I agree that it is definitely not as good as the Japanese show. The commentator, reporters, and judges a) display no enthusiasm and b) too often don't know WTH they are talking about. This, even though Alton (?) sounds like he is reading from a script.

After tonight, I really have to wonder about these judges. I thought Morimoto had it easily. Obviously, I didn't get to taste the dishes, but his sure looked better. IMO Batali did his best to hide the theme ingredient, while Morimoto featured it proudly (which is what it's supposed to be all about). Whatever. I'm sure Puck will win too.

hmm.. 2 for 2, Iron Chef America. -ohbfrank-

I do notice that the American judges seem to like one flavor/theme throughout the dishes. Sakai and Morimoto flexed their muscle by trying new things and not sticking to their specialty, while Flay and Batali didn't stray from theirs.

The Japanese judges seem to favor originality and varied tastes.

perhaps the lack of a studio audience.....you lose some of the excitement

I caught about 10 minutes of it, starting just after trout was revealed as the theme ingredient in the episode with Flay and iron chef Sakai. I didn't think it was that bad, considering the crew wasn't as experienced as the japanese crew, but they were definitely less polished. For instance there were several instances where they lost track of what each chef was doing (what did he put in the deep fryer? Did he blend the fois gras? ect).

Also, I love Alton Brown, but I think it was a bad idea to have someone who knows so much about cooking as an announcer. The original announcer knew enough to get by, but he relied on an expert who he could question, and as such take on the role of the audience. It also provided more opportunities for banter, which is needed to fill the lulls in this type of show.

Really? I always had the impression that they gave foreign chefs the win as some kind of respect thing.

I don't think it was so much a foreign thing, as a non-iron chef thing. Alton Brown actually made fun of this in his junkyard iron chef episode of Good Eats.

It could also be a matter of just different cultural palettes when it comes to western contestants. But, I think the american judges in the original Morimoto/Bobby Flay Iron Chef NY special were biased for Morimoto, because several of the dishes he made went against the american/western palette, but he still won.

Puck v. Morimoto

These judges are the worst of the bunch, except for Paige (she's hot)... that first guy needs to wipe off his lip.

I have a feeling that these judges are gonna go for Puck... make it 3 for 3...

(I can understand Morimoto better than Puck! ;) )

Update:

Battle Four: Morimoto/Flay v. Batali/Sakai - Sea Urchin Battle
 

Bobby cut himself again... putz.

Winners:

Is this going to be a weekly show?? otherwise it seems that they invest a lot of money for just 4 shows.

I thought Puck was definitely the winner in that episode. His stuff simply looked better.

However, the first two were definitely questionable. Certainly Sakai should have taken the first. The second looked to be very close, but ended up not.

One thing they have to do is get competent judges. You don't like raw food? Well get the hell off the stage. The Queer Eye guy was a winner. The fatty on the far right seemed to know what he was talking about, but was also a sarcastic blowhard.

It was enjoyable, but lacked the character and unintentional comedy of the original. Alton Brown was solid, if a little academic about it all.

The original judges on Iron Chef were always biased towards the IC's, so no surprise here if it went the other way.

ROFL!!! Yeah, I would like to see PETA demonstrate.

I think I saw an episode with crab or lobsters, and Iron Chef Morimoto took a bunch of them and tossed them in a barrel filled with saki. Now there is a ethican way to kill a lobster. Much better than using a knife.

I wonder if this will turn into a series, with Puck and Flay and Batali taking on challangers. It would be a fun series to have.

They should also try and get a member of congress on the tasting panel. I remember the original show would always have someone from their lower house.

I don't know but having the American Iron Chef's battling the Japanese Iron Chef's it throwing me off. I always feel like the JIC's should win, like they are the true food warriors and that Flay and Batali are just imitators. Maybe if they had the AIC's battle lesser know chef's (like in the original) I would be less biased.

And which commentator didn't know what fois gras was? I mean I've never had it, but if you've watched any amount of the Food Network you would know what it looks like right?

Bobby Flay vs A Mid-Western Short-Order Cook: Prawn Battle

"We are 20 minutes into the battle and the challenger is already done, and he's added prawns to the entire Denny's menu!"

Funny :) There is a level between Flay and a fry cook though, no?

Morimoto, "Bobby?"

Flay, "WHAT!?"

-ohbfrank-

I consider Puck to be a good AIC representative. At least he has a good sense of the ingredients and can go outside the box of California cuisine. Flay and Batali only stick with what they know, Southwestern & Italian. Even Chen and Kobe incorporate other cooking styles into their dishes.

They should also have international judges since I feel the western palatte rather weak and most are afraid to try something new.

If anything, ICA should have gone up against the Iron Chefs USA: Todd English, Jean Francois, Alessandro Stratta & Roy Yamaguchi.