I really believed Debbie should have gone home this week. I don’t care how excellent her food was, her behavior was appalling. So how did she stay and Michael leave?
With four of us voting (Bobby, Susie, Ted & I), we decided to each write down our top and bottom finalists on a slip of paper. Nearly everyone had Michael in the bottom. But both Bobby and Ted thought that Debbie’s food was so extraordinarily good (and it was), that it should save her for this week. That left Michael as having the most votes to go home. I argued my case against Debbie, but was outvoted. Again.
We purposely toughen the challenges each week, to bring out the best and the worst in each individual. Here’s where the final five stand for me:
Michael: He seemed like a wild child this week – untamed, funny, but almost out of control. And repetitive (“Who loves you mommy?”). Uncharacteristically, nearly all of his food underwhelmed this week. He told us yet again that he prefers the crowd to the camera. In the words of Michael: HELLOOO! This is about television. Despite his being a seriously talented chef, and a funny, creative guy, the camera skills just aren’t there. So even if Debbie had gone this week as I wanted, I bet he would’ve gone next. Sorry.
Debbie: Her scorecard: Food: 10, Behavior: 0.
I was really turned off by the selfish behavior and false martyrdom that she exhibited this week (“I did it all for the team”). I voted for her to go home, and I bet most of you felt the same way. She’s a caterer for goodness sake! More than any other person there, she actually had the skills to carry off this tough party challenge. But she only focused on her dishes. Then, once again, she didn’t own up to it. The bummer is she’s got the natural camera skills and the cooking chops to ace these challenges without resorting to bad behavior. Thin ice.
Jeffrey: His food didn’t please many palates this week – his dishes were the Nikki Beach Chef’s least favorite and also didn’t impress the crowd. In contrast, his personality was at its best: warm, welcoming, charming and generous. You can see why this guy was a successful restaurateur. Still a contender.
Melissa: I am loving Melissa’s resilient, sunny, fighter spirit. Good for her that she questioned Debbie in the elimination room and stood up for herself. Her food was mixed this week: the veggie asada won’t win any beauty contests, but everybody loved its perfectly grilled vegetables and sweet and spicy sauce. While nobody dug the chicken bite with grilled onion, the salmon shooters were a clever party idea. Still impresses.
Jamika: She was overwhelmingly the crowd’s favorite personality. The clubbers also loved her Jerk Chicken. My biggest issues about Jamika are her inconsistency and her emotional transparency. Last week was as bad as this week was good. Of equal concern: Jamika has no filter – her performance shows 100% of whatever she’s feeling at the moment. A little of that is great and shows authenticity. But more often, no matter what’s really going on inside, this job is about consistently giving a bright, outgoing, star performance. Can she do this? Hope so. Because she still sparkles.
With only two weeks left before the finale, it’s do or die time. Next week, an Iron Chef challenge that pushes the cooking skills of all to the limits!
I WANT TO MAKE THE 3 COURSE DINNER THAT MELLISA PRESENTED TONIGHT.I WAS DROOLING FOR HER DESSERT AND POTATO PASTRY. THE CHICKEN DISH PRESENTATION WAS BEAUTIFUL!!SHE IS A NATURAL! A FEW EPISODES INTO HER NEW SHOW WILL PRODUCE A BIG FAN BASE.FAITH IS THE SUBSTANCE OF THINGS HOPED FOR THE EVIDENCE OF THINGS NOT SEEN!HAVE FAITH MELLISSA!
I think the judges made the right choice in sending Debbie home tonight. They talked about integrity being important from early on in the show, and Debbie displayed a lack of integrity several times (whether or not you want to call it lying). Perhaps that is what made her more “believable” in front of the camera – she was a natural at acting.
I would never watch Jeffrey in a million years!! Talk about NO personality…he is the biggest DUD, DUD, DUD!!
Do you think that perhaps the judges favor Debbie because the food network is looking for an Asian host?
