Usually I don’t write about TV shows, but since this new Food Network show is based on the most popular food blog out there, I was excited to watch, and then I had a lot of opinions about it.
The Pioneer Woman debuted on The Food Network over the weekend. Ree Drummond writes at The Pioneer Woman from her rural Oklahoma ranch where she cooks for her family and home schools her children. I don’t read her blog, it’s too big and hard to navigate for me. But I like Ree because we share a birthday of January 6, she takes great photos, and she grew her blog into one of the biggest out there. I wanted to see her on TV.
Her first episode was more comical than a great cooking show. It was full of cliches, unfunny lines and she really wasn’t relatable. The Food Network is always about being relatable–showing the home cook that you can do it too and you’re just like our “cooks.” Ree is not like you and me. In this episode, she used more butter, whole milk, eggs, steak, and grease than Paula Deen to feed her husband rancher who wakes up at 4:30 a.m. to work the ranch at 5 a.m. I know that’s early, but he’s not the only one working hard in America. She must have repeated it seven times in 23 minutes.
Her menu was chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes and gravy (with more butter than her cows can produce), and a tomato salad. Then she made egg and sausage breakfast sandwiches. She and her family are nice looking, but I don’t believe they really eat like that. I could not seriously feed a family that much butter without worrying my arteries would collapse in my sleep.
Other annoyances are how she thinks saying “chiffonade” makes her feel “fancy,” and how she says “bal-SAM-ic” vinegar. Hurts my ears.
The other interesting thing about her recipe choices is that she really wasn’t cooking on the show. They were lots of clips to her husband and kids running around, and lots of pretty shots of her kitchen. She breaded the steak and fried it in oil. She boiled potatoes and mashed them with milk and butter, and then baked them with more butter, and assembled a breakfast sandwich of Texas toast, egg, and sausage. There really wasn’t a lot of cooking. I’d hate to tune in if you have high cholesterol. There’d be nothing to eat.
I am sure I will watch the show again. Her ranch is lovely, although to get a daily dose of her life, she has a blog too. It’s just ironic that her blog is so popular to average people all over the country, but she looks so unrelatable on TV.
Did you watch? What do you think?
I’m glad you put this review up. I read her blog here and there because, like you, I find it to be overwhelming sometimes but do enjoy checking in every now and then. I missed the episode this past weekend but plan on watching it this weekend. I’m not sure if we need another Paula Deen on the air so hopefully her show will evolve and not turn into another southern cooking show where pounds and pounds of butter become the key ingredient.
Thanks Heidi. I also saw the day before her show where Ree did a guest appearance on Paula’s show. Means they are really trying to draw that audience into her. Was surprised they were so obvious about making them similar.
When is the show?
Sundays at 10:30 I think. central time I think.
She must be doing something right! She can say boo on facebook and 900 people ‘like’ it and 1200 comment!
i know, it’s crazy the following!
I don’t think people do relate to her, I think they think she lives their fantasy life. Also, working on a ranch they can burn those kind of calories, although clearly that limits her usefulness as a cooking show.
I’ve been following her blog for a while now and I just love her. I’m single so I don’t relate to her cooking, homeschooling, etc. but that doesn’t mean I’m not entertained by it. She cracks me up and I just love reading her blog and watching her show – it’s sheer entertainment and lots of fun!
Go PW!
I didn’t see the show, but it is disappointing that she uses tons of butter, etc a la Paula Deen. No one needs another show like that. BUT, we did add her recipe for Rosemary Sea-Salt Rolls to our Thanksgiving dinner and they are THE BEST. But totally terrible for you. That’s why it’s a T-day treat only
I used to love her website, not so much since it became more about the brand of “Pioneer Woman” than about Ree Drummond. I haven’t seen the show but I could hardly watch her appearances on the various talk shows, I felt sorry for her more than I wanted to make her recipes. I looked at the upcoming shows and it looks like there aren’t really any new recipes just the same old, same old?
i totally agree with you. While I do enjoy her blog, mainly because she is funny in print, she is not funny on tv. I dont know how to explain it. and you are right again about the recipes. the only thing I would make from the the first two shows is the tomato salad, and how hard was that to come up with, right?? it all looks so forced and fake, like th birthday party for the son.
