Youtube has a mini-documentary about The Gluttony Games in Thursday's episode of Bones containing interviews with Johnny Excel, Naader Reda, Aaron Ybarra and others (via Johnnie Excel facebook)

November 8, 2011 at 11:47 pm by ojrifkin · More posts about:Johnnie Excel, Naader Reda, Television, Videos | Permalink * Comments (25)

25 Comments »

  1. Calling said

    November 9, 2011 @ 3:33 am

    Why wasn’t Seiken called?

  2. Larell Marie Mele said

    November 9, 2011 @ 5:52 am

    Lol, what a great clip!!!

  3. Hmm said (Registered November 12, 2009)

    November 9, 2011 @ 7:41 am

    This is big league for the independent eaters. It looks as if the whole format was copied from MLE with the exception of the huge emcee. No copyrights for some ideas, the popularity of Bones is sure to increase interest in all forms of competitive eating. Great for everyone though MLE is still the elite of the organizations. And I am guessing that even MLE will begin to think about more compensation for its eaters since it has increasing competition.

  4. Rhonda Evans said (Registered March 6, 2008)

    November 9, 2011 @ 8:48 am

    I really don’t think MLE will attempt to increase compensation, though it’s a nice thought. The top half dozen or so MLE eaters earn more and get more national and international media exposure (by far) than independents. It has been that way for over a decade and that probebly won’t change for several years, if at all.

    For lesser-talented eaters MLE doesn’t have to do anything to “sweeten prize money the pot.” I doubt they’d care one iota if two dozen or more non top-10 eaters left in the next year, and why should they, it wouldn’t cramp MLE’s style financially one bit.

    MLE will always be attractive to enough eaters who crave a crumb of media attention alone, without the side allure of bucks, because even a two-second appearance on national TV, or having their names mentioned in the same AP article as MLE World Champ Joey Chestnut, is sort of orgasmic, if only for a moment.

    We can argue this point back and forth, and conjecture about it till Christmas, 2012, but it won’t change things.

  5. Top O Themornin said

    November 9, 2011 @ 10:48 am

    Hmm: I really don’t see this “Bones” episode as “big league” for independent eaters. In fact I think it underscores that the only truly recognizable format for competitive eating is the MLE style format. If there could be any benefit to the indies is that fact that it slightly recognizes that competitive eating is to quote a line in the script a “sport.” Also, it is somewhat a recognition that competitive eating as emerged as an accepted zeitgeist in our society. However, MLE type contests have often over the last several years become of part of television plots. I can recall plot lines on an X Files, CSI, and passing shot of an eating contest with a Soprano’s episode with Crazy Legs eating cannolli at an Italian festival. In fact, a Jim Belushi pilot had a character based on Sonya, an Asian woman kicking big fellas butts at a hotdog contest. There was also several years ago a internet pilot looking to make network that actually referred to Sonya and Kobi by name. Of course there’s also the famous Kobi/Sonya Mastercard commercial. I don’t mean to plug OJ, but I’m sure he could come up with several more examples than I briefly listed of competitive eating contests making into television themes that produced no real benefits to specific eaters indie or MLE.

  6. ojrifkin said (Registered July 27, 2005)

    November 9, 2011 @ 10:56 am

    There was also the 2002 episode of King of the Hill, which I think is the only fictional television program to mention the IFOCE by name

    http://www.tv.com/shows/king-of-the-hill/the-fat-and-the-furious-188604/

  7. Rhonda Evans said (Registered March 6, 2008)

    November 9, 2011 @ 12:25 pm

    Zeitgeist? I had to look that up.

  8. Top O Themornin said

    November 9, 2011 @ 1:21 pm

    Rhonda: Sometimes I paper talk good. Me no big words and I’s good at wordifying stuff. C’mon girl don’t be coy. I know you’ve heard of zeitgeist. There’s obviously some pretty smart people into competitive eating judging by the many posts you submit. So, why not take some time out of the usual monkey house poop throwing that goes on around here by the “great” and “beautiful” people and upgrade the discussion every once and awhile. Now we can go back to calling each other fart face or discuss how competitive eating reflects upon the general intellectual, moral, and cultural state of our society — zeitgeist.

