This week on Green TV – a not so sustainable chef disappoints foodies and the Disney kids band together to make Friends for Change.

Rick Moonen Not So Sustainable Chef on the “Top Chef Masters” Finale

Rick Moonen shocked both the foodie and green worlds last week with his final presentation in the “Top Chef Master’s” competition. The chef, who judge Jay Rayner referred to as “the sustainability guy,” is known for his environmentally conscientious seafood cooking.

In the season finale, the last three competitors were asked to prepare a dish that best represented who they were as a chef. Moonen’s seemed like an obvious choice to anyone who knew his work. He made some eco-friendly fish dish, right? Wrong.

Rick ended up preparing venison with matsutake mushrooms, pear butter, and stuffed cipollini onions. Wa-hat?

Adding insult to injury, as far as many of his devotees were concerned, the meat was flown in from New Zealand. That’s the way to expand your global footprint in one small meal.

When confronted by the judges, who loved the food but seemed baffled that Moonen would stray so far from his roots (and principals), the finalist gave a really straightforward answer, “I’m not a treehugger. I am a chef. I’m in a cooking competition. I need to be a chef and that’s why I decided to go that way.”

Unfortunately for Mr. Sustainability, he probably should have stuck with some nice local seafood. When all was said and done, he came in second to Marcus Samuelsson.

The Disney Kids Promote Change

For those of us who think the kids who work for the Disney Channel (like Miley Cyrus, the Jonas Brothers, and Demi Lovato) are just a conflicted mess of stripper poles and promise rings, good news comes from the ‘tween-centric network.

Disney’s Friends for Change campaign just celebrated its one-year anniversary by revamping their program and releasing a slew of new PSAs. Close to 40 kids who star on Disney shows – including the above mentioned as well as Selena Gomez, Brandon Mychal Smith, and Mitchel Musso – have come together to help promote kid friendly ways to save the planet.

The on-air messages, now showing on Disney Channel, feature the Mouse House stars passing on environmental tips to kids and encouraging them to go to disney.com/friendsforchange to “reg and pledge.” By joining the campaign, kids vow to take small eco-friendly steps and also get to vote on which green projects Disney will support with $1 million in donations. Plus, really motivated kids can apply for grants to fund environmental efforts in their communities.

In a Disney press release, senior VP of Corporate Responsibility Jennifer Anopolsky said, “Kids are discovering that helping the planet is easy and fun when they work together and have the right tools.”

From simple tasks like taking shorter showers to bigger ideas like organizing beach clean-ups, the Disney kids are going green. Finally a message for ‘tweens that we can get behind.

Tune in next time to see what’s cropping up on green TV.

Image: Isabella Vosmikova/Bravo

The post I Want My Green TV: A Top Chef Fail and Disney Kids Saving the Planet appeared first on EcoSalon.

This week Green TV showed us two kinds of eco-disasters. An HBO drama tackled the environmental devastation in New Orleans and Planet Green exposed crimes against tigers.

“Treme” Shows Perseverance in the Face of Nature’s Fury

HBO’s New Orleans drama Treme may not seem like a straightforward choice for “I Want My Green TV.” But with everything that’s been going on in the Gulf with the BP Oil Spill, it’s hard not to think about the hardships the fine citizens of the Big Easy have endured over the last few years.

After all, the spill is not the first man made disaster to happen in New Orleans in 2005. Yes, Mother Nature sent Katrina but she didn’t build the insufficient levees. And there certainly are government agencies that could have chipped in then (and now) to help rebuild faster, more efficiently, and much more in tune with ongoing local environmental concerns – Brad Pitt and his Make it Right housing development aside.

Treme takes place in the aftermath of Katrina, and this week’s episode, “All on a Mardi Gras Day,” celebrated Fat Tuesday – almost six months to the day of the devastating hurricane. The show rode a lot of emotional ups and downs as characters embraced the spirit of the day while reconciling the recent devastation of their homes and families.

