I wonder if the TV stars and producers of yesteryear (and for that matter Julia Child) could ever have foreseen the direction primetime TV would one day take. For example, among many of my friends and coworkers, Bravo's Top Chef is as widely looked forward to and discussed as much the next day as Dallas, M*A*S*H, or any other huge show of seasons gone by.
The idea that not only would cooking, but fine cooking, and truly culinary art produced by literally unknown people for the mass consumption (bad pun intended) by the masses is incredible. To have a discussion with someone at the market, at a cocktail party, or around the meeting room about last night's tuna tartar or the use of classic French sauces and how they were applied is astounding. To have it because of a relatively focused niche TV show on cable speaks to the hunger (again, I'm sorry) of people to learn and experience the world, and just a bit of what it has to offer.
It's certainly inspiring to see what is possible with fresh, healthy ingredients -- or at the very least, to see the passion and ambition it takes to make it as a chef, which I suppose, is true of virtually and discipline...
