Had it with the Food Channel...

[RICHARD]

HL,

Watch the next FNS when it starts again, I saw they are taking applications for the next round, you will see the same 'recipe' for contestants.

The first winner was Guy.
The second one was the crazy bistro lady.
Aaron McCargo won # three!
This one has to be Debbie.

For nothing else but to show the percieved need for "international cuisine".

Ratings is the name of the game in TV. So the networks look at the demographics and how to tap into that market. There are a few Asian cooks, Ming Tsai, Tommy Tang and Martin Yan who would be great for the network-I remember Tsai being part of the FN lineup years ago- By holding a "competition", they can get a cheaper version with a game show thrown in.

The winning talent gets a short term contract - I think it was six shows? The total number of shows for both projects is 16.

When you tune into PBS you see the chefs there hawking their cooking CDs and there are about 30 shows in each series? The PBS shows are produced with almost no commericials and the sets are pretty bland. But they teach you how to cook and the personalities are somewhat kept in check.

The NFNS is bearable when you stop thinking about all the politics and stupidity.

I was laughing at the studio challenge- if anything happened on the set, the floor person yells "CUT" and they do it over. Why make the person panic by handicapping them during a screen test?

What was the purpose giving the cooks a chance to pick out their recipe/food then changing it?

I have never seen any chef on the channel stop in the middle of a show and say, "I don't have the ingredients to continue, so I am changing the menu!"


We'll see about Debbie.

[Karen]

I wasn't surprised that Jamika was ousted - she kept doing exactly what they told her NOT to do, forgetting to smile and be pleasant even when stressed. That's kinda a big requirement for a TV host, doncha think?

I do think it will be either Debbie or Melissa, as both have a specific target market they will appear to, and Melissa has gotten better at controlling her reaction to stress, where Jamika got worse.

I think whatshisname - had to go look it up, I can picture him, but couldn't remember his name - it's Jeffrey - doesn't seem to have any identifiable "hook" or reason why you'd watch his show. He's perfectly nice ... but not, at least for me, that memorable. In one episode, he talked about how international his house is - he's Lebanese, his wife is from somewhere else - but he never seems to bring that multicultural influence to his food or his presentation.

[Daisy and Delilah]

Did anyone else find it strange that Michael and Jamika started out being so bubbly and outgoing and suddenly, both of them changed and got kicked off?

To me, it seems hard to believe that a person would start a show like that with everything it would take to win and change all of that later.

Jamika kept talking about knowing what she should do and she continuously did the opposite.

[Karen]

I think they get tired, and more stressed, and it just wears them out. It seems emotionally exhausting, and some handle that better than others.

[cassiesmom]

I'm irked with this week's outcome. Debbie has behaved badly two weeks in a row and the judges have given her a pass both weeks. I thought she was gone for sure when she told BF that the capers were in the dressing. I'm rooting for Jeffrey.

[cassiesmom]

But I saw a program I LOVED yesterday! It was "Dinner Impossible" and they were doing a dinner party for Will Shortz and crossword puzzle enthusiasts (okay, I'll say it because I am one - word geeks). I love Will Shortz' clever puzzles, I listen to the NPR Weekend Edition Sunday puzzle on my way to church each week, and I love to eat! perfect combo!!

[Daisy and Delilah]

I don't want to spoil it for anybody so I won't say anything about NFNS until tomorrow.

I will say to Richard: Dude, I sure hope you're watching FN tonight for all the Mexican stuff after NFNS. I have alot of questions for tomorrow.

Elyse, I saw that Dinner Impossible show too. It was really cute.