The New York Times Accuses Emeril And Planet Green Of Being Inconsistent

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by Michael Parrish DuDell August 5, 2008
Categories: People.

While on vacation a couple weeks ago I was sitting with one of my very favorite people chatting away and drinking wine while the television played in the background. We started talking about my work and Ecorazzi and eventually the very television show we were half-watching…Emeril Green. I confessed I’d never seen the show before because I don’t have television, and she quickly responded that I shouldn’t bother, adding that the only real “eco” thing about the program is it’s Whole Foods location. Turns out my friend should go work for the New York Times.

Just yesterday the infamous New York based newspaper published a piece with that very same theme – Eco-Emeril ain’t so eco after all! The case in point: how can Emeril use so much butter, cream, white flour, fried batters, mayonnaise and fatty beef when the show is billed as green? The article points out that “healthy, it seems, doesn’t have to be heart-healthy or even low in fat as long as it includes fresh greens.” Let’s not forget that in 2005 the U.N released a report stating that, “raising animals for food generates more greenhouse gases than all the cars and trucks in the world combined.”

The article also pointed out that Planet Green fails when it comes to advertising. One example the Times used is that “to conserve water and cut back on chemicals viewers are urged to kick the lawn habit. Moments later a commercial for Patch Perfect, a grass seed fertilizer, pitches its lawn-repair product as “grass seed on steroids.”

What do you think Ecorazzi readers? Is Planet Green on track or should they ditch shows like Emeril’s for other more eco-sensitive programs? Chime in and tell us what you think. BAM!


Categories: People.
  • hil

    I think it is important to take media, like Planet Green with a large grain of salt. This type of media is marketed toward average Americans that do not already live a green lifestyle, not to people that already walk the walk. Also, channels themselves have very little influence over which commercials are aired during their programming, that is often selected by the provider such as Comcast. So basically, Green Planet is just what I expect from a large scale television channel.

  • http://brainyblonde.com erin

    I’m with Hil… But I did think they could have some control over what commercials are played on their network no? I am no expert on that and only recently broke down and got cable for the first time ever because I want to watch Weeds (going to see it right now as a matter of fact!)

    As for fatty Emiril and his non organic crappy un healthy steak restaurants (and tv show) I think it’s like George Bush doing a show on peace love and solar energy. I hope it gets canceled and the channel starts taking itself more seriously.

    Because while the “Average American” indeed is not green enough things could change and in a few years they just might be!

    E

  • Earlessdude

    I have this channel for a short time, as a promotion to get me to upgrade, and was very excited to find it in my lineup.
    Along with Emeril the whole channel is bogus, the cooking is NOT green, all I’ve seen are meats and more meats, then cheese with zucchini.
    The channel is pompous and the programing is elitist, and as you state the commercials don’t match the oh so very pompous programing. It’s SO SO SO pompous (insert anger).

  • Yasmin

    I agree that the only thing that makes Emeril’s show green is the fact that it is filmed at a whole foods, but even then, whole foods is not a health food store. They have fried chicken in their chef’s case and donuts in their bakery case. I always tell people that you have to make a concious decision wherever you shop to choose healthy items. Let’s talk about the whole meat thing here. I happen to be vegan, but not everyone can do the veggie thing. I think that you can definitely be eco friendly and eat meat. You just have to be smart and choose organically grown/ grass fed meats or sustainably fished seafood. So as far as Emeril using meat on his show, I think that could be eco friendly if he was more concious of what meats they use. I would be much happier if they got rid of Emeril and got cool Sara Snow to have a cooking program, because let’s face it…Emeril is not exactly the face of “eco friendly” any way you put it.

  • http://www.lumag.com Remy Chevalier

    Sara Snow is on the board of advisors of Planet Green, and is coming back with a new show for the channel.

    The problem with Emeril in my opinion, is that the entire show feels like an “infomercial” for Whole Foods. They never mention any other brand name.

    Granted, the assumption is that all the products used, meats and butters and all, are organic, because they come from Whole Foods… But you’re right, it’s not enough.

    Martha Stewart owns Emeril, so perhaps she’s also to blame for the poor production values. All they need to do really, is bring on more interesting guests, and take the show on the road, to Greensburg for example, which is the first thing I suggested.

    Also inviting cool guests like model Betcee May, the face of the Rock The Reactors campaign to shut down Indian Point, who used to work as a cook at his restaurant in New Orleans before being discovered by photographer Greg Heine.

    Now that’s a show everybody would watch!

  • VeggieTart

    It seriously irritates the hell out of me when people talk about “green” without talking about how diet affects the planet. Meat production wreaks incredible havoc on our planet and wastes resources like nothing else.

    While Yasmin is right that not everyone can do the vegan thing, if everyone who isn’t vegan reduces animal product consumption by half, that would do a world of good (no pun intended).

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