Next Food Network Star, 7/15 - *spoilers*

[MKSquared]

Wow. I certainly didn't see the end of this episode coming.

I was watching the midnight "rerun" of the show, and Food Network was running commercials that said, "Vote for Amy or Rory!" I got angry and complained about the ad, but went back to watching the final elimination round in front of the judges. When the verdict of "Jag, you're staying" came out, I was completely confused.

I hope the judges' initial decision doesn't hurt Amy in the voting - I like her SO much better than Rory, who really gets on my nerves. (However, the more Amy says the word "French," the more I dislike her.) Do you think that Amy, who was basically deemed the third place finisher, will be viewed fairly by voters?

[Hammster]

Frankly, I thought the choice of JAG over Amy made no sense. So, I'm glad it ended up the way it did with JAG having to bow out and Amy coming back. I had read online somewhere that he had misrepresented his culinary training and military service. I'm glad he came clean and bowed out. It was the right thing to do.
I think the correct 2 people are now in the running for Next Food Network Star.
I won't say who I voted for as I don't want to bias anyone at this point.

[SDMomChef]

Frankly, I thought the choice of JAG over Amy made no sense.

Me too! I literally yelled "WHAT?!" at the TV when they made that pick. It made no sense to me based upon Amy's more consistently well done performances than JAG's! Then, when they did the bit on JAG's misrepresentations, etc. and called Amy back, I felt like it was totally set-up and they did it this way for the drama - and that they knew about the misrepresentations about JAG before picking JAG over Amy. It just makes no sense to me. Now, if they had picked JAG over Rory, then it would have seemed more real to me.

[lindrusso]

I was very surprised too. I thought for sure Amy would be in the final two. I guess she is.........now.

There's something about Jag that bugs me - something not at all sincere. Kind of like he says things he thinks he should say and he tries to make his face look like he thinks it should look when saying these things, but it doesn't work.

Why did he lie? He never really explained himself. Did he think it would give him some sort of edge? And even more - did he not think it would come out eventually????

Jag was gearing up to be too much like Emeril, I think. Been there, done that.

Anyway, I actually think that had Paul gotten his silly self together, he would have been the most entertaining to watch and different from the other personalities on FN at the moment - at least from what I know from the very little that I watch.

But since I can't vote for Paul, I'll vote for Amy.

[SheRa]

Me too! I literally yelled "WHAT?!" at the TV when they made that pick. It made no sense to me based upon Amy's more consistently well done performances than JAG's! Then, when they did the bit on JAG's misrepresentations, etc. and called Amy back, I felt like it was totally set-up and they did it this way for the drama - and that they knew about the misrepresentations about JAG before picking JAG over Amy. It just makes no sense to me. Now, if they had picked JAG over Rory, then it would have seemed more real to me.

i agree - they knew well before last night that JAG lied about things - someone posted a link to that article a while ago on this BB. i think they wanted the drama. i yelled at the TV too, and even DH who barely watches the show was in shock that he beat amy in that round.

and i said the same thing about him being too high strung and emeril-like too. i can't watch emeril, and i certainly couldn't watch JAG.

what was with rory running over rachael? and rachael seemed to LOVE it! :confused:

i'm glad that amy seemed to realize that she was being too stuck up with the way she talks sometimes. if she can bring it back to a down-to-earth place, i think she could do really well.

[avariell]

i cannot stand Rory. i would have voted for JAG over her. i thought he was pretty good on the RR show.

[memartha]

Wow, quite the episode! I've really enjoyed watching this show; I've never seen it before this season, and I came in late.

I got an email from Hungry Girl today that said, "vote for Amy or Rory" and I was soooo bummed bcs. I hadn't watched the episode yet.

I like both Amy and Rory, for what it's worth. Each brings something unique to the table. DD and I just cast various votes from our home computers and cell phones.

Jag reminds me of someone I'm close to who just can't get her act together. She doesn't know who she is and keeps trying to be someone who she thinks everyone else will like and it just backfires. Very misguided social skills plus some deeper issues, I think.

[Barrie]

Jag didn't appear sincere in his apology for lying to the Food Network. I think what bothered him most is that he was busted. I could never stand him, and I am glad he is out of the competition. The show ended the way it should have, imo, w/ the final two being the two w/ the most consistent performances.

