Aaron Wins!
So there you have it: Aaron McCargo, Jr is the Next Food Network Star.
Here’s what you didn’t see: Susie, Bobby and I did eventually agree on Aaron. But initially, each of us backed a different horse in this very close derby. It took some negotiating for us to all arrive at the same place.
I watched each of the finalists’ pilots in my office the day before the finale. First reaction was that each was a polished, accomplished demo. Hard to believe that each of these three had come so far so quickly.
Ultimately, Aaron’s pilot impressed me the most. I thought he was authentic, funny, and distinctive. His passion for cooking was genuine and explosive. He was down to earth, fun and relatable. Ultimately, like the best cooking hosts, he created a world that I wanted to be a part of. Bottom line: He excited me the most to get in the kitchen and cook his food.
I’ve been a big Adam fan from the start. Even with his late turnaround, his cooking has been frustratingly uneven. And, despite his clever pilot and camera charisma, I just didn’t think he showed the same energetic passion as Aaron. But with his quick wit, boy next door charm, and love of food, I do think Adam has a bright television career ahead of him – maybe not in a cooking show.
Lisa’s pilot made this decision nearly impossible. She’s a woman of dizzying talents. Supremely creative, whip smart, an accomplished chef and style maven, this is a woman to watch. She was one of the most fascinating finalists we’ve had in four seasons of NFNS. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for her.
It’s been great chatting with you these past weeks. I’ve stayed up late reading every one of the thousands of posts you’ve written. In fact, starting shortly, I’ll be writing a weekly blog, answering all your questions about Food Network, and giving you behind-the-scenes dish and sneak peeks of everything going on here.
So, til then, it’s been a blast. Look out for Aaron’s show next Sunday at 1:30 pm.
