Unproductive detours and distractions on ‘Gellicious’

DE BELEN. Added “fun factor” gets in the way of viewers’ enjoyment.

Gelli de Belen has just launched “Gellicious,” her new TV5 weekday (10 a.m.) show that focuses on food, restaurants and eating. We caught its November 8 telecast, and these are our initial reactions:

We’ve always liked Gelli as a TV talent, because she’s pert, easy on the eyes, talks well, and is enthusiastic about the topics she discusses. On “Gellicious,” she indeed comes across as “delicious” in her own Gelli-patented way of being so, and that’s all to the good.

Unfortunately, the show’s format has been muddled up by the inclusion of some comedians who act as Gelli’s “sidekicks,” and also as segment hosts who individually go to restaurants to savor the specialties of those places. Alas, the added “fun factor” – or what passes for it – sometimes gets in the way of our full enjoyment of the show.

Sidekicks

Now, we know why the production has opted to surround Gelli with “funny” sidekicks and segment co-hosts –to make the show a more fun-filled, breezy and entertaining viewing treat. But, that intention isn’t achieved because the sidekicks are often not really all that amusing, and their comic patter and ad-libs are less than droll.

Another thought: Gelli is already a breezy, chatty and entertaining personality in her own right, so why does the production feel that she needs so much “support”? – Look at Gelli’s sister, Janice – she has her own cooking show, she hosts it all by her lonesome, and it’s doing just fine.

If “Gellicious” has to have its “funny” segment hosts, perhaps just one will do? Or, if both need to be retained, they simply have to do a better job: They have to be really funny more frequently. Is that too much to ask?

The way it is, the show has too many unproductive distractions for us to get a real feel and “taste” of its main host’s ability to handle a program about food and eating.

Since the main program host should embody the personality and empathetic appeal of her show, it’s important that Gelli’s “Gellli-ness” clearly and yummily shines through – and that’s not really happening (yet).

Idea

In some portions, she isn’t even on-cam. Was it her idea to “lighten” her taping load by doing only some of the show’s segments? If so, it’s a bad move. Especially when a show is new and still trying to connect with viewers (who have many other viewing options), it’s important that a host gives his or her all to a new endeavor.

Whatever the reason, Gelli’s “command” of her new program has yet to kick in. What viewers, especially foodies, need to see is that she shares their enthusiasm for good food and varied restos and cuisine, and their excitement as they discover new restaurants whose creative specialties expand and extend their tastes.

The fact that the new program focuses on restaurants’ specialties and not on teaching viewers how to cook those dishes themselves only increases the pressure on Gelli to come across as a credible gustatory explorer and gourmand, not just as a chatty food taster shooting the breeze with her TH amigas.