I totally agree, it was awkward!
I stopped reading her blog after I realized how phony the Pioneer woman is,,,’keeping it real”? Give me a break. Her recipes are from any/every church cookbook printed in the 1970′s. The ’70′s were a decade not a lifestyle, certainly not a lifestyle one should embrace in the new millennium. Home school her kids…yes, if that means hired tutors that come to the ranch. Thank you for an honest review.
Great, honest review. I was looking forward to checking out her show and didn’t even finish watching the first episode (and I had dvr’d it so I could fast forward through commercials). She’s just NOT entertaining. I check out her blog from time to time but I’ve only cooked one of her dishes and I found myself substituting alternatives for all of the not great for you ingredients. Really, to sum it up, her site is food porn but reality is she’s not doing all that all on her own and she’s really just marketing a brand.
I thought she was dull as dishwater. I watched the birthday show and thought if she referred to her 7 year old son as her “baby” one more time I’d scream. Her monotone voice nearly put me to sleep! I struggled through the entire show and when it was over I immediately deleted my season pass on TiVo. I find it hard to believe her show will keep viewers.
As a non-food blogger or follower even I found the show to be dismal at best. I couldn’t even watch the whole thing and while I love Paula Deen… the personality I have never made one of her recipes and I don’t plan to make one of this Pioneer Woman’s either – heart attack on a plate!
You health nuts make me laugh. There are millions of us in rural America who really eat like that every day! How can we eat like that and remain healthy? Because we get up and do actual physical work every day. My great grandmother ate food fried in butter every day of her 97 years on this earth. It’s refreshing to see someone cooking “real food”.
Believe me…most people on here commenting about the “high fat” content are NOT health nuts.
Besides that, how many recipes do we make that we’ve seen on any of these shows…probably not that many. I have cooked recipes I’ve seen on shows but only a few. Actually, most came from Tasty Kitchen! Love it!
When Ree first started her blog, I really enjoyed it. Now I do not! It is WAY over-done, difficult to navigate and boring. Unfortunately, her show follows suit.
I don’t really care to watch her family…I can read about them on her blog! Though her dishes look delicious, they aren’t any more special than what I can cook myself. Goat cheese rolled in dill??? Please! That is appetizer 101.
Sadly, the charm she once possessed on her blog does not translate into her show. She is dull, boring and more dull! Maybe she will grow more comfortable as she films more episodes, but I will no longer be watching. In my opinion, her show is one big waste of time and calories.
I was also disappointed in the show and agree, it wasn’t really a “cooking” show. (The balSAMic grated on me as well as the other points you made) I have, however, made several of her dishes and everytime I do, I get rave reviews that it’s the best they ever had. My family eats very healthy, so I only try her recipes sporadically or try to cut way back on the butter, depending on the recipe. Or I make sure it’s a dish for company so I don’t have leftovers to eat!
I also agree that I don’t think people follow her because she is “like them”, but because having a hunky rancher husband on a beautiful spread with a gorgeous house/kitchen, etc. does seem like a dream life.
It is interesting that many folks who follow her blog, don’t realize what a wealthy family the Drummonds are. Her husband’s family owns the ranch and all the property around it for miles and miles. They are one of the richest ranching operations in Oklahoma. Ree rakes in the money with her blog and makes nearly 700 to 800k a year. Her blogging audience adores her, and live vicariously through her life. She does give-aways once in a while and yesterday gave away a blouse from Neiman Marcus that cost in the neighborhood of $200. Very few of her audience can afford that type of clothing. She has a delightful blog, and a very contrived television show. I suggested she work with a tv presentation coach because she is so bad. Basically I think she is laughing all the way to the bank.
And, your point is….
Her family and her (from her website, show) ARE wealthy! WHY? Because they earned it. Duh! Are you saying people should only watch po’ people cook? Well…good luck with that!
Some of the local Osage County Indians may take exception to the part where they “earned” it. As for her cooking skills, I know a dozen “real” country cooks who actually know what they are doing.
Then, your dozen “real” cooks should get busy and get their own blog/following/cooking books/tv show!
I think her success speaks for itself.