[SheRa]

Jag didn't appear sincere in his apology for lying to the Food Network. I think what bothered him most is that he was busted. I could never stand him, and I am glad he is out of the competition. The show ended the way it should have, imo, w/ the final two being the two w/ the most consistent performances.

didn't the message say that they asked HIM to come meet with them because he failed to come clean in another interview? then he acted like he came there on his free will to fess up? puh-lease! i totally agree - he's mad that he got caught.

[SugarNSpice]

Since the first week of the show I was waiting for them to call him out, it sure took them long enough. The producers probably did it on purpose to get higher ratings, it is after all, television.

[memartha]

Now that I've had a couple of hours to stew this over (obviously I'm having a very boring day!), I have a few questions to throw out to you all:

1. If Jag's been untruthful about his past since Day 1, is it unfair to all the previously eliminated contestants who could have ended up in the Top 3 (or 2) instead of Jag, had he been found out earlier?

2. Should Rory have won by default, since Jag withdrew?

3. What kind of thought process did Amy (and her family) have to endure... she was home for months, thinking she was out of the running and probably making peace with that, when suddenly she is told she's back in the running and to return to NYC.

4. Will this turn of events influence the voters differently than if Amy and Rory were the Top 2 from the start?

Inquiring minds want to know!

[SDMomChef]

Now that I've had a couple of hours to stew this over (obviously I'm having a very boring day!), I have a few questions to throw out to you all:

1. If Jag's been untruthful about his past since Day 1, is it unfair to all the previously eliminated contestants who could have ended up in the Top 3 (or 2) instead of Jag, had he been found out earlier?

2. Should Rory have won by default, since Jag withdrew?

3. What kind of thought process did Amy (and her family) have to endure... she was home for months, thinking she was out of the running and probably making peace with that, when suddenly she is told she's back in the running and to return to NYC.

4. Will this turn of events influence the voters differently than if Amy and Rory were the Top 2 from the start?

Inquiring minds want to know!

Interesting point about the other contestants, and while it is unfair, there is no real remedy other than re-do of the entire show. I suppose they could have Rory win by default, but then they would lose ratings. AND, I truly believe that this whole thing was orchestrated to have Amy leave and then to throw out JAG simply for the ratings. We don't really know the time period from when Amy left to when she was "called" back to NY - could have been a matter of days. The whole thing just seems so weird to me because of how well Amy did on Iron Chef last week, to being eliminated over JAG who fell down last week on that competition and only did O.K. on this week's show.

[tea4one]

I coudn't believe this episode either. At least they called amy back and didn't tell Rory she got her own show by default. I am glad Amy "made it" to the end. I hope she wins as I am more likely to watch her show than I would Rory's. You got to wonder about the "what ifs" as far as Jag is concerned though.

[fstrpstr]

I was wondering how the Foodnetwork was going to handle the Jag incident. I thought it was a very good call that the Foodnetwork was so gracious to Jag with a little redeeming situation for Jag. By handling the situtaiton this way, Jag won't be ruin for life, and this way he was given the opportunity to turn around some bad decisions into prehaps some position, healing opportunities for himself.

[MKSquared]

I want to reach into the television and BUTTON JAG'S SHIRT! Ick.

[pschambers]

Interesting point about the other contestants, and while it is unfair, there is no real remedy other than re-do of the entire show. I suppose they could have Rory win by default, but then they would lose ratings. AND, I truly believe that this whole thing was orchestrated to have Amy leave and then to throw out JAG simply for the ratings. We don't really know the time period from when Amy left to when she was "called" back to NY - could have been a matter of days. The whole thing just seems so weird to me because of how well Amy did on Iron Chef last week, to being eliminated over JAG who fell down last week on that competition and only did O.K. on this week's show.

I saw Paul interviewed on the TV Guide Channel and he said they did all the filming in February. The only episode not filmed then was the upcoming finale.

I thought Amy's performance and consistency was far better than Jag's. I had commented to DH early in the season that he had an edge because there was no Latino representation on FN. Interesting that now they will be having a new Latino show starting.

Patti

[Hammster]

I had commented to DH early in the season that he had an edge because there was no Latino representation on FN. Interesting that now they will be having a new Latino show starting.

Patti

There haven't been many Latino shows. There have been a few good ones. 2 Hot Tamales and the one with Aaron Sanchez come to mind. But you're right, not much lately. The woman that will be hosting that new Latino show looks like a RR clone. Weird.

[avariell]

There haven't been many Latino shows. There have been a few good ones. 2 Hot Tamales and the one with Aaron Sanchez come to mind. But you're right, not much lately. The woman that will be hosting that new Latino show looks like a RR clone. Weird.

