Take the Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives,” sprinkle in a little of the Travel Channel’s “Man vs. Food,” keep it local and what do you have?

This one’s easy – “Fed and Faded,” a new online video sensation that’s taking Topeka by storm.

The brainchild of Joey Little, aka Joey Bagzz of Topeka radio fame, “Fed and Faded” is a low-budget – make that virtually no budget – video series that follows a group of hungry guys and gals to area mom and pop joints, where we – the viewer – get to watch them wolf down an assortment of locally prepared, one-of-a-kind food items.

The idea isn’t just to watch other folks wolfing down mountains of food, but rather to get us interested in checking out the various eateries for ourselves.

You know, support local businesses and keep dollars right here in Topeka.

Little came up with the idea for “Fed and Faded” back in June, when he went with some buddies to the BBQ Shack in Paola. The goal of the 90-minute road trip was to see if anyone could down an entire sampler platter at the eatery by himself, which would be no small undertaking.

Almost as an afterthought, Little grabbed a video camera just before leaving for the BBQ Shack to chronicle the event.

Little borrowed his grandmother’s minivan and his friends crammed inside it. On the 75-mile journey to Paola, Bryan O’Connor, one of Little’s old high school friends, commented that if the sampler platter lived up to its hype, everyone was going back to Topeka “fed and faded.” Fed, as in eating their fill, and faded, referring to falling asleep in the van on the way back thanks to their full stomachs.

After getting back to Topeka from Paola, Little edited the video footage into a 12-minute package. He then posted it on a Facebook page and on YouTube.

The response was overwhelming, and a light bulb went on inside Little’s head.

Why not visit more local places and tape the expeditions – both as a way to have fun with friends and as a way of showcasing local restaurants, which otherwise could get lost in the franchise shuffle?

So, Little and his entourage went to the Almost Home Café in Grantville, where the crew took on a stack of monster pancakes.

The crew then put down some of Porubsky’s famous hot pickles during a live broadcast of “On the Other Hand” on AM580 WIBW.

Then, on Saturday, deep dish Chicago pizzas were tackled at Via’s Pizzeria, across the street from Gage Park in west Topeka.

In addition to a single video camera, lights and a microphone on a stand were in place inside the dining room. Taping began at 2 p.m., so as not to be in the house during a rush-hour period. Five teams of a man and a woman each wore black T-shirts with “Fed and Faded” printed in white across the front.

New on this show was the addition of women to the show. Monica Wells, of Topeka, had seen the YouTube videos, but was dismayed that only guys got to take part in the eatfests.

“I told Joey, ‘Girls can eat just as much as guys,’” Wells said while awaiting her pizza Saturday at Via’s. “So, he set it up, and here we are.”

Shalyn Marsh is producer of the series, acting as the calm in the eye of the storm. She said “people just loved” the first episodes on YouTube, which led to the other installments. “Joey loves to support local businesses,” she said.

The shows are starting to take on a life of their own.

Little said visitors to the Facebook page are now suggesting other eateries for the crew to visit. He said he already has a few in mind, such as Oscar’s for “50 cent taco night,” College Hill Tavern for the chicken-wing special on Monday nights and Sweet Pea’s for the humongous chili dogs that are served there.

“What we want to feature,” he said, “is the places we go and the cool stuff they have.”

It isn’t all about food, however.

The folks who eat the food are highlighted and allowed to give their two cents on the food and just about anything else.

Little said the personalities of the “Fed and Faded” crew are “second to none.”

As for the production values, Little said, people seem to enjoy the “rawness” of the programs – and the fact they aren’t as polished as some of their network counterparts.

The eateries agree to be featured and also reap a nice financial benefit, Little said, as the “Fed and Faded” crew purchases all the food it consumes.

“We pay for everything,” he said. “We don’t want the places to give us anything for free.”

On Saturday, Little did allow that he “picked up the sodas for everybody, but that’s the only thing.”

Back to that first road trip to Paola – when he was at the BBQ Shack, Little said he saw a world map stretched out across a wall. Pins were placed on the map, indicating the homes of various customers, places like Ireland and Australia.

The BBQ Shack was featured on “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives” and no doubt got some of its business as a result of that telecast.

Little saw the beauty of doing something, albeit on a smaller scale, to highlight local eateries.

“If this is working on a global scale,” he said, “why can’t we break it down for local places?” It would be great if this could happen for Topeka.”

Phil Anderson writes for The Topeka Capital-Journal. He can be reached at (785) 295-1195 or phil.anderson@cjonline.com.


The Fed and Faded crew in action
A look at previous installments in the online video series.

BBQ Shack: The Sampler Platter

Almost Home Café: Monster Pancakes

Porubsky's: Hot Pickles

Via's Pizzeria: Deep Dish Chicago Pizza Trailer