Here's a small part of what he doesn't completely get: the Internet has made everyone into critics. Most of us aren't necessarily qualified critics -- not in the classic sense of having been trained in all manners of cuisine, practiced as writers, and capable of telling just how much garlic was in that last bite down to the fraction of a clove. But in the United States, virtually anyone who feels the desire to get online and complain about the food can do so.

Of course, the Internet being what is, half the people complaining about the food never ate it. But then, half the people praising it didn't touch the stuff either. It's not exactly uncommon for a restaurant to have employees post glowing reviews just to drag the average up.

So in that kind of environment, what's the critical agenda? Certainly there are some critics who are out there with the sole purpose of dragging things down: notoriously, there's a few who look for any movie with a total acceptance rating on Rotten Tomatoes just so they can trash it. But with the Times? It generally gets back to the basics, namely: is this food any good? Remember Anton Ego: the ultimate purpose is to find that worth praising, even knowing what you'll suffer to do so. And unlike some of the trash and glowing reviews already posted, this one was based on actual experience in eating selections from Fieri's menu. Perhaps too much experience, given what had to be consumed in order to acquire it.

Roger Ebert has said that negative reviews are inherently more fun to write. But what you have to go through to get there...

The review in question:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/14/dining/reviews/restaurant-review-guys-american-kitchen-bar-in-times-square.html?_r=0

And naturally, Fieri being the DAW he is, he went on an all-out media tour to fight this. He doesn't like the tone. He doesn't like the format. He doesn't like the agenda, whatever that might be. But what he really doesn't like is that someone came out and openly told him his food svcks, his restaurant svcks, and by extension, he must svck. Someone with credibility as a critic -- which means that credibility is the first thing he has to attack.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-207_162-57550352/guy-fieri-fires-back-at-scathing-new-york-times-review/

Anyone can say anything negative about anyone else: that's the nature of the Internet. But in this case, negative has a face, a voice, and experience. That's scaring him.

Honesty is rarely heard. And even more rarely allowed to get away with it.

Kind of makes you wonder how many of Fieri's fans are descending on that restaurant, determined to boost its sales, write their own counter-reviews, and generally attempt to negate the Times by sheer weight of numbers.

Also kind of makes you wonder how many of them will be able to force themselves into going more than once.

He thinks he's living in a Neil Gaiman story. Wait until he gets to the bloody part.

• What Happened to his Head?,foonermints, 09:32 AM, 11-16-12
  • He always looks like that.,Estee, 10:18 AM, 11-16-12
• RE: Guy Fieri vs. The Critical Agenda.,byoffer, 09:59 AM, 11-16-12
  • Sign me up!,Estee, 10:19 AM, 11-16-12
• RE: Guy Fieri vs. The Critical Agenda.,Brownroach, 11:43 AM, 11-16-12

Fieri: using a fire extinguisher for a quick makeup prep.

It's a signature style. Or brand identifier. Or three hours in the makeup chair every morning.

You are correct about the overwhelming number of product reviewers that the internet has created. In addition to all the traditional media, now there are many websites that review products and very many bloggers doing the same.

A friend of mine works for General Motors. They have long done "drive days" to enable the media to learn about and test drive vehicles. Traditionally this was print media and the odd TV review show. Now it also includes bloggers. Lots and lots of bloggers, many of whom know very little about cars but are happy to go along for the free ride and free food.

Sometimes these drive days can turn into more. I am not sure the details, but he told me a story of a blogger who actually got to test drive a Cadillac for a week. After a week, she wrote very nice things about the "Chevy Cadillac" that she had driven. There is no such thing as a "Chevy Cadillac" - those are two separate brands under the GM product line. I am not sure how much perceived value GM gets from lending out test drives for a week, but they certainly didn't get any value from this blogger whose write-up is useless to potential car buyers.

Not only will I say really nice things about the sound system, but I promise to give a very brief moment of critical casual thought to the slight possibility of maybe returning the car.

Depends on how many people read the blog, but you won't be getting informed buyers out of her.

LAST EDITED ON 11-16-12 AT 12:13 PM (EST)

Not familiar with Fieri, but I found Wells's string of 49 snarky "questions" unclever, unhelpful, and ultimately just tedious. I don't consider that a credible restaurant review. Fieri would do better to ignore it, imo.

eta - this article sums it up rather well, I suspect.