dezel
Posted by: Dezel | May 30, 2007 at 09:37 PM
Hey, can I put my hand up to research and host this supposed wine show??? I'm 33, a syndicated wine writer for 10 newspapers across New Zealand, I host wine education workshops, am a wine show judge, write freelance for a number of food and wine magazines and I'm champing at the bit to get stuck into television to create a wine show with a difference. Check out www.yvonnemarie.co.nz for my resume and writing. Get me in front of that camera and we'll do this thing...
Posted by: yvonne marie lorkin | June 11, 2007 at 06:04 AM
wine wahine for you
Posted by: Yvonne Marie Lorkin | June 04, 2008 at 08:18 AM