Stanley Tucci is opening up about turning down opportunities to take part in food competition shows.
While promoting the new season of Tucci in Italy, the Devil Wears Prada 2 star revealed the reason why he’s opted not to participate in culinary competitions.
“I don’t like competition when it comes to art or food,” Tucci said on the Happy Sad Confused podcast. “I think it’s silly. I know they’re hugely successful, but I just find it false and weird.”
The actor added, “To me, cooking is the opposite of that. It should be a thing that brings people together, not separates them. A thing that allows for communion, not for competition.”
Tucci, who hosts the National Geographic travel and food series Tucci in Italy and previously starred in CNN’s Searching for Italy, finds the competitive aspect “strange” and grading the art of it all “completely subjective.”
“I mean, it’s wonderful when you get nominated for stuff. It’s wonderful when you get an award, but do I really believe … You know, because my dad was an art teacher, and he always said, ‘How am I supposed to grade this and this, and this?’” he said. “They’re all different people, and they’re all different perceptions of what they’re seeing. It’s completely subjective. So, how do you grade that? How do you say, ‘You’re the best actor?’ Doesn’t make any sense.”
With that said, it seems like Tucci making an appearance on Bravo’s Top Chef or Fox’s MasterChef is unlikely anytime soon.
The second season of Tucci in Italy is set to premiere on May 18 at 8 p.m. on National Geographic with episodes streaming the next day on Disney+ and Hulu.
Watch Tucci’s full interview in the video below.
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