Robert Irvine is back!! Read here.
First off I just want to say wow, the response that I have gotten to this post has been awesome. All of Robert’s fans have responded in a big way by posting your comments on this blog as well as writing letters to Scripps Networks and Food Network.
I have been emailing Food Network since I wrote this post and last week I actually got a response, from Brooke Johnson, President of Food Network. She said that she appreciated my efforts to fight for a show that I believed in and said that they would review the comments left on this blog and take what we have been saying here into consideration. I emailed her back and ask that she keep me informed as to where that goes so we will see but this is just further proof that we must keep up the pressure, our voices are being heard all the way to the top of Food Network, so keep those comments and letters coming.
I have also had the chance to exchange emails with Robert Irvine himself and he wanted me to let all you all know that he appreciates your support and sends his sincere thanks and he wants you to know that he WILL be back one way or the other.
Well those are the two big bombshells I wanted to share with you guys, keep it coming we can do this.
October 4, 2008 at 3:03 pm
Thanks for your efforts in getting Robert back on the Food Network! I too have written them emails, but no response. Dinner: Impossible is not the same with Chef Symon. I told them one of the biggest differences (along with the fact that it is no longer “what you are about to see is real, the chef has no knowledge of the challenge he is about to face) is that, with Robert and his team we were exposed to numerous useful strategies for putting truly gourmet meals on that table with limited time and resources. Another pet peeve I wrote them about is seeing Chef Symon’s shaggy haired sous chef Johnny leaning over a plate with his hair practically hanging in the food! Yuck! We were never exposed to poor kitchen practices with Robert, George, George, David and the other members of the team. If there’s anything more we can do, please keep us informed! I need some new inspiration in the kitchen!
October 4, 2008 at 8:24 pm
BTW – forgot to mention how we can help support Robert and send a message to FN. Amazon now has Robert’s new book, “From Impossible to Easy” available for pre-order. I’m told that when the book sells well in pre-order, it gets the attention of the NY Times Best Seller people and can catapolt a book to “Best Seller” status as soon as it officially goes on sale (I placed my order and was notified that the anticipated ship date would be 10/16). Robert also has great spice blends for sale either through his website (Irvinethyme.com) or at Food Network’s website. There is a 4-pack of spice blends that is availble either at the website or at Foodnetwork.com, but the 4-pack and other blends are available at Irvinethyme. These are awsomely fresh and fragrant spice blends that are lower in sodium than most you find at the market. I personally love both the Supreme Pasta and salad blend and the Garlic Herb blend. Robert certainly brings quality to all he does, and we should support him in these endeavors to send a message to Food Network that he has a strong and loyal following that is not afraid to put their money where their support lies!
October 6, 2008 at 3:01 am
What puzzles me is that if we the viewers, want him back (and we are talking high numbers) why would this network who claim to have integrity, which at one time I too thought they did. Why would they throw all of this out the window in one shot? It’s like the customer is right. In this case the viewer is right. It is what we want. It just baffles me that they would put their network at risk of loosing thousands of viewers. Cause quite honestly the line-up that they have now is horrible. I have not watched only one week since Robert has left to see what was going on. So what they are doing is hurting the other chefs also who are loosing most of us as viewers. I can go back to my cook books or visit the chef I know down the street.
They made a drastic mistake. A lost viewer
kali
October 7, 2008 at 3:14 am
Great idea Cindy, but don’t buy the stuff from the Food Network, go to Chef Robert’s website Irvinethyme.com and order it. Why should we give any of our $$$ to the FN for their cut when they kicked him out, give it to Chef Robert by buying it thru HIS website.
Irvinethyme.com
October 7, 2008 at 6:36 pm
Punkido,
I’ve already bought spices from Chef Irvine’s website (they are amazing!, plus they carry more than just the 4-pack that FN carries). Actually ready to place another order ’cause I’ve run out of the Supreme Pasta and Salad Blend! I think FN might be motivated by pocketbook cha-ching issues, which is why I suggested buying from their website. They will HAVE to sit up and take notice when Chef Irvine’s book gets on the NY Times Best seller list! I would like so much to see that happen for Robert!
October 9, 2008 at 2:06 am
I have to say, I loved watching Dinner Impossible because of Robert Irvine. I can’t stand watching it now with Chef Symon. Nothing against Symon, I’d rather watch Robert.
So what if he embelished his resume a little… which one of us has never done that? Bring back Robert Irvine!!!