Every week, the series shows the delicate balance between the ugly truth of a city ravaged by environmental fury and the beauty of the healing power of human perseverance. As John Goodman’s character pointed out to his daughter, “It’s good to get out and see the destruction. It’s good. Get off the isle of denial every once in a while and be reminded how much of this city is still wrecked.”

Planet Green Doc Exposes Illegal Tiger Trade

This past weekend, Planet Green premiered the award-winning documentary, Dangerous Trade. In the hour-long film, a team of eco-crime investigators from the Environmental Investigation Agency (a sort modern day Green “Mod Squad”) investigate the seedy underworld of illegal tiger trades in China.

What they find is infuriating, horribly sad, and highly profitable. And there lies the reason why it doesn’t seem to be going away anytime soon. According to the doc, China is the largest consumer of tiger products for skins, taxidermy, and medicine. And apparently the military turns a blind eye to the issue for their own profit and political reasons.

Ironically, this is the Chinese Year of the Tiger and with three subspecies already extinct and only an estimated 3,100 of the glorious animals left in the world – yes, we said the world – ending the illegal tiger trade is more important than ever. This fall there will even be a Global Tiger Summit in Russia (who knew?!) to commit to taking action toward saving the tiger.

We’re guessing somewhere that Tony is screaming, “that’s grrrrrrreat!”

Tune in next time to see what’s cropping up on green TV.

Image: Tryburn

The post I Want My Green TV: From Louisiana Disasters to the Tiger Trade appeared first on EcoSalon.

TLC series includes a vegan diner on its list of 10 best and “The Today Show” helps us green our kitchens. Just two more reasons to say “I Want My Green TV.”

“Best Foods Ever” Goes Vegan

Typically, when a foodie TV show travels around the country looking for yummy treats, the meals discovered are filled with meat and cheese and all sorts of unhealthy fare. TLC’s new show, “Best Foods Ever,” switched it up this week by including a vegan locale.

The six-episode series is narrated by “Rosanne”/”Treme” star John Goodman and each show covers a list of 10 places in a category. This week’s episode, “Darn Good Diners,” visited greasy spoons from Massachusetts to Memphis, and included an all-vegan establishment.

They stopped by The Chicago Diner for a taste of their acclaimed Radical Reuben. Bet you’re asking the same thing we did. A Reuben? How do you make a Reuben without meat?

Well, the Chi-town haunt uses seitan roast beef (made from wheat gluten). Throw on some grilled onions and peppers, sauerkraut, soy cheese and vegan dressing and put it all on some nice fresh rye bread. Voila. A meatless and delicious Reuben.

The diner has been meat free since ’83 and still manages to include comfort foods from chili to meatball subs to enchilada pizza, all without harming a single living being.

The episode of “Best Food Ever” also covered nine other diners. And while we were intrigued by the Monkey French Toast (caramelized bananas and mangoes between two pieces of challah bread) served up at Sam’s Morning Glory in Philadelphia, we were delighted that they at least put one vegan stop on the list.

“‘Today’ Goes Green”

Everybody else might have been firing up the grill, but we carved out a piece of our Memorial Day Weekend to reorganize our kitchen. And thanks to a segment on last week’s “Today Show” we not only made it look prettier, it’s now way more eco-friendly, too.

The morning show’s diet and nutrition editor Madelyn Fernstrom walked notorious foodie Al Roker around the kitchen set with some really helpful tips as part of their ongoing “‘Today’ Goes Green” series.

We plan on employing the very useful tips like installing a water purifier to cut down on plastic bottles and cooking with a crock pot that not only is less of an electricity drain than an oven, but keeps the kitchen cool. We’re also going to clean all the extra junk out of our fridge so that it uses less energy. And we might skip the tip about ditching our electric can opener for a manual version, but we’ll make up for it by composting.

And, in case you’re wondering, the segment went off without a hitch – almost. Ann Curry did accidentally walk in through the kitchen door mid-segment. It was her her second faux pas of the week. Her first? Naming grads from Wheaton College in Illinois during her commencement speech at Wheaton College in Norton, Massachusetts.

