scottkouta Review of Bong Appétit

Bong Appétit (2016– )

Lots of potential, but a lack of format ruins it

[7/10 · 7 April 2019]

What I love about the show:

• Vanessa's expertise in cooking and her interactions with the guest chefs are great.
• Ry popping in with some science and a bit of advice for the chefs here and there.
• They've done a great job at picking out some very interesting vendors, growers and innovators to make trips to.
• The guest chefs seem to always be on board and excited to show their creations.

What doesn't work for me:

• Abdullah seems to really want to turn this show into an ABC prime time reality show, and forces a lot of cringe antics into the show. How many times do you gotta day 'Bong Appetite' dude? It's the name of the show, we get it. He seems like a cool guy, but I'd like if the experts were the ones hosting the show.
• The formatting issue of the show is that there's a lack of one, but I think that's because it's trying to combining two things and not doing it well. You've got your expert chefs in the kitchen, then you got your stoners in the other room waiting to eat, with Abdullah coming in to "check" on things now and again. This should be a cooking show, get those guest tasters in the kitchen! Let them watch what's going on and not be all high society about it.
• The sob story stuff. I totally get it, it's a good thing to have in a show like this, so folks at home can relate to a character/person. I just think it's a part of reality TV that I'll never come to enjoy. There's a point in an episode where Vanessa mentions the first time she knew that she loved weed, that's the kind of light-hearted and fun backstory I like, something that doesn't drag me down.

So in short, and it seems mean to say, but removing the host of the show would greatly improve it. There's a lot of great stuff in the show, and I highly recommend it. But when watching it, think of how much better the show would be if you focused on the experts the whole time...