The TV Column

Ex-football Hog hosts Food Network's BBQ Blitz

University of Arkansas defensive back Eddie Jackson puts the hit on LSU’s Jerel Myers in this photo from 2001.
University of Arkansas defensive back Eddie Jackson puts the hit on LSU’s Jerel Myers in this photo from 2001.

Let's just think of it as going from one type of gridiron to another.

Former Arkansas Razorbacks (2000-2003) and NFL defensive back Eddie Jackson may have left his football career behind, but entirely new opportunities have opened up for the Richardson, Texas, native.

Jackson was also track and field standout for the Hogs.

For the record, after Jackson finished with college ball, he spent time (much of it injured) with Carolina, Miami, New England and Washington (he was cut by the Redskins before the 2008 season started).

It wasn't a particularly stellar pro career, but it did lead Jackson to the next level where he is a genuine star -- Food Network Star.

The 34-year-old Jackson won Season 11 of Food Network Star (hosted by celebrity chefs Bobby Flay and Giada De Laurentiis) in August, and finally goes prime time as host of a new six-episode series BBQ Blitz. The show premieres at 9:30 p.m. Friday on the Food Network with Jackson hitting a new city in each episode.

The premiere episode was taped in Little Rock and features local chefs Justin Patterson and Donnie Ferneau, along with food truck owner Gwen Jones.

The other cities, all with special connections to Jackson are Miami and Charlotte, N.C., (where he played with the Dolphins and Panthers, respectively); Dallas, his childhood home; Montgomery, Ala., where his extended family lives; and barbecue mecca Kansas City.

In each city, Jackson "welcomes three of the best local grillers, smokers and fire-roasters to an outdoor cook-off for a grand prize of $5,000 and BBQ bragging rights."

All the pitmaster action takes place in front of a live crowd and "kicks off" with Jackson challenging each competitor to transform their signature grilled dish into a completely different entity for the judges.

One of the chefs is eliminated and then Jackson chooses a special ingredient that the remaining two must turn into a tasty grilled entree.

The judges then pick the winner, who gets the grand prize in front of thousands of screaming fans.

Or dozens. Something like that.

The judging panel includes experts Ingrid Hoffmann and Kent Rathbun, along with Jackson's buddies, such as former Razorbacks and NFL star Anthony Lucas.

Food Network general manager Bob Tuschman says fans will enjoy BBQ Blitz because, "Eddie is a natural on camera and the show has the energy of a sporting event and the fun of a tailgate party."

Jackson, who also competed on Fox's MasterChef in 2013, owns the Caribbean Grill food truck in Houston and is a personal trainer.

Hogs TV. In case you missed the memo, the Razorbacks' Saturday game at Alabama will kick off at 6 p.m. on ESPN.

Arkansas has lost eight straight games to Alabama and last won in Tuscaloosa in 2003 -- a 34-31 double-overtime victory.

New on Amazon. One of the big draws for streaming services such as Amazon Prime and Netflix is their original programming. Several have been outstanding and a new one arrives Friday.

Red Oaks, produced by Steven Soderbergh, is an ensemble half-hour coming-of-age comedy/drama set in 1985 at the predominantly Jewish Red Oaks Country Club in New Jersey.

It follows the adventures of 20-year-old David Myers (Craig Roberts) who takes a job as assistant tennis pro during the summer between his junior and senior college years.

Director David Gordon Green says, "David is at a point in his life where he's looking for something more. He's the audience's eyes into the strange characters at this country club."

"He's still trying to figure out what it all means and what to make of it," adds co-writer Gregory Jacobs.

The series is rated TV-MA. There are adult situations, language, nudity and all the other stuff associated with most streaming series.

It's also witty, creative and full of memorable characters.

Jennifer Grey (Dirty Dancing) is Judy, David's possibly lesbian mother. Richard Kind is Sam, David's long-suffering father who wishes he'd married an Asian and wants David to be an accountant.

Paul Reiser (Mad About You) plays Mr. Getty, the gruff club president, and Ennis Esmer steals every scene he's in as Nash, the club tennis pro and David's boss.

And keep an eye on Alexandra Socha as Getty's mysterious and sultry daughter, Skye, a potential love interest for David, although he already has a girlfriend (Gage Golightly).

As with most original series available on streaming services, the entire first season will be available Friday. There are 10 episodes.

The TV Column appears Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. Email:

mstorey@arkansasonline.com

Weekend on 10/08/2015

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