For more green kitchen tips visit “The Today Show’s” website.

Tune in next time to see what’s cropping up on green TV.

Image: Jason Anfinsen

The post I Want My Green TV: TLC Showcases Vegan Goodness appeared first on EcoSalon.

A movie star has a solution to the BP Oil Spill crisis and “The Biggest Loser” helps reduce more than pounds. This is what’s making us say “I Want My Green TV!”

Kevin Costner Makes Penance for “Waterworld”

Anyone who was watching the news in New Orleans last week might have been shocked to see an unlikely celeb throw his hat in the ring to help clean up the BP oil spill mess.

Especially since said movie star, Kevin Costner, was responsible for one of the last greatest atrocities committed against the oceans – “Waterworld.” Perhaps as penance for the mega-flop, Costner stepped forward on WGNO news with a possible solution to the environment’s greatest problem.

Costner is a partner in a company called Ocean Therapy Solutions. They have a technology that separates water and oil through centrifugal force – sounds like the stuff of sci-fi movies, no?

This seems like a better plan than using golf balls. But if the brain trust at BP does decide to go that way, let’s not forget that Costner has some experience in that field, too. His character in Tin Cup was known for shanking balls into water traps.

Stay tuned to your local news and you might just see another impromptu Costner press conference in the next few days. BP is going to be running tests with the OTS system sometime this week.

“The Biggest Loser” Reduces More than Weight

On this week’s “Biggest Loser” Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels took a moment to tell the viewers about another way they help reduce on the ranch. In an interstitial sponsored by Brita, the two uber-trainers explain that for the past four seasons “The Biggest Loser” has partnered with the water company to save more than just lives.

They are helping to save the environment, too. Their FilterForGood program encourages the cast, crew, and viewers to stop using bottled water, a major source of pollution in our landfills – and even worse, our lakes and oceans.

They stated that the campaign has saved over 128,000 bottles on the ranch alone. And the website estimates saving over 194 million bottles through the viewers at home who have taken the FilterForGood Pledge.

Okay, here’s the commercial part. Just buy a Brita water pitcher and a FilterForGood water bottle. Then you can filter your own water and drink out of your own washable bottle. Voila. No more plastic in the landfills.

And if you log on to the website now, you can also enter to win a week on “The Biggest Loser” Resort at Fitness Ridge courtesy of Brita.

Oh, and just in case you were wondering, “Biggest Loser” trainers Bob and Jillian also always remind viewers that drinking water does help you lose weight because it fills you up when you feel hungry and keeps you hydrated which helps you burn fat. Double win.

Tune in next time to see what’s cropping up on green TV.

Image: Courtesy of NBC.com

The post I Want My Green TV: The Biggest Loser Bans Bottled Water appeared first on EcoSalon.

It was recycling week on television. Niecy Nash partook in some yard sale decorating madness on “Clean House” while “Survivor” recycled its cast and challenges leading up to a shocking finale. This is what was making us say “I Want My Green TV!”

Survivor: Outwit, Outplay, Recycle

We had all but given up on “Survivor” a couple of years back. The outplaying, outwitting, and outlasting was just getting a bit redundant. But uber producer Mark Burnett pulled the show out of the ashes. First he cast the dastardly Russell Hantz, who plays a super sneaky, no holds barred game. Then he recycled the series greatest cast members and most entertaining challenges.

On “Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains” Burnett topped last season’s Russell fueled shenanigans with another all-star extravaganza. And with that, the series delivered its finest effort since Richard Hatch dominated the island all those years ago. The best and the baddest united in a strategy-on-steroids version of the competition show. From Rupert – arguably the most beloved player in history – to Boston Rob – “Survivor’s” smartest player until Russell came along.

But the contestants weren’t the only thing to be recycled this season. All of the reward and immunity challenges which had been used in previous years made a comeback as well. So all the pieces of those giant mazes, majestic towers, and obstacle course net-bridges were reconstructed from set pieces used before. The show saved the environment from a lot of potential waste and hooked nostalgic fans with some of the most death defying feats of strength and balance from show’s gone by. That’s a pretty eco-friendly move for a big show like this.

