Another episode, another finalist sent home – this season seems to be flying by, doesn’t it? What did you think of last night’s elimination? I think we surprised many of you.

Keep your questions and comments coming on our blog, on Facebook and Twitter. I’m attempting to read them all (and respond to as many as possible).

There is an interesting variety of questions this week:

You mentioned Charisma and Passion. No argument there. Question: How do you decide when charisma is too loud – and how do you decide when passion becomes over-the-top (and simply too much)? What is your "yardstick?" – From James

That’s an excellent question, James. For which there is no excellent answer. It's always 100% subjective. The bigger the personality, the more polarizing they are. The personality that strikes me as electrifying and effervescent will oftentimes strike others as obnoxious and annoying. Ultimately, we go with our guts on which we think has the right combo of charisma, energy and passion to excite a wide variety of viewers.

Guy seems to be the most successful of The Next Food Network Stars and to me it is because the viewing audience voted on it. Have you reconsidered returning to that format? – Sarah Lyons

Sarah, I would offer that Guy's huge success is totally a factor of Guy's unique talents and personality. We love hearing from viewers which is why we have fan votes, polls, and chats. But we ultimately think what makes The Next Food Network Star unique and popular is that viewers get insight in to how the network chooses and develops its stars.

Do the stars and/or the contestants all have to have original recipes or is there a staff for that? – From Gillian

All of our stars and contestants use original recipes that they create for the shows they appear on. We do have a talented staff of chefs in the Food Network Kitchens, but they develop recipes for our non-television products, like the Food Network Magazine, our website, cookbooks, etc., but not for our stars.

In deciding elimination at this stage of the game, how much of the decision weighs into their performance this week versus their overall performance? – Nat Atkins

We start by just considering how each finalist did in this week's challenge. Then we broaden out to consider how this performance fits into everything we know about them so far. Ultimately we're trying to answer just one question: are we looking at a potential star?

How do the judges handle disagreements? – Dottie Jo

Bobby, Susie and I have had our fights and some have been real doozies. You'd think as head of Programming, I'd have the last word. But you'd be wrong. This week's elimination decision was made only after 4 hours of painful debate, which ended at 3am. Susie was so emotional about it, that when it came time to announce our decision, she couldn't get the words out through her tears. She whispered to me that I would have to announce it. It's a painful process.

I have so missed your weekly commentaries this season. Thanks for giving viewers this glimpse behind the camera. Unfortunately, there often seems to be some manipulation within challenges as to pairings and/or food prep assignments, even though that may not be the case. Would you consider some method for assigning partners, groups, or food that would dispel even a hint of manipulation--a drawing of numbers? – From tigergal75

Thanks Tigergal, I've missed writing my weekly blog too, which is why I'm hopping back into the weekly fray now. Assignments and pairings happen in all sorts of ways throughout the competition. Sometimes they're totally random. Sometimes the winner of a camera challenge gets to make the assignments as their advantage for winning. And sometimes we make the assignments precisely because we need to see how someone will react in a challenging situation. Personally, I like the variety.

Is there going to be another competition show for Anne Burrell? I loved the Worst Cooks in America show – she made it amazing and is my favorite and it doesn't seem she gets the air time like Alex and some of the other chefs. – From Sammie

This year was the first season of Worst Cooks in America with Anne Burrell, and it was a huge hit. Happy to tell you Anne will be back in January with an all-new crew of worst cooks.

Bob, any chances of seeing the judges cook alongside the contestants at any point? – From Miessj

Not a chance – for your sake as well as ours. I'm the first to tell you I'm a passionate food lover, but not a chef.

Would you consider bringing back some of the strongest contenders in the previous NFNS seasons to compete for a spot? Many of them seem to have grown in their culinary expertise (and perhaps camera presence) since they last competed. – From Nikki

We have actually discussed this. But every year we've found so many intriguing new contenders, we haven't wanted to give up one of their slots to someone who already got their shot.

