I can't say I was particularly sad to see that this week's installment of The Next Food Network Star was only an hour long, as opposed to the epic 1.5-hour long episode we enjoyed last week. But as contestants drop like unentertaining flies, things are getting a little more interesting in the Food Network kitchens. And as my mom said as we plopped down to commentate together: "Alright. I'm ready to snark." [WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD] More

In this week's ever-thrilling episode of The Next Food Network Star, ten eager finalists grinned to the camera in hopes of achieving the "prize" of their own Food Network show. Last week, we said goodbye to crazy-eyed Doreen Fang (more on last week's episode here). Bobby Flay was absent from the proceedings this week, and I never thought I'd miss his smug mug until it was replaced by the visage of guest judge Guy Fieri. Oh, boy. This episode was gonna be rockin'!!!! [SPOILERS AHEAD] More

This week on The Next Food Network Star, 11 contestants remained in combat. Still recovering from contestant Alexis Hernandez's early retirement (read more about last week's episode here), the competitors were ready to prove themselves to the selection committee. Giada de Laurentiis, the show's "mentor," was all-too-ready to provide the wannabe hosts with their next cruel mini-challenge. More

Earlier this month, The Next Food Network Star season five finale shocked some people when Bel-Air real estate agent Jeffrey Saad lost to stay-at-home Texas mom (and almost eerily Sandra Lee-reminiscent) Melissa d'Arabian. But based on the fourth season's results (when runner-up Adam Gertler landed a show in addition to the actual winner Aaron "Big Daddy" McCargo, Jr.) it's no big shocker that Saad wound up with his own little show himself. The Spice Smuggler is just online—at least for now. The name was clearly a riff on the The Ingredient Smuggler, Saad's pilot for his hopeful show in TNFNS's final episode. (Food Network was not going to let the opportunity to use smuggler slip!) In each of the... More

Sunday night's season five finale of The Next Food Network Star was the highest-rated, most-watched telecast in Food Network history with a reported 4.7 million viewers. Think of all the people who didn't watch True Blood, Real Housewives of Atlanta, and Family Guy!... More

If you're planning to watch 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 it's down to the two finalists: Jeffrey and Melissa. According to judge Susie Fogelson, this was the toughest decision of all five seasons. Who do you think will be eliminated? And who deserves a show on the Food Network?... More

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?... More

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 four remaining contestants must survive live demos and a beachside seafood challenge. Sounds like trouble: who do you think will survive?... More

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 contestants head to Miami: who do you think will be going home?... More

We're going to try something a little different this week. 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 things get real with Rachael Ray: who do you think will be going home?... More