New Food Network shows: One good, one not

The Food Network added four new shows this month, hoping to fill some glaring holes in its programming schedule.

Three of the shows feature new talent, while the fourth is hosted by Jamie Oliver, formerly known as "The Naked Chef" -- a reference to his uncomplicated cooking style, not his state of undress.

Two of the shows feature African-American hosts, which is a real breakthrough in a genre and a network that have been the exclusive territory of white Americans and Europeans, with an occasional Australian thrown in.

The four shows and their hosts:

• "Cooking for Real" with Sunny Anderson
• "Jamie at Home" with Jamie Oliver
• "Down Home with the Neelys" with Pat and Gina Neely
• "Rescue Chef" with Danny Boome

I'll wait to write about "Cooking for Real" and "Jamie at Home" next week.

Of the two I watched last week, "Down Home with the Neelys" carries the most potential for survival.

While the show should probably be followed by a show hosted by Nathan Pritikin's ghost, the hosts genuine enthusiasm and the knowledge they have about their specialty (barbecue) makes it s fun show to watch. Yeah, the portions are huge, and the food is uber-fatty, but it sure looks tasty. If you don't know how to monitor your own food intake for balance and portion size, then this may not be your show.

The biggest question: how will the owners of a barbecue restaurant in Memphis come up with fresh show ideas through the course of this season and hopefully into a second?

"Rescue Chef" appears to be a warmed-over version of Tyler Florence's old "Food 911." Unfortunately, Florence's professional demeanor and pedagogic flare have been replaced by Boome's pretty-boy camera-mugging and hog-the-knife pedantry.

In short, get down-home with the Neelys (just cut the portions in half), and lower Boome on your list of television priorities.