NFNS 7/10/11 with spoilers

[smartie]

The claws are still out for Penny. She may be a good cook but I would not watch her on a show.

It was a toss up between Orchid and Whitney tonight I really didn't care which one left.

[NellyNel]

I watched most of this episode while busy doing chores, but I think I missed something

Who got the boot?

Was it Orchid or Whitney?

Because when I turned it off, I was under the impression they booted Whitney - but having read through the posts, I gather it was really Orchid..

?

[DiningDiva]

Orchid is not the Food Network Star

[CapreseStacy]

What I'm having a hard time with is the fact that Orchid at least offered a POV that we don't see much on FN. I'd have enjoyed a show watching her teach me about pancit, bagnet and other dishes of the Philippines and other "islander" cultures. And other than maybe Jeff's "sandwich king" idea, (which may get worn out after 4 shows?) I'm not seeing anything fresh in the way of personalities and/or culinary POVs. It seems like everyone left can be compared, even if only cursorily, to someone who already has a show on the network.

I guess that's why they started Cooking Channel. At least there, you can get a little exposure to the cuisines of cultures not well-represented on FN.

I agree with chowser: "Having a Ball" would have been waaaay better, and I would have come to that truck, just because I'd like to see how they prepared different foods in spherical form. Everyone's tried wraps, and the Vic truck didn't seem original, either. Though I am glad Jeff survived despite his "ballsy" (ew, I know) choice of truck names... I want to see what else he can do when he's not being such a goob.

[jgg13]

I don't know why they focus so much on the whole "culinary POV" thing. Honestly I don't see much difference between most of the FN cooking shows anyways, it's more just subtle personality difference as opposed to whopping POV-like differences (e.g. "the sandwich king")

[DGresh]

very true. Especially since the "POV" doesn't even necessarily live on to the show they give the winner.

[The Dairy Queen]

Actually, Balls on a Roll was a pun in several ways, meaning, Balls on Wheels (ie., a food truck) or on a Roll (ie., bread), focusing it on his "sandwiches" theme once again. But it was also very sophomoric.

And the Charlie's Angels thing was painful. Actually, they were all pretty painful.

I just don't see the charm and "heart" everyone sees in Vic. His food usually sounds great, but I'm just not seeing much beyond a very stiff person.

I wouldn't mind seeing Whitney, MaryBeth, Middle Eastern Mama (can't remember her name at the moment) or Jyll go.

~TDQ

[Joanie]

"Actually, Balls on a Roll was a pun in several ways, meaning, Balls on Wheels (ie., a food truck) or on a Roll (ie., bread), focusing it on his "sandwiches" theme once again. But it was also very sophomoric."

That might be some of what he was thinking, but I'd put money down that he knows the Accept song and it partly inspired the name.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_3Tlr...

[The Dairy Queen]

I'm afraid I don't see the connection between Balls to the Wall and Balls on a Roll. I can't stand that kind of music long enough to watch the you-tube video you provided the link to. Are Balls on a Roll part of the lyrics of that song?

~TDQ

[Joanie]

That song was a minor "hit" and it just seemed like Jeff was using the main lyric to come up with truck name, It's Balls to the Wall sung over and over w/ the same syllables and what not. If you've never heard the song, that would never occur to you. Then again, his little song for the promo didn't sound like Accept at all, so maybe it's just me and having seen a band cover it the nite before the show, it was stuck in my head.

[soupkitten]

it was a minor hit in 1984, though. anyone on the show is likely too young to have ever heard accept on the radio, much less headbanged to "balls to the wall," or identified w it in any way. . . not even in a hipster one-hit-wonder identifying, even if s/he is too young to have owned the LP, way. it was "men without hats" btw :)

[Joanie]

Not to belabor the point, but if you like/know that music at all, you know that song whether you're 18 or 48.

And what was Men Without Hats (besides another one hit wonder)?

[The Dairy Queen]

Safety Dance!

~TDQ

[LurkerDan]

Wow, that must have been a *very* minor hit in 1984. While it isn't the type of music I listen to, I was in high school at the time, watching MTV and generally hearing whatever was popular (even if it wasn't my choice) and I have zero recollection of that song (and I watched the youtube video just to make sure).

I do know Men Without Hats and the Safety Dance. :-)

[inaplasticcup]

I'm 38, into all kinds of music, used to perform even, and I have never heard or heard of Balls To The Wall.

Although I did like their concept and commercial better than the others. But I can have a very frat boy sense of humor sometimes...

The "angels* made me cringe and wish I weren't watching.

