Padma Lakshmi To Star in a Sitcom

Pack Your Knives and Act!

By Dustin Rowles | Posted Under Trade News | Comments (37)

The single best reason to watch “Top Chef,” Padma Lakshmi — wonder why “Top Chef Masters” is kind of meh? No Padma! — is getting her own television sitcom. She’s signed a development deal with NBC and Universal, which has plans to build a half-hour sitcom around her. What will it be about? Cooking, of course. The show will star Lakshmi as a woman working in the culinary world — one show title being considered is “Single Serving.”

Oh, Padma. You’re too good for television sitcoms. Hell. You were too good for Salman Rushdie. Laugh tracks and sitcom puns (seriously: Single Serving?) are beneath you, Padma. I understand she was in Mariah Carey’s Glitter, and for that reason alone, I will never watch it. I don’t want to see Padma despoiled by a bad Hollywood product.

I feel bad for saying this, because I like to consider myself a feminist, although I’d say the same thing about a man if he were as singularly pretty as Lakshmi. But she is meant to stand around idly, introduce cooking challenges, and eat well-plated dishes while nodding. Does anyone eat as gracefully as Padma Lakshmi? She is seemingly devoid of bodily functions. She always eats with her mouth closed. And there’s never a stray piece of food clinging to her blouses. She is a divine eater. It’s her calling. I’m not suggesting that she’s just another pretty, vapid face. I’m suggesting that Lakshmi should be eating balsamic reductions and food that I can neither pronounce or spell (cavitchi? Sah-vee-chee?)

The first time that Padma delivers a canned line or a bad joke about how men forget to put the toilet seat down, I’m going to weep.

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Comments

Did you mean ceviche?

I think Top Chef Masters is OK. Too much emphasis on how deserving the charity is, and way less interpersonal drama than Top Chef because...well, these guys have already made it. But I wish the hostess would dress a little less 80's glam.

This new show probably won't make it unless the writers are really top notch.

Posted by: Wednesday at July 21, 2009 9:19 AM

Didn't they already try this with Emeril or someone similar?

Mmm, yes.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0285359/

And they somehow got Robert Urich to be in it. Now I think I woke up in an alternate universe.

Posted by: appwitch at July 21, 2009 9:25 AM

Emeril.

That is all.

Posted by: Vermillion at July 21, 2009 9:27 AM

I mean, really? I have a hard time accepting the fact that her presence on Top Chef really even matters, but a sitcom? Really?

Posted by: buttercup at July 21, 2009 9:38 AM

I've never heard of Padma Lakshmi until just now.

Thank you.

Posted by: Forbiddendonut at July 21, 2009 9:39 AM

Hey, even Anthony Bourdain said that Emeril was a nice guy.

... and didn't they also do a horrible sitcom based off of Bourdain's book?

Blasphemy.

Posted by: twig at July 21, 2009 9:41 AM

Was Emeril that bad? I seem to remember it wasn't terrible... And there was a Halloween episode where he dressed like a vaaampiiire! WoooooOOOOOooo

Posted by: Optimus Rhyme at July 21, 2009 9:49 AM

Those of you who think Padma is unnecessary for Top Chef clearly do not possess husbands who go into a trance worthy of the most devoted of religious mystics as soon as the Top Chef music begins. She does something to men. I suspect Dustin is right. It's something to do with the way she eats and looks at the food and would never ask if her bum looks too big. Our house could be invaded by Visigoths while Top Chef is on and Mr. PaddyDog would just continue staring at the TV with a lopsided grin on his face looking for all the world like a golden retriever who has just been allowed to roll in deer urine for an hour.

Posted by: PaddyDog at July 21, 2009 10:03 AM

Shit! Until I read this, I truly thought there was no career out there for me, and that my talents truly amounted to googol-zero to the power of Keanu. But I realise now that I - yay, I - am one of of the Lakshmi few. I am a truly elegant eater. People who know me say it all the time! "Wow, Caspar", they say, towards the end of meal-times, "are you still eating? The rest of us just wolfed this shit down, but now I see you eating so beautifully, I can understand why you're so slow! Look at that chewing action! Beautiful. Oh, and the way he holds a fork! I am truly delighted."

I wonder if I can somehow convert my one, true life-skill into a career. Muse, perhaps, to a dieting gourmet?