Ingrid Hoffman has more of a history than RR did I believe... she was really big in Miami and hosts a Spanish cooking show on Univision. She also appear(s/ed?) on local Miami tv a lot. Regardless, I think "getting her" on FoodTV was considered quite a big move - similar to Nigella appearing on FoodTV.

I don't hate RR or anything, but I suppose I just wanted to point out that I think Ingrid Hoffman might be more of an "established authority" on Latino Food (and on party planning- which seemed to be a big business of hers in Miami).

[Hammster]

Ingrid Hoffman has more of a history than RR did I believe... she was really big in Miami and hosts a Spanish cooking show on Univision. She also appear(s/ed?) on local Miami tv a lot. Regardless, I think "getting her" on FoodTV was considered quite a big move - similar to Nigella appearing on FoodTV.

I don't hate RR or anything, but I suppose I just wanted to point out that I think Ingrid Hoffman might be more of an "established authority" on Latino Food (and on party planning- which seemed to be a big business of hers in Miami).


That's good to know regarding Ingrid Hoffman. My point about Ingrid being a RR clone has to do with her appearance, not her cooking style. I should have been more clear in the beginning. I'm pretty much done with anything RR related. (No Hate, just done)
I'll watch Ingrid's show to see if it's something I'd be interested in.

[KristiB]

There haven't been many Latino shows. There have been a few good ones. 2 Hot Tamales and the one with Aaron Sanchez come to mind. But you're right, not much lately. The woman that will be hosting that new Latino show looks like a RR clone. Weird.

Daisy Cooks on PBS is a good one. Also Rick Bayless Mexico One Plate at a time. But he's not Latino-just an authority on the cooking.

I'm one of the Food Network haters but my TiVo picked up the Next Food Network Star marathon because of all of my other cooking shows I guess. I think I'll watch this weekend.

[Hammster]

Daisy Cooks on PBS is a good one. Also Rick Bayless Mexico One Plate at a time. But he's not Latino-just an authority on the cooking.

I'm one of the Food Network haters but my TiVo picked up the Next Food Network Star marathon because of all of my other cooking shows I guess. I think I'll watch this weekend.


I watch Rick Bayless when I see that he is on. I do like him, but he talks to people like they are children and that gets a bit wearing after a while. But, I do like the foods he makes.
I'm not a FN hater, but I'm very selective about which shows I watch. I don't need the "meals from a can" shows so I don't watch those. I prefer the shows where I actually learn something such as Alton Brown's show. Although I do have to admit I'm excited to see who becomes TNFNS.

[KristiB]

OK I just watched the premier episode and those wedding cake attempts were pathetic.

I'll have to dig up old threads as I watch the episodes. :D

[jtoepfert100]

Yeah! I finally watched Sunday's episode so I can comment now. It's been killing me not being able to open this thread.:o

Like most of you, I was stunned when they picked JAG over Amy. So much so that the whole lying thing didn't really shock me that much - I was still stunned that Amy wasn't picked to begin with.

Lindrusso - I, too, wonder about JAG's motives for lying but I get the impression from him that he is one of those people that just lies. I know people like this and it never makes any sense to me.

I do think it all appeared a bit staged to me. JAG's withdrawal from the show was almost unwatchable.

With respect to voting, I thought when I was watching that you could vote through today but when I went to the FN site, I can't figure out how to do so. I never thought I would vote in something like this but Rory annoys me so much that I can't stomach the thought of her winning.

Sort of catty, but what was with her outfit on the radio show and Star interview?

[SDMomChef]

With respect to voting, I thought when I was watching that you could vote through today but when I went to the FN site, I can't figure out how to do so. I never thought I would vote in something like this but Rory annoys me so much that I can't stomach the thought of her winning.

Sort of catty, but what was with her outfit on the radio show and Star interview?


I thought that you could vote through today too - but it appears that the voting buttons that were there yesterday are gone today. Bummer!

I didn't notice her outfit on the radio show....

[stacy7272]

Finally watched the show last night. I would have watched it earlier but I realized that I wanted to watch the Rachael Ray show before I watched this one. Boy - having done that made me realize how much things are edited. Even the order they went in was different on the two shows. On Rachael Ray, Rory went first then JAG and then Amy. But when they showed it on the Food Network they showed Amy, Rory, and then JAG. :confused:

Maybe it was to fit with the commercials? Maybe they felt it was more exciting that way? At the end of the NFNS you see Rachael standing with Amy calling in "the other two contestants" so it seems NFNS edited it up.

