Cookbook authors Matt and Ted Lee, better known as the Lee Bros., have had numerous cameos on shows like No Reservations, Throwdown with Bobby Flay, and, if IMBD is correct, a guest spot on Big Morning Buzz Live with Nick Lachey. Now they’re taking the spotlight for themselves with the announcement of a new TV show, Southern Uncovered. (News of the show was supposed to be announced Thursday, but was unveiled via Facebook and Twitter last night — the posts have since been removed.)
City Paper first spotted them filming segments for the Ovation network series last August at Martha Lou’s Kitchen. At the time a crew member described the program as “something above the Honey Boo Boos and Southern Charms of this world.” Viewers will find out if that is, in fact, the case on Sun. June 14 at 8 p.m. when the first of six episodes airs.
“We’re hustling now to record the episodes,” Matt told City Paper this morning. So far the brothers have filmed an episode in Atlanta and Asheville and are headed to Louisville next.
After 15 years in the boiled peanut biz and with the publication of three cookbooks that have won a combined total of six James Beard and IACP awards, Matt says more than one network has approached them to do a TV show. In the past the brothers have been recruited for a sibling rivalry show, reality TV contests, and one straight-to-camera conventional morning show, but the men said no to them all. “We needed to find the right thing for geeky guys like us,” adds Matt. And Ovation, Matt believes, is that network.
The channel specializes in arts programing. Southern Uncovered will join a lineup featuring Anna Wintour’s The Fashion Fund, art heist show Raiders of the Lost Art, and Isabella Rossellini’s Green Porno Live!, a show in which the famous actress reenacts insect sex. (Yes, you read that correctly.) Which is to say, it’s required that the Lee Bros. new show also incorporate art. “This is not a stand and stir cooking show,” says Matt. “We’re finding the influence of the Southern food movement in all sorts of areas, from graffiti art to music and dance to the craft world to pottery and wood crafting.”
Though there’s still plenty of filming and editing to do prior to the first episode of Southern Uncovered, the brothers are juggling other projects. Matt has a baby due in early May and after that the guys are taking their act on the road in June to Louisville with The Boiled Peanut Hour: A Live Cooking Show about Southern Identities. Chef Ed Lee of MilkWood and 610 Magnolia will join them for the hour-plus long show focused on “storytelling, and trash talking” as the three Lees cook their favorite Southern dishes. The Boiled Peanut hour will be at Actors Theatre of Louisville on June 19 and 20 at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $45, $40 in advance, and can be purchased by calling (502) 584-1205.
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