Food Network revives popular series "Cutthroat Kitchen," yetI grapple with moral dilemmas regarding one of my cherished programs.
Reimagined Article:
I'm head over heels for the Food Network's wild and thrilling cooking show gem, Cutthroat Kitchen. So, you can imagine my joy when I discovered the continuation of its chaotic glory, Cutthroat Kitchen: Knives Out, streaming on HBO Max!
But, despite initial excitement, I've found a few hiccups in this revamped masterpiece. Let's tuck into my thoughts on the series.
The Magic of Cutthroat Kitchen is Missing in Knives Out
What I adore about Cutthroat Kitchen is its lightning-paced, off-the-wall, and outrageous approach to cooking contests. The sabotages come from twisted minds, and nobody knows for certain what's coming next. It's insanity, beauty, and undeniably an underrated Food Network show.
Cutthroat Kitchen: Knives Out takes things down a notch in the sabotage department (at least in the episodes I've watched). Contestants may find themselves without knives, or perhaps they'll have to cook while suspended upside down – nothing to a Cutthroat Kitchen vet, but not exactly groundbreaking. The original show brought the crazy, making things difficult and limiting, truly testing the creative abilities of the chefs.
Budget Overhaul: More Shine, Less Charm
Cutthroat Kitchen was always a hidden treasure for Food Network fans who gobbled up every show on the channel. It always had a low-budget, DIY vibe that felt just right for this wacky, wicked cooking series. Cutthroat Kitchen: Knives Out, however, has been polished up, with a title sequence featuring fancy visual effects, more expansive sets, and an increased selection of props.
These enhancements may not seem like much, but they're enough to make Cutthroat Kitchen: Knives Out feel less like the scrappy, beloved favorite it once was and more like its well-funded peers.
Brian Malarkey Can't Quite Fill Alton Brown's Shoes... Yet
Alton Brown, the deviously delightful host of the original Cutthroat Kitchen, left Food Network in 2022 to co-host the Iron Chef reboot on Netflix[2]. The show has yet to be renewed for a second season, and Brown has yet to take on hosting duties for another TV cooking show.
Brian Malarkey does a solid job as host, but there's a certain devilish energy that Alton Brown brought to the show that hasn't been matched by Malarkey as of yet. Brown's thinly-veiled delight in the misfortunes of the contestants and his chaotic presence were undeniably enticing.
Structural Changes: Slightly Better, but Not the Same
One notable change in Cutthroat Kitchen: Knives Out is the reduction of sabotage opportunities. The original series had three rounds, providing ample chances for dirty deeds, while Knives Out has only two rounds[3]. In the first round, each chef is sabotaged, with the possibility of purchasing advantages to alleviate some of the hindrances.
Cutthroat Kitchen had consistencies round after round, with chefs using their money to sabotage opponents in each round, leading to a tangible sense of rivalry and instant karma. Knives Out seems a little hollow, without a ruthless enough first round to ignite real animosity among the contestants.
Judging the Food: Interactive or Impersonal?
Another alteration in Cutthroat Kitchen: Knives Out is the change in judging procedure. Special guest judges taste the food anonymously and provide feedback separately to Brian Malarkey, rather than providing input directly to the contestants. The contestants can only listen in from a secluded kitchen area.
In contrast, Cutthroat Kitchen kept judges in the dark about sabotages, leading to hilarious exchanges as critics bashed the dishes without understanding why they tasted or appeared as they did. This created a compelling dynamic, with judges and contestants interacting more.
I enjoy the changes in Cutthroat Kitchen: Knives Out, but I find myself missing the original's charm and lighter feel. It's not an abominable recreation, but I can't help comparing it unfavorably to its ingenious predecessor. Cutthroat Kitchen is still reigning supreme as one of the best competitive cooking shows.
Cutthroat Kitchen may not be available for streaming on HBO Max, but it's currently accessible on Hulu.
Stream Cutthroat Kitchen: Knives Out on HBO Max.
**Sources:[1] Accessed on April 8th, 2023 from https://www.cooking.com/blog/what-to-watch-cutthroat-kitchen-knives-out-vs-original-series/[2] Accessed on April 8th, 2023 from https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/alton-brown-iron-chef-news-netflix-1235363434/[3] Accessed on April 8th, 2023 from https://www.cooking.com/blog/what-to-watch-cutthroat-kitchen-knives-out-vs-original-series/
-My daily blend of entertainment includes streaming the Food Network's Cutthroat Kitchen: Knives Out, but the show misses the chaotic brilliance of its predecessor.- I'd love for the budget of Cutthroat Kitchen: Knives Out to return to its original DIY roots, making it feel less polished and more like the scrappy series I adore.