  9. Rhonda Evans said (Registered March 6, 2008)

    November 9, 2011 @ 2:08 pm

    Honestly … I never heard of or used that. I, like you (I’m certain), know a lot of words I don’t use in this forum.

    You’ve heard the axiom about speaking/talking/writing to your audience. I try to do that here also. Well, it’s kind of a double-edged sword. I’m rarely in a forum where I feel comfortable using some uncommon words/expressions that I’m partial to.

    I know this might sound condescending, and I don’t mean it that way, but even when I did my dissertation some time ago, I had to consider the backgrounds of my dissertation committee members and adapt accordingly. Because if and when they corrected me, if they were wrong, I had to tap dance lightly, so to speak, to inform the error, so that I didn’t offend them. (Actually, I’m very good at that.)

    Enough of that … time to move on.

  10. anonymous said

    November 9, 2011 @ 2:17 pm

    This room reminds me of a school teacher trying to get his students to participate in a rap session only that nobody has anything interesting to say

  11. Refreshing said

    November 9, 2011 @ 2:20 pm

    change of pace. I had to look that one up, too. Thanks for new “word of the day.” Not sure when or where I can use it either, but when I see it again at least I’ll have a clue.

  12. Rhonda Evans said (Registered March 6, 2008)

    November 9, 2011 @ 2:24 pm

    It’s sort of that way now. I think once I leave the premises things will pick up.

  13. Top O Themornin said

    November 9, 2011 @ 2:34 pm

    Yeah, I guess EATFEATS ain’t ready for Ivy League debates. Back to those Trucking Institute brawls we’ve all come to love.

    Boys pick up your droppings. Okay, Brian? Okay, Gavone? Ready … set … MONKEY POOP FIGHT!

  14. Hmm said (Registered November 12, 2009)

    November 9, 2011 @ 4:51 pm

    Rhonda and Top O, you are correct about many things. Interesting observations from each of you, Rhonda you are surely correct that MLE would easily change out eaters from a certain number down to 50. And there will always be others who want that second of fame or enjoyment. Eaters are the 99%. Each of you and OJ has long term knowledge of CE. While independents may not be anywhere near MLE eaters in terms of publicity and opportunities for pay or not, I still think that there are more options than there were back in the day. CE seems to have weathered criticisms very well and is still increasing, not on the wane at all as some predicted. The Bones episode is but one example. .

  15. Top O Themornin said

    November 9, 2011 @ 5:06 pm

    Hmm: Agreed CE is gaining in public attention, and even the “save the world” and “think of the children” criticisms have waned. Good points and I’m happy for an indie getting a little face time on a nationally recognized show. If anything, the indie could use it as draw when they do their next challenge or eating contest. The eatery, if they go with an independent contest, can also claim that this is the eater that appeared on “Bones.” Therefore the Bones appearence might bring more media interest and everybody knows that’s why the eateries do the contests. I hope Excel can even talk an eatery to pay for a little travel expenses or appearance fees and tap this spot on the show for all he can.

  16. MLE to Indie said

    November 9, 2011 @ 8:51 pm

    Kevin Ross left the IFOCE to become an indie, MLE wouldn’t allow him on the show because the hot dogs they were using weren’t Nathan’s… I think Kevin even posted about this after his battle of the bone qualifier

  17. anonymous said

    November 10, 2011 @ 12:13 am

    Any excuse to avoid the real reason they didn’t want him to do the show and that is “what’s in it for them ?

  18. Hmm said (Registered November 12, 2009)

    November 10, 2011 @ 8:06 am

    MLE or others could enlighten us here in one way. If Kevin Ross were to be paid for his appearance, would MLE get a percentage of his fee? The answer is surely yes, it would have to be. MLE is an agent for its eaters. On the show were the hotdogs and products identified? There would be no way in advance to guarantee that a KR appearance would not conflict with the Nathans contract. Anonymous 12:13 is myopic. Even if they got a percentage, it would be small potatoes for them, they would be “contributing” more to the aura of the show than the show would to them. The larger issue for MLE (might well be) is a smart one for them though of course not for Kevin Ross or any of numerous eaters not in the top 10ish. MLE and Nathans holds steady with their reputation which brings them high income and sponsors willing to pay them to bring their eaters to “perform.” The newest sponsor is in Asia. They do not have to court smaller clients and can wait for sponsors like CPFoods or the casinos. When they lost some sponsorship (Krystals etc.), they did not go on a downward spiral as many predicted. They are smart businessmen who for all of the criticisms written here about their not treating eaters as they should, have created, maintain and increase opportunities for their eaters. A Kevin Ross or anyone else can always choose to become independent or go with another organization when their contract expires.

