Scripps Network chairman on Man vs. Food format change
KnoxNews.com reports that ratings for Man vs. Food:Nation have declined, but were decreasing before the change from Man vs. Food. Ken Lowe, chairman, president and CEO of Scripps Networks, owner of the Travel Channel, has more on the reasons why host Adam Richman no longer does eating challenges:
I can tell you the decision to tweak it was driven mostly by the concerns for Adam. The format was very hard on him, and he came to us and we had a conversation about how we could keep the format going without continuing to be such a heavy health concern for him. And we’re obviously willing to do that. But I think just like a lot of series in television, there’s a certain arc, and I think the arc of that particular format is just by nature two to three years.
update Broadcasting & Cable reports that the Travel Channel’s ratings were down almost 15% in the third quarter and the decline is primarily due to Man vs. Food: Nation slumping. The new poll asks what do you think is the main reason for the ratings decline.
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Ya'll get it said
November 4, 2011 @ 8:20 am
That’s weak, Badlands would have never wussied out like Adam. Not to mention the ratings would still be through the roof. Bad choice on the travel channels lame casting agents not to choose Badlands. Adam Richman is a puss.
DEA said
November 4, 2011 @ 9:49 am
They did not pay him enough. point blank
KevinRoss said
November 4, 2011 @ 7:10 pm
Seems like an easy solution. . .replace Adam with a competitive eater or eaters who are in good health. . .
Anonymous said
November 5, 2011 @ 1:18 pm
Adam is at least half the reason people watch the show. He was an actor and went to Yale for performing arts, so he knows how to be on camera and be entertaining. It’s also not just about the challenges, but about food, and Adam has worked in restaurants and can cook. I’m a fan of competitive eating, but I doubt as many people would want to watch a competitive eater who’s not as good on camera, disgustingly shovel water-soaked handfuls of food in their face, and not even break a sweat on the challenges. Adam was relatable, a competitive eater who does it for a living and can eat about 15 or 20lbs of food is not relatable.
Scott said
November 5, 2011 @ 1:56 pm
Legs would be a perfect fit.
Smart! said
November 5, 2011 @ 2:02 pm
In all honesty Brian Seiken could pull it off. I wish they would contact him.
Anonymous said
November 6, 2011 @ 10:49 am
I voted other. It seems increasingly insensitive for people to pay so much attention to eating challenges with the way the economy is, and not to mention all the people starving around the world, and not to mention the widening gap between the haves and the have nots, not to mention ,,, I could go on.
Scott said
November 6, 2011 @ 11:20 am
Brian would be a great fit.I would second that motion
Anonymous said
November 6, 2011 @ 12:09 pm
Brian is sort of entertaining, I will admit. He is kind of intelligent and has a fairly good voice. He is too negative for me, however. Just go to his site. Every one of his daily posts this month alone is geared negatively against one or more people, and he constantly trashes people. Who wants to follow a jerk like that?! He is a bigger liability than an asset.
anonymous said
November 6, 2011 @ 12:14 pm
Crazy Legs could prob pull it off although i dont believe he has any acting experience. He is more of a writer than performer but he could fool many with his talents. I dont know if Seiken could handle a script. He puts on a good show in front of his own camera but put him in front of real cameras and watch him cave in under pressure. Badlands??? Great choice if you can endure ya know ya know ya know for a full hour
anonymous said
November 6, 2011 @ 12:29 pm
You can splice the video in a porn film to make it appear as though the man is ejaculating 5 times when in reality it is only once. You can splice the video to make it appear as though your body is superimposed on someone head. You cant do the same with eating and because of that it is quite apparant that Adam has suffered some health issues consuming massive amounts of food during taping. With that said, it would make more sense for a pro eater to host the show because they are able to handle the food better than an amateur like Adam Richman
anonymous said
November 6, 2011 @ 2:39 pm
This would be a great format for the ifoce to enter..Using only eaters from 20 to 50, giving them a chance to grow. The last two shows of the season would be the top ten winners going up against the top ten in ifoce…..
