Mexico, One Plate at a Time: He’s got to be a close talker
Bayless stands real close to the camera (ala Seinfeld and the close talker) and talks in a soft, odd and annoying sort of way. His daughter was just as annoying and needed some acting classes. He likes to wear old t-shirts with DC comic characters on it (The Flash mostly, although I think I’ve seen a Green Lantern). I had to keep watching, not because I liked the show but because I wanted to keep making fun of him. It was a train wreck in the making…just….couldn’t…stop. Then something unthinkable happened, I started to like the show!
I’d say it was the second time I watched it was when I really got hooked, partly because I like to cook and partly because I love Mexican food (I’m a sucker for Carne Asada tacos). Bayless talks to the viewer unlike most other TV chefs: with no script (or at least he does a good job pretending). He speaks genuinely and you can tell he has a passion for what he does. His style doesn’t fit so much on the Food Network such as some of the other notable chefs. Bayless just doesn’t have the ego, his show would be swallowed up and put at some random Saturday morning time with the other newbie shows that get no viewers (Ellie Krieger and The Hearty Boys fit into this list).
I would like to see him have success, but not at the expense of his quality show. If you like cooking shows and Mexican food, give this guy a shot for a different flavor (and no commercials).
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