It was a week of surprises and turnarounds. Jamika and Jeffrey tumble. Debbie gets whacked. Cameras scare Michael. Katie shows some spunk. Melissa shines through. Here’s where my mind is at after this week:
Melissa: Momma Mia! What a week – in both food and camera. In Bobby’s Burger Challenge, Chef Flay was torn between putting her burger and Michael’s on his menu. On the Intrepid Challenge, her Skirt Steak Tostada was my favorite and the crowd’s: richly flavored, tender steak with an expertly sweet/hot/ smoky mango salsa. Impressive. Equally, she finally found the right energy for TV: genuine, bright, and warm. The soldiers loved her. I’m hoping all that mommy mayhem stuff is a thing of the past.
Michael: Cameras and Crowds. They’re different. The crowds love Michael – the soldiers were tickled by his bold, funny personality. The camera – not so much. If he can’t make friends with the lens, this ain’t gonna work. No such issues with food. His culinary talent shines brightly. Bobby, Susie and I have loved feasting on his skillful and creative Asian-influenced dishes. But that makes a restaurant star, not a television star. If he can master the camera, he’s got the personality and the food chops to have a shot.
Jeffrey: The runner stumbles. No doubt Jeffrey is one of the strongest cooks in the crew. Mostly, his dishes have been beautifully executed. In presentations, he’s been Prince Charming. And yet, his Lobster Pot Pie with Blueberry Infusion is among the worst dishes I’ve eaten. The soldiers take on Jeffrey? “Bland.” Just an off week? No one can describe food poetically like Jeffrey. But no one is having a harder time sharing anything personal about himself, his life, his world. Plus there’s a predictable evenness I want him to break out of. It’s what will determine if he’s an outstanding cooking teacher or a true Food Network star.
Jamika: Breakin’ My Heart. So far, she’s been a standout in my book for her effervescence, sweet strength and cooking skills. But this week, her culinary savvy was nowhere in sight. Unimpressive burger. Inedibly gluey potatoes. It’s like some of the magic dust that coated both her and Jeffrey wore off this week. Still, her presentation on the Intrepid was funny, sassy and memorable. And she glows on camera. So I’m hoping it was just a bad week.
Katie: Signs of life. The soldiers enjoyed her personality – they found her “cute” “relatable” and “down-to-earth.” She’s been struggling to find her food voice and to translate her spunky personality to the screen. Best week so far for the latter. But once again, meat and heat are doing her in (more raw food). Her almond cornmeal catfish finally showed off some cooking skills. I feel for this lovely young pro. So I’m really hoping she can get it together, really fast.
Debbie: Rough Week. We covered her swollen purple bruise with makeup, and I wish you could have seen it. Painful just to look at, so I give her points for soldiering on (no pun intended). Still, her chicken dish was mediocre at best. Covered in long chives, it looked like she had just mown the grass. But her warmth and humor came through to the crowd. OK, the pity party is over. I hope she can quickly get past this incident and regain her footing.
That’s the view from where I sit. Why do I know you’re not going to be shy about disagreeing with me?
I did not like Debbie on the first show when she did the food shopping that she made sure all her items were purchased but due to the high price, she chopped many of the others off the list. I knew right there she was going to be this way. I have stopped watching many shows that lacked truth I think this will be another unless the judges do what they should have done from the beginning. GET RID OF DEBBIE
Bob,
I was totally MIFFED off with Debbie this week, I watched the episode both times last night, and I have to say ’should’ Debbie win this competition I will NEVER watch her, as annoying as Michael is, and its mostly just the way he talks that just grated on my nerves, has got the skills he’s way more likeable than Debbie,
You cut the guy for not having enough recipes of his own, and then Teddy went for the same reason, now it came down to Michael and Debbie, and I think based on how you voted to get rid of Teddy, Debbie should have been the one to go.
She did NO delegating, she helped out absolutely none in the kitchen, it was all about her, and she won’t hesitate to stab someone else in the back, I’m sorry, good food or not, I won’t watch her. The first time she did it, I was a little more willing to let it slide, it was the first event, but she is so focused on her that there she forgets that there is no I in TEAM, and she put one in there.
I know Michael hates the cameras, he was a sweet likable guy, he was funny to boot, but as you say he hated the Camera, and I can promise you right now that Debbie based on this show and her attitude will not be as popular as others.
I watched the voting last night after the show, and Voters seem to be siding with you.
You yourself said Teddy had the cooking chops, but he went because of his stunts.
Well, its time for the Big B Debbie to go too.
Mooch
I’ve been watching every week, most episodes more than once, and for the past couple of weeks I feel very strongly that Melissa has GOT TO BE the next Food Network Star. I am a great fan of the food network, with Ina Garten being my very favorite. I love Giada and Rachel as well. Other favorites are Paula Deen and Tyler Florence, Of the past winners, Big Daddy is great! I can’t even remember the name of Season 3’s winner - did catch her show once or twice and was completely bored by it. I cannot see Debbie or Jeffrey as someone I would tune in to see. Jamika is charming and likeable.
