Normally, I wouldn’t think of criticizing television. After all, the warm, blue glow has helped sustain me for my entire life.

But over the past few months, something has started to really annoy me.

The thing itself hasn’t bothered me because I never watch it. The people who can’t stop yammering about it, sending it into the public conscious have bothered me.

It’s official: I’m sick and tired of The Food Network.
I guess, like a lot of niche cable channels, the Food Network appeared perfectly harmless when executives first sat down to discuss the idea.

We all like food. We all want to learn new recipes and try new dishes. Why not put that on TV?

Deep down inside though, these people are still television executives and they had a plan for the two things that ruin everything – personalities and products.

After all, I like to talk a good game about my love for TV, but it doesn’t even come close to the people who have helped The Food Network become an important part of the television landscape.

These viewers can’t just sit and watch a show. They have to make the host larger than life, for better or for worse.

Rachael Ray is the perfect example of this.

I don’t care that she has parlayed her cooking shows into fame, fortune and a TV talk show.

I do care that some people feel the need to hate her with the white-hot intensity of a thousand suns for all sorts of silly reasons.

Apparently, the Food Network fanatics think you either need to be for or against her. And if you are against her, you need to loudly proclaim why she isn’t fit to wash the lettuce of other hosts on the network.

You may not know these people, but they exist online. Yes, I know that’s not the best place to go and get expert commentary. That doesn’t stop them from existing or driving opinion.

Personally, I don’t know whether I like Rachael Ray or not for one simple reason – she has never cooked for me.

That gets at the heart of my annoyance about Food Network obsession. These people aren’t bringing me any food, so why should I care?

I don’t cook so I wouldn’t watch to pick up any tips. My wife says she has plenty of recipes so she doesn’t watch. Besides, she’s the best cook in the world so she doesn’t need any help.

Of course, others might need some help or have a real curiosity about expanding their menus.

That’s fine, just do the rest of us a favor and don’t bring arguments over Food Network hosts into popular culture.

I’m spitting into the wind here because the products have made sure we’ll hear about these people forever.

I looked at a Sunday insert the other week for a major department store and every piece of cookware had a “star” cook’s name attached to it. That was funny with the George Foreman Grill, but do we really need Emeril pots and pans?

Of course we do. That way people can argue why Rachael Ray cookware is far superior.

I’ll just eat my food on a paper plate and shut up.