[Joanie]

You'd think this is my favorite band of all time the way I keep coming back to this, but I don't think most of you listen to heavy music. The LP went gold and it was and is a huge song in the metal community and was big on Headbanger's Ball. From wiki:

Balls to the Wall is the fifth album by the German metal band Accept. European label Lark Records released the album in December 1983, but its US release was delayed until a month later as to not compete with the band's then-current album Restless and Wild, which had arrived in the US in early 1983. It is the band's best known and highest-selling album, selling about two million copies worldwide,[2] and is Accept's only record to attain Gold certification in America. The album's lead single, "Balls to the Wall", became Accept's signature tune and remains a metal anthem and trademark in the genre.

[josquared]

I think Orchid can be summed up as "Consistently Good But Not Outstanding" - she's got an appealing enough personality and food, for the most part, but nothing about her screamed greatness (and I use the word advisedly in regards to the context)

Out of the remaining folks, I have no use for Jeff, Chris & Whitney

Mary Beth explains things well...but other than that, her food and personality seem hit and miss

Jyll may be a notch over the first three I mentioned, but I have no interest in watching a show hosted by her.

Susie seems to have it when it comes to cooking, but she struggles with defining that "it-factor" in her personality.

Penny knows what she's doing in the kitchen, and being there or perhaps a catering business is probably where she would shine from a culinary perspective (she actually showed some warmth in the 4th of July episode, which I think she can do on a more one-on-one basis.) However, her presentation (voice and visual appearance) strikes me as a little too grating in a TV setting.

Vic Vegas seems to be the front-runner now - I might watch his show, depending his ultimate theme and the stuff, but it wouldn't be regular viewing.

[rasputina]

The judging is making less and less sense. I was completely dumbfounded by their judging last night. I can't believe they kept Whitney and I can't believe that Chris was not on one of the bottom three.

I think someone spiked the judges punch last night or something.

[boingo2000]

I'm pretty sure Bob Tushman has a crush on Chris. There's no other explanation for him not being in the bottom three after that horrible lobster roll idea.

[huiray]

http://forums.televisionwithoutpity.c...

[monavano]

Cream cheese has an assertive and distinct flavor and I think it overpowered the lobster. What a shame. Such an expensive and elegant ingredient. It really should be unfussy and allowed to shine.
Funny how Chris (was it Chris?) thought he was being all cheffy by adding cream cheese.
It was an amateur mistake.
I'll tell you what people want. Lobster. Lobster almost naked. Lobster rolls. Yum.

[C. Hamster]

It was worse than an ameteur mistake. It was something the people on the "Kraft Community" Message Boards would suggest.

Though they would use canned lobster.

[monavano]

Now, an expert like Emeril knows how to use lobster and cream cheese ;)

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/em...

I've made this and it's outstanding. I'd personally love to serve it to Scott Conant just to watch him get his tighty whities in a wad.

[John E.]

I'd serve it to Scott Conant with thin slices of raw red onion mixed in.

[Parrotgal]

Oh, thanks for making me spit water on my keyboard! That's when I really started disliking SC, whining about not liking raw onion (who doesn't like red onion?). What a douche!

[huiray]

Uh, lots of people don't like raw onion, whether its red or not. YOU may adore raw red onion but it is not a universal liking.

The problem with Scott Conant (not Coant) on this subject is that he applies his personal preference to his judging of dishes on "Chopped" and faults contestants on that basis - whereas it would be fairer if he assessed the food on whether the chef was successful in what he/she was trying to do rather than faulting them on his pet peeve.

[Parrotgal]

Oh, I really do agree with you, but he irritated me so much using his personal preference as the Rule.

[Worldwide Diner]

I don't think the problem with with Scott Conant. He hates raw onions, so it's impossible for him to fairly assess dishes with raw onions. The problem is with the show's producers for hiring Scott as a judge. How can you hire a judge with a known bias against a common ingredient?

[John E.]

Wouldn't it be fun if a pair of contestants on 24 Hour Restaurant Battle named their restaurant "The Red Onion" and featured that ingredient? Of course they would not do it because if they did, they would be handing the prize money to their opponents.

[NellyNel]

In theory - I really totally agree with you 100% -

but I also hate raw onions - to the point where I agree w SC!
I, too, think they ruin the taste/flavor of anything!
YUCK
*ugh*
***shudder**

[sherriberry]

I'm with you! Raw peppers also. Cooked, all are fine.

[jmckee]

For me, raw green bell peppers are anathema. Red, yellow, orange, purple -- I'm OK.

