Sneak Peak at Dinner: Impossible

By JULIETTE ROSSANT The downfall of most "Reality TV" shows is that they are rarely realistic or akin to cinema verite. TV executives don't seem to trust that there is enough drama in their subjects. As a result, Reality TV stories or storylines are usually, contrived, their timing absurd, and their characters mere caricatures. Previous fine dining shows in restaurants –- like The Restaurant, Hell's Kitchen, or even Kitchen Confidential -– have failed largely because the producers didn't trust that their audiences would want to watch any real drama unfolding in restaurants. Yet what goes on in a restaurant kitchen is nothing if not daily drama, moving at a quick pace, and involving very real characters. After so many attempts to fake real drama, then, you might ask yourself: when are we going to see a show that captures the real thing? The Food Network's new series, Dinner: Impossible, follows in the wake of other recent successes most notably Ace of Cakes (see previous article) in taking a step closer to that goal. Dinner: Impossible is at least the third series on the Food Network that plays on Mission: Impossible. Alton Brown has used it for Good Eats and Bobby Flay has used it to open each episode so far Throw Down). Dinner: Impossible opens in a similar vein with a special agent (Robert Irvine) who receives instructions to prepare a meal impossibly beset with obstacles. Robert is a British caterer with an impressive resume including a ten-year tour in the Royal Navy, serving the Royal family as well as presidents and heads of state. Finally, caterers have their own show! In the first of the two premiere episodes airing Wednesday, January 24th at 10:00 P.M., "Here Comes the Chef: Wedding Impossible," Robert listens to a woman's voiceover on computer screen from his car. Music pulses (and continues for the whole half-hour show) as he accepts his mission and races off to meet bride and groom. Robert has ten hours to create a menu and serve a gourmet reception that includes 1,000 appetizers, a sit-down dinner for 200 (three main courses), and a dessert. His staff includes two lieutenant sous chefs, both named George and a handful of largely inexperienced teenage boys who work for Philadelphia's Knowlton Mansion, where the reception takes place. At first, the drama hinges on task assignment for the kitchen team. Robert snaps out orders. George and George show the boys how to make sauces and appetizers. Robert finalizes supplies with a few calls to purveyors and gets to work himself. What follows here more than most Reality TV food shows is preparation for a real meal, under real time constraints. There is a palpable frenetic pace that stands above such contest shows as Iron Chef America. Robert even cuts his hand in the first 10 minutes. There is danger. There is excitment. People, we have us a show here! As the cooks make each dish, Robert comments on ingredients, techniques, and timing, so there is some actual culinary knowledge imparted. Occasionally, there are split screens to show bride and groom or guests. All of which adds up to say: this is a real situation. The cock-ups are realistic, too. At one point, Robert demonstrates how to trim asparagus spears. He needs just a few hundred. The teenagers can't seem to get it right. They don't follow his instructions, so that he has to show them again and again. You feel his frustration. You see him instruct them again -- and again -- about the importantce of listening and executing instructions. It's good advice in any business office for any young apprentice. In the end, Robert & Co. serve dinner successfully. Robert then announces that he would work with any of the staff again. He sounds real, and you can almost feel their gratitude for the lesson. What is lacking? Well, you don't hear Gordon Ramsay cursing up a storm. Gosh darn it! Bottom line is that the producers of Dinner: Impossible -- Shooters Post & Transfer and Marc Summers Productions -- are real producers, too. You can tell, because their model isn't really Mission: Impossible: it's High Noon. The backdrop and driving force of each episode is a real-live, tension-building clock, and sheriff Robert Irvine is the hero who saves the day. Now, that's a time-tested, winning formula! Related news: CBS TV 3 TV Guide Multichannel News Broadcast Newsroom Washington Times Albany Times Union Newsday Miami Herald Philadelphia Inquirer San Diego Union-Tribune AOL TV News Previous articles: Ace of Cakes: Duff Goldman Hell's Kitchen a la Apprentice: You're Fired! Sneak Peak: Hell's Kitchen with Gordon Ramsay [Food Television - complete coverage] Technorati Tags: superchefblog, Juliette Rossant, super chef, celebrities, chefs, food, restaurants, cooking, branding, cuisine, blogging, food blogging --> back to Super Chef