History WMG / IronChef

** Alton Brown is accused of being a Time Lord. Chairman Mark is accused of being a Time Lord, albeit a regeneration of Chairman Kaga. Perhaps this was one of many ways Alton tried to get the upper hand against Mark in an ongoing battle between the two of them, and their relationship is less-for lack of a better analogy-[[Series/DoctorWho Doctor and companion]] and more [[TheRival Doctor and Master]]. Minus the FoeYay.

* It appears to have failed so far. Chairman Mark kept taping for Series/IronChef even while he was rehearsing for "Dancing," and he came out unharmed -- though his professional dancer-partner Lacey Schwimmer got hurt twice! The first time was a muscle pull; the second time was, apparently, a KiAttack that Mark deflected that then hit Lacey. (He tells her, "Go home!") Chairman Mark just got voted out, so he may come roaring back to Kitchen Stadium yet.

Beyond several 'honorary' cameos and a blink-and-you-miss-it spot in the opening credits (check the wall behind Kaga), Iron Chef Ishinabe has pretty much disappeared from IronChef canon. A highlight special made for American audiences featuring Iron Chefs Hiroyuki Sakai and Chen Kenichi outright claims that Sakai is the ''first'' Iron Chef French. Food Network and Fine Living Network have only shown ''one'' of his matches, the only one that he ''lost'', noted above, as opposed to Food Network showing several of Iron Chef Japanese I Rokusaburo Michiba and Iron Chef Japanese II Koumei Nakamura's battles. (Fine Living, not so much.) This smacks of RetCon.
* This WMG and the one above go hand in hand. Kaga set Ishinabe up to fall, and then he tries to erase Ishinabe from IronChef history. This is made easier because Ishinabe only participated in eight battles. But Kaga can't wipe out everything because of that darned portrait, and so a few cameos remain.

When the 21st Century battles were held, Sakai and Morimoto lost their battles to their longtime rival and an American upstart respectively. Having lost face so publicly and in such important battles, Kaga faked his death so that he could disappear for good. He was only brought out of his self-imposed exile when his nephew approached him with the plans for IronChef America, and then only to give his blessing (a blessing his other nephew, who tried to continue Iron Chef in Japan, sorely lacked).

It has just been announced that Chairman Mark is on ''Series/DancingWithTheStars'' (American vs.) this season. Anyone who has watched seasons of that show knows that, underneath the heartwarming vignettes and beautiful moves, it's a blood sport -- both contestants and pros get injured frequently. They are encouraged to stay in while injured. (Last season, two "dances" had to be judged via rehearsal footage.) In short, it is one of the few competitions even more dangerous than IronChef.

* It appears to have failed so far. Chairman Mark kept taping for IronChef even while he was rehearsing for "Dancing," and he came out unharmed -- though his professional dancer-partner Lacey Schwimmer got hurt twice! The first time was a muscle pull; the second time was, apparently, a KiAttack that Mark deflected that then hit Lacey. (He tells her, "Go home!") Chairman Mark just got voted out, so he may come roaring back to Kitchen Stadium yet.

More telling evidence: You would think the Chairman would be heavily involved in ''The Next Iron Chef'', since whomever wins becomes his newest [[strike: minion]] Iron Chef. But all the supervising and overseeing is done by Alton Brown. Hell, in the second season, Chairman Mark isn't even ''at'' Kitchen Stadium, having been detoured into the DancingWithTheStars studios; he relays his messages through video.

It has just been announced that Chairman Mark is on DancingWithTheStars (American vs.) this season. Anyone who has watched seasons of that show knows that, underneath the heartwarming vignettes and beautiful moves, it's a blood sport -- both contestants and pros get injured frequently. They are encouraged to stay in while injured. (Last season, two "dances" had to be judged via rehearsal footage.) In short, it is one of the few competitions even more dangerous than IronChef.

So, Alton Brown appealed to Chairman Mark's honor and got him to want to be on that show. The object is to supplant Mark. Ideally, Mark will be so badly injured that he will be unable to do his job ever again. There is also the possibility that he will be kicked out of the Gourmet Academy because he's been away for too long -- DancingWithTheStars takes six weeks plus however many weeks he can stay in the competition (it's '''live!'''). Alton will then seize control, perhaps placing another figurehead in the Chairman slot.

