Interesting dynamic we have with Eat It and Like It. I think it is at any rate. I honestly don’t have any point of reference to compare it to. It’s just my experience as a producer and host of a very popular television show. What am I speaking of? Re-runs.
I get stopped by fans of the show all the time. Most times they tell me they love the show. Sometimes, when we are in the middle of a stretch of re-runs like we are now, I feel inclined to remind them that new shows are coming. They always are. Then I have to laugh when I’m told “Oh, we love watching the re-runs too.”
That’s an awfully nice compliment and we are incredibly appreciative of that.
With all of that as a back drop, I thought I would take a second to explain the dynamic of our season on Eat It and Like It that runs from September through Memorial Day weekend in May. We are contractually obligated to provide WSAV-TV with twenty episodes per year. We produce those episodes in the course of a season. In our case, September to May. By comparison, the big network shows you see on television typically produce thirteen shows per “season”. Now, they may have more than one “season” per year but they take months off at a time while they regroup for that next batch of shows. We don’t do that.
For all of the work we put in to get these shows on the air, we can’t even come close to having the staff that a lot of major (or even minor) TV shows have. At any given time there are two to three of us producing Eat It and Like It. Most times it’s two. That’s it. No giant “Bourdain”-like budgets to handle travel and planning and organization. We are ultimately a local television show with a local television show budget trying to break through to something bigger.
If I had a nickel for every time I have been told “Your show looks as good if not better than a lot of the stuff I see on network television,” I’d be a wealthy man today. It’s a tremendous compliment, and a testament to our vision at Eat It and Like It. There have been many, many times when we could have settled and gone the easy route. We have never done that. The goal is and will always be to provide as quality a product as our time and money will allow. Even if that means day trips to Atlanta, Florida or Charleston. It has happened and I am quite certain it will happen again. Don’t feel sorry for us either. We are having the time of our lives. I’ve had the chance to meet some amazing people, and frankly grow as a journalist because of this amazing ride. A ride that will continue.
So we’ve got some re-runs running now. New shows will return April 12th and run through the end of May. We’ve got great things in store, both in the Savannah and Hilton Head Island region, but also beyond that. We’re gonna have some fun helping you make some plans for the summer and show you some spots you will Eat and Like.
As always, thanks for your support and your patience as we navigate this journey. Who knows, maybe one day we’ll be on one of those fancy schmancy networks.
See you on TV.
Jesse