Now we’re thinking they should build a “Survivor” theme park so all that lumber doesn’t go to waste.

Niecy Nash Cleans House by Recycling

Niecy Nash has been hosting Style network’s “Clean House” long before she ever tripped the light fantastic on “Dancing with the Stars.” Though the show does not claim to be a green series, the whole premise revolves around recycling clutter to raise money to decorate.

Niecy and her team of designers show up at the homes of people who are in desperate need of clearing out and cleaning up. And although she doesn’t wear her bejeweled samba dresses, she does bring her dazzling smile and cheery disposition to often nasty circumstances.

This week’s episode featured the Moleskys, a family of ten addicted to yard sales. So what’s the harm there? Their entire house is stacked floor to ceiling with tchotchkes, collectibles, and just plain junk purchased from someone else’s cast offs. Clearly they have the “reuse” part of “reduce, reuse, recycle” down. Now they need to get better about the “reduce and recycle” part.

Enter Niecy Nash. She helped the family clear out the clutter, saving only some select items (no they would not part with the lodge themed gems like the taxidermy bear) that would fit with the final project. As for the rest, they didn’t just dump it in a landfill, they held a yard sale of their own. What didn’t sell was donated to charity.

At the end of the day Niecy and the family raised almost $7,000 for redecorating their home. They did buy some necessary new items, but combined them with some old favorites.

Only time will tell if Niecy convinced them to kick the yard sale habit and reduce their clutter for good.

Tune in next time to see what’s cropping up on green TV.

Image: Wikimedia Commons

The post I Want My Green TV: Outwit, Outplay, Recycle appeared first on EcoSalon.

This week we saw the two extremes of Green TV. The CW’s girls from West Bev went green in little doses, while a three week race around the world left a big carbon footprint.

Even West Bev Girls Go Green

Sometimes the eco awareness tips come between the TV shows, not on the TV shows. Such is the case with the CW’s “Go Green” campaign.

The network is running an interstitial in prime time that serves up environmentally friendly tips from shows like 90210 and Life Unexpected. Who’d have thought the egocentric Naomi would help drive home the eco-centric tip about reducing your carbon footprint by “leaving your car home twice a week?” And it’s quite possible that the footage from Life Unexpected might make teens think twice about the fact that planting a garden offsets carbon emissions by removing carbon dioxide.

The spot is tied to a larger campaign on the CW website sponsored by SC Johnson. There, a second video tells how the girls from West Bev are helping the environment by wearing vintage clothes. An uplifting and important green message, but kind of depressing when you realize their retro is 1985.

There are featured interviews with Kelly Rutherford from Gossip Girl and Michael Rady from 90210, who talk about ways they’ve personally gone green, provide lots of helpful environmental tips, and even include a green matching game.

If only the new Melrose Place was as entertaining.

The Amazingly Un-Eco-Friendly Race

On Sunday night, The Amazing Race crossed another final finish line. Brothers Dan and Jordan took home the top prize, but in our estimation, the loser was Mother Earth. Contestants traveled 40,000 miles across five continents leaving a huge carbon footprint in their wake.

The six finalists alone, traveled 25,000 miles per person by plane. That’s a carbon footprint of 9.2 tons each in just 23 days (an average American uses 20 tons a year). Now add in the crew and other contestants who didn’t go the distance. Plus the cars, taxis, buses, and trains they travel on, and that’s a lot of environmental damage just for a few fleeting hours of TV pleasure.

Still, the reality show did manage to be more eco-friendly this season than in years past. They limited the number of plane trips to six, as compared to as many as fifteen on previous excursions. Racers used public transportation more and they occasionally hopped on bicycles and even ox driven carts to get to some destinations.

So we’re hoping Dan and Jordan might help to offset “The Race’s” footprint. By our very rough calculations, if they use $15,000 of their one million dollar winnings to plant a few trees or donate to a wind farm, they can make The Amazing Race carbon neutral.

