I still have it on VHS and a I look back at it, there are so many sitcoms that have made it which are much worse. Yes, Emeril was not used to the actual acting, but the cast was great. The witty repartee was memorable and the story line believable "Pork fat is always called for".If anyone has better copies of the the 11 episodes I would love to buy them.

Emeril LaGasse is a well-renowned chef whose antics on his own show, "Emeril Live", which airs on the Food Network (on cable), are plenty entertaining. So why did NBC decide to green-light an effort - with a script - where Emeril plays himself? Who knows? It could be imagined that Emeril was so hot at the time the sitcom aired (2001) that NBC wanted a piece of the pie.Here was the problem: Emeril didn't need a script. The man is at his best when he's working without a net, schmoozing the audience stageside, and chatting with his band. He's plenty funny on Food Network's show without any help from writers and, of course, meddling producers and exec-producers. In addition, his real show gets a full hour while working to a sitcom format (plot exposes, builds, and resolves in 30 minutes) would have been constricting.Mercifully, this dish from NBC was sent back to the kitchen. "Emeril Live" continues to provide "Bam!" on Food Network, where Emeril will continue to work his magic on viewers.

It was not Emerils fault that the show bombed.The Thomasons would not let Emeril "play" Emeril as himself.There were no "bams", no "kick it up a notches".They forced him to play a toned down version of himself.Then cast a bunch of actors around him to liven the show up.Sure Emeril is no Sir Laurence Oliver, but neither is Tom Hanks.Emeril was handicapped by not being allowed to be himself.Emeril can still buy and sell any of you out there who have knocked his effort.I went to one of the tapings of the show in California and in my opinion did as good of a job as was possible given the circumstances.At least HE tried, can any of you dopes say say the same!

I actually favored watching his live show on the Food Network over this show. If only NBC had done things differently, Emeril fans, like myself, wouldn't have ran out the door! I now feel sorry for Emeril and his potential acting career because I think he could've gone far with this one. My advice to Emeril is, "Please try again."