The Next Food Network Star

[Tilden]

I know Justin wasn't great on camera, and unless he improved, I certainly didn't expect him to win, but I thought he deserved to stay over Penny, simply because she screwed up a basic dish in a completely obvious way. Making macaroni and cheese isn't exactly a challenge, and who doesn't know when cheese is burning? Justin's food may not have been great this time, but at least it was edible.


I'm also way beyond tired of Penny going on about how she's there to win. First, I hate it when contestants say that, as obviously everyone is there to try and win. Some people just aren't willing to be complete jerks to do it. Second, what she's trying to win is a show on the Food Network. People are going to have to be willing, even eager, to spend at least a half an hour with her on a weekly basis. If she's coming off as harsh or mean-spirited or more interested in winning than cooking (and her huge, swift change in her culinary POV from stilettos in the kitchen to Mediterranean mom, just because it was more marketable, spoke volumes to me--I think if the judges had suggested that she dress in costume for a crossover with the Cartoon Network, she would have been fine with that too), who's going to want to tune in? I don't think you have to be ultra-perky in order to be effective on television, but you have to be at least a little likable in some way, and I just don't find Penny particularly likable or knowledgeable.

[libgirl2]

I'm also way beyond tired of Penny going on about how she's there to win. First, I hate it when contestants say that, as obviously everyone is there to try and win. Some people just aren't willing to be complete jerks to do it. Second, what she's trying to win is a show on the Food Network. People are going to have to be willing, even eager, to spend at least a half an hour with her on a weekly basis. If she's coming off as harsh or mean-spirited or more interested in winning than cooking (and her huge, swift change in her culinary POV from stilettos in the kitchen to Mediterranean mom, just because it was more marketable, spoke volumes to me--I think if the judges had suggested that she dress in costume for a crossover with the Cartoon Network, she would have been fine with that too), who's going to want to tune in? I don't think you have to be ultra-perky in order to be effective on television, but you have to be at least a little likable in some way, and I just don't find Penny particularly likable or knowledgeable.

Exactly. I would not spend a minute, let alone a half hour watching her show, she is so unlikeable. That is why I think she is on here for her 15 of reality fame. Every reality show has to have a "bad guy". And how much you want to bet she is around for a bit longer"?

[Tilden]

Exactly. I would not spend a minute, let alone a half hour watching her show, she is so unlikeable. That is why I think she is on here for her 15 of reality fame. Every reality show has to have a "bad guy". And how much you want to bet she is around for a bit longer"?

I'd also like to know why the judges didn't jump on the fact that she "lost her culinary point of view" on this task, since what she made was straight up, burnt macaroni and cheese. It's not like she tried to do it with any kind of Mediterranean flair. There are lots and lots of variations on macaroni and cheese, and I'm sure she could have come up with some kind of Mediterranean spin on it, but she didn't bother. And then she screwed up what she did make in a very basic way.

But yeah, she's the "bad guy." So they'll keep her around for a while. However, if she's suffering under some delusion that she actually has a shot at winning, as opposed to just getting fifteen minutes of fame, she's utterly wrong. For that matter, if you want fifteen minutes of fame, the Food Network isn't really the place to get it. Has anyone gotten gotten all that famous from winning, much less losing, the Next Food Network Star, except maybe Guy Fieri? If she wanted fame, she should have tried to get on some other show with a bigger audience (though I suppose it's possible she did and failed).

[rizzo0904]

Haven't read through all the posts yet, but I really feel that Orchid is going to win. They have not shown her talking crap about Penny...they need to protect her image. And there was one challenge last week where they never showed her critique...I'm guessing because they didn't like her food.

I like Orchid so I'm okay with her winning.

[luvsginger]

I really think that the Food Network is looking more for personality than cooking ability and that is why Justin was booted. He was soo monotone and such a bore when on camera. Penny is so unlikeable but she makes for good tv and therefore the reason she is still there. The thing I don't understand and never could understand is that out of sooo many applicants, these are the best they could come up with? Seriously? As in past seasons, the contestants are just so so.... They lucked out with Guy Fierri but some of the past winners have come and gone so quickly no one can even remember who they were!

When you consider all the other sort of amateur cooking shows and the contestants (ie Master Chef), there seems to be so much more out there. I am thinking the reason that some contestants are not cast for the show could be that there are skeletons in their closets?

In regards to the Mac and Cheese, Penny could have done so much more with that dish. I watched a show today where they featured a restaurant specializing in Mac and Cheese. I wish there was one of these restaurants near me! It looks sooo good!

S'MAC - Sarita's Macaroni & Cheese

[Harmony2000]

My DVR keeps forgetting to record this for some reason. I never even notice it till I see you guys posting and I think "Huh, I missed another show". Yeah, this used to be a never miss for me, now I never notice I missed it! LOL

FN is tanking, they really need to recreate their own POV (they are always on the contestants about this, maybe it's time to turn the mirror around and take a look at themselves and how they are alienating their audience).

[Ellen]

My DVR keeps forgetting to record this for some reason...

This may be because you have your DVR set to program "The Next Food Network Star." Somewhere along the line, FN dropped "The Next," and the name of the program is now "Food Network Star." In order to record, you'll have to set your DVR to record the show under its current title.

[norealityhere]

I thought at the beginning that Orchid was slated to win.
When I saw the last episode, it sure seemed like she was getting the same edit as Aarti did last year.

[Harmony2000]

This may be because you have your DVR set to program "The Next Food Network Star." Somewhere along the line, FN dropped "The Next," and the name of the program is now "Food Network Star." In order to record, you'll have to set your DVR to record the show under its current title.

AH! And here I thought my DVR hated the show, lol. Thank you!

[luvsginger]

My DVR keeps forgetting to record this for some reason. I never even notice it till I see you guys posting and I think "Huh, I missed another show". Yeah, this used to be a never miss for me, now I never notice I missed it! LOL

FN is tanking, they really need to recreate their own POV (they are always on the contestants about this, maybe it's time to turn the mirror around and take a look at themselves and how they are alienating their audience).

Your DVR is smart! LOL...