And maybe next season, part of the game could be to buy carbon offsets every time a plane ticket is purchased? Just a thought.

Tune in next time to see what’s cropping up on green TV.

Image Courtesy of the CBS

The post I Want My Green TV: The Amazing Un-Eco-Friendly Race appeared first on EcoSalon.

This week on eco-friendly television, Leonardo DiCaprio took us to Greensburg, KS, the first sustainable city, and Jon Stewart had a few words to say about Senator Lindsey Graham (mostly “waa”). Once again prompting us to cry out “I Want My Green TV!”

Can Greensburg Sustain Sustainability?

Out of the ashes of unthinkable tragedy rises an eco-phoenix, as the third season of “Greensburg: A Final Look” premiered on Planet Green.

In 2006, Hollywood’s green poster boy Leonardo DiCaprio had an idea for a TV series. He wanted to build an entire sustainable town and film the process as a reality show. But he couldn’t find the location.

A year later, nature intervened when Greensburg (no we didn’t make that up), was 95 percent destroyed by an F5 tornado. The community came together to rebuild, and they vowed to go green. Leo brought in camera crews to document the historic story of revitalization and perseverance.

As the third season kicked off, the green municipality was revealed – yes, progress has come to Greensburg. The Wind Farm is moving forward (ten turbines that will power the whole city and then some), the geo-thermal heated state-of-the-art school is under construction, and there’s even a uber-metropolitan fancy coffee shop for all the local’s mocha cappuccino needs. But one critical question is yet to be answered. Will there be enough jobs to sustain the sustainable town?

Maybe Leo should have built a green movie studio to put all the residents to work.

Jon Stewart Has One Word for Lindsey Graham: “Waa”

Leave it to Jon Stewart to call it like he sees it and school a U.S. Senator on his childish behavior.

It all started last November when Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, Democrat John Kerry, and Independent Democrat Joe Lieberman teamed up for the greatest tripartisan environmental effort in history. Their goal, a compromise climate and energy bill, was almost ready to be handed over to the Environmental Protection Agency for review. But when Democrats shifted their attention to the heated topic of immigration, Graham walked away threatening to vote against the bill.

And with that, the momentum surrounding the energy bill disappeared faster than the polar ice caps.

Enter Jon Stewart who thought Graham’s maneuvering felt like a disappointed child taking his toys and going home. When EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson stopped by The Daily Show, the host got right to the heart of the matter saying, “Do you feel that Senator Graham is a big fat baby? And would you like to say to him right now, “˜Waa. Waa. Waa. Waa, Lindsey Graham?'”

Jackson sidestepped the joke with a more adult suggestion – remind him how important his contribution is to the bill’s success. But Stewart had a another creative idea, “Have you thought about candy or a pacifier for Senator Graham?”

Graham probably won’t be stopping by “The Daily Show” anytime soon.

Tune in next time to see what’s cropping up on green TV.

Image: Wesley Fryer

The post I Want My Green TV appeared first on EcoSalon.

Everyone was hopping on the Green TV bandwagon this week for Earth Day, some more successfully than others. But when April is over and the networks turn their lights back on, some green shows will still be on the air trying to save the planet. Here are a few of our favorites.

The Lazy Environmentalist Wins Some, Loses Some

We love the lazy environmentalist, because he really sums up our attitudes about being green. Sure we want to do our part to save the planet, but we’re busy. We can’t spend a lot. And we too, can get a little lazy. Enter Josh Dorfman who visits eco-skeptics to see what habits they can alter without too much effort or a noticeable lifestyle change.

Season two premiered this week and Josh worked with an interior designer and a family who loves to camp. Neither gave the environment a second thought. Until now.

Interior designer, David Brian Sanders, a complete anti-eco snob, said that green products did not meet his client’s standards. But Josh prevailed and Sanders incorporated a toxin-free mattress, a soy-based concrete floor stain, energy efficient appliances, a vintage stove, and low VOC paint. Victory for Josh.

