Epic Meal Empire

Epic Meal Empire is an unabashedly outrageous cooking show that premiered on the FYI Network in 2014. Based on a wildly popular YouTube channel known as 'Epic Meal Time,' the television series retains the original web show's humor and audacity, while diving deeper into the creation of gargantuan and imaginative culinary concoctions that make ordinary meals look childishly simple by comparison.

The central figure of Epic Meal Empire is Harley Morenstein. The Canadian former high school teacher, armed with a deep voice, imposing height, and cavernous appetite, commands the show with a riotous crew of his old friends. The team consists multi-talented characters including Josh Elkin, Amir Atari, Ameer Atari, and Tyler Lemco, who all display their unique kitchen skills along with a sense of camaraderie and fun that set the show apart from standard cooking programs.

Each episode revolves around the creation of a single, extraordinary meal. The genres of these meals vary widely. From recreations of fast food items on a massive scale to merging of multiple meals into one unholy culinary mixture, the food produced by the Epic Meal Team is not meant for the faint-hearted. The meals are often calorie-laden, filled with bacon, layered with fast food items, and generously slathered with Jack Daniels based sauces. The team takes pride in their rule-breaking, unconventional cooking methods that lack culinary techniques.

Yet the show isn't simply about the final product. The true spectacle of Epic Meal Empire is in the process of meal creation. From shopping for absurd amounts of ingredients to crafting custom cooking tools to handle their epic proportions, and finally the assembly of the mammoth meal- the journey is as entertaining as the meal itself. Morenstein and his team use their creativity, teamwork, and unabashed love for extreme eating to make each episode a distinctive blend of comedy and cooking show.

The show doesn’t stop at simply creating these giant meals. A critical part of each episode is dedicated to the epic meal's destination. After creating their meal, the team transports it to a suitably surprising public space- a convention, a gym, a skate park, or even a summer camp. Strangely enough, among these places, the meals fit right in becoming centerpieces of attention and an instigator of extraordinary communal experiences.

Even with all of the splendor and gluttony, Epic Meal Empire is rarely about consumption. At its core, the show provides an entertaining commentary on the various forms of indulgence in our society as it pokes fun at the excess in popular food culture. It unabashedly takes the concept of culinary indulgence to unprecedented standards, shedding light on the consumer culture that permeates the eating habits of many people. It serves as a mirror to our society's propensity for extravagance and the lengths people will go for their passions, in this case – food.

Those looking for a traditional cooking show might find themselves disoriented by Epic Meal Empire's seeming lack of respect for culinary arts. However, those viewers willing to engage with the show's audacious, no-holds-barred approach will discover a program that celebrates food in a style that is wholly unpretentious and uniquely entertaining. It's the show that casts every calorie-counting, nutrition-focused cooking show trope aside to embrace the unabashed glee of feasting.

One warning, though: do not watch this show on an empty stomach. The outrageous, over-the-top meals on Epic Meal Empire are as mouthwatering as they are astonishing. Though one might initially be taken aback by the scale of the meals, it's hard not to feel at least a twinge of temptation to grab a fork and join Morenstein and company in their audacious gastronomical adventures.

By the end of an episode, one might feel a strange cocktail of feelings that includes being simultaneously fascinated, horrified, and intrigued by the spectacle of the 'Epic Meal Empire.' It leaves you with an appreciation for food and how it could push the boundaries of what's considered a meal, making this show a must-watch for anyone who loves food, challenges, and a good portion of humor.

For anyone who is game, the Epic Meal Empire promises a wild ride filled with fun, antics, and meals that can be called nothing but 'Epic.'