If you’ve been reading my recaps, you know I’m a fan of Huntington, WV, disc jockey Rod Willis, the man whom Jamie Oliver describes as “the biggest enemy of the food revolution.” That’s because, based solely on what I’ve seen of Rod on this TV series, he’s a scrappy old-fashioned DJ who plays country music and is suspicious of some big-city TV star and his network-television cameras coming in to get ratings off the local population. This is just good common sense; TV news and reality shows routinely exploit and sometimes ridicule the “civilians” to whom they purport to be “giving a voice.” And so when Oliver was in his second month in Huntington and not much seemed to have been revolutionized, Rod took Jamie up on his bet that the chef couldn’t get 1,000 cooking healthy food within five days. After all, Rod rationalized, “I can’t get a thousand people to listen to [my] show.” This is a man who’s honest even about his own ratings — a true rarity in any broadcasting field.
But as this week’s Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution showed, Rod’s initial skepticism was no match for the Oliver charm offensive. Jamie said he was out to win over “that crusty little git.”
This week was a different format for the series. Instead of showing Oliver teaching the townsfolk about nutrition, it became a competition and stunt show. To drum up some of his thousand people, Oliver went to Marshall University and organized a flash mob scene of students cooking stir fry to music. It was cute. I liked it more when he gathered a group of steel-workers (or as the Brit called them, “steel-benders”) and recruited them to cook, donning an American-flag hard-hat to show his devotion.
The turning-point for Rod seemed to be the visit he and Jamie took to the local mortuary, where the owners showed them the massive-sized caskets in which the severely obese deceased must be buried.
Again, I loved Rod’s first reaction: Can’t these people be cremated? Hey, it may not have seemed in the best of taste, but it’s what my first thought probably would have been.
In the end, would there be any doubt that Jamie would reach his goal of 1,000 cooking, and that Rod would come around to supporting the revolution? But that didn’t make the hour any less intriguing, and, yes, entertaining — obesity, crusty little gits, and all.
Are you still watching Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution? What did you think of the flash-mob stir-friers? And what did you think of Rod’s conversion?
Follow @kentucker
Next up: Alice.
Alice and Rod aren’t dummies and I can understand their initial resistance to an “outsider” parachuting in. But to their credit they are listening and learning and are now clearly open to “new” knowledge about healthy eating. This is a win-win for everyone. The only losers seem to be the french fries and chocolated milks.
To be honest, this is nothing to the opposition he had in the British show. The parents of the kids would hang around outside the school at lunchtime and pass macdonald’s through the gates to them so they didn’t have to eat the healthy lunches inside!
Mighty useful. Make no mistake, I apprceiate it.
I haven’t seen the episode yet, but I think I already love Rod from this recap.
Been watching Food Revolution from the beginning. Tonight’s episode was the best. I support the message Jamie’s trying to spread. The schools in America definitely need better food. We can’t keep feeding America all of this processed crap.
From the story in the Huntington paper (The Herald-Dispatch), it looks like there has been slow and steady progress since the show was filmed (late 2009). Some slight setbacks of course, and a few scrapped menus, which isn’t surprising since there are some things that don’t transfer culturally. However, they school district is invested and is making strides. Good for them!
If anyone wants to find the story, the web addy is herald-dispatch.com, and the story is in the schools section and is dated 3/31.
My mother watched this show for the first time tonight and didn’t believe Rod was actually against him. That got me to thinking – was it a set up that Rod was fighting him along the way? I wouldn’t have thought that from the other shows but he seemed to convert rather quickly in this episode.
Rod seemed legimately against jamie. What I found disturbing about tonight’s episode was no mention of any of the other restaurants or diners nearby.
Is it really true that there are no eateries nearby that offer any type of healthy eats, does the show even care?
http://www.alexlogic.com
If you go to Huntington, you’ll realize that healthy eating choices are limited at best.
If Healthy Choices are limited, then all the more reason to make a standing invitation to the local eateries to check out what Jamie is doing.
Yeah! I’ve so driven down those streets trying to figure out if there was anything to eat other than Gino’s or Tudors! There’s not really much choice out there. I think the “fanciest” restaurant would be the Outback or the Red Lobster.
Of course it was a setup. It’s reality TV. But I still think it’s a great show, with an important theme. You just can’t take all the contrived dramas too seriously.
Rod just seems like a phony regardless of whether he is for or against the “revolution.”
I like Jamie and his message, but this was my least favorite episode. The flash mob was cheesy and gimmicky. From rehearsal to execution, my remote control trigger finger was very itchy.
With only a few episodes left, I somewhat regret even bothering with this show.
