July 9, 2010
Cabell County School Board Member Praises Emmy Nominated Jamie Oliver for Positive Impact on Community
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Entertainment Editor
Huntington, WV (HNN) – Last summer speculation on the scheduled fall filming of Jamie Oliver’s reality series had numerous Huntington residents worried --- they had misgivings about how the British chef would depict the city and its obesity issue.
Nearly a year later, executive producers Ryan Seacrest and Jamie Oliver were nominated for an Outstanding Reality Series Emmy for the six episode “Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution” shot entirely in and around the Huntington, Cabell/Wayne County region.
The ABC series competes for the Emmy with “Antiques Roadshow” (PBS); “Mythbusters” (Discovery Channel); “Undercover Boss” (CBS) ; Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D List (Bravo); and “Dirty Jobs” (Discovery Channel).
JAMIE OLIVER
AOL News quoted Oliver stating, "This is incredible news! ... Balancing programme making with a real live campaign is always a challenge, so everyone involved should take this nomination as an encouragement to keep on fighting the good fight!"
Seacrest told AOL, “I am honored that the Academy chose to recognize my work on 'American Idol' and 'Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution' -- two projects that I am both deeply devoted to ... I feel lucky to have been part of such moving programming and it has been an incredible experience to contribute to both shows."
LOCAL REACTION
Mary Neely, newly elected Cabell County School Board vice president, said, “It was a positive show. It did not show Huntington in a negative way. He did a wonderful job. I think a lot of people in Huntington have changed their eating habits.”
In the words of Huntington City Councilman Steve Williams, “clearly there’s a need [for stemming obesity] all across the country. Huntington was not representative of West Virginia or Appalachia. Huntington was a representative of the problem we have across the country.” He forecast additional “benefits” for the city , now that “we have a [positive] package to draw upon” that has been broadcast across the United States.
Neely stressed, “[Jamie] made a really positive impact on the eating habits of the people in Huntington and the rest of the United States. Anybody that watched it, learned from it.”
The show brought Neely’s attention to poor eating habits of her own.
“Myself, I watch more what I eat. I try to bake and grill. I’ll tell you what I’ve stopped doing. When you get nervous , you pick up a chip or something. Or, you will be in the refrigerator and pull something out. You don’t even know you are eating. Be conscious of how many calories are in that,” Neely explained.
Speaking of Oliver’s efforts in Cabell County Schools, Neely explained that “[Oliver] gave a lot of insight on how to improve the school lunch menus. The school lunch menus have been changed [in some schools] , and We’d like to get them slowly but surely changed in ALL of the schools.”
She recalled that “he had so much opposition in the beginning [but] he persevered until he got his point across.” He also kept his promise that the show “would not be down on Huntington.”
Neely added that Patrick O’Neal, principal of Central City Elementary School where the first two episodes were shot, was greeted at a recent Board of Education meeting by a ‘have you lost weight” question. O’Neal told Neely and others, “yes, 25 pounds.” She said, “ [another] principal at Cabell Midland, I think, has lost weight. Stacie Edwards has stuck to her diet. Her family has too. It turned out to be so positive.”
COUNCIL REACTION
City Council vice chairman , Mark Bates, called news of the nomination “fantastic. It definitely presented [the city] in a positive light and that we are better aware of our situation and [some] folks are inclined to lead healthier lifestyles.”
These accolades for the “Jamie Oliver” mini-series make the City of Huntington two-for-two (in this writer’s opinion) in receiving a favorable depiction of its residents through the mediums of feature film and television. Obviously, the other production would be the inspirational, “We Are Marshall,” partially shot in Huntington in 2006.
Bates said he would “agree” with that assessment of the outcomes from the two major productions shot in the city.
