For two seasons, the hit NBC series “This is Us” left a mysterious hole at the center of its family saga: What caused the death of Jack Pearson, the loving husband of Rebecca and adored father of three? Well, fans finally got an answer. It’s the night of the Super Bowl, and Jack powers down the family’s ancient slow cooker used to make chili. He turns out the lights and heads to bed. In the dark, we see the slow cooker briefly flicker on and catch flame. Jack’s fate is sealed by a janky cooking gadget.
The hours after the episode aired were devastating for viewers, but it was toward Crock-Pot that fans directed their anger over their favorite character’s demise. Grief-stricken brides removed slow cookers from wedding registries and mothers everywhere threw them out their windows. Fans on social media even demanded justice as if a real person had been murdered.
The show is famous for triggering strong emotions in its fans, however, no one could have anticipated the intensity of the rage that would be unleashed. The choice of a slow cooker as a fatal arbitrary weapon was a plot device that wouldn’t be obvious to viewers and wouldn’t place blame for Jack’s death on other characters. The slow cooker could easily have been replaced by another kitchen appliance like a toaster, dishwasher, or cherished coffeemaker.
Crock-Pot, meanwhile, determined that it had no choice but to play along. They launched a twitter account just to comfort fans over the loss of Jack, and at the same time, share facts about fire safety. After “Unplug me . . . love, Jack” appeared to be popping up on Etsy, and Google searches for “Crock-Pot” spiked, #CrockPotIsInnocent soon began trending. "My InstaPot would never betray me like that!” became watercooler banter. The meme came full circle just before the Super Bowl, when that hashtag was used in an ad released by “This Is Us” in partnership with Crock-Pot, showing Jack Pearson ladling himself a bowl of chili out of a pot and beseeching fans to “find the ability to forgive.”
But in the end, Crock-Pot’s TV cameo may have been a succès de scandale. The following episode of “This Is Us” revealed that Jack and his family made it out of their burning house unscathed, but Jack went back inside to save his daughter’s dog. The extra smoke he inhaled during that rescue mission sent him into cardiac arrest. The night that episode aired, just as quickly as the Crock-Pot drama unfolded, a new narrative took hold: Blame It On The Dog.
While chili is typically the first recipe I make in my slow cooker on the first day of September, it is painfully too soon. In the meantime, treat your Crock-Pot well, and don't forget to "Plug It In...love, Xandy."
My #CrockPotIsInnocent Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
INGREDIENTS
1 pound boneless skinless chicken thighs
8 ounces mushrooms jarred
1 cup frozen cut carrots
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon dried parsley
1 teaspoon dried onion powder
1 teaspoon dried garlic powder
3 cups chicken stock
For later:
1 cup heavy cream
3 tablespoons butter
1 box Uncle Ben’s Wild Rice with seasoning packet
Salt and pepper to taste
INSTRUCTIONS
Place all ingredients except for cream and rice in the slow cooker and stir to combine seasonings.
Cover and cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 6-8 until chicken is fully cooked through.
Using a spatula or forks gently break the chicken apart into bite-sized chunks.
Stir in cream, rice, and seasoning packet.
Cover and cook on high for 1 to 1 1/2 hours until rice is tender.
Note: You may need to add more cream or chicken stock according to the desired thickness and cook time.