** Oops. Chairman Mark is (as is custom) appearing on the DancingWithTheStars finale. Alton must have done some fine manipulations: Chairman Mark is supposed to face off against Chuck Liddell of the Ultimate Fighting League... <shudder>

<<|WildMassGuessing|>>

[[WMG: Kaga is a witch and Game Master a la UminekoNoNakuKoroNi]]

*** For the same reason Popeye in the RobinWilliams film of that name dislikes spinach. Just because it's the source of his power doesn't mean Kaga enjoys it in itself.

[[WMG: Chairman Mark [[{{Firefly}} can kill you with his brain.]]]]

[[WMG: [[{{Futurama}} Chairman Koji]] is a descendant of the Kaga family.]]

[[WMG: Alton Brown appealed to Chairman Mark's pride or honor to attempt a UriahGambit-cum-XanatosRoulette and gain unquestioned control of the show.]]
It has just been announced that Chairman Mark is on DancingWithTheStars (American vs.) this season. Anyone who has watched recent seasons of that show know that, underneath the heartwarming vignettes and beautiful moves, it's a blood sport -- both contestants and pros get injured frequently. They are encouraged to stay in while injured. (Last season, two "dances" had to be judged via rehearsal footage.) In short, it is one of the few competitions even more dangerous than IronChef.

* In a crossover with a DeathNote WMG, Kaga could ''possibly'' have been an opponent to the witches Kira and Lawliet in the game that led to the events of DeathNote (movie canon only). The most telling evidence to that is the fact that Soichiro Yagami greatly resembles Chairman Kaga. If he did, he technically won that game, due to having the last piece standing, but it would have been a PyrrhicVictory.

** Alton Brown is accused of being a Time Lord. Chairman Mark is accused of being a Time Lord, albeit a regeneration of Chairman Kaga. Perhaps this was one of many ways Alton tried to get the upper hand against Mark in an ongoing battle between the two of them, and their relationship is less-for lack of a better analogy-[[DoctorWho Doctor and companion]] and more [[TheRival Doctor and Master]]. Minus the FoeYay.

***kaga is possibly a vampire of some type, given his preference for poofy shirt outfits, the fact that he cannot swallow the capsicum, but intstead appears to be gagging, and that losing challengers are never seen again. also, he gets subtitles instead of being dubbed into english

Consider: when he rose into Kitchen Stadium, he was holding a capsicum, Kaga's trademark. Clearly, he was signaling his desire to steal Kaga's power. And in his last battle, the only one he ever lost, Kaga "accidentally" gave away the theme ingredient a little early. Kaga was setting TheStarscream up for a fall.

Beyond several 'honorary' cameos and a blink-and-you-miss-it spot in the opening credits (check the wall behind Kaga), Iron Chef Ishinabe has pretty much disappeared from IronChef canon. A highlight special made for American audiences featuring Iron Chefs Hiroyuki Sakai and Chen Kenichi outright claims that Sakai is the ''first'' Iron Chef French. Food Network and Fine Living Network have only shown ''one'' of his matches, the one that he ''lost'', noted above, as opposed to Food Network showing several of Iron Chef Japanese I Rokusaburo Michiba and Iron Chef Japanese II Koumei Nakamura's battles. (Fine Living, not so much.) This smacks of RetCon.
**This WMG and the one above go hand in hand. Kaga set Ishinabe up to fall, and then he tries to erase Ishinabe from IronChef history. This is made easier because Ishinabe only participated in eight battles. Kaga can't wipe out everything, though, because of that darned portrait, and so a few cameos remain.
*** Wouldn't it have been easy to complete the RetCon by refilming the small amount of the opener that had Ishinabe's portrait in it, though? Or was Kaga just being lazy or wanting to bask in the glory of vanquishing a rival?
**** Kaga didn't remove Ishinabe from the intro because he is totally inept at Photoshop.

If you think about it, the Chairman should only show up sometimes, to test how it's going, and wouldn't be on every episode. There was no clear reason to have a psychic on a cooking show... There must be something sinister involved!!!!!!1!1!oneoneone
* If Hosoki were Chairman, there would be a mutiny. There were times during tasting when she's been a complete and utter bitch. No...

When the 21st Century battles were held, both Sakai and Morimoto lost their battles, to their longtime rival and an American upstart respectively. Having lost face so publicly and in such important battles, Kaga faked his death so that he could disappear for good. He was only brought out of his self-imposed exile when his nephew approached him with the plans for Iron Chef America, and then only to give his blessing (a blessing his other nephew, who tried to continue Iron Chef in Japan, sorely lacked).

