Next Food Network Star--Toy Cartoon--WTF [spoilers]

[kleine mocha]

Am I the only one who is trying to watch/record this show and getting a full length trailer for Toy Story instead?

[goodhealthgourmet]

ok, i started a new thread here:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/715549

[Joanie]

So are people glad to see the odd Dzintra leave town? Was it editing or did she just pop out "these aren't poisonous mushrooms" to the diners out of the blue? The woman had no chance to make a living on camera. And that Paul guy just keeps opening mouth, inserting foot.

[DGresh]

ah shucks. I haven't watched the latest episode (I catch up on on-demand). Guess we should have episode-specific threads! Anyway I for one am thrilled to see her go (or will be when I see it!)

[coney with everything]

Dzintra was quite odd....a dzaster. She was dzconcerting to watch...

I believe medication would be in order.

And I agree we should split this thread by episode

[chicgail]

Stress seems to be taking its toll. The red carpet walk was a very revealing look at how these guys deal with stress and how they think of themselves and how they would do in a very public setting. Some were natural, approachable and comfortable, but many of them went totally out of control and left me (and also Guy Fieri, judging by his facial expressions) a little uncomfortable.

Its hard to tell with the editing, but it certainly looks like Dzintra is not playing with a full deck. Maybe all of of odd talking to and about herself is how she deals with the stress. Still, not a particularly good coping mechanism for an on-camera talent.

Paul can't figure out who he "should" be and as a result just comes off odder and odder. Stop trying to improv your life, dude and just try being yourself, whatever that happens to be. It does seem to work for people.

[momjamin]

I'm sure part of it was editing, but even with more context, talking about poisonous mushrooms will kill you, not to mention hairball frisee...just not appetizing! I just tuned in this week, but without seeing signs of her oddities before, she was my pick to, er, pack her knives.

[chowser]

Editing or not, she said it all, including "hush" loudly and jumping in on Aria. Paul has the same mind editing problem--neither know when a thought should leave their heads and when they should just stay quiet. With all his little snarky comments about home cooks, does he realize that's his audience, if he gets a show, and he's put them off? The worst part is he doesn't seem to realize how offensive he is.

I'm really liking Artie and Herb, and then Aria, though a little less each week. Brianna with the Team Sexy and Das, The Sexy One, are annoying. You're not sexy if you refer to yourself as sexy.

[NellyNel]

Hey - that happened to me too!!!!

So how did that happen to both of us??

It came on at the end I think...I dont know it's vauge to me but I do know that all of a sudden I was watching all this stuff about Toy Story!!

[DGresh]

I watched this show yesterday and found it kinda entertaining.

The thing *I* really noticed is that Giada has that same odd teeth-baring smile that Kelly Choi does. Did anyone else notice that?

Love Aria...she's got a natural sparkle.

[goodhealthgourmet]

my only issue with Aria is the same one the judges had - she tends to talk to everyone like a kindergarten teacher does to 5-year-olds. if she can work on that i'd say she's got real promise, *however* when Bobby made that comment about her style being "Aria's Family-Style Dinners," i couldn't help thinking that wold just be more of the same tired old FN crap.

Bob Tuschman's comment last night about Doreen's "simply complex" approach being a show you definitely would NOT see on the network was pretty damn funny.

[DGresh]

Doreen just seemed to have a *lot* of trouble describing "what she had to offer". I mean, shouldn't she have kind of figured out an answer to this question a long time ago, beyond "I really love to cook and I'm pretty good at it"?

[DiningDiva]

Agree with you GHG on Aria's concept. I actually like her, she's got a mega-watt smile and seems to be very affable, but do we need more ($10) family style dinners? And besides, from what she said last week I thought her concept was more CSA, farm-to-table, farm-fresh cooking than family style dinners. I'm really digging Aarti. I kind of hope she get the nerves and self-doubt under control because FTV could really use an Indian cooking show.

[Parrotgal]

I like Aarti too. She seems very genuine, and evidently she cooks well! Maybe her win will help her overcome some of that self doubt, because she's the only one doubting. I love, love, love Indian food, but am so intimidated by cookbooks. I'd love to have her teaching me!

[NellyNel]

Add me to the Aarti fan club...she has a lovely way about her...I enjoy the sound of her voice and her smile...and she can cook too!

The other lady that seems to be popular seems a bit phoney to me while shes "on"..but I'll have to watch some more!~

[goodhealthgourmet]

Nelly, when you say "other lady" do you mean Aria? i think she comes across as more condescending than phony, but i honestly don't believe it's intentional. i get the feeling she's just stuck in toddler-speak mode from staying at home with her kids all the time. hopefully she'll get a handle on it.

[NellyNel]

Yes, GHG- you're right - Aria! (It'll take me awhile to get their names straight!)
lol - yes, you could be right - it could very well be "kids speak!!" ha ha..
but regardless - I find it annoying!!