View photos of the “premiere” held at the Jeslyn Performing Arts Center by clicking:
http://archives.huntingtonnews.net/local/100321-rutherford-jamieoliver/index.html
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Cabell County School Board Member Praises Emmy Nominated Jamie Oliver for Positive Impact on Community
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Entertainment Editor
Huntington, WV (HNN) – Last summer speculation on the scheduled fall filming of Jamie Oliver’s reality series had numerous Huntington residents worried --- they had misgivings about how the British chef would depict the city and its obesity issue.
Nearly a year later, executive producers Ryan Seacrest and Jamie Oliver were nominated for an Outstanding Reality Series Emmy for the six episode “Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution” shot entirely in and around the Huntington, Cabell/Wayne County region.
The ABC series competes for the Emmy with “Antiques Roadshow” (PBS); “Mythbusters” (Discovery Channel); “Undercover Boss” (CBS) ; Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D List (Bravo); and “Dirty Jobs” (Discovery Channel).
JAMIE OLIVER
AOL News quoted Oliver stating, "This is incredible news! ... Balancing programme making with a real live campaign is always a challenge, so everyone involved should take this nomination as an encouragement to keep on fighting the good fight!"
Seacrest told AOL, “I am honored that the Academy chose to recognize my work on 'American Idol' and 'Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution' -- two projects that I am both deeply devoted to ... I feel lucky to have been part of such moving programming and it has been an incredible experience to contribute to both shows."
LOCAL REACTION
Mary Neely, newly elected Cabell County School Board vice president, said, “It was a positive show. It did not show Huntington in a negative way. He did a wonderful job. I think a lot of people in Huntington have changed their eating habits.”
In the words of Huntington City Councilman Steve Williams, “clearly there’s a need [for stemming obesity] all across the country. Huntington was not representative of West Virginia or Appalachia. Huntington was a representative of the problem we have across the country.” He forecast additional “benefits” for the city , now that “we have a [positive] package to draw upon” that has been broadcast across the United States.
Neely stressed, “[Jamie] made a really positive impact on the eating habits of the people in Huntington and the rest of the United States. Anybody that watched it, learned from it.”
The show brought Neely’s attention to poor eating habits of her own.
“Myself, I watch more what I eat. I try to bake and grill. I’ll tell you what I’ve stopped doing. When you get nervous , you pick up a chip or something. Or, you will be in the refrigerator and pull something out. You don’t even know you are eating. Be conscious of how many calories are in that,” Neely explained.
Speaking of Oliver’s efforts in Cabell County Schools, Neely explained that “[Oliver] gave a lot of insight on how to improve the school lunch menus. The school lunch menus have been changed [in some schools] , and We’d like to get them slowly but surely changed in ALL of the schools.”
She recalled that “he had so much opposition in the beginning [but] he persevered until he got his point across.” He also kept his promise that the show “would not be down on Huntington.”
Neely added that Patrick O’Neal, principal of Central City Elementary School where the first two episodes were shot, was greeted at a recent Board of Education meeting by a ‘have you lost weight” question. O’Neal told Neely and others, “yes, 25 pounds.” She said, “ [another] principal at Cabell Midland, I think, has lost weight. Stacie Edwards has stuck to her diet. Her family has too. It turned out to be so positive.”
COUNCIL REACTION
City Council vice chairman , Mark Bates, called news of the nomination “fantastic. It definitely presented [the city] in a positive light and that we are better aware of our situation and [some] folks are inclined to lead healthier lifestyles.”
These accolades for the “Jamie Oliver” mini-series make the City of Huntington two-for-two (in this writer’s opinion) in receiving a favorable depiction of its residents through the mediums of feature film and television. Obviously, the other production would be the inspirational, “We Are Marshall,” partially shot in Huntington in 2006.
Bates said he would “agree” with that assessment of the outcomes from the two major productions shot in the city.
View photos of the “premiere” held at the Jeslyn Performing Arts Center by clicking:
http://archives.huntingtonnews.net/local/100321-rutherford-jamieoliver/index.html
Share This Story:
Make HNN Your Homepage (IE Users Only)