October 9, 2008 at 3:36 am
Correct me if I’m worng. He was fired for imbelishing his resume. Or basicly lying, about his culinary background. I don’t condone lying but, all have imbellished something in our lives (especially resumes) to make it more palatable/interesting to another. When I look at the current lineup, it’s is filled with cooks that have less than glamorus background. They got rid of all the trained profesionals. Every show is now the same. The “Hey, I’m not a Chef but, you just like me you can cook like one” show. I like that in a show. It dosent talk down to me in the sense that I also do not have formal training, But I also like to hear it from the Professionals. I don’t care what he did before. All I know is how I felt when I watched him. He used food to bring people together. Massive amounts of people together. Against all odds. From the Dining room to the kitchen. With a sense of charm that cannot be matched and a positive message at the end. Nothing against Chef Symon but the charisma is not the same. Are we now living in a time where we don’t believe in second chances. Would it not have been good enough to have him make a formal apology and then move on. I too have made mistakes. I too have been given a second chances.
BRING BACK ROBERT IRVINE!!!!!
P.S. Sorry about the spelling. When I went back to correct it it messed up the other suff I wrote. Never the less, bring Robert back.
October 12, 2008 at 4:24 pm
Yes, Robert Irvine imbellished his resume, but the punishment does not fit the crime. Robert should had been suspended and rebuked. Not fired, heck we have policitians in this country that have done worse and they are still in office (i.e. Clinton, lying under oath; Kennedy killing a woman, etc.).
It would be interesting to see the ratings of Symon and Irvine’s versions. It is however curious that Food Network is airing Chef Irvine’s shows along side Chef Symon. Symon’s show is not good, actually is grating to watch.
Chef Irvine (and he IS CHEF that part was NOT embellished) is much more personable.
Chef Symon laugh just gets on my nerves, and he doesn’t seem to win many of his challenges or seem to be able to work off the cuff.
Please bring back Chef Robert Irvine.
For approximately 4 months, I emailed Food Network regarding Chef Irvine’s situation..I NEVER heard from anyone. POOR Customer Service.
October 18, 2008 at 9:07 am
POOR customer service: that’s because the owners of food network, scripps, is getting very well know for being cheapskates and not at all caring about the end users. let’s see if they still feel that way when viewers stop buying the products “advertised”.
symon is no more of a real chef that the average person, despite his “winning credentials” from a school so easy to get into at the time of his enrollment i got admitted with no cooking experience but a darned good essay.
irvine might have elaborated on his cv – but at least he’s a real chef, can actually cook well and isn’t a whiner that comes close to ruining eveything he touches. sheesh, dinner impossible is not just a joke, but a not very funny one. or an honest one. scripps strikes again.
October 19, 2008 at 2:43 am
Honesty and integrity are important so a little time off was probably warranted for robert but at the end of the day he has charisma, his food amazes everyone and he has screen presence. -nothing against new guy but won’t watch until robert is back
October 21, 2008 at 6:48 pm
Robert Irvine has just proved he is human just like the rest of us!
He has so much personality and charisma he WAS Dinner Impossible, and I am waiting for him to come back.
I have nothing against new guy but the show isn’t the same so I don’t watch it anymore.
Good Luck Robert,hope you return to us soon.
October 28, 2008 at 3:25 pm
So he lied, that doesn’t mean he can’t cook. he was passionate at what he did and did a good job and made the show enjoyable. Chef Simon is not so good nor entertaining. Chef IRvine would also take it up a notch, if he needed 10 dishes he did 15 Chef Simon doesn’t. I think they need to bring him back soon!
October 29, 2008 at 12:46 pm
This is a really interesting blog post,I have added your blog to my bookmarks I really like it,keep up the good work!
November 8, 2008 at 7:54 pm
without robert irvine dinner impossible is boring. he was a great cook & very entertaining!!! bring him back pleease!!!!
November 9, 2008 at 10:36 pm
Please bring back Robert Irvine, he just has so much character and personality, he makes you want to watch the show. Nothing against Michael Simon, but he’s just boring, he doesn’t make the show very interesting. I liked Robert Irvine’s Dinner Impossible so much I added it to my recording list on my DVR, but not the new show.
November 11, 2008 at 11:34 pm
The show has not been the same since he left. I watch FN for several hours each Sunday night. It’s my official night off and the whole family supports me by letting me relax through a FN challenge, Iron Chef and Dinner Impossible. I use the episode with Symon in it as a chance to take a break and then rush back to catch the Robert Irvine episode that follows after it. Don’t get me wrong, I like Mike Symon and he is a fine chef. But he is not Dinner Impossible material. Chef Irvine is/was the perfect choice for that role and he has been sorely missed.
