Ok, I'm THRILLED there are finally new shows; however, I do NOT like this new format! I don't like the changed theme music, it's boring and doesn't depict the feel of the show at all! It reminds me of something my grandmother would listen to on Lawrence Welk eons ago!

I miss the "surprise" element of the show - even if the surprisee was pre-picked, they at least made it appear as if it was a random pick and somewhat more exciting that just walking into a store looking for a specific person!

I don't like Curtis not having the woman stop to buy her a surprise - I thought that was fun.

I don't like that he doesn't talk as much about the menu plan, the food in general, and especially about the cooking process!

I don't like that they're bowling or hitting baseballs - it cuts way too much into the cooking time.

And most of all, this whole "I'm going to put this on the Chase Freedom card" <camera zoom in on the stupid credit card>. Ok, I GET IT. Chase Freedom is sponsoring the show now. But it sounds stupid, and corny as hell, and WAY too rehearsed. Enough already.

The show has become, well, I'm sorry, but it's BORING! It's lost its pep, it's zip, it's spontaneous feel.

TLC, you jumped the shark on this one. Keep giving us more new episodes, LOTS more - but PLEASE go back to the old format, give us more cooking, and LOSE THE CHASE FREEDOM promo - it's just dumb!

I still love and adore you, Curtis - I still dream about bumping into you, bringing you home, falling madly in love and living happily ever after, but dang TLC has all but ruined THC!!!!!!!!

Kathy

sponsorship keeps gorgeous Mr. Stone on the air-so I am THRILLED to have Chase Freedom advertised! There is going to be more than one format, depending on the situation. If you are unhappy, that is fine- but do not ruin it for the rest of us STARVING CURTIS FANS! I am so happy to see him again!

We agree with Kathy...enough to actually leave the TV, go to the Website, look all this up, create an account and reply to a post.

The new format is awfully boring.

The new music puts you to sleep, the previous music was exciting.

The whole write in, rather than ambush aspect is arguably a lame idea, and, goes against the shows premise - ooh ooh, maybe Curtis will find us one day, and, we also miss out on seeing cool grocery stores around the country.

The promotional bit about Chase is tacky, and is turning long time die-hard viewers like us off.

We do not like seeing the menu written down, we like seeing the visual of it.

Flying Curtis around the country is just stupid, stick to one area, even if it is a fresh location, but stay there for a while.

Building a house, throwing a baseball? Who cares, just flirt with the ladies, and show us how to cook. I used to learn a lot, the new three episodes we've seen, haven't learned anything and after waiting for six months to see new shows, we are considering not watching AT ALL anymore.

Sorry to see that two of four replies were so negative about the new show format...We happen to not care one little bit about the opening music etc.

Just show us how to cook yummy food, which Curtis does. We get ideas and look up the recipes and we are good to go.
Flying Curtis around the country is great! Curtis is a world renown chef. Meeting him in a grocery store cracks me up! I love it! What a great idea!
(When you go to the grocery, how many guys are there, really?) I am sure the production team knows setting up only beautiful women for Curtis to take home is gimmicky, but it works. My husband watches.

Chase Freedom credit card promo bit is corny but it's all of 3 seconds and who cares! Curtis gets more money to do his show! Whoop de do! 3 seconds doesn't hurt. Blink if you don't want to see it.

And having people write in asking to have a day to cook with him, is fun too! I would love to get Curtis to come to my house and cook with my husband. (I don't cook but he sure does!) He watches 3 shows without fail: (not counting reruns of Everyone Loves Raymond) Take Home Chef, Mythbusters, and Dirty Jobs. All the rest is John Wayne or sports.

So speak for yourself when you say die hard viewers are turned off. We aren't! Keep it up Curtis!

I agree about the Chase Freedom promo. A little overkill. It is great to see new episodes and fresh Curtis interactions, however, I do miss the element of surprise. THC is still a great show and Curtis is the hottest guy on tv. TLC needs to get its act together and give the show more respect. I haven't seen one promo for the new episodes and that is unacceptable.

Gotta agree with both. I don't like the new format (I like the surprise in the stores) but don't care about the music or chase freedom promo. New venues are sure to bring out new menu's so that's good. And, of course, he's looking as fierce as ever so I can't complain about much else. I will always be a fan no matter what. I was just pleasantly surprised there were new episodes.

I didn't even know there were new shows until Jan. 18th. While I'm delighted to see Curtis again, I preferred the old format -- at least as far as selecting the guest.

If they're going to do all the selection through videos sent in by viewers, what happens to those of us who don't have access to a camcorder, etc.? At least with the old format we felt as if we had a chance.

Ok, now it is working. I couldn't reply to anything before. Just wanted to add my opinion. (Could work since Trading Spaces finally listened!) I didn't really notice the music (which probably illustrates the point that it is boring) and I agree that the Chase promotion is cheesy, but I do not like the new format. It might be okay once in a while, but please take us back to the supermarket. And I agree that Curtis buying the present for the person was fun, too.

How do I start. I am a reality show junkie. I LOVE IT. I have watched Take Home Chef, Trading Spaces, and American Chopper since thier beginings. Yes I even watched some shows on different channels. Who's in charge here? I mean you have a great show like Trading Spaces and ruin it. American Chopper you ruin it, and now Take Home Chef and you ruin it. WHY CHANGE THE FORMAT WHEN IT'S WORKING???
I loved it when he walked into a supermarket and picked someone who didn't know him. Now your taking requests, how stupid is that. There's no element of surprise now. SCRIPTED! NOT REALITY!!!
Secondly I didn't notice the music right off the bat but let me tell you it sucks. It's slow and is really going well with the story, BORING.
Way to go on killing a great show!!!