Debbie should have been gone last week, for sure. But what is the appeal of Jeffrey? Yuck, I would NEVER watch his show. Bo-ring. Go, Melissa!
I’m glad they nixed debbie. she was a complete phony. Jeff’s gonna win…..
Wish Debbie had gone before Jamika – we can’t taste the food and we just see the dishonesty. It made me think Food Network will forgive awful behavior if the food tastes good. Why do people go on about how Debbie captures you with stories about her grandmother when it’s obvious you can’t believe anything she says? Also, Bobby Flay should not have given Jamika grief over the lack of Caribbean heat in her dishes – super spicy is not for everyone and she was cooking for a variety of people, not just him.
I’ve been wishing that Debbie would leave for weeks and weeks!! I’m glad she’s finally GONE!!!
Love the finalists. This is one of the best seasons!!
So glad Debbie is finally gone. The judges talk a lot about the “integrity” needed, but kept her too long. She berated another chef for doing her usual behavior. Jeff seems nice, but too boring to watch. Go Melissa!! I am so watching your show!
GOT UP AND DANCED A JIG LAST NIGHT AFTER THE ELIMINATION!!!!!!! How could they have kept Debbie on the show for so long is beyond me. MIchael may have been afraid of the camera, but I though he had personality and Jamika had a smile that lit the room when she came in(even though her emotions got the best of her in some cases), but they left before Debbie who was untrustworthy and very self-centered. Go Figure. Well the judges finally redeemed themselves and I feel the final two are the most deserving of beening there. I WISH THEM BOTH THE BEST OF LUCK (even though I am hopine Melissa wins).
I am glad Debbie was voted off. I didn’t like all the excuses she made up. I would never watch her show and I am a faithful Food Network fan !!
As so many before me have said I am soooooo glad that Debbie was given the boot last night. I’m really surprised that she lasted this long. From early on in the competition she has shown a lack of ethics and integrity toward the other contestants. Had she won the competition I would not have watched her show. I feel that the best 2 competitors made it to the finale. I am pulling for Melissa, but would tune in to either show. Thank you judges for finally ending Debbie’s run….
I’m glad Debbie’s gone b/c she’s not showing integrity at all…sham on you for your lies!!! I know it’s about competition but at the end of the day you still have to look in the mirror. Melissa…you go girl!!! You’ll have my vote for sure. I’m having a few friends over for wine and cheese and will definitely use your cheese choices.
I wouldn’t watch Melissa if she was the only one on Food Network! What a total “I” person! And she’s a stay @ home mom, not a working mom as she has said a couple of times. Should have kept Jamika, at least she had personality & spunk! Melissa… boring!
So happy that Debbie is gone. I hope she learns to take responsibility for her actions. Dishonesty will follow you wherever you go. I am happy that 2 completely different people are in the final, but I must say that I am pulling for Jeffrey. With so many strong personalities on the Food Network, it would be nice to have someone with a calming effect. Can’t wait to see the final show!
Liz has obviously never taken care of children full time. That is an extremely hard job to do if you do it right. How disrespectful to those of us who do that and take pride in it. Melissa has a wonderful personality and I think many people would watch her show.
I am soooo glad that Debbie was eliminated. I just did not like the way she handled herself. It was like she was a fake. I would not watch Jeffrey if he had a show it would be just simply toooo BORING!. Melissa is wonderful and keeps it real. GO MELISSA!!!!
Don’t the judges watch the taped footage that we all see on television, so they can get a glimpse of what the contestants are really like? I agree with all above who are extremely happy that Debbie is finally out!! I think Melissa would be energetic and fun to watch.
Hell to the YES Debbi should be gone !!. I would Never have watched her show ,FAKE FAKE . Thank goodness for the test you gave her ,what a bitch she turned out to be . I thought I was the only one to see her for what she was
I’ve been totally hooked on this show this season! Thought that Melissa might win since she is so upbeat and genuine. Glad she’s in the finale. Would definitely watch her show. She reminds me of Sarah Moulton, but with more smile! Sorry Jeffrey, too boring.
