I don’t watch much TV. The only kinds of shows I really like are what I call gentle competition. Meaning, competitive shows in which the contestants are supportive of each other, rather than “I’m not here to make friends!!!” So, No Cutthroat Kitchen, in other words. I like shows such as Blown Away, Sugar Rush, Glow Up, and the like. The first season of Next in Fashion as well. And, of course, OG Great British Bake-Off with Sue and Mel. Yes, they are competitions, but no one was trying to get anyone else. There was no nastiness (or very little. Mostly good-natured ribbing), and the shows were just very feel-good. My main gripe is that the host of these shows is usually cringe, but I just accept that–wait. No I don’t.
Just because Mel and Sue were the hosts of the original show of this type, it does not mean that a stand-up comedian needs to be the host of all these kinds of shows in the future. The scripted jokes of the hosts are awful. Just plain awful. There aren’t any that are good. Tone Bell from Drink Masters is probably the best of the lot and that’s mostly because his voice is so low and slow. Very easy to listen to. But, man, the jokes are so not funny. On any of them.
The reason I brought this up was because I was watching Barbecue Showdown: Season 2 over the last few days. This season was hosted by Michelle Buteau. I liked her by the end because she was caring and considerate, but they made her shout a lot as well. Look. For the love of all that is good and for my ears, please do not make the host of these shows shout, tell bad jokes, and cavort around. I really prefer they just be chill. I’m guessing I’m not the only one, but it’s hard to say if we’re in the minority or not.
The reason I bring up the show is because of the habit of people from the South to address people based on their gender. Older women were “Miss ____” with the ____ being their first name. The black judge, Kevin Bludso, who is an icon in the barbecue world (as is his co-judge, Melissa Cookston, also from the south). Kevin is from Califronia, but spent his summers in Texas learning how to barbecue.
Anyway, there was an older black female contestant whom he called Aunty Delilah. I get why, but it was just odd. There was a black male contestant (from the south, living in Iowa) who called another guy on the show (they became best friends) ‘Brother Logan’. Melissa was called Miss Melissa by him, if I remember correctly.