Also, seeing both shows allowed me to see different parts of each person's 5 minutes. I liked Amy's much more on the NFNS than RR. RR cut out the beginning of her presentation. It's weird because it really feels like you get to see the whole thing, it doesn't seem to be cut anywhere but it totally is.

I was glad JAG was given the chance to bow out himself just for the simple fact that maybe now he won't commit suicide! That guy scares me.

[SugarNSpice]

Speaking of the contestants appearance on RR...

I thought Amy's dish sounded wonderful, but it looked atrocious when she plated. Half of the veg mixture was hanging out of the ramekin and the lentils looked like slop.

Rory's looked wonderful, but not something I would make because of all the cheese and butter.

Also, what's culantro (sp?) and has anyone actually seen it in your everyday grocery store?

[stacy7272]

Speaking of the contestants appearance on RR...

I thought Amy's dish sounded wonderful, but it looked atrocious when she plated. Half of the veg mixture was hanging out of the ramekin and the lentils looked like slop.

Rory's looked wonderful, but not something I would make because of all the cheese and butter.

Also, what's culantro (sp?) and has anyone actually seen it in your everyday grocery store?
I also thought Amy's dish seemed very yummy but I didn't like the plating either.

As for culantro, I've heard of it because CL had an article mentioning it in September 2004. I KNOW it is not in my regular grocery store and always forget to check for it when I go to the Hispanic markets near me. I was a bit annoyed when JAG said you could find it in the regular grocery store and was a bit surprised but happy when RR called him on it. CL also mentioned that you can substitute cilantro.

[lonetree1353]

I was curious so looked it up :D

Culantro is a spice herb grown in Puerto Rico and throughout the tropical Caribbean and Central America. and a key ingredient in Puerto Rican cooking. Other names for culantro in Spanish and English include: Puerto Rican coriander, Black Benny, Saw leaf herb, Mexican coriander, Saw tooth coriander, long coriander, Spiny coriander, Fitweed, spiritweed, Culantro, Recao, Shado beni (Trinidad), Chadron benee (Dominica), Alcapate (El Salvador), Cilantro habanero, Cilantro extranjero (Mexico)

Culantro (recao) is an important ingredient in Puerto Rican cooking. The leaves are chopped and added as a spice to most stews and soups.

http://www.dollarman.com/puertorico/gifs/culantro1.jpg

[Cherise]

Rory's looked wonderful, but not something I would make because of all the cheese and butter.

Also, what's culantro (sp?) and has anyone actually seen it in your everyday grocery store?


DH was totally excited about Rory's dishes, he was practically drooling, although then again, maybe it wasn't the food. :rolleyes:

I have seen culantro in a local mexcian grocery, but never at a "regular" grocery store. Maybe if you're from a community with a heavy hispanic population, it might be in a regular grocery store, but otherwise, I personally doubt it.

[vbak]

It was so nice to see Jag take responsibility for his actions instead of blaming others as he has been doing over the past few weeks. Did his lies bump someone out of the running? I was amazed when they let Amy go after her stunning reviews on her cooking and commentating. I was surprised when they said Amy and Rory pushed Rachael out of the way. I didn't see it that way, but for heaven's sake they only had 5 minutes to get it together. I like Amy's food better than Rory's[ FTV already has Paula Deen], but I don't like to watch or listen to Amy at all because she is so uppity. Wondering how having her own show will improve Amy's family's life?

I believe they closed the voting at 9:00 a.m. central time today.

Vicky

[avariell]

culantro is also used a lot in southeast asian cooking - although, i believe it tends to be known as sawtooth or sawleaf herb which lonestar mentions.

[MISSINDI]

We interviewed all the contestants right before the show started, and Amy very enthusiastically responded to a few of our articles, so I had a hunch she'd make it to the very end, if not win the thing. I'm torn. I like Rory's POV and recipes, but she's a bit chaotic and frenetic for me. I suspect she'd probably calm down and it's just nerves though. As for Amy, she has to lose the "snooty French girl" thing, as she called it. She was much better on RR - calm, cool and collected - way different than Jag and Rory.

As far as Jag, when we were doing our interviews, we uncovered the story about his lies, from a military site, but couldn't substantiate it with another source so decided not to run with it. I wish he would have explained a bit as to why he made the decision to lie about his background.

