When it came time to decide between the show that made him famous and the network
that made him famous, the choice was easy — and Alton Brown is happy to tell you exactly why.
The Food Network dominates the cooking television sector, focusing on delicious
recipes, charming personalities, and tastes that inspire us to create good food. One of
their most popular shows was "Iron Chef America," a recreation of the original
Japanese cooking competition made for television in the United States. The series ran for years,
with Alton Brown serving as a knowledgeable, charming host.
But fans speculate that Food Network deprioritized the series toward the end of its on-air life. One
fan theory on YouTube postulates that the network began honing in on fun, less serious competitions,
such as "Guy's Grocery Games," and moving focus away from shows like "Iron Chef."
Whatever the reasoning, one thing is fact: in 2022, Alton Brown left The Food
Network after two decades to headline a new "Iron Chef" series on Netflix.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Brown said of his departure,
"I don't really think of myself as having left a place as much
as I simply crossed the street to join one of my first loves."
When it came down to it, Brown's choice to leave his parent network
for Netflix was apparently an easy one. He told Entertainment Weekly,
"I had 20 pretty spectacular years at Food Network. [...] But to be honest,
if Netflix had taken a shot at 'Iron Chef' without me, that would have broken my heart. So I had to
follow that franchise, which has been such a big part of my life and a really big part of
my career. And as it evolves into something new and spectacular, I just had to be a part of it."
Brown went on to divulge that, as a huge Netflix fan and viewer himself, the idea
of the show being in the hands of the popular streaming service only increased his certainty.
"It is such an incredibly vital franchise to me. I've learned through many,
many years of doing hundreds of episodes of that show,
to have a chance of being part of this new re-imagining which is amazingly brilliant,
it's just not something that I could not do. So no, it was a very easy decision."
Any show is at the mercy of its network when it comes to its creative direction.
According to executive producer and director Eytan {guess: AY-tahn} Keller,
"Iron Chef America" needed updating — but The Food Network refused to change.
"If you're, like, a primordial creature and do something one day and stay alive,
why would you innovate?"
Keller told Variety,
"We did it for Food Network for almost 13 years and we were constantly asking
them to reinvent certain elements in the format and to change the environment and
to improve and refresh Kitchen Stadium. The uniqueness of it was waning. We made
a lot of suggestions, and they did not want to go in that direction."
At Netflix, the "Iron Chef" team received the support they were looking for, and a network much
more inclined to do what they envisioned. Netflix provided a platform in which the show could evolve
and grow — a notion undeniably attractive to both the director and Brown himself. Keller said,
"I just felt that the best home for this was going to be Netflix,
both from a creative standpoint and the way they responded in the room."
Brown agreed that it was time for the show to take a new direction, telling Entertainment Weekly,
"One of my prerequisites for being involved in this program was [...] that the concept would
be able to evolve. [...] There's always room for re-imagining and improvement,
and I think what we get with this version of 'Iron Chef' is that,
number one, there are other story arcs that are taking place."
One of the ways the "Iron Chef" team planned to implement some change in the reboot was to
switch up the show's hosting style. Alton Brown wouldn't be the only one to guide
the audience through the competition; a co-host capable of adding depth to the
story and bringing an extra element of charisma to the screen would be ideal.
That co-host became Kristen Kish, winner of "Top Chef" Season 10 — and
she brought all that and more, according to Brown. He told Entertainment Weekly,
"I have to say that I've always kind of worked alone. I've always
been kind of a lone wolf. [...] I met her and five minutes later,
we were completely a new unit. An absolute delight. I adore her. [...] We are better
together than I ever was by myself, and that takes a lot for me to say."
The on-screen chemistry between Kish and Brown is evident, both on the show and in
their off-set interactions. In an interview with ABC News, Brown and Kish admitted they
didn't have to develop anything in the way of connection — it all fell into place naturally.
"You're, like, my best friend."
Alton Brown said in an interview with Variety that perhaps the most substantial difference
between the two variants of "Iron Chef" is not the awesome second host or the shiny new
set — but the commercials. Specifically, the new Netflix version doesn't have any.
"The number one difference is that there's not a commercial break every four minutes,
and that changes the storytelling a great deal. It allows for more nuanced
storytelling, so that's a huge game changer."
Brown also said that the Netflix release strategy of dropping a
whole season at once allowed them to do something different with the show.
"People can binge the whole thing, and that allows us story arcs that are longer
than just one episode. From a storytelling standpoint, it's just radically different."
Sometimes, watching a recipe develop on our screens just isn't enough. People
often crave a story: What's the reason behind making these specific dishes?
What are the people like who've made them? This group of fans craving to dig a little
deeper includes Alton Brown himself — and Netflix's willingness to dive in and do
just that is one of the reasons the chef prefers the new iteration of "Iron Chef."