I only watched the first episode - havent had a chance to watch Sunday nights so it might have just been my first impression.

[DiningDiva]

I think Aria was better - i.e. more natural - in the first episode. She seemed a little forced in the 2nd one.

[goodhealthgourmet]

@Parrotgal, have you looked into Indian cooking classes near you?

i like Aarti too, she's warm & genuine, and obviously a good cook. but if she wants me to watch her show, she needs to lose the cutesy "Aarti Party" shtick.

[Val55]

Aarti has a number of cooking videos on youtube. Look for her under Aarti Party. They are rather charming.

[chowser]

I like Aarti, too. Not only her style but her humility and how she deals w/ the others and gives them credit where credit is due. She also has a different take than anyone else on Food Network.

[Neecies]

Giada annoyingly always looks like she gets paid by the tooth.

[Withnail42]

That's a good way of putting it!

[smartie]

can't remember the name of the woman who was asked to leave last night but I think it was a toss up between her and Dzintra (cornea woman). What do y'all think?

[coney with everything]

I think all three of the losers should have gotten the boot. Save time.

[Joanie]

Does anyone else think they're being kind of hard on Tom and his personality? He doesn't seem that laid back to me and I thought he interacted with the people pretty well. His dish was another thing but they've already got Guy F., he could be a good counterpoint.

[DiningDiva]

Yeah, I do. I think he's just kind of a big lovable goof-ball, as opposed to Guy being a big annoying goof-ball. Tom clearly can cook, I think if he can settle into a "personna" he'll hang around for a while.

[DiningDiva]

Kind of agree with Coney. But I think the blond should have gone. She isn't just ditzy, she's downright peculiar, not to mention somewhat scary.

[jujuthomas]

she is very peculiar - what is with the name? you suppose her parents gave her that?

[goodhealthgourmet]

it's Eastern European. i think the name is traditionally Latvian, though i'm pretty sure in the premiere episode she said she was Polish or Hungarian.

[DiningDiva]

Whatever it is, she's gotta go. Hate to be so cruel but, man, it's like watching Sybil. How many people live in her brain? Personally, I find that talking to self bit, contrived, extremely off-putting if not more than just a little creepy

[goodhealthgourmet]

no argument here! eccentric would be one thing, but she's just batty.

[NYCkaren]

I scratched my cornea with a hard contact lens once and that was the worst pain I've ever experienced, possibly including giving birth without drugs. I don't know how bad Dzintra's eye was but I would not judge her for going to the ER. I do not, however, think she had a right to whine that her dish didn't come out the way she would have made it.

[goodhealthgourmet]

no one's judging her for going to the ER - several of us who have also had scratched or torn corneas already agreed that she did need to have it looked at, and if the only option was the ER, so be it. the issue is that once she returned from the hospital, there was really no reason why she couldn't have helped her team finish the dish and plate her own. it made no sense that she claimed the doctor had told her she had to stay out of the kitchen, yet she stayed IN the kitchen, didn't do anything to help, and then griped about the way "her" dish came out.

[marcia]

Yeah, I didn't get that either. I was thinking at the time "wear a patch" because that's what I did. And my cornea was cut by someone's fingernail. (It was during a basketball game--she didn't mean to do it.) The only restriction I had was not to drive because my depth perception was altered due to seeing out of only one eye.

But then again, I wasn't on TV or in California.

[chicgail]

Just saw the TIVO

A scratched cornea took Dzintra out? I've had scratched corneas. They hurt. But you can function. And within 24 hours you are back to normal.

Where was she overnight? If that took her out in the first episode, I don't know how she's going to be able to handle the pressure over the course of the series.

Aria is clearly the person to beat.

[goodhealthgourmet]

Dzintra said she was at the ER all night, which is entirely possible, but i agree with you. i have had numerous corneal scratches (i've even torn my cornea a couple of times - now THAT was some pain). they should have given her some ointment and sent her on her way. if she was really concerned about protecting the eye she could have bandaged it shut, but it's hardly something that should have kept her out of the kitchen.

[DiningDiva]

Another thought...there may be some conditions written into their contracts with FTV for this series with regard to medical situations that cover FTVs liability should some incur an injury while filming. Think on the job injury and workers comp, because while they are on the show, they *are* employees of the network. You can bet that FTV is going to err on the side of caution on any injury requiring medical attention.

They are a business after all and as most people know these days, workers comp insurance is sky high for most employer, especially in the State of CA where the were shooting.

[chicgail]

You're right, of course, but a scratched or even a torn cornea isn't life threatening and, with proper care (which she got), it's not even theatening to one's sight.

I'm sure she was in real pain, but there was no reason why when she came back to the kitchen the next day she couldn't have pitched in for her own dish instead of just complaining about how other people didn't do it the right way..

I know she said a doctor told her to "stay out of the kitchen," but she didn't. She just kind of hung around and didn't contribute. The other contestants looked pretty annoyed and I don't blame them.