Raw onions don't find a place in my kitchen much, more because of my son's and my wife's tastes than mine. The exception is a little raw red onion in salads and sandwiches sometimes. But I slice it, then soak it in iced water to take some of the "bite" out.

[Worldwide Diner]

They had a budget of $1,000 per truck, IIRC. I think it was stupid to do lobster because you can't afford to buy enough lobsters. As a result, he chops them down to shreds and had to use lots of other stuff (i.e., cream cheese).

[monavano]

He needed to get more bang for the buck, perhaps stretch the lobster with cheaper shrimp.

[C. Hamster]

Chris' "butter poached" (I think not) lobster chopped to death and swimming in cream cheese like a bad rangoon made me throw up a little in my mouth ...

[LurkerDan]

Given the discussion on the last Top Chef thread about how "Charlie's Angels" is a sexist reference, I'm surprised that there have been no comments about that here.

[monavano]

I don't find the term sexist but can understand how others might. It's small beans really, why get all wadded up about it?
I think that Vic, although tough on the exterior, works wonderfully with his female competitors. The other 2 were overbearing with the way they drove the video themes. I don't think they would have listened to dissent. Then again, the albondingas girl should have piped up about her objection to the Balls reference.

[NYCkaren]

That's a good point about Vic. He looks tough but he clearly is able to relate to women. Whereas Chris and Jeff, not so much. They both insisted on those stupid themes that would not appeal to 99 percent of Food Network's female viewers.

[monavano]

Yes! I was even getting just a tiny bit of a misogynist vibe, but that may just be me being sensitive.

[Janet from Richmond]

That is a good point about Vic (who I my favorite at this point).

Penny's only hope is to change her view to "B*tch in the Kitchen". Her food looks amazing but I would not watch her for 2 seconds (and I am someone who is not irritated by the FN personalities most people are annoyed by).

Mary Beth and Jyll bring nothing new to the table in personality or food. I think Susie is the only likable female with a chance as far as personality and food.

[huiray]

I think people are still hoarse from all the yelling and screaming that went on then. :-)

[Or maybe because the people yelling in outrage there really, really did not like Mike Isabella]

[chicgail]

I think here at least, the Charlie's Angel's thing (and the balls thing) was not even as sexist as it was kind of silly and sophomoric. Both Chris and Jeff are very young and have almost no perspective about the world beyond their own personal perspectives. And the people on their teams obviously did not have the motivation or the will to override them.

[chowser]

I agree. Chris keeps saying he's going to show the judges he can be mature but he needs to act it, not say it. He's still the frat boy. But, I won't put the blame on him because both MB and Penny jumped on that theme quickly and it was all very awkward. And Whitney jumped on the Balls theme, too--and squashed Susie's dissent.

[monavano]

Orchid was just too timid to be a FN host. Nice girl, though.
Balls on a Roll wasn't so much sophomoric, but lazy. You want to be creative and pithy. The name was just too easy, but the theme was perfect for a food truck, and their food looked delcious. But, btw.... your grandmother wasn't the first, nor will she be the last person to use Romano cheese in meatballs. My eyeballs were also rolling with that proclamation.
Penny can cook, I give her that. Athough her wrap had more complexity ,she really could have speeded it up a bit. I mean, no matter what, you don't want customers idling in neutral at your truck. I think if Penny becomes more self-aware and not so focused on just her, she could really do well. The cat noises have to go, however. I was embarrassed for her that she did that in front of the judges.
Mary Beth comes across to me as a poser. I don't know a better way to put it (wish I did), but she seems to white knuckle her way through, trying so very hard to be self-possesed, and it comes across the wrong way. Like when she went out into the truck's line "I like your glasses!". Inane.
Vic's Philly wrap looked delicious, but the guacamole offended my Philly roots ;0 Plus, American cheese is perfectly kosher in a cheesesteak, so that was in no way inventive or a departure. Many people order and prefer American. Vic and the blonde (forget her name) played really well off one another in their video, but yeah, Orchid just got shut down which is her fault entirely.
OMG...the Charlie's angels thing was just not good. Not good at all. The balls video wasn't bad really and I agree that in the delivery, albondingas should have been explained with a verbal subtitle, like "albondingas-Latin meatballs!". Who wouldn't want to line up for that? I love meatball soup and would like to try her's.

[kprange]

I would have gone to the lobster and filet truck too. Although, the meatballs sounded great too. I just thought the name was totally stupid, and I didn't get it. Something like having a ball would have been better.

[monavano]

I really wanted to try Penny's filet wrap and the meatball soup. Having a ball is a great name. As I mentioned before, the name was lazy. I like names that are clever, and that was anything but.

