He quotes statistics. By continuing to use the site, you accept our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. Standing in a field of California strawberries, under a curtain of clouds so impenetrable that it has turned the sky gray in the Salinas Valley, Andrew Zimmern looks every inch the TV personality America has come to know and embrace over the past 14 years. He was a chef. For the series, Zimmern digs deep into his Rolodex (well, okay, his contacts list) for a few high-profile cameos: José Andrés, the chef, restaurateur and humanitarian, shows up in the immigration episode to talk to a former Trump banquet chef, Jesus Lira, who alleges that a Trump Organization accountant coached him on how to secure better fake documents. 1 Episode, Foodiculous By clicking “I agree” below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. 1 Episode (2013), Anderson Live This website uses cookies for necessary functions and to enhance your browsing experience. “What’s Eating America” is Zimmern’s attempt to rectify the situation and perhaps add some gravitas to his still-evolving legacy, which was complicated in 2018 when he insulted Chinese-American food in an interview with Fast Company. Photo Credits: Netflix; Pop TV; Robert Viglasky, Hartswood Films; Fred Hayes/Disney+, Fox, PopTV; Bettina Strauss/Netflix; Nicole Rivelli/Amazon, Netflix, Frank Masi/Apple, Disney, Jasper Savage/Hulu; Diyah Pera/CW, Here's What's New to Stream in November on Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, Disney+, and More, How to Watch the 2020 Presidential Election Results, The Best TV Shows and Movies on Netflix in November 2020, What to Watch on Netflix Top 10 Rankings on October 28. He has a point of view on each of the subjects he covers: immigration, climate change, addiction, voter suppression and health care. (The Post published a similar account last year.) “But I certainly had to stretch and adapt and do a different kind of storytelling, and I think the place that I had to learn the most … was having conversations with people who were on different sides of the issue than I necessarily was.”. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. Zimmern announced the show on his Instagram page with a photo of him with Andres, and the caption read, in part: “Couldn’t be more excited to announce my new show ‘What’s Eating America.’ This project has been in the works for over a year and I cannot wait for all of you to watch it.”. “When you die, someone’s going to write down, he was a dad. Some things carried over from the Travel Channel, Zimmern’s longtime home, which dropped him when the network shifted its programming to focus on the paranormal. “What’s Eating America” is one of only a handful of series that MSNBC has green lit, says Phil Griffin, president of the network, and arguably the first one to be hosted by a full-blown TV personality. Andrew Scott Zimmern (born July 4, 1961) is an American culinary expert, chef, restaurateur, television personality, radio personality, director, producer, entrepreneur, food critic, journalist, teacher, and author. “We went over the fact that we have rigorous fact-checking and everything else in terms of our standards,” Griffin said. He parses President Trump’s seemingly contradictory stance on immigrants. . At 58 years old, Zimmern said he wants to make a different kind of statement on television. 2 Episodes (2013-2014), The Chew “But I’m also hoping somewhere in there it says, ‘He tried to do the right thing, and he provided inspiration and learning.’ The stuff we’d rather be remembered by.”. THE WASHINGTON POST – Standing in a field of California strawberries, under a curtain of clouds so impenetrable that it has turned the sky gray in the Salinas Valley, Andrew Zimmern looks every inch the TV personality America has come to know and embrace over the past 14 years. Griffin will be the first to acknowledge that MSNBC was on the hunt for a big personality to drive a show, but he says he was also impressed by Zimmern’s knowledge and passion and had little concern about Zimmern’s slim résumé as a journalist. 16 Episodes (2018-2019), The Zimmern List 1 Episode (2004), OTT If a show on MSNBC is something new for Zimmern, then Zimmern’s show is something new for MSNBC, too. 222 Episodes (2007-2019), Big Food Truck Tip “Studies show that the average American worker doesn’t want to do this kind of work,” Zimmern says to Jackie Vazquez, director of operations for Good Farms, in the first episode on immigration. But the research behind Zimmern’s question is solid. “But I had total confidence in him because I think what he’s done has always been legit, and I think he understands this industry about as well as anybody.”. For the series, Zimmern digs deep into his Rolodex (well, OK, his contacts list) for a few high-profile cameos: José Andrés, the chef, restaurateur and humanitarian, shows up in the immigration episode to talk to a former Trump banquet chef, Jesus Lira, who alleges that a Trump Organization accountant coached him on how to secure better fake documents. He made his 8 million dollar fortune with senior editor at Delta Sky Magazine. He, in short, behaves more like a newsman than an entertainer. “I fully agree,” responds Vazquez, knee-deep in strawberry plants, that will remain unpicked without migrant farmworkers. Introducing my new MSNBC show, What’s Eating America Andrew Zimmern Explores Top Political Issues Through the Lens of Food in “What’s Eating America” Original five-part series premieres Sunday, February 16 at 9 PM ET featuring special guest and humanitarian chef José Andrés.