Watch It with Us: 'The Next Food Network Star,' Episode 8
If you're planning on watching tonight's episode of The Next Food Network Star, join us here in the comments at 9 p.m. ET. It'll be an open thread—jump in with your comments, observations, or play-by-play as the episode unfolds. This week the three finalists have to come up with a three-course menu for "a group of culinary elite" inspired by the upcoming movie Julie & Julia. Who do you think will be eliminated?
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38 Comments:
I couldn't care less. I'll take Dexter reruns over that FN crapfest anytime.
schmonsequences at 8:52PM on 07/26/09
This is my first time watching NFNS. I'm doin it...for you.
So far I think it's a commercial for Julie & Julia.
roboppy at 9:05PM on 07/26/09
I was so bummed - I missed last week's episode! This time, I bought a DVR just so I could record it and not take a chance on missing it.
annaraven at 9:07PM on 07/26/09
$1000 and they're going with chicken and risotto. Really?
Vitamin_K at 9:17PM on 07/26/09
Shocking turn of events: Debbie is cooking Korean!
Remander at 9:18PM on 07/26/09
There needs to be more pneumonic devices for food. Melissa's for ratatouille: EZPOT: eggplant, zucchini, peppers, onion, tomatoes. Okay, maybe I just like that one because it includes my initials.
Erin Zimmer at 9:29PM on 07/26/09
Seems like Melissa did really well. And she made people...cry. I'm going to assume that doesn't happen in every episode.
roboppy at 9:29PM on 07/26/09
Jeffrey just disrespected Italy with his risotto, OH FAIL.
roboppy at 9:39PM on 07/26/09
I'm finding I really want Melissa to win. Wasn't sure for some weeks. And hoping Debby doesn't.
Erin: Forgive me, but I was trying to figure out what a pneumonic device was (think tire pump). But more mnemonic devices, by all means. I've never thought of them for food. I only know every good boy deserves fudge, and I've forgotten the one about the planets.
lemonfair at 9:40PM on 07/26/09
My Very Easy Method Just Speeds Up Naming Planets.
Remander at 9:45PM on 07/26/09
They LOVED the suicide story!
Remander at 9:46PM on 07/26/09
@lemonfair: Haha, oops. You beat me to correcting it. The planets one is appropriately food-related: "My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizzas."
Erin Zimmer at 9:47PM on 07/26/09
remander - that's a great one! never heard it - is it yours?
lemonfair at 9:47PM on 07/26/09
I've just googled and found both of those for planets - but I don't find the one I remember. rats. Now it's going to haunt me. And besides, I want a pizza now. Picked my first not quite ripe cherry tomato today. Late
lemonfair at 9:50PM on 07/26/09
I googled it up.
Remander at 9:53PM on 07/26/09
BYE DEBBY!...and cue the hugs.
roboppy at 10:00PM on 07/26/09
I thought Debbie should go home and I want Melissa to win.
IndyGal at 10:00PM on 07/26/09
So what do you guys think about the outcome? I hadn't realized there was going to be one more episode (last time the last episode had 3 people)
lemonfair at 10:01PM on 07/26/09
OK, I didn't get to see it tonight but I tuned in on the last two minutes and saw that Debbie is NOT in the top two! Thank the Lord! No matter how good of a cook you may be, being a back-stabber, liar, and victim all the time, there's no way I would watch her show.
Now Melissa, that's doable. If we can bare through Giada or Rachael, Melissa will be a walk in the park.
amiyrah18 at 10:03PM on 07/26/09
Since Pluto's not a planet anymore we need some new mnemonics.
I am so very happy that Debbie is gone and I'm glad that I'm not the one who has to pick between Melissa & Jeffrey.
RegrettableFoodie at 10:07PM on 07/26/09
amiyrah - I don't know how Debbie lasted - except I'm assuming they edit these episodes after they know who has won, so they of course they show Debbie's worst side. They can't take the chance we're going to think the wrong person wins the whole thing.
Reading Bob T's blog at FN I'm struck that either he's refreshingly honest with his opinions, or his opinions are one more layer in getting us to be content with the winner.
lemonfair at 10:24PM on 07/26/09
Regrettable - Agree on both counts!
lemonfair at 10:27PM on 07/26/09
I'm glad they sent that liar packing! I'm also glad they didn't bring back those losery broheims from the beginning of the show to be sous chefs.
Jeffrey thinks he cooks without borders, but he just travels a lot and likes what he eats when he travels. In reality, he's lending the same spices and techniques to each thing he makes. Not interesting.
Melissa is the only viable option here. She has a great attitude, no drama, is articulate, and offers excellent tips. Also, she's like tofu, she takes to her surroundings well. Notice tonight she got all French suddenly?
yayfood at 10:46PM on 07/26/09
Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!
An-nyoung Debbie!
I'd be happy with Melissa or Jeffrey, and I think they'll both end up with shows anyway.
nikonratm at 11:34PM on 07/26/09
Yes, Yes, YES!!!! I'm SO glad she's gone. I shouted Yes, so loud my son came down the stairs and asked "dare I ask?"
