Food Network Maraton: 4-4:30, The Essence of Emeril

Ragging on Emeril is a favorite past-time of foodies. Anthony Bourdain calls him an Ewok. eGullet has entire divisions devoted to Emeril bashing. I'm a former Emeril basher myself. It's fun to hate him.I mean all that "bam!"-ing and audience mugging, it's like watching some weird creature in some weird studio in a galaxy far far away. The whole phenomenon eludes me.But, ya now, watching him now I don't feel the same hate I feel towards Rachel Ray. I don't want to drown him like I want to drown the Family Circle woman. I just don't want to be trapped in an elevator with him and I mostly don't want to eat his food. Some of it looks fine, but honestly lentil crackers (which he's making now) just isn't my thing.What is charming about Emeril, I suppose, is his old world qualities. He just seems like he is who he is, completely unaffected by modern times. He's clearly not pretentious, and that's admirable. And, ya know, he is the lifeblood of the Food Network. So I'll leave Emeril alone and say, simply, that his show is not my cup of bam.