It's taken a while, but competition barbecue is finely getting the exposure it deserves as TLC debuts an eight episode reality program this evening entitled BBQ Pitmasters. 

Developed by competition cook John Markus in conjunction with Original Media, the program will follow several teams (Smoke In Da Eye and the rest of the East Coast cookers not included) along the competition circuit and give viewers a first hand look at the highs and lows of contest life.

Before tonight's 10pm EST premier, we took a few moments to sit down with Harry Soo of Slap Yo Daddy BBQ, one of the competing teams and the only team in the history of the Kansas City Barbecue Society to take first in all four categories at a single contest!

SmokeInDaEye asks:  You spent a good portion of your competition season in front of a camera.  Is there any one moment you hope gets left on the editing room floor?

Harry Soo replies:  Yes, we bombed at the Royal Open with our worst finish ever!  256 out of about 500 teams.  Our chicken was 315th and brisket was 385th.  I overslept and it was downhill after that...

SIDE:  I know the feeling.  I overslept as well during the Royal Invitational this year.  Jumped up, one contact popped out of my eye, and I got the ribs going half blind!  What moment are you most looking forward to reliving on TV?

HS:  Any moments we didn't come in DAL (Dead Ass Last)!

SIDE:  What's the most difficult part of competing while on camera? 

HS:  When the red REC light comes on, your brain checks out and you don't even know your name! Took a while to get used to it.  I want to thank Eric, Jordan, Carter, and especially Lindsay for being so patient and supportive.

SIDE:  A lot of folks would pay some good money to come and learn how to cook competition barbecue along side you and the other competitors.  Did you find yourself changing up your recipes or techniques for the cameras? 

HS:  As Myron [Mixon] says best, "you pay and I'll teach!"  I did a few things when the cameras were not rolling; hey, you've got to protect some secrets!

SIDE:  I hear that!  Which of the other six teams did you fear the most every weekend? 

HS:  All of them. On any given day, any team can win and every dog will have his day!

SIDE:  Are there any teams that you wish had been part of the series?

HS:  With 5,000 teams, I can think of plenty of interesting [participants].  It would be great to show a little geographic diversity [other] than three Texas, two Virginia, and one Georgia teams.  Slap Yo Daddy was the only team west of Texas to be on the show.  Also, diversity of pits would be nice.  We had, at one contest, four Jambo's among seven teams at Mineral Wells.  There are plenty of other great smokers out there.  Don't get me wrong, Jaime's Jambo are among the best in the world (I would love to cook on one) but there are pellet cookers, Ugly Drum Smokers, home made propane tanks, gravity fed smokers, rotiserrie, and many more.

SIDE:  Yep, I, like you, am a big fan of the $200 Weber Smokey Mountains but wouldn't kick a Jambo outta bed!  Will you come back if they extend an invite for season two? 

HS:  What!  Are you crazy!  And be in a shark tank with other BIG sharks trying to bite your fins off?  Of course I'll come back!  Wouldn't miss it for the world.  Seriously, all 7 pitmasters and teams became one BIG family together with the fantastic crew (both Brian's and Jim's).  I will pipe in for the crew and suggest you negotiate craft services for them.  It was brutal at times for the cast but more so for the crew and on many occassions they had no food nor refreshments!

Thanks for your time, Harry.  Good luck with the show and we'll see you on the circuit!  Now here's a sneak peek at the action you can expect over the coming weeks...

- SmokeInDaEye.com, Home of Bigger, Badder, Bolder Competition BBQ(c)