Should 'Chopped All-Stars' have chopped the 'puppy' comment?

Michael, step away from the litter of puppies.

Food Network's "Chopped All-Stars" kicked off a five-episode stint Sunday night featuring the channel's favorite hosts, chefs and fan-favorite contestants facing the dreaded chopping block under the watchful eye of host Ted Allen. First up: former competitors on "The Next Food Network Star," including L.A. restaurant consultant Debbie Lee, Brad Sorenson, Michael Proietti and Lisa Garza.

The four had returned for their shot at redemption -- a chance to prove that they should have won their own Food Network show. I was especially pleased to see Michael, one of my favorite "TNFNS" contestants ever. (I was ready to sign on to Global a Go-Go from the very first time Michael opened his mouth.)

Flamboyant, charming, sweet, funny, Michael was the whole package –- until the cameras focused on him. Then, he froze up. Which is weird, because there were obviously cameras on him the whole time. He would only freeze up when mock-hosting his own food show. Which. Um. Was the whole point of the exercise. Well, watching him last night I marveled at how he seemed to have used his post–TNFNS time to regroup and grow more confident and comfortable in front of the camera.

And that's what makes his wisecrack at the end seem so unfortunate. "I will kill a litter of puppies to win," he said.

Yes, yes, yes, I know he was just joking. I don't think Michael is capable of harming anything, much less a litter of puppies.

But that's all the more reason why Food Network shouldn't have aired the comment.

Such a flippant, offhanded remark doesn't really represent Michel, and producers should have reconsidered using such a tasteless comment to represent "Chopped" or Food Network.

What do you think? Did Michael go too far? Should Food Network have used that comment? Or am I being too critical?

RELATED:

-- It's time to turn the table on "Chopped" judges

-- 10 Mardi Gras recipes from the L.A. Times Test Kitchen

-- Fig & Olive celebrates with a splashy opening

-- Breaking down a bell pepper

--Rene Lynch
Twitter / renelynch

Photo: Brad Sorenson and Michael Proietti, at right, prepare to face off in the dessert round as host Ted Allen looks on. Food Network 

Comments

[alynn farmer]

Charm and appeal?? Don't think so--"I consistently cook good food and I have this in the bag". Why would you even need to say you would kill a litter of puppies to win if the prior statement were true? And it probably was a rather poor attempt at humor but if you're going to be on t.v. think before yu speak.

[Michael]

How is it any different then us saying let go kill those terrisot

[Jan Figari]

Even if Michael was kidding that comment made me want him to lose the competition; and I think he should have lost because of it. What kind of comment is that to make?

Bad decision by the judges if you ask me...he's not a good representative of fair competition for this show.

[CTE]

Send Rachel Ray over with her bully to teach him a lesson! Shame on Food Network for not editing and shame on Michael: what a loser.

[joe schaller]

Even if Michael was trying to be funny, his "killing a litter or puppys comment" was uncalled for. It says a lot about his personality in my opinion. Kind of like a Freudian slip... his true feelings show through regardless of what he may claim.

[joe schaller]

my opinion on Michael s comment... ban him from the show. I do not believe he really meant what he said, but to even consider saying it is so egregious that he should be ashamed of himself. If it were me, I would NEVER want to show my face again for such an obviously ignorant remark

[Steve]

I remember saying "I can't believe he just said that." I, like most posters here, realize it was not meant to be serious. However, you cannot assume that of all viewers, and that's what made it a shame. I KNEW as soon as I heard it that it was going to become a topic of conversation, and then it made me reflect: what if it WAS true? Again, I say to you, I don't for the slightest second believe it to be true. Dumb to say with cameras rolling, but heat of the moment things like that happen, and that's where the responsibility falls on the show's editors. I have no doubt thatthere has been a contestant that they have had to edit out a language slip and the fact that they did not edit this out shows abolute stupidity on FN's end. I mean, what possible value was there in leaving it in? None that I can think of, and FN has had enough issues with having to remove contestants and/or hosts that they certainly dont need a new controversy. The fact that they couldnt figure that out for themselves suggests that they should remove the editor and not the flamboyant, talented cash cow that Michael seems destined to be.

[JBR]

Isn't odd that people are so upset about this harmless puppy comment, yet nobody acknowledges that the entire show is about cooking murdered animals? Just something to think about. Maybe a bit of hypocrisy here?

And yes, the comment was harmless - because Michael had no real intent to kill puppies. That's obvious. He said it to illustrate how badly he wanted the win - like when people say "If he's late again I'm gonna kill him" - clearly they don't really intend to commit murder. They say it for effect. These kinds overstatements are common - and again, harmless.

[EastCoaster]

Michael Vick found nothing wrong with the comment.