I'm happy with both Melissa and Jeffrey. They both seem like people whose shows I'd watch.
annaraven at 1:10AM on 07/27/09
I grew to hate Debbie... and then I grew to really dislike being manipulated into hating Debbie.
Nursie at 1:11AM on 07/27/09
Gosh darn it! We lost the one person we all love to hate. So, now, it's Zen master Jeffrey vs. working mom Melissa. Who to focus my dislike at...Melissa. She does not "speak" for me (I'm a working mom), she has no credibility (my working mom budget doesn't allow for a nanny and a budget to buy gourmet cheese and ingredients), and her spunky confidence is starting to border on arrogance. EZPOT is not her family creation - google it and it's been around for some time --- same as all her hints (read Ask Heloise). FN has too many 'cooks' - I want a chef with formal schooling and training to give me some ideas and tips. Even Julia Child went to school. Melissa - if you want credibility and were truly inspired by Julia, leave the girls at home (you obviously already did to film these shows) and enroll in a culinary academy. Then, you'll have real credibility. Go Jeffrey!
JPEater at 8:55AM on 07/27/09
@JPEater -- I don't think Melissa said that her mother-in-law created EZPOT, but that she learned it from her mother-in-law. Big difference.
I don't think one needs culinary school to have credibility, but experience in the kitchen. Many of the big names in food today (not only on FN) aren't professional chefs, but experienced cooks who can get a tasty meal on the table and can share that knowledge with others.
IndyGal at 9:21AM on 07/27/09
Oh, wow - only one useless comment about how this show sucks - must be a first.... Melissa's still my pony. I think she's gained a lot of credibility by home-cooking as well as the 'pros'. On the downside there *are* already a lot of home cooks on FN, but maybe they're looking to cycle one out?
DJ Dedd at 9:52AM on 07/27/09
Next Food Network Star is a joke. Last year's winner, Aaron McCargo, Jr, has a show on Sunday afternoons at 1:30PM EST. Adam Gertler, a runner-up, has a show on PRIME TIME. What is the sense of anyone competeing and winning, when the runner-up gets a better gig? Also, Kelsey, one of the other contestants from last year, who never even MADE it to the finals has an internet cooking show that can be accessed through the Food Network's site. AGAIN, what does one REALLY get when they are chosen the WINNER?
GeorgieG at 9:55AM on 07/27/09
@yay food: I was all set to accept Melissa as the winner until your comment that she was "like tofu". I HATE TOFU!! Now I can't even think about her without gagging.
So now I'm pulling for Jeffery. Oh well.
minstrel at 12:14PM on 07/27/09
Does it really matter?! Honestly?! What we will end up with when you think about it, is yet another stand and stir (non-cook). Personally I'd like to see the two contestants kick the living hell out of each other for a shot at a show, then kick the hell out of each of the judges who are not chefs. A full contact cooking show... Now I'd watch that!
It pisses me off to hear the dimwitted woman vp of marketing or development (don't know, or give a shit about her name) talking about how marketable the contestants are, and "branding" and what these two idiots could possibly sell. WHAT ABOUT THE DAMNED FOOD YA HOEBAG!? And could somebody please just walk up and punch that smarmy bastard Bob T. in the face?! Hey Bob, let me give you a few words of advice... KISS MY WHOLE ENTIRE ASS! I know that's really not advice Bob, but I feel better about it, and 99% of the shows on your pathetic network SUCK! I don't see how the outcome of this show is going to change that.
I see GeorgieG named a previous contest winner and a runner up... @ GeorgieG, you're two up on me my friend, I couldn't name 1 contestant from any season.
Pavlov at 12:57PM on 07/27/09
@RegrettableFoodie: My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Naan.
Erin Zimmer at 2:19PM on 07/27/09
outcome was great!!!!!!!!!!! There was no way Debbie could have been a food net star with all her backstabbing and lying
radman123 at 4:57PM on 07/27/09
I guess I'm in the minority here being disappointed with their decision. Jeffrey's risotto was inedible! C'mon! I do think Melissa is going to take it all but I thought Debbie could have given her a run for her money, whereas Melissa is going to kick Jeffrey's ass and that's not compelling TV to me. It's clear they want Melissa and didn't want her to have any stiff competition.
Jeffrey may be really competent but he's boring. I think Melissa's super talented but I don't think she's going to bring anything new, we have plenty of shows on FN catered to the busy home cook. Debbie wasn't perfect but she was good in front of the camera and I would have liked to see an Asian chef added to FN's super white mix.
And yes the whole thing is a joke. Who watches Aaron's show?
Mary_Eats at 8:16PM on 07/27/09
Debbie was not an asian chef. She is a southern cook with some vague concepts of Korean cuisine.
howardn at 1:50AM on 07/28/09
The Food Network really does need more ethnic content. Where's the Indian, Chinese, Korean?
winkyj at 12:34AM on 07/29/09
Maybe they need to let them both win so we get the culinary school grad and the "harried housewife" doing a combo show. I doubt I'd watch either one of them, though. Alton Brown has the goods.
doodleysquat at 10:45PM on 08/01/09