  19. Hmm said (Registered November 12, 2009)

    November 10, 2011 @ 8:10 am

    P.S. Top of the Mornin’s comments dovetail with what I have written. Wishing KR and Excel future success as indies or whatever path they and all eaters decide to follow. Agree with TotM, “as seen on Bones” is a hook.

  20. anonymous said

    November 10, 2011 @ 9:54 am

    Smart businessmen Hmm? You mean selfish businessmen right?

  21. Top O Themornin said

    November 10, 2011 @ 10:20 am

    I was watching a commercial for tonight’s “Bones” episode. I may be wrong, it was brief, but in the clip they got a women who seems to have studied Sonya’s look and eating style. As far as I could tell she looked Asian and petite, chipmunking, head shaking, the whole works. After the cut of her, one of the lead character’s says, “I’ve seen her eat a foot long weiner.” It’s funny how TBW has become somewhat of an iconic figure in competitive eating. No slight to Juliet, but so many little cute, petite, Asian girls who think they can do the same thing. I guess imitation is the highest form of flattery. But, if you’ve seen her eat in person there’s really not much comparison. I’d be interested in coming on here after the show, to discuss if there are any other eaters that this show held a casting call to imitate. A kid with a Mohawk, painted face, an all American kid, a rapping big burly African American, a dreadlocked White guy, etc? I wonder if MLE ever thought of copywriting some of these icons.

  22. anonymous said

    November 10, 2011 @ 11:26 am

    They did the same thing several years ago mocking CE on some sitcom show using imitators of old school eaters like Jarvis Booker and a few others.

  23. Rhonda Evans said (Registered March 6, 2008)

    November 10, 2011 @ 11:38 am

    Good thought TOT, regarding the copyrighting. I’d be interested in that myself. I have a cousin who’s an IP lawyer in the DC metro area, and I’d like to hear his thoughts about that.

    I once read of Sonya saying something to the effect that many people she meets day-to-day want to challenge her, believing they can give her a run for her money in various foods. I don’t know if they really believe that or just want a chance to eat against her for the experience. I imagine most of the known eaters run into similar situations.

  24. Top O Themornin said

    November 10, 2011 @ 11:50 am

    Yes Rhonda, I kinda said it jokingly but I wonder if you could seek financial comp if someone is clearly using the persona you created? Isn’t that why they end movies with “Similarities With Any Persons Living or Dead …” caveat at the end of movies? Of course, I don’t want to get all lawyered up, but if they play this Sonya character off to be a killer, having died in a competition, that could be hurtful to her and competitive eating. I wonder if MLE would challenge such characterizations? Regarding Sonya eating, or most of the other top eaters, but specifically TBW due to her size, until you see it in person you really can’t grasp how different the pros are from other people. I heard the same thing when someone commented on the first time they saw a Nolan Ryan fastball in his prime. It looked different than what other pitchers were throwing. When seeing a top eater throw it down, the average person soon realizes, I can’t do that.

  25. Rhonda Evans said (Registered March 6, 2008)

    November 10, 2011 @ 12:09 pm

    I think what part of the issue is, TOT, is that a few of the best eaters eat so smoothly that it makes what they do look so simple, whereby it masks the speed at which it is done. It’s that way more for Sonya and Tim Janus than any two eaters. They’re sneaky-fast, not brutally-fast like Joey and Pat.

    On TBW’s behalf, everyone except Joey, because he’s already the men’s champion and # 1-ranked eater, should be happy there’s not a separate female division in CE, or she would be even more of a legend and more world-renowned than she is now. Having to compete against the guys all the time (except at the Nathan’s Finals), enables her to be “put in her place” at least a good portion of the time.

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