Guy Fieri Hates Watching Himself on TV — Here’s Why He Does It Anyway
There are lots of people who would be thrilled to see themselves on TV. But not the famous cooking star, Guy Fieri.
With multiple shows on the Food Network, millions of people watch him every day. Fieri just wishes he wasn’t one of them. He loves his career as a celebrity chef, but it’s uncomfortable and awkward to watch himself on video.
However, sometimes we have to do things we don’t want to do, and celebrities are no different. So, Fieri forces himself to watch his TV shows for one important reason.
Guy Fieri’s humble start in the food business
You may recognize Fieri as one of the biggest stars on the Food Network, but in the 70s, he was just an average kid who loved good food.
When he was 10 years old, Fieri went on a ski trip with his family to Lake Tahoe. At the lodge, he found a man selling pretzels who would forever change the course of his life. The pretzels, steamed, covered in salt, and dipped in mustard, were the best thing Fieri had ever tasted, and it gave him an idea.
With the support of his dad, Fieri returned home and mounted a pretzel cart on the back of his bike. He then sold pretzels at the fair, the rodeo, and anywhere that he could. It became his first business, introducing him to the world of restaurateurs.
The money from his pretzel cart allowed Fieri to travel to France, where he fell deeper in love with good cuisine. After returning for college, he began opening restaurants, and soon found himself on the road to success.
Guy Fieri appeals to the public
In 2006, Fieri won the second season of The Next Food Network Star. He was awarded his own TV series, Guy’s Big Bite, but that was only the beginning.
He’s since been in many shows on the network, including the highly popular Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, and Guy’s Grocery Games. According to the New York Times, Fieri’s shows attract a new “mass-market” audience to the network, and bring in more male viewers than any other food star.
“He really resonates with men,” said Susie Fogelson, the head of marketing for the Food Network.
But it’s not just men. Fieri is able to connect with a wide range of people from different backgrounds. Perhaps that’s because of his approachable attitude.
Kathleen McCormick, a fan from Jersey Shore, explained to the New York Times that other cooking shows were “too preachy” for her. However, she really likes Fieri. “He’s the only one who never talks down to anybody,” she said.
Guy Fieri hates watching himself on TV
Fieri’s success on TV didn’t happen just because of luck. It’s something that he had to work at, and improve. During an interview with The Sporkful podcast, Fieri described part of his process.
The host, Dan Pashman brought up the subject. “I read that you watch your own performances on TV and take notes…” He said.
“…I had to. I didn’t know what I looked like,” Fieri answered. He then explained that there’s lots of little details he has to be aware of, like his body posture, and the rhythm of his voice.
“So I had to really become a student of the craft and really pay attention,” Fieri said. “And it’s painful, don’t get me wrong. I’m like anyone else. I think, I hate watching myself on TV.”
Even though it’s really uncomfortable, Fieri knows that watching himself is something that’s important for any star, and needs to be done for his success to continue.
“You gotta pay attention to what you’re doing,” he explained. “It’s like, you got to self-edit. You gotta self reflect. You have to. I mean, I think that that is what we have to do to continue to stay in the game.”