"What we've never really had the ability to do is to really get into more personal
stories of the people that are cooking the food. And that is something that,
as soon as I found out was going to be a real emphasis in the show, I was extremely interested."
And for the most part, this difference in the show's progression seems to be appreciated
by watchers, with many reviewers reporting positively on the iteration. One review on
Eater suggests the new "Iron Chef" hones in on the importance of a chef's culture as it
relates to their cooking — just the sort of in-depth storytelling Brown was hoping for.
When it comes to the majority of cooking shows, there is a distinct differentiation
between the hosts and the judges. The judges are usually sitting, silently observing competitors,
while the hosts stand and narrate for viewers. The judges then judge the food — meaning,
they taste the meal — while the host remains on the sidelines, sweet scents of a dozen different
meals wafting under their nose, but always just out of reach like a form of torture.
"I've had nothing to eat at this job in five years."
Not in the case of the "Iron Chef" reboot. This new variant flips the script,
allowing for hosts Kish and Brown to sit down right alongside the judges and take part in the
eating process. Brown explained to Entertainment Weekly that it was decided early on that this
would be the case so they could provide valuable insights the judges might not have been privy to.
A set can truly make or break the entire filming experience. Though the finished recorded product
may appear squeaky clean for viewers at home on their couches, there are often instances in which
actors feel cramped or stifled by inadequate space or lighting during filming. Some sets are
better than others, and according to Alton Brown, when it comes to the two studios used to tape the
"Iron Chef" variations, the Netflix studio is far superior to the Food Network studio.
In his exclusive interview with Entertainment Weekly, Brown describes how filming "Iron Chef
America" at Food Network included a relatively small kitchen, as well as subpar lighting. In his
conversation with ABC News, he also spoke to the superiority of the Netflix setup,
referring to it as "bigger, better, and more technologically advanced." He insisted,
"The set in general has become part of the storytelling in a way
that it couldn't before. [...] 'Iron Chef' has a home as big as it is."
When faced with a potentially difficult decision, there's no better feeling than
realizing you made the right one for you. And it seems that Alton Brown,
who declares the Netflix version of "Iron Chef" his favorite take that's ever been done,
is experiencing that wonderful validation. He gushed to Variety,
"I like the new show. It's my favorite iteration. I feel that Kristen and I
make a really good team, and I think that Netflix is the perfect home to
see where this show can really go over time. So yes, my vote is for more."
He concludes that the greater budget, a set that gives off a feeling of grandeur
worthy of "Iron Chef," and the double-host stylization are all factors in his preference
for this newer version – plus a few other behind the scenes perks don't hurt either.
"And my trailer is bigger — much better than my dressing room was at Food Network."
Judging by Brown's discussions with the press,
it doesn't seem like he's missing his old job too much!
Though Brown's break from Food Network seems to have been an amicable one by all accounts,
it hasn't stopped fans from speculating there may be more to the story. On a Reddit thread
titled "We Need Alton Brown Back," one fan offered up a theory that Food Network
mistreated and snubbed the television star over a long period, specifically
when it came to Brown's series "Good Eats" and "Good Eats Reloaded." The redditor wrote,
"The Food Network, to me, did Alton Brown dirty;
'Good Eats' was one of the most popular shows, [...] and I was very surprised at
how little advertising they did for it. [...] Also, the reloaded episodes finding their way
to the Cooking Channel (where cooking shows go to die) [...] was a mistake."
"S---! I had no idea I was in so much trouble."
The angry viewer went on to dispute the widespread reports that Brown left the
network peacefully to rejoin "Iron Chef," claiming that Alton had made comments in the
past on his YouTube channel that caused them to wonder otherwise.
"I think he said something along the lines of 'don't let the door hit you on the way out.'"
Whether he truly left The Food Network because of some secret,
long-simmering beef with the network is a matter of conjecture — but it doesn't seem like Brown's
style to stay quiet about anything, so take this theory with a grain of salt.
Though hoards of Netflix watchers are happy to see Alton Brown's presence on the streaming network,
many Food Network fans are still mourning his departure. Questions as to whether
or not he will ever return to his network of origin abound — as do theories regarding the
television star's future in general. Since the official word regarding "Iron Chef:
Quest for an Iron Legend" Season 2 has not yet come down from Netflix,
many wonder what Brown will go on to do if the show finds itself canceled at its new home.
Brown seems to have kept the question of a potential return to Food Network open-ended
in his interview with Entertainment Weekly. When asked about saying goodbye, he said,
"You know what? I don't think goodbye. Goodbye is really final. Perhaps au revoir or adieu for now."
Things get even more mysterious when you consider one of his posts on X,
formerly known as Twitter, where he cryptically announced,
"I have a new project that I'm massively excited
about. #DeathOnThePlate. More details coming soon."
But to date, these highly anticipated details have not come, leaving fans equally perplexed
and excited as to what might be in store. All we can do is watch to see what Alton Brown does next.