Man v. Food (Travel Channel)

Man v. Food offers some interesting history about some of America's local haunts and their contributions to regional cuisine. It also looks at how some of these restaurants have become local landmarks -- and at how the meals they prepare have become a major part of American culture.

But the show also serves up some unappetizing messages. Its constant focus on "eating big" converts the pleasure of occasionally indulging in a fun meal into an exercise in gluttony. Meanwhile, Richman's gleeful comments about "pigging out" and his on-screen gorging -- which is intended to be somewhat funny -- underscore the kind of thinking and behavior that leads to obesity and other medical problems. Some people may find this kind of thing fun to watch, but the mixed messages it sends about this country's relationship with food makes it a little unsavory.