I don’t know, they might be using him as representative of the sort of opposition Jamie’s facing – a short cut symbol of it, but as much as they might be exaggerating it in the edit, and as much as Rod knows what makes good radio, I believe his opposition to Jamie’s project is genuine. That’s how Jamie has always made his shows – he comes up with an admirable project, then finds the biggest sceptics he can and tries to win them over as an ally in the project, because he knows if he does they will be his most dedicated advocates. I bet you anything that will happen by the end of the season.
Sorry to hear all the hard work and time you put into sitting and watching the show was wasted. You clearly deserve better.
Apology accepted and thank you.
He did seem to change rather quickly but seriously after going into a morgue, seeing the size of the casket, finding out that they can’t get cremated because of their weight, then hearing real life stories of obese/overweight people would be pretty life/ideologically changing.
It definitely seemed staged (Rod’s turnaround), but who cares when the intentions are all honorable and the result ultimately saves lives?
Definitely staged.
Definitely staged in my opinion as well. DJ seemed like bad acting in his opposition from the start.
I am from this area and I can definitely tell you that Rod – and many others – were against this from the start. Being named the fattest city/unhealthiest city was not good and everyone automatically thought he was going to come in here and make fun of the area and its people. He did not get a warm reception – but really did start winning everyone over. No one wanted to see him come in and make the area look like a bunch of overweight hicks.
Nice to hear from someone on the scene. I read an interview with Jamie saying that when he first arrived he was unaware of the ‘hick’ image and didn’t realize he was wading into people’s fears of being stereotyped. In any case he does genuinely like people and treat them with dignity and it’s great to see some folks trusting him and finding out that their trust was justified.
still watching, LOVED the flash mob (great idea, flash mob cooking!) and definitely bought the conversion. it wasn’t the mortuary that did it, it was the conversation with the individual people who are dealing with food issues in their lives and their families. That’s when the light bulb went on for Rod that it’s about the people regardless of Jamie Oliver. Just another brilliant episode. Brilliant!
I too LOVED the flash mob scene! What a great way to generate interest! Does anyone know what the music was that they were dancing/cooking to??? Loved it!
This has all been staged. Ryan Seacrest is involved in producing, I believe and although its intention is very good, it is clearly scripted. The DJ was too opposed and too easily won over. People appear to want to believe this stuff, but you would think that they would see through the scripted “reality” shows by now.
I can say with 100% certainty that the animosity between Rod and Jamie was totally real. Rod being a stubborn West Virginian like myself was very resistant to the change that the Food Revolution has brought to my hometown. I worked on the show and live in the community and attend Marshall University and the results are nothing but positive. By and by, the show was produced in partnership with Seacrest who is a huge supporter of the movement but the only scripting going on was in the kitchen. Scripting change.
How many ringers for this show post on these reviews? I find that if anybody says anything that could even be thought negative, they are immediately attacked by people who “love” the show. If you believe that there is no scripting in this show, you probably think that the Bachelor is really a story of true love.
What you don’t think we have computers here in WV? Besides, Chef Joe didn’t attack as you say. Why must people like you sam, resort to this sort of dialogue when someone has an opposing view?
What you don’t think we have computers here in WV? Besides Chef Joe didn’t attack as you say. Why must you resort to this sort of dialogue sam, when someone has an opposing view than yours? You’re doing the very thing you accuse others of. It’s sad really.
No, I believe that everybody has computers–I just would like to know how many people posting for this show have received checks at any point from the production company and how many are actual unrelated viewers.
Your an idiot Sam. I am not going to receive any money for sharing my thoughts on this. I’ve known Rod for many years and this is truly how he is and this wasn’t made up – he didn’t want someone coming into his hometown to make fun of this area – and then leave to go back to Hollywood.
Sam you are wrong. This is a quality show that is 100% real people doing real things. Just the kind of great shows we have come to expect from ABC, America’s favorite TV network. Be sure to catch his next episode Friday at 9 / 8 Central! ABC – America’s Family Network!
Wow, Sam, just because someone disagrees with you doesn’t mean the show is paying them to write good reviews. If you think the show is so scripted and false, don’t watch it.
Give the guy a break. Even if it is scripted, it is the content….Wake up America, we are killing our kids and as parents we need to take back control.
I agree, zackygirl. Some of the “we’re winning over the crusty people” feels set-up to me as well, but it doesn’t detract from the message. Reality TV may be a very annoying and fake thing, but the message of this show is actually important.
scripted or not the premise of this show is absolutely amazing and i am totally on board with jamie, ryan, and whoever for this “revolution”. sit outside a store in your car and watch the people come out and see how many people are overweight. its such a sad epidemic. this has definitely opened my eyes and made me see that i need to change the way i eat. people are so used to getting everything FAST that they dont want to take the time to cook a meal so we eat JUNK. i want to get healthy! so like i said – i’m on board!
