Alton Brown and America's Best the first episode

In the first part of the four episode series, America's Best, Alton Brown counted down the best comfort foods across the country according to Food Network Magazine. Perhaps AB can be the next Casey Kasem in the future since that spot is open.

Anyway, the format of the show itself wasn't ground breaking. Pretty much anyone with two brain cells would have gathered from the promos on Food Network and the write up in the magazine this show was going to be a straight countdown.

The part that made it veer from a boring, talking head countdown format was, of course, AB.

Anyone else had host and this show would have been in the crapper from the get go. Remember that yawn feast Top 5 from years ago? Yeah, it could've been like that.

Fortunately the powers that be allowed Alton to, well, be Alton in the show. Which, thankfully, breathed life into the program. From the start with his spy film genre like spoof, AB played the hosting duties a wee bit campy and 100 percent fun. My favorite part was AB hiding behind the hay. I really got a big chuckle from the straw in the haystack both being the same color as his hair and sticking wildly in multiple directions... just like his hair!

The show is never going to be mistaken for high brow entertainment. For goodness sakes he's handing out big shiny plates! But it is was fun, entertaining and informative about restaurants across the country. Places I may neverf get to experience but now know they exist.

Although, I would like to see if the Zimmerman's Roadhouse, the winner of the best comfort food, mac & cheese can compare with AB's baked mac & cheese. That's my personal favorite. I drooled more, however, over the brick oven pizzas and the chicken soup.

Still waiting to see the wild blue sportcoat. Looks as if he's in the French Quarter, perhaps, the destination food episode will hold a viewing of said jacket.

Tuesday night's episode is slated to be Destination Foods.

Stay tuned.