Not sure that I loved the new format, but the old one was getting boring. Same old find and flirt, more interested in the cooking, receipes and the surprise. Will continue to watch while they tweak the show though.
The ricotta pancakes did look good and definitely going to try them!

I have mixed feelings about the new format. On one hand, there goes my fantasy of Curtis discovering me by the avocados... on the other hand, I never shop at Whole Foods or anything, so if I send in a video there is more of a chance of me getting to cook with him.

Speaking of that... where/how do you apply to get on the show? Do you just send a video to TLC? I actually have a good reason to get on the show. It would be amazing to prepare a meal with Curtis.

As for the Chase credit card thing, yes, it's blatant product placement and is pretty annoying, but hey, if it keeps the show going, then whatever, I'm willing to overlook it.

I really really want to get on the show, especially now since Curtis is the only Australian left on my list of amazing guys as of Tuesday...

I don't mind the Chase Freedom thing since it only is a couple seconds, but the rest of the new format sucks.

Boring. Too much backstory (which goes with the new "apply to be on" format) and clowning around and not enough cooking.

My girlfriend and I used to love this show and have it set to tape on our DVR. The last two episodes we taped we just stopped watching and went to a different show. We're not going to delete the timer yet, but at this rate, he may be losing a couple of die-hard fans.

Actually, I like the new format. Yes the music is not as jazzy as the old music. Yes the Chase Freedom credit card thing is a bit cheesy. But, I think the show is showing more of Curtis's personal and genuine side. I think I can say that he seems more mature and genuine now. Most importantly, his recipes still rock! I love the episode with the gourmet prime rib sandwiches. Yum!!!! I enjoyed the episode where he cooked for a breast cancer survivor, her adopted daughter, her friend, and her friend's adopted daughter. I was touched when he had the children make their own frittatas (I think I spelled that wrong!) Overall, I think the show has definitely matured!

Actually, I love the new format. It shows the personal side of Curtis and he still delivers great recipes. For example, the yummy gourmet prime rib sandwiches. (Yum!) The music maybe less savy and the Chase Freedom card bit is cheesy, but the show never fails to deliver great recipes and there is still a surprise factor in the show. I think the show has matured and it shows Curtis's human side too. Keep up the great work and continue to cook for people who deserve it

I agree with most. Hate the new format. Don't get me wrong, I love the show, but I always thought the premise was the old adage that the best place to meet people (usually of the opposite sex) was in the supermarket and that was what Curtis was doing. I had no problem watching the old format shows over and over because of the fun, flirty atmosphere. I don't think I could rewatch the new ones. Seems like any old cooking show now. Don't even get me started on the blatent credit card plug every episode. At least the Glad press and seal plugs in the old version were thinly veiled.

I'm not sure I'm a fan of either format. Curtis Stone is a great chef so why not have him do what he's good at? He doesn't have to ambush a hottie in the supermarket and he doesn't have to visit the firehouses. It's all too contrived and awkward. He's sexy in front of the camera. There's no need for all the scripting or non-scripting.

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I am a 24 year-old guy. I used to love watching this show with my girlfriend, but the new format has taken away all the things I liked about the show:

Curtis doesn't always cook with a woman
The women aren't pretty
There is no more sexual tension between Curtis and the women he cooks with
The families are poor and trashy
Curtis and the woman don't shop for exotic food in fancy grocery stores

Who cares if he cheers up some poor people from the south. I hate poor people from the south. If I wanted to see cooking shows about red state America, I would watch the food network. This show has gone from a classy and hilarious cooking show that capitalized on Curtis's appeal to upper-middle class kept women to a trashy, crap reality TV show.

The new format is sometimes boring.
I'm sure Curtis is having a good time with all the extra activities but it's not why I want to watch the show.
I loved Curtis with the shorter hair, and the clean shave!

quote:

Originally posted by awesomelawstudent:
I am a 24 year-old guy. I used to love watching this show with my girlfriend, but the new format has taken away all the things I liked about the show:

Curtis doesn't always cook with a woman
The women aren't pretty
There is no more sexual tension between Curtis and the women he cooks with
The families are poor and trashy
Curtis and the woman don't shop for exotic food in fancy grocery stores

Who cares if he cheers up some poor people from the south. I hate poor people from the south. If I wanted to see cooking shows about red state America, I would watch the food network. This show has gone from a classy and hilarious cooking show that capitalized on Curtis's appeal to upper-middle class kept women to a trashy, crap reality TV show.

You HATE poor people from the south? What are you a heartless robot? I hope you are not really a law student because who would want some jerk like you to represent them. HATE is a strong word, and if this is how you really feel....no wonder this world is going to crap, it's because of people like YOU.

You know this is a cooking show.The stuff you have written here is immature and I do think helping the hurt and sick is a good way of reaching back.I do agree with whoever reponded.What kind of person can you be.....

I agree!!!! Don't like the new format nearly as much as the old, and the credit card thing is really cheezy. Go back to surprising people in the market - at least some of the time.