I really like Melissa, she very fun to watch and I can relate to her as I am also a stay at home mom!!! Best of Luck Melissa
I am very pleased with the 2 finalists – I like Melissa but don’t know if she could pull off a show every week and it not get “old” – I like Jeffrey, he is warm and when he talks about food I feel like he knows what he’s talking about.
I too thought Debbie should have been gone after the first week-definitely NOT a team player and sabotaging others who definitely should not have gone before she did-I think everyone would become very resentful of her ‘Korean’ background in a very short period of time!!
I wondered about the integrity of The Food Network when Debbie wasn’t eliminated much earlier! She couldn’t lie to the millions of viewers who saw her for what she was. Jeffrey and Melissa are talented and wonderful chefs. Good luck to them both!
I was in heaven when I saw Debbie get booted, What a scammer that girl was…..unable to own up to her own mistakes, her inability to tell facts, and being “KOREAN” I never saw a Korean dish from her, all talk, no bark….what a waste of female!!!!!!!!!!!
I’m also glad that Debbie is gone. She should have been eliminated 3 episodes ago. I hope that Melissa wins this week. She will give the food network a new sparkle. I will definitely watch her show. Just because you are a stay at home Mom doesn’t mean that you can’t cook great meals. Some people like just old fashioned stay at home cooking not the fancy stuff that needs 35 ingredients and are costly to make. Not to mention hard to find.
Finally Debbie is out!! and yes, she should have been eliminated before Jamika. She has to change her attitude. I go for Melissa!! During this economic crisis that we experience now, we need a “food star network” who can relate and create great meals at affordable price like how “stay at home cooking” does wonder in the family eventually to the society.
Every one is discrimination for Debbie,because is korea.
No me gusta nada de melissa. Habla mucho de pavada.
I would love to hear more about Jeffrey’s ethnic background and his food. I think this would be his most interesting aspect. Bringing that out would make him the winner that he is.
I am a faithful fan Of Food Network,I am also glad Debbie got sent home she is a fake an=and I would never have watched her and as far as Heffery goes if he wins I will NOT watch him either he is very boring, now, Melissa ROCKS,,She has what it takes and I will surly watch her WHEN she WINS!!! GO MELISSA,,,ROCK ON GIRL!!! Her last presentation had me crying it was very touching.
I’m glad Debbie is finally gone (I got tired of her saying “I’m Korean” a long time ago) but I think she should have beat out Jeffrey this week. His food this week was horrible according to the people at the party (“a disrespect to Italy” and “It’s like killing the Italian cooking”). My favorite has always been Melissa…she just keeps getting stronger and stronger. I would definitely watch her show. On the other hand, I would NEVER watch Jeffrey. To me he is extremely boring and seems quite arrogant as well.
This season’s finalists prove that the judges have done a great job! Either is a great choice, and they are so very different.
Maybe hire both!! I’m with all the others that Debbie’s ethics and underhanded, selfish performance was disgusting. At last, a show with two finalists that LIKE each other!!….No backstabbing.
Not much time left to agree with the majority – “SO VERY HAPPY DEBBIE IS GONE! I was worried about the judges, was I going to have to step in and tell them? – Now I no longer have to worry whether or not she will get her own show. GOOD LUCK to the better of the two, I’ll be happy and watch whoever gets their own show. May the best man/woman win.
Melissa I do favor.
Glad Debbie’s gone sick of excuses. I couldn’t stand to watch Melissa if she wins, she never shuts her mouth and talks and talks and doesen’t say much of anything. I love Jeffrey he has a very good personality and as the judges have said he really knows his food and how to cook it.
Soooo glad Debbie is gone, and was sick about hearing she’s “Korean”, truly a fake and a liar. I hope Melissa makes it, she has been the most sincere, and her food to me has been the most creative and if something is not working out in a dish she knows how to improvise or change to make it work. I hope she will be the nest food network star. Jeffrey,, if selected I would not watch, I only have visions of him monopolizing the camera when he teamed up with Jamika, and his story was boring as well.