I also found it odd that while the eye was bloodshot the first day, it never got swollen. I, too, have torn my cornea and while it looked nasty and I couldn't wear make up the next day, it worked just fine. I just had to put antibiotic drops in it periodically.

Something just feels off in how she handled the injury.

[smartie]

yes I think scratched cornea girl threw her team mates under a boss with....'that's not how I intended to di the dish with strawberries ...'

I have also had a number of scratched corneas, they do hurt like hell but some drops and if necessary an eye patch to keep it closed and she would have lived.

[DiningDiva]

Chicgail, I do agree with you that she probably could have gone back into the kitchen when she returned. Think of the milage they could have gotten out of putting an eye patch on her, kinda like a pirate. Coulda played that one to the hilt :-). But coulda, woulda, shoulda doesn't win competitions.

I thought it was odd that her eye looked fairly decent when she came back but she wasn't participating. Shaggy chef knew his pork dish needed moisture, I wonder what he would have done had he not had to finish her dish. Rather than bitching about what a poor job her teammates did, she could have been a lot more gracious in acknowledging that while it wasn't what she intended, she was grateful for the help. How much more effective would it have been to have said, when asked by Wolfgang Puck if it was the dish she had intended, something like "no it was not, but given the circumstances, I really appreciate the help I received from the rest of the team in completing the dish" . You can still make the point without slamming those that helped. OTOH...she could have said something like that and the editing cut it out in an effort to heighten the drama, who knows :-)

[NellyNel]

DD
I was thinking the exaxct same thing - she came across as terribly ungrateful and un-gracious! I wanted to jump through the tv and say something to her!
You have a point about editing but - I dont know!!

[goodhealthgourmet]

Dive, you raise a good point, so i checked. from the "Rules and Eligibility Requirements" posted on the FN site:

"By signing these documents, each Finalist will agree to assume the risk of any and all injury, illness, damage, loss, or harm to Finalist's person or property of any kind, howsoever caused, arising from or relating to the submission of a Participant Application, the selection of Finalist, and/or Finalists' participation in the Program, and/or the production and/or exploitation of the Program."

looks like the Finalists all signed a release/waiver, so i don't think this was a case of CYA by the network. time will tell - if Dzintra doesn't have what it takes (and i suspect she doesn't), it'll come out eventually.

[DiningDiva]

They may have signed the release, but they're still in the great State of Californina where overregulation rules and employers are required to carry workers comp insurance. I wonder how strong the release would be if challenged in court, which you know would probably happen. The release most likely limits the scope of damages that can be claimed, but I don't think it absolves FTV of all responsibility as the employer.

[goodhealthgourmet]

another good point about the CA situation. funny that i live here and i didn't even think about that - i'm so used to them filming this thing in NYC.

ok then, i'll stop placing all the blame on Dzintra being a wuss. i still say she can't hack it, but i'll have to wait for her to prove me right again ;)

[DiningDiva]

Yeah, unfortunately, this is such a litigious state :-(.

I think Dzintra is really going to have to do something pretty amazing in order to validate the panel keeping her. Bobby Flay did comment that her first dish - Dzintra on a plate - was excellent. I'm guessing how well she performed in that challenge helped keep her in the game. Either that or FTV is just trying to portray her as a diva ;-)

[hummingbird]

Just before it came on I think there was one of those cake chalenges for who could make the best Toy Story cake, so maybe somehow you got some of that.

[kleine mocha]

I don't know if it was Comcast or Tivo, but somehow the channel got switched in the middle. I've set it to record the re-run on Wednesday, so we'll see. There is a more than hour-long chunk missing from the middle with Toy Story instead. So thanks for the spoilers, gang! Seriously, I find it pretty hard to distinguish the competitors in these early rounds.

[LikestoEatout]

Toy Story 2 was being shown at the same time on another station.... did you just record the wrong station? TS3 is coming out soon so the whole program was peppered with ads for TS3.

[smartie]

I am a Tivo Terror - I barely watch any program live these days unless it's the 'news'.

I also recorded the Next Food Network Star - I think Alex was a good choice for first out.

[goodhealthgourmet]

right out of the gate my top four are Aria, Arti, Brad & Herb.

[DiningDiva]

Me too, those were my top 4 as well.

[jujuthomas]

+1. I think Aria really has what it takes, she seems very sweet and is fun to watch. :)

[DGresh]

Is Brad that sweet looking guy with the nice brown eyes who wants to show the technique of a pro chef?
I already have a crush on him :)

[goodhealthgourmet]

that's the one! he's ADORABLE, but far too young for me ;)

[DGresh]

well he's far too young for me too (not to mention I'm married) :)

[Joanie]

It was sad watching him struggle. Man, he was like a deer in the headlights with the camera and ended up not cooking so great. I like this show actually, no fake drama, just fairly real people trying to win. Altho I think Herb might get on my nerves.