MAFS “brings out the worst in people.” Sorry Manu, have you seen MKR?
Calling bullshit on quotes from MKR's Manu Feildel.
- Published by David Knox
- on
- Filed under News
Manu Feildel may be rightly concerned about the competition MAFS is giving MKR this year, but I’m calling bullshit on comments given to the Sunday Herald Sun.
“It worries me that people seem to be really, really enjoying the train crashes and the failures of others more than the celebrating their successes,” Feildel told the newspaper.
“I think it’s sad that we’ve sunk that far. It brings out the worst in people. We enjoy relationships falling apart. How is that entertainment?”
So after repeated seasons of contestants bitching across the dinner table we are now conveniently overlooking those points in order to lash out at the competition?
MKR has a much longer history of heroes, villains, insults (some of it racist), slurs and bullying, all gleefully regurgitated in network promos. It is a show that by design asks the audience to cheer the hero and hiss the villain, often sinking to degrading lows.
Judges Manu Feildel and Pete Evans are usually nowhere to be seen at the dinner table when a lot of this unfolds, presumably sipping a nice glass of red in their van and waiting for production to summon them back for desserts. That’s because producers admit the contestants are a lot more forthcoming with their emotions when they are absent.
How the hell can you criticise such behaviour when you’re not even at the table for what goes on at your own…?
Yes the show has its moments of tasty cuisines and improved skill, but to overlook the constructed conflict is ridiculous.
MAFS -to be clear- is reprehensible in some of its contestant conduct and especially in the way psychologists sit on the fence Switzerland-style for the sake of TV conflict (there was some belated attempt last night to call out behaviour). But while MKR will claim virtues around cooking skills, MAFS can feasibly do the same around its doe-eyed couples such as Cameron & Jules. Both have extremes of positives alongside the same in negatives and producers and TV bosses wouldn’t have it any other way.
Manu should really be looking towards MasterChef or anything on SBS or LifeStyle if he wants to bang on about celebrating cooking.
31 Responses
Spot on. MKR is actually far worse than MAFS, because at least drama and conflict happens naturally in most relationships. MKR is supposed to be about cooking, so not sure why there is so much drama and nastiness.
Really, the “drama” in mafs has happened naturally? oh dear………….
Is manu upset because because MKR is not number one in the ratings anymore. I see bad behaviour on both shows. People like to see the tension and arguments etc.
Would you prefer your child to argue while in a cooking competition, or learn to cheat in their relationships?
Yeah he should talk. They kicked 2 contestants off last year for bad behaviour.
Isn’t the golden rule of TV – if it rates do it again and again until it fails! And if we don’t want these sorts of shows then the solution is pretty obvious – stop watching!!
I have never been a fan of cooking reality shows so I don’t watch any of them. I don’t mind the occasional real cooking shows, but that is all.
I have a bit of a Jewish Grandmother side to me, where I have a desire to see people find love and connect, so dating shows do appeal to me. MAFS started out was “an experiment”, but after last year’s ratings gold they have thrown all pretence of “finding love” out the window to now focus on finding conflict. I really enjoy reading the recap written by James Weir on News just for his writing style, but it means I have to dip into the show every so often to see whose who in the zoo.
People should revisit UNREAL to see how it all works, but more…
You cannot be serious Manu
Bravo bravo well said David.
10 years of More Kitchen Rudeness or More Kitchen Rubbish. Manu will want to bite his own tongue, look at last years season, we ask a couple to leave the table and kicked out of the show.
as for MAFS, more like Married At Fake Sight.
They are both endless rubbish of who has the biggest mouth.
The second cooking competition show, whose ‘Souflette’ hasn’t risen, when we and David have been warning them for years. It is sour grapes, that viewers haven’t kept playing along with their silly game.
Forget the people we see on both shows and their thoughts! It’s there livelihoods. Of course they will say and do anything to keep it rating or relevant. Maybe we should be calling out the advertisers who are putting their money into this garbage they call tv reality.
Brilliantly written!! Is he for real?? Does he actually think people are going to agree with him? Wow delushional. Clearly upset with the ratings and so he should be with MAFS nearly doubling MKR. Does that mean MKR will be more positive next year? Highly doubt it!
Seven is desperate for any media attention this year. I’m surprised Manu hasn’t dropped the cantaloupe bomb yet just to get viewers.
10 is calling for bitchy and nasty contestants for it new reality ‘Married at first Serve Rules’. It’s when potential hubby and wife have to cook for their intend partners on their wedding night site unseen.
Both shows are entertaining to watch for the drama!
Knoxy fired up! Love it! Good little piece.
You are right calling out the double standard. But you have to consider what is at stake in each of the shows.
MKR is meant to be about food, and it is a competition. Admittedly it has become a degraded competition, but the worst that can happen is hurt feelings and claims of unfairness.
MAFS on the other hand, makes a mockery of the most important institution in hundreds of years of society. It pretends that marriage vows are a spectator sport, and that strangers sleeping together is acceptable. It harasses a “contestant” who has chosen celibacy for a time and pushes him to act possibly before he is ready. It deliberately damages the harmony between the sexes, allows verbal and emotional abuse, and puts the mental health of people at risk.
Yes, MKR is nasty and contrived, but really there is no contest as to which is the more damaging.
MAFS certainly threatens to be the most damaging to Manu’s future income stream.
Haha- a great read? sounds like jealousy that MAFS is doing so much better in the ratings…
And the comment of the day goes to a Mr D. Knox!
Well done on saying what the entire country are thinking
Bitchiness is one thing and morality is another. His point is more to do with morality.
I agree MKR has become a farce, but I don’t blame Manu or Pete for it. MAFS is even worse.
And heres me thinking Pete was the crazy one, has Manu not seen the show? has he not seen the promos Seven airs to whip the viewers up? A quick memo to Seven and Manu, don’t try and get the high ground in the MKR v MAFS, there is no high ground, only the low ground.
Oh hi Pot, let me introduce you to Kettle…
…And as for those so called those ” experts ” on MAFS ? I wouldn’t trust them to buy me a salad sandwich , let alone pick the perfect match …
They have all the authority of a trio of carnival clowns, and John Aiken is the worst with his pseudo concerned grimaces and music hall mannerisms.
It’s hilarious watching the experts act as if they have no clue about what happens. Everyone- experts included, needs acting lessons.
The hypocrisy is gobsmacking. MKR is pretty lowbrow already but I reckon watch how much nastier it becomes next season in it’s race with 9 to get to the bottom of the barrel. What will Manu say then?
At the risk of a cliche but a rather appropriate one, is this a case of the pot calling the kettle black ?
Didn’t Manu have to intervene in an argument between Sydney sisters Jess and Emma and friends Sonya and Hadil when it got out of hand last year and they removed a team from the show?.
There has been precious little intervening on either show from those entrusted with the authority.
David I remember a news article no more than 2 weeks ago where Manu said he had giving up his cafe or restaurant to concentrate on his MKR commitments. Maybe he should have waited for another month or so before doing that
Hahaha too funny ??