Yeah at times it felt phony. It seemed like Rod was overselling his “villain” role in the narrative. Maybe it was the editing, but something didn’t feel real about his transformation. Either way, this show’s message is still fantastic. The truth about obesity and the causes are dramatic enough without trumped up gimmicks.
You know Jaime, if the people of Huntington can’t see how eating healthy can make your life better…come to Canada…we’re nice here and we’re very polite. It seems the US has earned their reputation of being rude.
Not sure if you even get the point Wendy, it was an episode of mainly support for Jamie. I’m not sure where your “rude” US comment comes into play, unless your just looking for an opportunity to name call, which actually seems, well rude…how ironic.
I don’t know if they’re rude. They’ve been subject to years of junk food company/corporate propaganda that says meddling in their lives is dangerous and no one should tell them what to do, by which they actually mean “you should buy our products even if they’re bad for you”. Jamie and the food movement in general is having to undo generations of damage to these people’s attitude to their diet, but it’s not their fault that no one with any influence could be bothered to fight these junk food companies in the past.
I’m sure by dismissing an entire nation based on your viewing of reality TV it’s your actions alone that are responsible for earning your country’s reputation of “nice.”
F*ck you, Wendy. Canada has earned the reputation of being bland and lame.
Well, there you go…that’s what Wendy was talking about.
F*ck you, too, Rachel. Dumbass.
How very mature
You prove that Wendy was right. Americans are often rude and obnoxious.
Wendy. I am Canadian. You are rude and must be from a backwoods town or Toronto. Quit trying to instigate a fight with people who are praising the efforts of an English bloke. The world is a big place and Jamie is making a better place in his wake. Good for him. Sorry folks for my comrades remark. We are good people for the most part. I don’t think we are that bland. With a little spice we’d taste pretty good.
I think this is one of the best things to come along since baby carrots. Anyone who comments how scripted it seems just does not get it. The food in this country is killing people, it is garbage, and the fact our children are eating it because they have no other choice is pathetic. Fries are NOT vegetables. I don’t care if it is scripted, I don’t care if it is for money, I don’t care if it is BS, It is having a positive effect and if this show saves ONE LIFE then it is worth it. Shame on all the nay-sayers. My hat is off to Jamie and I support him every step of the way.
For the love of God, keep witring these articles.
The fact that the message is good doesn’t make it any less fake. And I believe it is unfair to represent these people in the way that they are represented just to make the “message” more dramatic. I’m sorry, but Jamie himself does not look all that healthy to me–how much does this guy exercise? We should all eat healthier and school lunches are junk, but it doesn’t help that gym has been eliminated in a lot of schools. Is this to help people or to make Ryan Seacrest richer? I don’t think that it is a charitable undertaking and the manipulation is obvious.
So is the solution another version of The Bachelor? This show is actually getting people to talk and think about eating healthy. Sure someone is making a profit, sure it has fake moments, but holding on to the negatives and not seeing the positives is just getting old. This is the most refreshing message brought to TV in a long time, so I think it would do us all some good to quit being the glass “half-empty” types. It’s this type of negative viewpoint that hinders positive healthy change.
So anybody who doesn’t love this particular show doesn’t believe in good health? No, we just don’t like this show.
I’m sorry, but I totally disagree. I actually live in Huntington and I absolutely love this program and what Jamie has done. To give you more reality the last time I was at the funeral home used in tonight’s episode was for a co-worker’s brother. He was 45 and he passed away for various medical reasons that stemmed from, you guessed it, obesity. Huntington isn’t alone in this problem and I for one am thankful Jamie (and even Ryan Seacrest) took the time to come up with a message that isn’t about sex and violence…but a message that we need to reconsider our eating habits.
Very well said, David.
Bravo!
I think it’s staged but hey anyway we can get “main street” on board with living healthy with fresh food. More power to them! My childhood spent being made fun of as I was the fat kid. I see more and more obsesity children and we have to do something. So I think it’s awesome.
If I had as huge of a task to accomplish in a short time as Jamie Oliver, I would certain give some forethought to what I was going to say in front of the cameras. Doing some preparation is not the same thing as having everything scripted. It also doesn’t make the events not real.
I Love Jamie Oliver’s new show. I totally support him in his efforts to change the way our school lunch program is being run. I wish he could come to my area so we could ‘cook’ with him. I think this is the best ‘reality’ show on tv right now.I will be sad when it ends, I am learning a lot.