Well, I am not sure if anyone disagrees with Jeffry as the winner of this episode. Jeffry is just
a sweat heat, and in my humble opinion should win. I don’t know about anyone else, but I don’t
really care about the story telling part of the competition, as I’m not trying to find a friend.
Bobby does not tell stories very often. Nor does Guy, he brings people on his shows, which cuts
the need for story telling. Guy and Bobby are my top favorite hosts on FN. I don’t feel that
they are any more interesting when they are forced to come up with some story. In fact, I get
bored with all the stories. I watch the FN to get ideas about various ways of entertaining with
food. I would like to watch someone who brings food alive, and makes me feel special for
listening to him/her. I have never seen anyone do that better than Jeffry.
Melissa is great too. She is chuck full of advice, methods and good tricks, and delivers all of
that with a good heart. So I would like her to win if Jeffry does not. In fact I would like both
of those two to end up with their own shows regardless of who wins.
Jamica is a really nice lady too, a great chef, who is also gorgeous. But I feel that she has no
middle ground. She is either excellent or very bad.
My two choices for elimination were Debbie and Michael. Michael seemed like a likeable person,
and could cook. However, I would have a problem taking cooking instructions from anyone who
looked like that, and behaved like the opposite gender. I have absolutely no problems with gays,
some of my own good friends have been gay, and I really wanted Paul “Plumy” to win a couple of
years ago. But Michael’s behavior, tone of voice and repetitiveness left me really annoyed. I
really believe that appearance, as well as natural tone of voice and behavior should be
considered along side character and integrity.
And, what can one say about Debbie. She is a professional manipulator and con artist, and is
continually acting a martyr. Her integrity has been questioned a few times, but she has survived
until now. I don’t believe that anyone would wish to have her as a host, or they would need their
heads testing. She has repeatedly told us that she is Korean without tying it to anything
tangible. Garlic is used by all the countries that know, and I have family all over the world.
Ginger is very widely used as well. What do those ingredients have to do with Korea? Goodness
only knows… Until last night, she had not even cooked anything Korean anyway…
She needs to be eliminated ASAP.
Just a question. Food Network has repeated ly stated that their viewers rely on correct information/integrity of the host, and is against misrepresentation. They have also stated that they employ hosts based on what the viewers want.
I agree whole-heartedly with both these statements. My question is:
How exactly does the food network know what the viewers want? People are being employed without any input from the viewers, their opinions and requests are mostly ignored, their emails are unanswered, and even here, we can only say who should be eliminated. The only part in this competition in which any viewer would, at this tme, be able to have any say, is who should win. Yet we are allowed to do that. We say who we think should be eliminated after the episode has aired, long after the finalist has been chopped anyway.
So, how do you consult us on what we want to see?
Bob, Oh, Bob, I don’t know if u r reading the comments. This has been since 1st episode that we can see thru Debbie, except the judges. Most of us say that integrity is important to whom u hired. We know u have alredy hired whoever by now…I hope u & the judges have enough senses to hire the right person….Although we on’t have smell-a-vision, but I hope u trust your viewers that we have some “food” senses and character judgement. Debbie is the worst contestant in this contest since the 1st year that this show began. I have never seen anyone who is so selfish as her. I really think u need to think about having the viewers vote on the finalist and winner instead of in these past years that only the judges could. I think u value our opinon…that fact that all the judges sided with Debbie is an awful “SHAME”! Just because she can cook “KOREAN”, doesn’t make her a versital(?) cook, only a good KOREAN cook. And slapping marinade on meat, anyone can do…..I don’t see her cook anything than KOREAN! GEE! Why don’t we have a KOREAN cook off and see which finalist can do better! This is worst I have seen in the “Next Food Network Star”!
Oh, by the way, if Debbie is reading…….How do u feel that so many people can see thru your BS!
Fron the start Debbie has proven to be dishonest and a liar. She is someone that I would invite into my home. No way would I look at a show she hosted.
From the chefs I do watch on your channel, I get the warm fuzzies about them. I feel like they are my friend. I have developed a trust level over time.
Now here we have Debbie. I would not trust anything that comes out of her mouth. I don’t care how well she cooks.
I really like Melissa first and then Jeffrey second. Jamika only opens her mouth to change feet. Debbie hosting a show would make 99.9% of the regular FoodTV viewers to turn the TV off!!! I am a regular viewer and love some of the hosts more than others, but usually will watch any of them if they are making an interesting recipe, but I would NOT watch her if she was showing me how to print a million dollars. What do I know, I thought Lisa was the BEST chef last season!!!