anonymous said
November 7, 2011 @ 10:15 am
This is not like basketball or baseball where the more you play the better you get . Competitive eating is more like pro boxing. Everytime you enter the ring you run the risk of another health issue . The more Adam Richman eats the more plaque builds around his heart not to mention the toll it takes on his intestines. Give it up is the best solution
adamsangel52 said (Registered December 2, 2011)
December 1, 2011 @ 8:00 pm
The travel channel has made the biggest mistake of their lives, adam richman is not only a great host, but he is likeable, easy on the eyes, educated and so much more I don’t even have the words for it. This is absolutly riduculous what are you going to replace him with, since in my opinion he is irreplaceable. I guess you would rather stick some hick from God knows and watch your ratings fall to an all time low. Please I have seen your schedule for 2012 it is laughable and I am being nice. Adam Richman will be picked up by another network and make them millions in the process and leave you at Scripps in the literal cold, your loss someone elses gain. Oh yes I am a fan of adam richman’s and proud of that fact.
Anonymous said
December 1, 2011 @ 9:51 pm
adamsangel52 said (Registered December 2, 2011)
December 1, 2011 @ 8:00 pm
Look at the dates above. What’s wrong with this picture?
adamsangel52 said (Registered December 2, 2011)
December 3, 2011 @ 4:49 pm
To Anonymous the dates should not matter at all its what is said in the comment that matters. I have been a fan of adam richmans for awhile now and I care what happens to him, as for rumors no matter the date, time or place I will personally put them to rest, besides where did adam richman himself say that the program had been removed from the travel channel permanetly (pardon my spelling) adam has said nothing. As for salary and other things adam loves what he does end of story and yes I am an adam richman fan and proud of that fact.
anonymous said
December 3, 2011 @ 6:26 pm
Why is he such a great host? He just happened to be the first to host such a show. Has nothing to do with greatness. You just got used to seeing his face on the show so he became sort of a fixture. If it was anyone else that came along before Adam richman you would have said the same thing
adamsangel52 said (Registered December 2, 2011)
December 5, 2011 @ 1:56 pm
For your information Anonymous adam richman is the only host for Man v Food Nation and no I would not feel the same about someone else doing the show, its obvious you don’t know a whole lot about the man and his loyal followers, as I am not just a fan but someone who cares deeply for the person that adam richman is, oh yes please do not call me a stalker, or any of the millions of names I am sure that you can think of in your little brain, because if you look at my profile I am far from any of those types of people. And yes as I said before I am a fan of Adam Richmans and proud of that fact now what do you have to say to that.
Stan said
January 14, 2012 @ 12:23 pm
Ahhhh..I thought so. I figured his Dr. had to have told him that consuming massive amounts of fat and sodium and burning peppers was asking for a heart attack -or ulcers,or diabetes,or…even if he did purge-it must be in him long enough to do damage.
It was a fun niche show that could have had a tragic end. Oh well,best of luck Adam.
A-Bomb said (Registered May 7, 2009)
January 14, 2012 @ 3:20 pm
Food alone does not make anyone fat.
anonymous said
January 14, 2012 @ 4:56 pm
Stan that is a very stupid remark. Once you purge you are getting rid of the majority of sodium and fats that can do harm to your body. Why would anyone wait longer than 10 to 20 min to throw up anything? Might as well shit it out the next day since the damage is done already
James said
February 6, 2012 @ 5:31 pm
There is nothing special about Adam whatsoever. People tuned in to see him shove his face full of food, and when he stopped, they didn’t tune in anymore. Obviously, he’s no Rachel Ray and has little hope of making it unless he does something life-threatening on Camera again. Professional food challengers have tons of personality, so they should have recast the show with someone who knows what they’re doing — how to do it safely – and has hope of wining. Not some candy-ass Yaler.
foodisgood said
February 6, 2012 @ 11:53 pm
People didn’t stop shoveling food into their face, but Adam stopped, so if people didn’t care about Adam, and only cared about people shoveling their face with food, why would they stop watching? Adam was a great host and had tons of personality, and that was a huge reason why people stopped watching. They didn’t care about these random people, and actually cared when Adam was doing it. He also has another show that will begin filming in a few days, he won more challenges than he lost, he did do it safely, and Rachel Ray sucks.