A new reality show that covers barbecue competitions -- BBQ Pitmasters -- debuted last night on TLC, and Fat City was on the couch to watch it.
The premise: The show opens with an instrumental version of "The Ring of Fire," which saddens me and also gets me a bit pumped up. It's like seeing a bad action movie on TNT -- you know you're going to watch, but you hate yourself a bit for it.
The hour-long documentary is set at the Smokin' in Mesquite Barbecue Competition in Mesquite, Nevada. We're told that 47 of the world's best barbecuers have descended on the parking lot to compete for $40,000 in cash and prizes. Mother Nature threatens in the form of a freak hail storm, and she makes a good villain (just as she has ever since ice chased people in The Day After Tomorrow).
The contestants: The six featured competitors are introduced with their team names and lifetime earnings. It's clear early on that the show's producers were looking to fill specific slots when casting: the cagey veteran, the brash rookie, the science nerd, the cultured smoker, the brassy female, and the guy who sounds and dresses like poker legend Doyle Brunson. The villains swear, while the heroes offer to back in folks' RVs for them.
The verdict: It's a good show if you want to learn the basics of smoking and barbecue competitions. It's shot in a documentary style with explanations of the common terms and approaches to competing. Where it falls down is in depicting the harsh reality of barbecue competitions: There's a lot sitting around and waiting, which is hard to make compelling.
Also, without a competitor from Kansas City or the Midwest in general (Texas, Georgia, and California are represented), it's hard to believe that these are truly pitmasters. Some of the best (if not the best) hail from this region and should have been included. Moreover, there was no drinking depicted, which is certainly not reality.
But America loves eating and competitions, so it's not hard to see this show coming back for a second season -- particularly in the summer months, when it would make more sense. Until then, the current eight episodes of BBQ Pitmasters air on Thursdays.
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