When the contestants do a camera challenge, do they just get one shot, or does the audience just see one shot? In a real show, would not the host get a couple of takes to get a bit right? – From Lisa

The finalists only get one chance at a camera challenge, and you see it. Yes, in a real show, the star would get multiple passes, and eventually the final few will get the same opportunity. But for now, we're still testing innate camera skills, potential and charisma – so just one take per person.

It'll be over all too soon ... just three more shows until the finale! Seems like a good point to reflect on some of the Star wisdom I've gained in the last seven weeks:
(Can't remember who did or said what? Click the links to see who gets credit.)

1 – Being a Star judge is no cake walk.
2 - Simply saying "I love butter" at the end of a presentation won't win you a camera challenge.
3 – Even in a TV food competition, shushing or interrupting someone is still bad manners.
4 - Wearing crazy oversized sunglasses on camera doesn't buy much in the way of credibility.
5 – Bobby Flay has a serious tie collection.
6 – Singing for the judges only works if you're on a show where that's the thing.
7 – Some foods — like say, beef stroganoff — just need to stay on the not-so-healthy list. (Comfort food should be, umm … comforting.)
8 - Chorizo taquitos aren't the way to go when planning a kids' birthday menu.
9 – The Frank Sinatra house is no place for talk of budget-friendly meals.
10 – Bob Tuschman could make the world’s worst insult sound completely pleasant and courteous.

So how about you? What Star lessons have you learned?

Now that the Star finalists are down to just five — can you believe it? — I'm finding myself pretty invested in a few of these guys. And I have a theory about who's best equipped at this point to get high marks from this Sunday night's guest judge Eva Longoria Parker!  

First, Aarti. Why? Because she seems so focused on just wanting people to enjoy her food, I can't see her getting star-struck. Second, I'd say Tom. He's just hanging out, having lots of food fun and seems kind of immune to the jitters all around.

So while I'm a huge Brad fan (as many of you know) and think both Aria and Herb have lots going for them, they just seem more susceptible somehow to getting tripped up by nerves, even if their food rocks. Guess we'll see .... What do you think?

Would you make Aarti's Green Chicken Curry at home?

Now we’re down to the final five, all of whom have cooked some tempting food so far in the competition. They've also each had at least one not-so-shining culinary moment. Which dishes will you be adding to your recipe file? I'm running down my top picks from each remaining Star contender.

Read more »

Been there, done that ... won that — Melissa D'Arabian's back on Star tomorrow night, and I'm eager to hear any advice she may have for the finalists.

As someone who knows what it takes to hang tough in this competition, she's the perfect person to help these guys stay motivated. And her direct, no-nonsense approach may be just what they need at this point in the race. Here, listen to her share a key belief she feels is essential for scoring a win.

An added bonus: Melissa's joining us for an encore appearance in tomorrow night's Star chat. Catch up with her at 9pm/8c! (Can't make it? Post your questions for Melissa here.)

P.S.: For any of you who may be wondering just how good her Ten Dollar Dinners really are (or if ten bucks will really get it done), I'm here to tell you that my experiences with her recipes, eight so far, have been excellent. Last week, I made her Lemony Shrimp Scampi Pasta and it was just fantastic. A light, summer-perfect dish that only cost ten dollars. (All right, $10.47, but that still counts.)

Does it seem to you like this season of Star is just flying by? It's actually hard for me to believe it’s been six weeks since I was watching these guys for the first time. To give myself a reality check, I think about just how much has happened: finalists who seemed incredible in the premiere have gone home; others I was sure wouldn’t last past Week Three are flying high. I have to say that for me, Brad has been the biggest surprise by far. Like Susie speculated in Week Two, I initially felt that he was just too nice. She questioned whether his upbringing might get in the way, and I thought, definitely. Doesn't Southern decorum mean manners and courtesy come first?  And while those certainly aren’t negatives, Star competition can be pretty tough and ruthless.

