A True Inspiration

Merrill Howard Kalin brought smiles to millions of Internet geeks for years. The 45-year-old cooking guru lost his lifelong battle with retardation on June 20, 2008 at his home in Ohio. As a cable access television cooking show host, Merrill always seemed to shine when the camera rolled. Some of my favorite moments have to include: his accurate impersonations of celebrities, smashing lettuce (including "cwunching it up") onto an unwashed poultry cutting board, sounds of orgasms throughout the show, forgetting the address of the building his show is being taped in, being out of breath and having to drink water 34 seconds into the show, his use of the words Jesus Christ under his breath, jello salad, and preparing "licking good chicken." Although every one of these moments changed the way I think about cooking, his advice to "not cook alone" and "to not use a knife for ANYTHING" had the biggest impact on me. My life has never been the same since I first watched
The Merrill Howard Kalin Show last October. If I ever felt down, Merrill cheered me up. If I ever needed a laugh, Merrill was there. I think everyone who has ever thought about a future in the cooking industry owes you an enormous thank-you. I know Chef Gordon Ramsey would be proud of your extreme cleanliness and the amount of creativity you put into your dishes. I can smell the finger licking good chicken being baked, visualize the jello salad jiggle, and hear the words "Wowie Kazowie" echo throughout the pearly gates of heaven for eternities to come. Thanks MHK - and R.I.P.