[Teej]

OMG...he was kidding. Get over yourselves. This is why the rest of the world thinks we're idiots because guess what? People like you (who can't take a joke) are!

[awall]

It was a bad joke, get over it. Stupid hyper-sensitive nimrods.

[Betty Gresham [for trixie and molly our beagle family]]

DON'T NEED A NEWSPAPER TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO WORRY ABOUT SMART ENOUGH TO FIGURE IT OUT BY MYSELF ALSO HAVE ENOUGH FAMILY FRIENDS AND PETS DON'T NEED TO READ ABOUT OTHER PEOPLES LIVES BUT I DO KNOW MY FRIENDS COULD HAVE COME UP WITH SOMETHING A LOT MORE SENSITIVE THAN KILLING PUPPIES WHY WOULD THAT EVEN ENTER A NORMAL PERSONS MIND WHY NOT SAY HE WOULD JUMP OFF A BRIDGE THAT IT WOULD ONLY BE ABOUT HIMSELF

[Kathryn]

Thank you for your article. I watched the show last night and was also appalled that Food Network aired the comment. Michael should be disqualified and the show should air a formal apology to its viewers. I am a fan of "Chopped" but after this obvious lack of sensitivity by the show's producers . . . I dare to ask the questions: Was it aired for its comic value? Does Michael really think killing puppies is funny? Is it possible someone else also thinks the comment was [gulp] funny? Unbelievable.

[Betty Gresham [for trixie and molly our beagle family]]

IN REPLY TO TED ALLENS COMMENT IF MOST PEOPLE ARE LIKE THE PEOPLE I KNOW THEY DO DONATE TO SHELTERS AND PROVIDE HOMES FOR PETS UNTIL UNTIL THEY CAN BE PLACED IN CARING HOMES .I HAVE SPENT THOUSANDS IN MEDICAL BILLS TO SAVE LIVES OF PUPPIES THAT WERE DYING FROM NEGLECT ONLY TO PLACE THEM IN HOMES SO THEY COULD HAVE A CHANCE AT LIFE AND I'M SORRY BUT I DON'T SHARE YOUR OPINION OF YOUR TOP STAR PICK IF YOU WANT SOMETHING CUTE FRIENDLYAND BUBBLY GET A PUPPY

[Ben]

I know Michael personally. He loves dogs. He was kidding. Pick up a newspaper and worry about something worth while.

[betty gresham]

MAYBE SOME PEOPLES SENSE OF HUMOR IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT FROM OTHERS I DON'T THINK NOT CARING FOR REMARKS ABOUT KILLING PUPPIES RELLY EXPRESSES A SENSE OF HUMOR I WOULD CARE TO HAVE . IF HE HAD SAID HE WOULD SHOOT A GAY WOULD THAT ALSO BE CONSIDERED HAVING A SENSE OF HUMOR

[Greg Samsa]

If you are offended by such a harmless joke obviously you are too sensitive and need to relax. Also you need to stop watching such a lame show.

[Sheila]

I am so happy to see your article. I was appalled and I don't use that word very often when, I heard the "puppy" comment. Was he joking? I am not too sure. I am an avid animal lover and would never in a million years ever use an expression like that. All through the show Michael talked about his struggles as a gay youth and what he went through, that I just can't believe he has such little compassion as to say what he did. I contacted the Food Network and complained. I was always a fan of Chopped and the network, but this has surely turned me off. For Michael to have said it is one thing. For the network not to edit it out is another. The fact that he then won completely turned me off. He should have been disqualified.
Thank you for letting me vent. This matter has me very upset.

[Steven M.]

People have to get over it and get an education in Problem Solving 101. It was a rhetorical statement and although it may have shock value, the reality of the statement and the person making it, makes the statement absurd, when it comes to reality.

[Dee]

I DO think it was wrong...i was shocked when i heard it so much so that i thought "did he just say what i think he said???" and i rewound my dvr...and sure enough he did...he could have said a million other things like..."i would bungee jump naked" to win or "i would shave my head" to win or ANYTHING else...kill a litter of puppies???? weird...and NOT funny at all.... of course i don't believe he would actually do something like that...it just WAS NOT funny....

[Linda]

Of course he wasn't serious AND of course they should NEVER have aired it --in doing so, the show allowed him to seriously damage his charm and appeal. Shame on them -- he may not know better, but they certainly do.

[Sonya]

I'm a dog owner and don't find his comment horrific or offensive. He was just joking and of course the Food Network is going to air any comments that are interesting!

[Andrew]

I watched the show and the comment was funny, nothing else. If anyone makes anything of it they are reaching. I hope no one takes themselves seriously enough to think that this dude would actually kill puppies to win or thinks that for some godforesaken reason he is an advocate for mass puppy murder.

I thought it was funny and will absolutely be plagarising that comment in the future.