November 15, 2008 at 8:52 pm
Ditto that Irvine is much more entertaining that Symon. I agree, if he lied, then it would have been a good opportunity to have a nice public repentance and move along. Just don’t like watching anymore. I think the thing we liked about Chef Robert was his humanity.
November 16, 2008 at 10:31 pm
Dinner Impossible is NOT the same without Robert, its missing the key ingredient….Robert and his humour.
Robert IS the show, he knows how to cook and keep an audience interested, whom he cooked for in the past or whom he didn’t cook for doesn’t matter to us.
Many people embelish on their resume’s, in one respect or another, it was not a good enough reason to replace Robert.
Nothing against Michael, but we dont’ think this is his venue.
November 17, 2008 at 3:10 am
Robert is THE BEST CHEF PERIOD. He knows how things are, and how they work,how to get things done.My Husband is a retired chef,I know what they go thru, Iv worked with them.CHEF ROBERT IS DINNER IMPOSSIABLE.He has the skills and he is smart, and kind and GENEROUS.Hes helped lots of People too.He is an Increadable, beautiful, wonderful man.we LOVE HIM.
November 18, 2008 at 8:30 pm
I refuse to watch this show anymore. Robert made it great. Simon is driving it into the ground. He sweats all over the foot, his laugh drives me nuts and he makes it about as interesting and fun as watching me cook. BRING BACK ROBERT!!!! Clinton did more than exagerate on a resume and he was able to keep his job. Without him, Dinner Impossible is just a time slot filler for Food Network.
November 19, 2008 at 10:49 pm
It’s not that Michael Simon is bad. On the contrary, he is a fine chef, but Mission Impossible IS NOT HIS SHOW. It is Robert Irvine’s show! Made for him and perfect! I too quit watching the show, and I want him back on M.I. I never missed the show when it was Robert Irvine. If they wanted a show for Michael Simon, which would be fine, they need to “get your own show!”, as Emeril Lagasse would say. Bring back Robert Irvine….in some capacity. We miss him! Geez….it’s not like he killed anybody!
November 21, 2008 at 1:21 am
Zo, can you confirm this?????
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/entertainment/2008414915
November 21, 2008 at 2:26 am
I will look into it Cindy and update.
December 1, 2008 at 7:37 am
I am so disappointed that Chef Irvine is not hosting the show. Dinner Impossible is not the same without him. I truly hope the Food Network brings him back!!!!
December 7, 2008 at 4:46 am
I think that the most important thing is who is better at the job. That would be, Robert Irvine. I always watched Robert Irvine and enjoyed Dinner Impossible. I learned a lot of things about food from Robert. Now,Michael Symon, well I guess the only thing that I can say is,” HE IS BORING” and that stupid laugh of his, it gets on my nerves so back that I can not watch him even on Iron Chef America. I haven’t found anyone that likes Symon. Please bring Robert Irvine backa. I bet that if you really check, just about everyone, including the head of the network, have embellished thier resume at on time or another.
December 7, 2008 at 4:48 am
I think that the most important thing is who is better at the job. That would be, Robert Irvine. I always watched Robert Irvine and enjoyed Dinner Impossible. I learned a lot of things about food from Robert. Now,Michael Symon, well I guess the only thing that I can say is,” HE IS BORING” and that stupid laugh of his, it gets on my nerves so back that I can not watch him even on Iron Chef America. I haven’t found anyone that likes Symon. Please bring Robert Irvine backa. I bet that if you really check, just about everyone, including the head of the network, have embellished thier resume at on time or another.
December 8, 2008 at 4:29 am
It grieves me to see how happy and uplifting the holiday shows were with Paula, Cat, Taylor Florence and Robert Irvine tonight and to think that an embellishment over his application should cause him to leave the food network family.I sincerely wish you’d consider bringing him back for the sake of the family atmosphere the shows convey to youngsters and oldsters alike.You certainly wouldn’t disown a child for embellishing a grade on his report card.Don’t destroy the chemistry and camaraderie of the network by not allowing him back.Losing Emaril and some others were bad but losing Robert and his show is too much of a blow to recover from.This was all wrong to be handled this way to begin with.A private scolding surely would have nipped this in the bud before the cursed newspapers blew it up all out of proportion.Its Christmas time.Reconsider. 2009 could still be your best year yet.
December 8, 2008 at 4:46 am
Robert Irvine is back!! Read here.
http://zoknowsfood.wordpress.com/2008/11/23/robertirvineisback/
December 22, 2008 at 5:17 am
The only reason that we watch the show is because of Robert!!! Food Network if you fire him we will fire you and not watch any of your boring old fashion cooks shows!!!!
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