Posted by: Caspar at July 21, 2009 10:07 AM

I have to be honest, I know that you wrote a post up there Dustin, but there is a picture of cleavage with a side of ribs. You totally lost me.

Mmmmmm rib-cleavage.

Posted by: admin at July 21, 2009 10:07 AM

Who is this person? Is she the Vanna White of eating? You can make a career out of that?

Posted by: BWeaves at July 21, 2009 10:09 AM

I really dislike Padma, probably because she barfs up half the food she eats, which is to sin against the food gods, and because her "cookbook" (Yes those are air quotes) is pictures of her posing with food.

Posted by: allyschmally at July 21, 2009 10:15 AM

I think I confused myself. I think I put Padma at the top of my Most Bangables list when I was thinking of Freida Pinto. But on the basis of that pix, now I'm thinking it's a dead heat.

So ... BOW before the hotness that is Padma, all Pajuntouchables!

Posted by: , (the commenter formerly known as bucdaddy) at July 21, 2009 10:21 AM

"Oh, Padma. You’re too good for television sitcoms..."

No, no she's not. Words cannot truly describe the despise I feel for this woman. The personality of a cheap frozen lobster, the NERVE to actually go on TV and "judge" on serious chefs and act like she "knows" about this stuff. Seriously, the only thing this bimbo has to her credit is what has been deemed by some as: the WORST show that was ever on the Food Network (now think about that). I can only imagine she gives a mean blowjob. Ans *NO* releasing a cribbed "cookbook" with photos of you in your panties doesn't give you any food cred.

FUCK THIS BITCH and Tom Coliccio you too, Rowles.

Posted by: BarbadoSlim at July 21, 2009 10:35 AM

Mmmmmm rib-cleavage.
Admin
-------

Have you seen her BK commercial? Oh my fucking god, Padma in a low cut dress demolishing a Burger.

*BUNK*

Padma is the perfect woman. Top Chef without her, i.e., the first season, was painful. And Katie Joel (or whatever her name was)was hot as hell too, but she was a TERRIBLE host. Padma is special.

Posted by: "Luker" the barbarian at July 21, 2009 10:37 AM

First season of Top Chef was only made painful by Katie's presence and only in her intrusions, the food was fine.

They should just go ahead and adopt the Top Chef Masters format and let the FOOD do the talking, straight up challenges. FUCK the interpersonal bullshit I truly don't give a rat's ass what some food jockey has going on in his or her life or if some butch lesbian is competing against her transgendered girlfriend.
I say also, drop this bimbo and bring in the Asian one who at least knows her place.

Posted by: BarbadoSlim at July 21, 2009 10:47 AM

OK, because I've never heard of this woman, I went and looked up her "cookbook" on Amazon, and did a look inside it.

Recipe: Tuna Salad, short list of ingredients.

Directions:
1. Mix ingredients.
2. Put on plate.

Recipe: Spinach and Chickpea salad, short list of ingredients.

Directions:
1. Mix ingredients.
2. Put on plate.

I'm not making this up. My own handwritten recipes have more detail than this cookbook. What crackes me up is that direction #2 is "Put on plate."

Posted by: BWeaves at July 21, 2009 10:50 AM

I'm not making this up. My own handwritten recipes have more detail than this cookbook. What crackes me up is that direction #2 is "Put on plate."

It's for the same reason that they put Do Not Drink on anti-freeze jugs.

Posted by: admin at July 21, 2009 10:57 AM

Bslim,

I agree with you that the challenges are what matters. I didn't care one iota about hosea and that slut leah hooking up. I also agree that they could tone down the commercialism tie in challenges.

Do you like Gail? I think Gail could be as good of a host as padma. I mean I love Padma, but I sort of understand why you don;t like her.

Posted by: "Luker" the barbarian at July 21, 2009 10:58 AM

Do you like Gail? I think Gail could be as good of a host as padma.

Now that's a damned good idea. I addresses my real problem with both of the hostesses has been they DO NOT have the standing to sit on their anorexic asses and JUDGE on the contestants. It's disrespectful.

Posted by: BarbadoSlim at July 21, 2009 11:02 AM

JEEZ

*It

*which has been that..