No such luck in segment two. Dorfman showed a family how to camp with less environmental impact. We get that people want a few modern conveniences in the woods, but these guys brought a generator for their TV, DVD, iPod, computers, electric cooktop, and microwave. Doesn’t feel like communing with nature to us. Add in the drive and mother earth would be better off if they just stayed home.

Surprise, surprise. They weren’t open to switching to the solar generator, shower heater, oven, or the battery-less crank lights. Their only concession? The recycled sleeping bags. Seems they were pretty soft. So much for “Leave No Trace” camping.

Calling All Cash for Clunker Doubters

If you’re wondering if you should let that Cash for Clunkers program slip through your fingers, you might want to think again and buy that new refrigerator. Need proof that EcoStar products payoff in the long run? Then plug your TV back in and tune into “Wa$ted” on Planet Green.

This week’s episode followed host Annabelle Gurwitch as she worked with two sisters, who own and operate the deliciously decadent Sweet Melissa Patisserie in Brooklyn, New York. Sibling rivalry was taking its toll on the eco-minded business manager Erin. She was at odds with owner, CEO and sister Melissa, who was afraid that being environmentally aware would hurt the companies bottom line.

Needless to say that switching to eco-friendly packaging, replacing a Freon fridge with an eco-efficient model, and composting reduced the bakery’s ecological footprint from 183 acres to 175 acres saved the sisters $2,280 year.

So let this be your wake-up call. Your refrigerator is running and your bills are increasing. Take a clue from green TV and get into that appliance rebate line now.

Tune in next time to see what’s cropping up on green TV.

Image: MarkWSutton

The post I Want My Green TV: Our Fave ‘Save the Planet’ Shows appeared first on EcoSalon.

What’s cool and green and seen all over? Eco-themed television! Green programming is a growing niche in entertainment, and each week, we’ll look at shows that make us shout out “I want my green TV!”

“˜Future Forward’ Inspires Cooks to Recycle Kitchen Scraps

Planet Green’s “Future Food” executive chef, Omar Cantu of the world-renowned Moto restaurant in Chicago, shocks viewers and diners alike with his unusual culinary creations. This week, he was even more eco-friendly than usual, when he challenged his crew to recycle discarded food.

After rendering innocent bratwursts inedible via an incident with a flamethrower, he repurposed the still usable bits instead of tossing them in the trash.

Inspired, he ordered his staff to recycle the potato skins. Success?

First, they made chili cheese fries out of frozen pureed potato skins, crinkle cut, coated in potato starch to stiffen and fried in beef fat. For the chili, they pulverized deep fried peels into a ground beef texture. The “cheese” sauce was even more creative – juiced carrot scraps, eggs, salt, and truffle oil. The final result looked just like regular chili cheese fries, and yes, according to diners, they were delicious.

We viewers may not have the culinary creative skills, or proper kitchen gear, to go this far outside the box. But hopefully the show will inspire a few people to think twice before throwing away their scraps.

Stephen Colbert’s Global Warming Smackdown

The global warming “debate” escalates further between meteorologists and climate scientists this week. A New York Times article reported that 90 percent of climatologists believe global warming is man-made while only 31 percent of meteorologists agree. Sadly, the same article says most Americans trust weathermen for their climate information more than politicians like Al Gore. Aren’t we talking about the same job where it’s OK to be wrong over 50 percent of the time?

On this week’s “Colbert Report,” fake conservative news anchor Stephen Colbert brought the “Science Catfight” to his desk. In one corner was Joe Bastardi, the chief Accuweather forecaster, and in the other corner, Brenda Ekwurzel, a Union of Concerned Scientists climatologist.
Neither got much of a chance to defend their argument in the presence of Colbert. One of our favorites? “The sea levels rising… could that just be because… Americans are getting fatter and going swimming?”

Join us next week – same time, same channel – for more of the latest highlights in green TV.

Jesie Lee

The post I Want My Green TV appeared first on EcoSalon.