The Cooking Channel (not to be confused with the Food Network!) is showing reruns of The Galloping Gourmet from the ealry 1970s.

This is the earliest cooking show I remember ever watching complete episodes of.

That’s because Graham Kerr was a comedian in the guise of a foodie. He had his schticks, his physical comedy bits, his gags, his mugging funny faces. And because his act was grounded in the presentation of a real recipe of the day, he always had a narrative “through line” to get back to.

The Cooking Channel’s web site calls The Galloping Gourmet “a U.K. import.” Kerr was a Brit, but the show was made in Toronto.

As many of you know, Kerr’s lived in northwest Washington for the past few decades. He’s become an outspoken evangelist for healthy eating and sustainable, local farming.

The buttery, creamy, high-fat-content entrees he used to make on TV are no longer in his repertoire.

But it’s still fun to watch him making them, via the magic of videotape.