Okay, this is part RuleOfCool here. But Chairman Mark could have pulled a page from his uncle; who knows, maybe DiabolicalMastermind-ness runs in the Kaga family. And Alton Brown certainly holds a lot more power here than Kenji Fukui ever did, and is on equal standing with the Chairman.

Alton Brown DOES hold a lot more power than his predecessors, and he is credited with hosting duties in the credits. (Mark Dacascos isn't even IN the credits.) It's quite possible that ''he'' was the one to revive the Gourmet Academy; he placed Mark as a figurehead to give Iron Chef America some credibility.
*A bit more telling evidence: You'd think the Chairman would be more heavily involved in ''The Next Iron Chef'', since, you know, whomever wins becomes his newest [[strike: minion]] Iron Chef. Yet all the supervising and overseeing is done by Alton Brown. Hell, in the second season Chairman Mark isn't even ''at'' Kitchen Stadium, he relays his messages through video.

The Next Iron Chef competition was held because Mario Batali had left the Food Network over a contract dispute. The Food Network just announced a second season of The Next Iron Chef. Presumably, this means one of the current Iron Chefs is leaving. We don't know who, but three of them have good reason to:

** Based on the preview for the final episode of ''The Next Iron Chef'', it looks like Cat Cora will be the one leaving.

It has just been announced that Chairman Mark is on DancingWithTheStars (American vs.) this season. Anyone who has watched recent seasons of that show know that, underneath the heartwarming vignettes and beautiful moves, it's a blood sport -- both contestants and pros get injured frequently. And they are encouraged to stay in while injured. (Last season, two "dances" had to be judged via rehearsal footage.) In short, it is one of the few competitions even more dangerous than IronChef.

*That is quite possibly the most awesome thing I ever heard. The only way this WMG could get better is if it doesn't go [[MemeticMutation just as planned]] and Chairman Mark comes back and puts Alton in his place.

*** Yeah but chances are there's some sort of SpannerInTheWorks. No clue what yet, but it's out there.
** It appears to have failed so far. Chairman Mark kept taping for IronChef even while he was rehearsing for "Dancing," and he came out unharmed -- though his professional dancer-partner Lacey Schwimmer got hurt twice! The first time was a muscle pull; the second time was, apparently, a KiAttack that Mark deflected that then his Lacey. (He tells her, "Go home!") Chairman Mark just got voted out, so he may come roaring back to Kitchen Stadium yet.

** Oops. Chairman Mark is (as is custom) appearing on the DancingWithTheStars finale. And Alton must have done some fine manipulations: Chairman Mark is supposed to face off against Chuck Liddell of the Ultimate Fighting League... <shudder>

And all of Iron Chef was a game between himself and other witches in what's known as the realm of gods to decide who was superior. Chairman Kaga was an image of himself to allow himself to play. The Iron Chefs were his "furniture" (a term used in Umineko for servants summoned by a witch). And in the end, the only challenge Kaga had was himself.

* In a crossover with a DeathNote WMG, Kaga could ''possibly'' have been an opponent to the witches Kira and Lawliet in the game that led to the events of Death Note (movie canon only). The most telling evidence to that is the fact that Soichiro Yagami greatly resembles Chairman Kaga. If he did, he technically won that game, due to having the last piece standing, but it would have been a PyrrhicVictory.

Chairman Mark's ambition is to return Iron Chef to Japan and reign there as true Chairman. The show may be over in Japan, but Kaga's legendary status as Chair of Chairs still stretches over Mark, who wants to reign under his own steam. He is slowly amassing his own army of Iron Chefs to return and challenge Kaga's chefs. An epic clash in Kitchen Stadium will ensue. Morimoto will defect halfway through the battle and sabotage Team America's dishes. The Chairmen will have a Ham off which will end with Mark fracturing his hip. All will seem lost for Iron Chef America until...