Posted by: BarbadoSlim at July 21, 2009 11:04 AM

Cookbook aside, didn't she lose all foodie credibility when she starred in that Hardee's commercial?

Amen to Gail hosting Top Chef.

Posted by: Maggie at July 21, 2009 11:26 AM

Was Emeril that bad? I seem to remember it wasn't terrible...

It was probably better than some of what's foisted on the viewing public, but I don't think it rocked anyone's world.

Posted by: appwitch at July 21, 2009 11:28 AM

I would lick Padma's scars. Mercy.

However, isn't her voice a buzzing drone as she mumbles out sentences? I believe that niche of comedy has been explored, plundered, and razed to the ground by Steven Wright. That sitcom is going to
*deep breath*
bloooooooooooooooooooooooooowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww
*cough*
*wheeze*
*THUMP*

Posted by: Kballs at July 21, 2009 11:29 AM

Oh Padma, you fool.

Posted by: tamatha at July 21, 2009 11:40 AM

Was Emeril that bad? I seem to remember it wasn't terrible... And there was a Halloween episode where he dressed like a vaaampiiire! WoooooOOOOOooo

You Sir, owe me a non-soda covered shirt.

Posted by: jM at July 21, 2009 12:04 PM

Padma has been less obviously stoned in recent seasons. Big on-set pot smoker, Padma. Long.

Now, Gail Simmons -- there is a woman with a healthy appetite. Sign me up.

Posted by: sansho1 at July 21, 2009 12:48 PM

Were you high when you posted this? It's nearly incomprehensible.

"I’m suggesting that Lakshmi is to eating balsamic reductions and food that I can neither pronounce or spell (cavitchi? Sah-vee-chee?)"

"Oh, Padma. You’re too good for television sitcoms. Hell. You were too good for Salman Rushdie. Laugh tracks and sitcom puns (seriously: Single Serving?) are beneath you, Padma. I understand was in Mariah Carey’s Glitter, and for that reason alone, I will never watch it."

...Que?

Posted by: serena at July 21, 2009 12:54 PM

Looks like it's up to me to post the Padma Hardee's commercial. Enjoy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSmNTqZ3wV4

Posted by: sansho1 at July 21, 2009 1:14 PM

I'm with BarbadoSlim ... Gail Simmons would make a much better host for the show than Padma. While she is very lovely and eats beautifully, Padma has no affect whatsoever. She says everything in the same ridiculous monotone voice, so how the fuck is she supposed to carry a sitcom?

She needs to stick to what she does best ... standing around and being beautiful. After all, she dumped Rushdie after Top Chef took off so if the sitcom fails she has no fall back position.

Posted by: Carolina Girl at July 21, 2009 1:48 PM

BWeaves: I'm not making this up. My own handwritten recipes have more detail than this cookbook. What crackes me up is that direction #2 is "Put on plate."

Admin: It's for the same reason that they put Do Not Drink on anti-freeze jugs.

I disagree, Admin. If that was the case, the directions would read:

1. Mix ingredients.
2. Put on plate.
3. Eat.

Posted by: BWeaves at July 21, 2009 2:23 PM

Gail is awesome! I wish she would host. She was so sweet when they did that episode where they had to make food for her bridal shower and that moron made a do-it-yourself sushi roll. Good times with Gail!

Posted by: TWoP Fan at July 21, 2009 2:58 PM

" ... talents truly amounted to googol-zero to the power of Keanu.

FTW.

And, thanks Caspar. I now have a new pop-culture-y phrase for lack of anything.

Posted by: BierceAmbrose at July 21, 2009 3:56 PM

That's much better.

Posted by: serena at July 21, 2009 3:59 PM

In re:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSmNTqZ3wV4

I had forgotten the go-for-it shamelessness. "Thick Burger." "More than a piece of meat."

Well done, Hardee's. Well done.

Posted by: BierceAmbrose at July 21, 2009 4:00 PM

'too good' for salman rushdie? well fuck that. i swear. bet you've never even read his books so, yeah. they are goddamn awesome. take it back.

Posted by: farik at July 21, 2009 10:27 PM

Padma seems nice, but she has to curb her nude lipstick addiction. Honey, there are other hues out there.

Posted by: samantha t at July 22, 2009 11:48 AM

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