[avariell]

As far as Jag, when we were doing our interviews, we uncovered the story about his lies, from a military site, but couldn't substantiate it with another source so decided not to run with it. I wish he would have explained a bit as to why he made the decision to lie about his background.

i totally don't condone what JAG did but i do wonder if it was so black and white - just in the sense that say FTV knew he was in the marines and nudged him in the direction of being the "war hero" - lord knows they spent enough minutes on his marine background. it seemed like they were milking it. obviously he should have corrected them and been honest about his background - both educational and marine. but i guess i am just willing to forgive it as a "holy cr@p i got in over my head moment". he backed himself into a corner. the guy seems to have some baggage and if this experience helps him to mature, i don't see it as that huge of a betrayal. lord knows i wouldn't want any of my immature mistakes run on national television... fessing up is hard enough on a small scale. :o so i guess my point is that i doubt he had any good explanation about his lie... but i dont think i have had many good explanations for any of the times i have been a dumb@ss and lied when i got in too deep. :)

[SugarNSpice]

DH was totally excited about Rory's dishes, he was practically drooling, although then again, maybe it wasn't the food. :rolleyes:

He was focusing on something a little north of the food? :D

[jtoepfert100]

We interviewed all the contestants right before the show started, and Amy very enthusiastically responded to a few of our articles, so I had a hunch she'd make it to the very end, if not win the thing. I'm torn. I like Rory's POV and recipes, but she's a bit chaotic and frenetic for me. I suspect she'd probably calm down and it's just nerves though. As for Amy, she has to lose the "snooty French girl" thing, as she called it. She was much better on RR - calm, cool and collected - way different than Jag and Rory.

As far as Jag, when we were doing our interviews, we uncovered the story about his lies, from a military site, but couldn't substantiate it with another source so decided not to run with it. I wish he would have explained a bit as to why he made the decision to lie about his background.


I thought Amy was better on RR than the other two, as well, but I tend to like my Food Network Stars a little subdued. I also think that she realizes the French girl thing isn't working and she is attempting to change her persona based on the feedback by the judges. My only issues with her are that I don't really buy the "gourmet next door" thing, as she seems to have or come from quite a bit of money, so she could never be my next door neighbor. But then again, Ina Garten wouldn't either and I really like her show. Amy is also extremely skinny but that's not her problem, just my insecurity.:o

I can't really explain why Rory bugs me so much but she does. Maybe she would calm down but I just can't see myself watching her.

avairell - I think you make a good point about JAG and I doubt it was as black and white as they made it seem. That whole part all seemed so phony to me.

[Terrie53]

I was totally shocked that Jag was selected as one the final two with Rory instead of Amy. SHOCKED!!:eek:

The end of the show with Jag "eliminating" himself didn't fit. It sounds to me that he was finally boxed in a corner and had to bow out. Why didn't they just say he was out instead of the dramatic dialog?

I voted for Amy. I feel Rory is just not a team player and shows immaturity. An example of this, is how she acted towards Elton Brown on the Iron Chef episode of NFNS. It wasn't funny. It was inappropiate.

I look forward to Sunday's show. :D

[LittleBrownCat]

Now it seems that there's another wrinkle to the "Jag" story. Apparently, he tried to trade "insider info" to save his skin. According to a story at AirForceTimes,

"In a bid to preserve his shot at a six-episode Food Network series deal, Garcia revealed in those interviews that he was one of the final two contestants. Military Times did not include this claim in previous stories because it was not clear whether this was another lie, and to protect the integrity of the show. Garcia even offered to trade the name of the other finalist — a big reality television no-no — in exchange for keeping his background a secret." (Here's (http://www.airforcetimes.com/entertainment/tv/military_garcia_070716/) a link to the entire story.)

Now that's just wrong. It makes it much harder to have any respect for him.

[KristiB]

I'm finally all caught up.

I liked Altons suggestion of sending them all home and starting over. And boy was he a Mr.Crankypants or what?

DBF said Rory looks like a horse. I told him he's mean but everytime I saw her after that I thought, "giddyup". It's the teeth and gums.

I can see Amy being a good food writer/cookbook author but I don't think she has the pizazz for a TV show.

Jag annoyed me from the beginning so I was not sorry to see him go. If he really had a horrible past he totally could have capitalized on that. So many others have played the adversity card. I'm just sayin'.

But he probably grew up in a happy middle class home :rolleyes: