I'm going to have to be completely honest and admit that I didn't catch the entire episode of The Next Food Network Star last night because I arrived home late from my grandfather's 90th birthday party (at a sushi restaurant, which I think speaks to his amazing condition). That means that you guys have to fill me in on any amazing details from the beginning of the show, if you have any to share.And while you think about that, I'll move on to the recap, because what I did see was pretty surprising.
Spoilers!
Let's start with the most surprising tidbit of the episode: Shane left.
I pegged him last week as a given for the top three, but this week the judges deemed him "too technical" and sent him packing. This saddens me, as I think I'd be far more likely to watch him than someone like Adam or Aaron, but it's definitely clear by now that the judges are trying to get as far away from "recent culinary school graduate" as possible.
For the challenge, contestants had to do execute an actual cooking demonstration in front of a live audience with Rachel Ray. In what seemed to me to be a direct imitation of Top Chef, the contestants were also each also paired with a girl scout, with whom they created their meal -- a healthy and delicious snack.
At the end of the day, Adam moved up in the ranks, and Aaron is still somewhere in limbo. I don't think it's really possible to predict at this point what will happen to these two. Kelsey and Lisa both choked a bit, and Kelsey was almost the one to leave. In the end, though, I think the judges probably realized how dry the show would be without her.
Admittedly, I'm pretty sad to see Shane go. When I think more about it, though, I start to believe that he didn't really have a chance at beating Kelsey or Lisa anyway, so it's not completely awful that he left at this stage in the game.
Next week, the contestants actually head to Las Vegas to compete. It should be, at the very least, entertaining.
7-07-2008 @4:24PM LizAndrsn said... I was so miffed at last night's outcome I had trouble sleeping. Here's my gripe:
Last week, Shane killed at both challenges. He has repeatedly received high praise for the taste of his food. He doesn't cry or whine. He won't back down from his skills or focus. The Judges comments that during this week's challenge, he seemed older than Kelsey. So what gives?
I'm beginning to think the fix is in. Lisa is going to end up TNFNS, regardless of what happens from here on out. I *so* am going to stop watching if this is how it turns out.
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7-07-2008 @5:23PM GL said... Well, that's the way it goes. I happen to think Lisa is the only one that should be TNFNS. Regardless of our individual feelings, they do have to make the choice they think is best for the network. I don't view that as having "the fix in".
My gripe isn't really who got kicked off or not, but I feel like the judges are giving some conflicting messages. Granted, I'm not seeing all of what they have to say, but I'm having a hard time determining what they are asking of some of the contestants.
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7-07-2008 @6:56PM Samme said... If Lisa could give Kelsey her expertise or Kelsey could give Lisa her stage presence the resulting combination would be a sure winner.
I was sure Lisa was going home after choking on-stage for almost a full minute. But Shane didn't even bother to learn his assistant's name or include her in the presentation. That was pretty horrible. It also made me feel angry at him and sorry for his brownie-scout. Bad TV. Probably the only thing that kept Lisa from going home for choking on stage was the fact that Shane didn't even look like he cared about doing what he was asked to do.
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7-07-2008 @8:36PM Bernie B said... Lisa seems to have cooking chops, but her personality is so forced/faked she comes off as food snobby and if she wins I will definitely NOT watch her show.
Kelsey is personable but reminds me too much of their other toothy upbeat Network Starts (Rachel and Giada). I'm trying to reduce the daily amount of sugar in my diet.
Aaron has potential if he can open up and become more interesting. I think he has good cooking chops and food experience, assuming he can loosen up a bit.
Adam gained a little credibility, but I still wonder if he has the food chops. Failed restaurant aside, he's made some serious mistakes till now. He has the personality, but can he really cook?
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7-08-2008 @4:14PM Janet said... Bob and Susie are two of the most unlikeable personalities on television. They both come off as smug , pretentious, contradictory, and just so white-bread and bland. No wonder they love Bobby Flay so much...douche of a feather, right? I can't stand any of them, which is why I never watch the show. I also couldn't stand how one week, they would critique a contestant's performance, and the next week, they would show a clip of that contestant saying how they were working on that critique...cut to judging and the judges would critique them on the very thing they told them to do last week!
To fix this show, Bob and Susie need to get back behind the camera where they belong and get some judges who are likable.
Also, one last thing about why I hate this show (or I guess Food Network in general)...Bob and Susie are responsible for turning Food Network into the garbage television it is today...here's a hint...even if a show is great or people love a particular host...it does not mean you have to show that show 50 times a day and make 15 spinoffs with the host!
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7-08-2008 @7:01PM wendyloreti said... Samme: I think Shane got saddled with quite a little brat. Did you see her during the planning session? She was not a pleasant little girl.
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7-09-2008 @1:25PM Stacie said... This show becomes less and less entertaining to me each week. Why is someone ALWAYS crying?? Seriously, who can get away with crying at work? These people lack some professionalism. None of the contestants impress me much...
But despite the fact that each week I wonder why I just wasted 40 minutes of my life watching it(at least it's not 60, thanks to Tivo), I still do. And this week I was reminded of the fact that Rachel Ray has gotten too big for her britches. I found her to be extremely obnoxious and unentertaining, to say the least - once again, I vowed not to watch any of her umpteen billion shows on TV.
And I couldn't agree more with Janet's comments.
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7-16-2008 @2:43PM Samantha said... Doesn't Shane already have his own cooking show on his local, independent channel? I think that is what makes him a bit reluctant to want to follow the rules and play the game. He did not embrace the challenge at all and seemed to think it was a bit beneath him. I think they made the right choice to send him packing. It's not about who is an amazing chef, but who will do what the network asks of them.
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