Going off the "Alton Brown is TheStarscream" theories, Alton Brown initially proposed this competition under the impression that these new Iron Chefs would be wordlessly loyal to the Chairman. (Batali's fallout with Food Network stems from his realizing the horrible truth behind Kitchen Stadium. He will be victim of a tragic umami-related death soon.) Alton realizes that Chairman Mark's ambition to usurp Kaga is foolish in its own right, but he sees a possibility in the NIC competition. Unbeknownst to Mark, Symon is already working for Alton; Morimoto will join him soon after. Along with the Next Iron Chef, Morimoto, and Symon, Alton Brown will hang back during the Iron Chef War until Sakai has exhausted himself and Team America is all but depleted. Morimoto will reveal his true allegiance to Alton Brown and, with a unprecedented display of grandiosity, will cast both Kaga and Mark down and reign as the true Chairman with Morimoto, Symon and the Next Iron Chef (who will be Mehta).

*** [[spoiler: (It is Garces.)]]

[[WMG: Bobby Flay really is AnIcePerson.]]
In the eggnog/ice sculpture battle, someone joked about Old Man Winter looking a lot like Flay. And well...[[RuleOfCool that'd be cool, admit it.]]

Maybe it's a part of one of the above WMGs, maybe not. But seeing how Alton did say "so this is how it feels" and touted himself (a little exaggerated, but what do you expect) as a force to be reckoned with. He wants to challenge an Iron Chef. And it's not like there isn't a precedent, Yukio Hattori had challenged two Iron Chefs before (and lost).

As for why Mark hasn't accepted Alton's challenge, depending on how you view him, he either wants to spare Alton the possible agony of defeat or doesn't want to run the risk of Alton ''winning'' and gaining more clout in Kitchen Stadium.
* After some more thinking, this troper's even thought of who would be substitute commentator should Alton challenge an Iron Chef. It'd be one of three choices:
** Ted Allen. He knows as much about food as Alton, and he's experienced in commentating: He had been a floor reporter alongside Kevin Brauch in the Thanksgiving special.
** One or more of the Iron Chefs. Who better to talk about a battle than those that have done it before? Plus, there is a precedent: Iron Chef Ishinabe filled in for Hattori during his first battle. (Personally, if it's this, this troper hopes it's both Flay and Symon. The banter would be hilarious)
** A former challenger. Probably one from Food Network's stable. Again, a precedent: long time Iron Chef rival Toshiro Kandagawa filled in for Hattori during his ''second'' battle.

[[WMG: There is a war going on, but not between Kaga, Mark, and Alton, but between Mark and the Chairman from the Japan Cup.]]
The Chairman from the Japan Cup is also one of Kaga's nephews. He tried to carry on his uncle's legacy, but failed spectacularly at it. Meanwhile, Mark tried elsewhere, in America, where Iron Chef was still a popular show, and succeeded where the Chairman failed. The Chairman, bent on revenge against Mark for stealing what he feels is rightfully his, is secretly training the six remaining Iron Chefs for a battle royale against Mark's Iron Chefs. Morimoto will be specifically targeted for 'turning traitor' and going to Mark's side.

Meanwhile, Mark's aware of this, hence why he held the two Next Iron Chef competitions: to build his numbers up so he can be evenly matched against the Chairman. Batali leaving threw Mark for a loop, but he's got an ace in the hole: Alton Brown. All the supposed antagonism between them is to throw off the Chairman (who might be watching the show), but Mark might name ''Alton'' an Iron Chef as well, either by giving Alton the same wager Kaga gave Hattori (defeat an Iron Chef, you can become one yourself), or by an (for lack of a better term) impromptu knighting on the day of reckoning. That'd put the battle lines as thus:

Or in other words, why would Alton try to usurp Chairman Mark, when he's due to inherit Kitchen Stadium soon anyway? For reasons currently unknown, Mark has decided to retire, and rather than close down Kitchen Stadium as his uncle had, he decided to name Alton Brown his successor. The hard time he gives Alton is because he's a believer of 'tough love', unsurprising given his martial arts background. And this is also why Alton had a big hand in ''The Next Iron Chef'' and filled the Chairman's role in the Super Chef battle: so he's not a complete novice when Mark finally hands the reins over to him.

Check the France special. When Kaga is talking to Pierre Gagnaire, and later to the Duc and Duchesse de Brissac, there is no translator in sight. (Yes, I know, OOCly the translator would be out of shot to make the film look better, but I'm talking ICly.) Now the question becomes, ''why'' is Kaga fluent in French? Dollars to donuts he spent many years in France before going back to Japan to found his Kitchen Stadium.

...Okay, I'll just cop to thinking of him as TheScrappy.