I too think Debbie should have been gone before Jamika. Her dishonesty was a turn off. Cant understand why the Food Network had her there for so long. Melissa is great. Hope she wins!
Melissa drove me nuts from day one. She was too perky. But as the weeks went by I settled down and really watched her. She is really good. She is so intelligent. She focuses on her weaknesses and turns it around. There is nothing wrong with being a stay at home mom. I suspect that maybe if she does not win it is because the professional chefs will find her as a threat. Not because she is better than them but because she didn’t go to culinary school. I would watch her over last year’s winner and Jeffrey any day of the week.
Debbie finally was sent home! Hooray. Had she won, I would never watch her show! Now for my sweet Melissa… I want her to win so badly. She’s sweet, she’s sincere and she sparkles. I don’t see her as frenectic at all! I love her energy, her story. She’s the real deal!. Jeffrey is ok, but compared to Melissa, no contest!!!
I liked Jamila’s personality but agreed that she lost something and “choked” when the going got tough.
Michael was auful and I would NEVER watch his show. Too much too often. People love him?? I don’t think so. I would get turned off.
Finally, Debbie showed a bad selfish side but I am african-amaerican and cook more korean food than she does.
For the final, it’s a hard choice but I favor Melissa.
To add to my comment – will Jamika be offered to host something? How about a group? The judges seemed to like her a great deal and seemed to want her to win. My favs -Melissa, Jamika and Jeffrey. Melissa – you go girl! Debbie and the two other 2 guys (not Michael) needed to be off the show. None had integrity or were trustworthy.
I’m posting after the fact, as the finale was yesterday. I did want to comment on the finalists, with Debbie being the focus of my comment. I would hope that if more competitions of this nature are done on Food Network, the judges pay much more close attention to the contestant’s behavior behind the scenes. Debbie, unfortunately, exhibited some very unpleasant behavior that was clear to virtually all of the viewing public, if we go just by the majority of the posts here. I was appalled at how insular Debbie’s actions were, that she focused completely on herself in many of the most challenging group projects. Of course your food will turn out to taste the best and look the best if you remove yourself from helping out w/ the whole challenge as the rest of the contestants did! My thought is this – yes, food presentation & taste are vital to this competition and to who is chosen, BUT, I would never have watched a show if Debbie had won this whole thing. In fact, I almost stopped watching the whole series this season simply because the judges kept overlooking her negative, selfish actions and let other people go before eliminating Debbie. Integrity, which was a word she threw out more than once, should matter above all else. Just my two cent’s worth. My vote was for Melissa to win, and i’m thrilled for her that she did win.
I’m so very pleased that Melissa won and became the next Food Network star. I can and will use a lot of her recipes. Glad Debbie got eliminated.
I’m SO HAPPY that Melissa won! I’ve been rooting for her since the second show. It was interesting to watch the previous shows yesterday. I am so glad Debbie went home but agree with the others that she should have been eliminated long ago. I was anxious watching the finale that Jeffrey would win because he had attended culinary school. He seems nice enough but not someone I would watching faithfully. I can’t wait to watch Melissa’s new show and hope she recreates some of the recipes she did on The Next Food Network Star. How she seems to get so much in her life done with 4 adorable little girls impresses me, too!
I was soooooo excited to watch the finalle last night. I couldnt stand how Brett Eddy and Teddy acted and i was so glad they got sent home!! Also Debbie made me sick her behavior disgusted me. I really like Michael Jeff and Melissa I would have watched any one of them on Food Network. I can understand how Mocheal got kicked off though…if you dont like being in front of the camera this is obviously no the job for you. Jeffery could be a little bit boring too so im glad mellissa was chosen. Cant wait to watch her show!!!! Congrats Mellissa!!!!!!!
Hey Bob
Just watched 5 minutes of Melissa' new show…….nothing original here, she thinks she is Rachel/Giada
you made a huge mistake picking her