Thank you, Lisa, for your comment regarding KJ believing the Drummond family “earned” their wealth and land. While I am sure the Drummonds including the ridiculously named cowboy husband persona have put very hard work into the land they now own, wealth in this country is not quite so basic as being the result of the hard work of those who ‘own’ that property today. PW is boring on tv, regardless of how she pronounces balsamic.
Her voice drives me nuts – definitely not a TV or radio voice.
She needs to cut that hair!
I hate cooking shows that feature family members. NOT INTERESTED!
Guess that’s all I have to say.
fitzie
I’ve enjoyed reading Ree’s website occasionally and have tried a few of her recipes. She has a great writing style that’s easy to read and funny. After watching one episode, unfortunately it doesn’t translate well to TV. She was really stiff, unrelateable, and not very funny. I’m hoping it was just because she was nervous and will loosen up as she continues her show. I’m not a huge fan but definitely wish her well!
What a refreshing post! I thought I was the only one feeling misplaced with the show. I have read and do enjoy her blog. But I felt like her show was too well manufactured. Does she and her family really dress like that every day on the ranch? I have never seen ranchers dress in clean collar shirts and clean hats. But like a lot of viewers can see from the show, they are not like us, nor are they living a relatable life. Pure fantasy like any reality show out there. I’m disappointed in The Food Network for this.
I used to read her blog but stopped when the posts all seemed interchangeable and repeatable, and the recipes are completely blah. The show seems incredibly contrived too, just from her description of it.
My Granddaughter and I really enjoy watching her show. We look forward to it. My granddaughter is 9 years old and loves the food network channel. We were wondering when Pioneer Woman will be on again.
I saw my first episode of Pioneer Woman on Food TV network this weekend, and did not have any preconcieved notions about her or her cooking, other than the fact that I was intrigued by the title of the show and enjoy country style cooking. As I watched the episode, showing a pie made with a runny filling, a pork butt made with cola and hot peppers, plus coleslaw made with 2 Tablespoons of sugar and lots and lots of cilantro, I couldn’t help but think THIS WOMAN IS NO REAL COOK.
I understand the appeal of the show. It has all the elements of a Diana Palmer “Long Tall Texan” paperback, and no doubt her website is the same. The horses, the cowboys, the gaggle of children all make for an attractive package of “country life.”
My problem is — she’s a fake. The episode profiled her as a “dump” cook — dumping food into a pot without bothering to peel, brown, or properly spice her dishes. Her recipes indicate that she has no palate. She may have married a cowboy, and she may live on a ranch, but Drummond and her cooking do not have the flavor and the technique of good country cooking. (The only thing that saved her potato dish was a bunch of cheese melted on top). Any housewife can cube unpeeled potatoes and bake them in a bland sauce of milk and flour — but why would they want to?
I saw Ree Drummond today on Paula’s Deen’s show. Again, the recipes were something like you would find in a children’s cookbook. Simple. Ordinary. I don’t want to judge her solely on a couple of episodes, but she will have to do much better to stay in the ranks of Paula Deen, Ina Garten, and Anne Burrell if she is to attract an audience of people who are seriously interested in good food.
In the meantime, I am left with the impression that Ree Drummond is a savvy marketer and city girl who is using America’s love of the “west” and country cooking to line her pocket. I am also annoyed by her remarks that suggest that she is too busy or has too many people to feed to cook properly. To me, that is just laziness.
I really look forward to her program. She makes the recipes seem
very easy. I’ve cooked a few things and they turned out great. I am from
the south, so her cooking is right up my alley. The things that she cooks are like everyday cooking. Nothing too complicated. I would not compare her
to Paula Deen.
Hi I watch the show every Sat morning. We need to see some longer shows and more then a Sat morn. Put her up there with the rest with her everyday show. It’s a nice difference as to what the other shows are doing..(all the same over and over) I like down to earth people..We need them..Thanks for listening..Gini
I agree that the first season was painful to watch. She just was not natural on the screen. In fact, I think her husband was much more of a natural and HE was the reason I continued watching. The 2nd season is much better. She’s more relaxed and comfortable. As for the food, I bought the cookbook before seeing the show and yes, it’s basic. That’s why I like it. That’s also the reason I like Paula Deen (the food, not the personality). I am looking forward to more shows and her 2nd cookbook. As with Paula’s recipes, cut back on the butter/cream and only cook these recipes occasionally and they are perfect.