I half to agree with most all of the comments about Debbie. From day one she has been so self centered and Korean Who cares if she is Korean or not. I can’t believe that the Judges find her to be so sweet, she has really pulled the wool over their eyes. I was thrilled to death when Melissa spoke up at this last show. Get rid of Debbie she is a liar and thinks nothing of any one else or their feelings. Barb Nezgoda
I have been watching the food network star. Not only is it entertaining, but it inspires me to cook up a little something more than the “norm”. I am a regular watcher of most of the programming on the food network channel, and have to tell you that if Debbie is the winner this season and has her own show, that is one that I wouldn’t watch. I find her to be fake. Whenever she’s made a mistake, she hasn’t owned up to it, putting it off onto being someone elses fault.
If the decision was up to me, Melissa would the best choice!
I can’t believe that Debbie is still in the running. She has been dishonest and lied about something every week. I just can’t believe she is still in. She should have been gone the first week. If she won, I would not watch her show……is FoodNetwork saying it is OKAY to lie and cheat?????????
I just watched the next food network star episode and you let Jamika go!!!! WHY??? Because she didnt smile!!! None of the other stars smile all the time eather. Debbie didnt smile alot eather. Jamika isnt a lier, and doesn’t blame others and is not selfish. I
dont like her and will not watch her show!!!!Debbie lied again this week. She said the capers were in the dressing, then said she didn’t have capers.WHAT IS SHE GOING TO DO ON HER ON SHOW!!!!
You guys already picked her. What kind of contest is this if you
already picked the winner.Debbie should have been the first to go.I just dont get this.
I think that Debbie should have been the one who went home 2 night! Who wants 2 see a cheater on foodnetwork. She did not use all of her ingredients because that is the true Debbie!! She has been doing what she wants 2 do only! I think Jamika should be asked 2 come back! She has the right 2 her opinion.! This is 2009!! I like that about her. Because she gave a white man her opinion you cast her off!! Get real people !!!
I don’t understand why Debbie is still in running. In the one of the first shows, when she told the fib about how well her group did in the store, you told her that integrity is important. Almost every week she does something dishonest. How long will you ler get away with this? Honesty is very important to me and she has faied this week after week
Debbie should of been taken out in the first episode. She has made many mistakes and then lies about it and gets all tearie eyed. She is a phony. Knows how to manipulate the panel. Watch certain episodes everyday on the foodnet work, if Deb wins she willl not be on my list to watch.
If Debbie were to win I would not watch her show.
She can cook and she can tell stories .
But, she has been underhanded / dishonest any way she can throughout the whole
compitition . The scary thing about this is she acts like she has no clue she does these
things ( oh she knows ) . The stories she tells leads me to believe that , thats just what they are stories ( no truth to them, a line of Bull ) she’s gifted alright.
I would’t want to watch her show because I wouldn’t feel like I could believe what she has to say.
In my community we are hoping to see Melissa win and Jeffery a close second
I personaly think Debbie should have already been sent home. She is not a team player, and if she is chosen I will stop watching the food net work. I don’t like the way she blames everyone else for her mistakes,
Perhaps we need some new Food Network judges. What’s with the story telling obsession and personality the judges continually comment about? BORING. Are we going to eat the stories and personalites?? Let the food speak for itself, and the rest will come through.
Debbie equals overkill with the Korean bit. We are all “something” but don’t mention it everytime we speak.
I would watch a Melissa or Jeffrey show.
Please tell the current chefs to stop squeezing the lemons through their hands, It’s disgusting, How much can a reamer or squeezer cost?
I will send them each one. Also, there’s no need to separate an egg white through your dirty hands. You can use the egg shell halves.
I love, love, love Foodnetwork and it is on my list of daily TV shows. However, I have been extremely disappointed this year in the New Net Work Star program. I will be heart-broken if the network picks someone of Debbie’s low morals and work ethics. You have such great personalities now and lets keep up the good work. Go find someone like Paula, Rachael, The Neelys, Guy, etc.
Sharon Clemmer
Has anyone noticed how the vote for Debbie to go home is going down? Is anyone voting for her? From all I’ve read not many like her. Did you vote to keep her? Not me!!!
ADIOS DEBBIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kept meaning to post this, so here goes…..While I never thought Katie really “had what it took”, I was surprised by Bob saying (in the episode where they were “on a show”) that she rarely looked up at the camera. HELLO….of all the shows I watch (and there are several) the only ones who constantly look up at the camera are, Aida, Sandra Lee, Claire Robinson, Giada, Paula Deen, Robin Miller….those who don’t are many including Rachael Ray, Barefoot Contessa, the Neeley’s and BOBBY FLAY!!!!
As a faithful viewer of the food network, i watch all of your
shows when i am home BUT i would NOT watch Melissa. On one
elimination she threw someone under the bus and no one caught on
to it. She is no better than Debbie and Debbie deserves to be there more than Melissa. Please pick Jeffrey.