Review: "Wisconsin Foodie" is Pretty Damn Good

Last week I blogged about the debut of a new local culinary TV show "Wisconsin Foodie" on WISN-TV Channel 12. So, yeah, I did manage to sit my butt down in front of the boob tube at noon this past Saturday to check it out, but I've been letting my impressions bubble and simmer so as to offer up a fair-minded and thoughtful review. Then I blissfully ignored those lofty goals and came up with this:

The half-hour program is remarkably fresh for a local production, with a hand-held documentary style that, for the most part, didn't make my brain swim too much from all the inherent jiggling and shaking. The decision to use this camera style was no doubt made for both budgetary and hipster attracting reasons, and I give them credit for taking the chances that must be taken in order to successfully pull it off.

I'd like to see a little more post-production work go into the show as the digital format tends to produce harsh, too crisp images that could definitely use some softening. My other suggestion is that they widen their one and two shots just a tad--it doesn't have to be a ton--because we don't really need to see every pore of the host's and guests' faces and, frankly, I kinda like being able to see the tops of people's heads on occasion--that way I can be fairly confident that they're not being controlled by wires connected directly to their gray matter.

The host of the show, Kyle Cherek, has a very personable and unpretentious style that works well with the overall casual approach of the show. The only negative thing I can say about his performance is that the level of his interviewing technique is set--I suspect deliberately--too low. You're a Foodie, Kyle, so don't be afraid to demonstrate some of your own knowledge to keep things moving. Oh, and if the show is picked up for more episodes beyond the four that Channel 12 has committed to, please go get yourself some camera friendly lenses for your glasses--it's really spooky when we can't see your eyes.

I wholeheartedly agree with JSOnline's Tim Cuprisin that the standout guest of this pilot episode was Jessica Bell, a wine expert and educator scheduled to be a regular on the show. Exceptionally articulate and completely natural on camera, her presence brought the show up to a new height. In an unfortunate and just plain ignorant move, the producers have given her the title of "Wine Girl"--a designate that deserves serious reexamination as it hardly shows her the respect she so clearly deserves. Think about it, grub boys.

Okay, to sum up, "Wisconsin Foodie" has real potential to be a top-notch culinary show and a welcome enhancement to the local TV scene. With just a few minor nips here and a couple of tucks there, it could well become the best commercial television Milwaukee has to offer.