Hey there! So glad to see that I am not the only one who isn’t smitten with this woman! She seems just a sweet as sugar and likes to lay it on as thick as molasses and even the best Paula Deen fan can get sick of that quickly if you aren’t actually gaining anything from what you are watching!
I have watched the show a few times, and coming from the country myself and have always thought “Come on lady, show me something I DON’T know! Something new and different!” I think she’s annoying and really wish that Food Network would give their viewers a little more credit than to think we want to spend our Saturday morning watching someone “pretend” they have the perfect life and family. Which basically all that I am getting out of the show…her trying to convince us of that, because she certainly doesn’t have any outstanding cooking skills or information that makes my life easier!!
I’m so seriously sick of the rest of the country thinking Paula and this so called Pioneer Woman are good examples of southern cooking. I beg to differ! My great grandmother was a real Texas pioneer woman – she knew how to hunt and shoot a gun when necessary to get food, how to wring a chicken’s neck for supper, kill a water moccasin in the lake to keep her 12 kids safe, she washed clothes using a washboard and made her own lye soap. I’m not suggesting we need to do any of those things today, but I do think the people who follow these two women need to have their own heads examined because both clearly are selling fairy tales. Paula says “y’all” more than any normal Southerner ever would just to appear down homey and sell those bad cookbooks, y’all. Paula’s cooking is ridiculous especially given she now admits having diabetes and is willing to accept money from a pharmaceutical giant. Oh no please Paula don’t apologize for your cholesterol, sugar laden recipes though! I grew up eating good Southern food and we did not fry everything in a pound of butter, Crisco or lard.
PW can’t cook and apparently has tons of “help” to do all the things she blogs about. Ranching life is not easy. From what I know, she is not representative of ranching wives unless you call the wives from the old Dallas series her counterpart. Sorry folks not interested in her tv show, her cookbooks or her commentary on anything. I’m a GRIT – girl raised in Texas, I have better recipes than hers taught to me by my mama and grandma and like we say in Texas, Ree is all hat, no cattle. Paula is just a fat old buffoon – if you don’t believe me, watch her on “Who do you think you are” – a genealogy show.
We live on a farm with wheat and cattle- not quite 500 acres, settled by my husband’s gr-grandad. We don’t get cable so I’ve never seen Drummond’s show but I have checked out her blog when I learned of it from a friend.
One of the first things I noticed was they are all too clean, too fair, too well dressed to be “working” long days on a farm or ranch. If her husband was working that hard, he would be more weather-beaten by now. Just doesn’t add up. I think he and the kids pose, rub some mud on the chaps while she takes pics, and the hired hands do all the actual work. I’m just sorry that she’s branded the name Pioneer Woman. I would have more respect for the blog if she had been honest from the beginning but then that wouldn’t have made the money.
I completely agree with your conclusion. I think I watched it once where she served red meat, potatoes, corn and coleslaw to group of guests. Corn and potatoes???
Plus the episode focused on shopping trip after church. It was a 30 minute cooking show?? I get it that she doesn’t use a lot of fresh food so there isn’t a lot of camera time for chopping and and prepping but wow.
She may feed her family that way, but I don’t. So she can have her cans of salt and butter along with the cheese and red meat. We’ll watch a few other shows on this channel.
I watched her show with an open mind, having never read her blog. She is modeling everything that’s wrong with the American diet. If you’d like some great viewing, watch the movie ‘Forks Over Knives.’
I just wonder when she spends time with kids? every show, they are always with Mr. Ree…err Ladd!
I watched a few episodes of the show after my friend told me that Ree is a blogger. I was curious about her success. But it was such a disappointment. She does not use fresh ingredients. The fruit she served came from a can!! How can she live on the ranch and not know about fresh produce.
I grew up in India and that’s the kind of food I cook. I thought I could learn some good old American recipes… but she’s modeling everything that’s wrong with American diet. What happened to the greens and down home cooking that the South is famous for!!