I only caught bits of Anthony Bourdain's latest holiday No Reservations special, flipping to it during commercials on one of the local newscasts, but it looked like the usual celebrity-filled collection of vignettes we've come to know from his past holiday specials.
And then I got to the last five minutes.
Bourdain rather famously has shat upon many of Food Network's better-known and popular hosts, e.g., Sandra Lee and Paula Deen. Less often noted have been his snarky asides about fellow Travel Channel host Samantha Brown, whose bionic smile and relentless perkiness seem to have been granted by the same unmerciful Power that foisted Giada DiLaurentiis or the unbelievably annoying Rachel Ray on the world. (Tell us, O Lord, what unholy offense we gave Thee that Thou saw fit to visit these mighty afflictions upon us!) Bourdain has used Brown's name as shorthand for "fake and crappy travel experience" on more than one occasion, implying that his show (not to mention his show's audience) is qualitatively superior to hers.
The last five minutes of the holiday special have to be Bourdain's attempt to kiss and make up with her. The scene rehabilitates Brown's reputation with Bourdain's audience, and most impressively, it does so on Bourdain's terms. If it looks like both of them are trying a little too hard, at least the scene doesn't fall into the trap of heartwarming reconciliation, the way anyone else's special would.
If you need more convincing of Bourdain's sincerity, check out his blog entry teasing the episode.
No comments:
Post a Comment