So despite his many charms – the kind demeanor, the super-sweet smile, the hat (not to mention his mad cooking skills) – I refused to get my hopes up. The guy had two more weeks, tops. I wasn’t about to buy in. Well, I guess he showed me. Instead of letting those qualities get in his way, he's made them part of what he’s about when it comes to his food ... and when it comes to the Brad you see on camera. Amazing, but I really didn't think it would happen. Did you?

My first love was Dzintra, but as with all great love stories – ours was cut short far too early. After the enviable Dzenis-Dudley romance of 2010 ended, I knew I must move on and find my next reality star romance. Serena and Brianna both fit the bill perfectly. But, who would I choose? To love one meant I would have to hurt another. I’d been left so heartbroken before, I couldn’t stand to hurt one of them like that. Oh, how I’ve been conflicted!

Serena and Brianna have made the decision-making process very difficult. In my reality (yes, it’s a bit skewed), both have been competing for my affections. Serena with her unintentional comedic timing, Brianna with her diva-esque quality – both have been screaming, “Choose me! Choose me!” It has been embarrassing, actually. When the ladies argued a couple of episodes back, I knew that I was at the root of the tension. I hate it when ladies fight over me.

This sordid love triangle brings me to last night’s episode. Again, watching the two of them cook at Frank Sinatra’s house to win me over – or the judges, whatever – was difficult to watch. Even though Brianna was very hard on tuna casserole (a fave meal of mine), I knew the tuna hostility was really misplaced anger – she wanted my decision, and she wanted it NOW.

As Herb, Aarti and Brianna were left standing in front of the judges – one of them about to be eliminated – I finally made my decision. As I watched Brianna in her blue dress bravely stand before the panel, I knew she was the girl for me. The thought of losing her was terrifying! I couldn’t withstand that kind of pain. And once she survived this elimination, she and I would move forward with our relationship. She would forgive me for having been so confused for so long and Serena? Well, she would come to understand that cupid’s arrow had struck – and once that little dude strikes, he can’t be stopped.

And then, it happened. They sent my girl home! Can you EVEN? I threw my shoe at the TV! How dare Bob, Bobby and Susie, yet again, come between me and love?! It’s like they have a personal vendetta against me and are determined to have me die alone. Bobby, if you’re reading this, can’t you help a brother?! When did you turn on me?

Brianna, my love, I must let you go. I will always carry you (and Dzintra) with me.

Serena, you lucky girl – I’m all yours! Honestly, now that I sit and reflect, it has been you all along. Seriously.

Will this episode bring out a new side of Brad?

Things are heating up, folks. Just seven finalists left. Not long to go before one of them has a new show premiering on Food Network. So why’s our usually-too-serious boy next door Brad playing dress-up with a pink boa?

It promises to be a fun episode. Tune in on Sunday at 9 pm/8c and head to our virtual Star Lounge to chat live with us during the show. Our favorite Kid in a Candy Store, Star veteran Adam Gertler, will be back by popular demand.

After the show, head over to Cooking Channel to join in on the first official Next Food Network Star: After Party at 11pm/10c. Rehash all the details with Adam, Cooking for Real’s Sunny Anderson and Season 4 finalist Kelsey Nixon. They'll chat with finalists and judges and get you the juicy inside dish on all things Star.

This week on The Next Food Network Star, Bobby gets – well, let's just say he's not all about a few of the finalists' offerings.

How would you caption this pic of Bobby?

Adam Gertler, our special guest in tonight's Star chat, will have (I’m sure) some enlightening takes on how this competition's playing out. Things are starting to get wilder, and he was, after all, in the finalists' shoes himself not too long ago. But … I also have some other, non-Star questions I think might be fun to run by him, too:

1) What are three foods you'd pick now if you ever did another "Freaky" special on cuisine?

2) Would you be willing to do a karaoke performance we could post here?

3) Besides a bra, have you ever attempted to make any other item of clothing with chocolate?

4) Do you need an assistant host for Kid in a Candy Store? (Please?)

Got Your Own Questions for Him? Join Us at 9p/8c