The <a href="http://milwaukee.tmstv.com/aboutus.html" title="Tribune Media Services TV Publishing Division">Tribune Media Services</a> <a href="http://www.channelguidemag.com/index.html" title="The Publications of Tribune Media Services - Channel Guide Magazine - Cable Connection Magazine">Channel Guide Magazine</a> has <a href="http://www.channelguidemag.com/brown/" title="Alton Brown">an interesting interview</a> with <a href="http://www.altonbrown.com/" title="Alton Brown.com">Alton Brown</a>. He talks about his background and how he got where he is. He seems like an interesting person and not at all like I expected.
I always refer to Alton as “Science Boy,” so I was a little surprised by this exchange:
Have you ever heard of Bill Nye the Science Guy?
Enough people have now mentioned Bill Nye the Science Guy to me that I now desperately avoid it all costs. Because if I saw him, I would probably start working to avoid it. Whatever naturally is analog between me and Bill Nye the Science Guy, I would probably start trying to weed out. I avoid him like the plague. Enough people say, “Hey! You’re like Bill Nye meets Julia Child meets Monty Python!” and I can appreciate the analogy, but I don’t get it, because I have never laid eyes on the guy. (Lundquist)
A little later he expanded on that point:
Are you by nature a really smart guy?
Dumb as a log. Seriously. I’m not very bright, and it takes a lot for me to get a concept — to really get a concept. To get it enough that it becomes part of me. But when it happens I get real excited about it. (Ibid.)
He also has interesting views on society:
Do you watch much television?
I like television. I still believe that television is the most powerful form of communication on Earth — I just hate what is being done with it. The fact that we have now made up for our utter lack of imagination by pummeling everyone with these reality shows, I find to be the most sickening turn in American culture, and quite possibly a strong sign that American culture is in rapid and irretrievable decline.
It doesn’t necessarily show the better part of human nature, does it?
We are now being encouraged to be as mean as we can be. And I don’t just mean “mean” as in nasty, I mean “mean” as in small.
When I say it makes me physically ill — I mean it makes me physically ill. I am revolted by it. I would no more watch a public execution. Which is kind of what it is like. We’re going back to Rome. It’s the gladiators all over again… except with better sponsorship. (Ibid.)
Amen to that, brother.
Lundquist, Lori. “Alton Brown.” <em>Channel Guide Magazine</em>. 2003. <!-- Document date or date of last revision [if different from access date] --> <a href="http://www.channelguidemag.com/brown/" title="Alton Brown"><http:// www.channelguidemag.com/ brown/></a> (12 October 2003).