[AMFM]

perfectly said.

[kprange]

Ok - the dark haired girl, you know the one - they think she is too serious, but has great food. Anyway, they tell her to be funnier, or more relaxed, but when she tries, she gets called out for not being herself. That I just don't understand.

[Worldwide Diner]

Whitney. I think the point is that she really is a dud personality wise. Everything she tries just looks fake.

[chowser]

Yeah, the "you're paying too much to what we say to you rather than ignoring us" is confusing advice.

[kprange]

That's what I am talking about!

[monavano]

I had to smack my forhead when Tush said that. What? I get that Tush wants her to "break out" and be herself, but that was just stupid to say.
Why bother giving feedback?

[jgg13]

They have a tendency to give contradictory advice. I've never really understood it if twas just sloppy editing or what. You'll see them lay into someone one ep for not doing XYZ, and then the next ep (or sometimes the next person) they'll get after them for *doing* XYZ. This just seems like the next logical step of that :)

[huiray]

That's a reflection on their being hot messes themselves, on FN being a hot mess, on their shows being hot messes.

[rasputina]

Reminds about a time on a previous season of the show when Tyler Florence berated a contestant for boiling the meat marinade to use as sauce after the meat was cooked, telling them they will make someone sick and he basically refused to taste it.

Only problem was that he had just done that very thing on an episode of his show that aired the week before.

Inconsistency in the judging seems to be standard on this show.

[jgg13]

Yup, I remember that one being brought up here. i always just figured one of two things were true (and likely a bit of both): 1) It's all just for show to up the drama or 2) it seems wackier than it is due to editing

[monavano]

I've seen the marinade boiled and used on Secrets of a Restaurant Chef (not surprisingly),
The judges also come down on the whole "smellavision", "wish you could smell this" thing when they say it ALL THE TIME!
Frankly, I think most of the celeb chef judges come off looking like jerks and way different than their nicey-nice faux show personalities.
Kinda bursts my bubble, you know?

[paulj]

Why take their 'judge' persona as more representative of the real person than the 'faux show personalities'? Both are roles. A judge on a show like this has to say some nasty things about the contestants. Otherwise there would be no reason to eliminate anyone at the end. Don't forget that producers have a big say in the tenor of things, both during taping, and during editing afterwards.

[monavano]

That wasn't my angle. What I mean to say is that I think the judges are more themselves with their judge hat on and many times they seem not so nice. It's just a disconnect for me.
Watching Rachel Ray's food show, I want to hang out with her. Watching her talk show, not so much.

[dmjordan]

But how do you know which is the real personality? The judge personality or the presenter personality?

[monavano]

I get the sense that the FN chefs are more themselves when they are judges. Why would the need a schtick to judge?

[pine time]

I've boiled & served marinade for years with no problems. I think the TV folks take a "do as I say, not as I do" stance just in case 1 in a million viewers didn't boil it enough and gets a tummy problem. It's a CYA mentality...

[jujuthomas]

I think they were telling her to stop trying so freaking hard. She was trying SO HARD to seem serious, so they told her to loosen up. then she just seems ridiculous... I laughed when he said "I bet she was an A student" because I knew some kids who followed instructions to.the.letter. and always got A's. I knew exactly what he was saying. :)

[dmjordan]

I hate when someone leaves and says either to the judges (like Orchid did) or in their confessional "You'll see me again." or "You haven't seen the last of me." Unless you're in the top 3, which Orchid isn't, we probably WON'T ever see you again.

[chowser]

We joked that it's lucky Orchid is a nice person because someone saying, "You'll see me again" could be almost threatening, as in, on your back porch one night with a knife.

[alliegator]

haha, that made me chuckle :)

[dmjordan]

Yes, I wasn't quite sure how to write that without sounding threatening.

[pdxgastro]

Why won't we see Orchid again? FN could easily give her a show, even if she didn't win. We've seen it before.

[monavano]

If Tom got a show, I think Orchid has got a shot.
She just might really shine when she's not being upstaged by more extroverted competitors.

[jmckee]

"Extroverted". Thanks for putting a word to what the judges were trying to say -- in essence, they dumped Orchid because she's more reserved. Well, some "more reserved" people have been very successful in food shows. Think Lidia Bastianich, Ina Garten (although I'm not a fan)....

[monavano]

I saw Lidia B. speak about a year or so ago. It was a sit down interview with a food columist/writer. She did seemed reserved and while she knows everyone is interested in her personal story, I got the sense that she isn't one of those people who just LOVE to talk about themselves.
I've never seen Ina do another show outside of her own or any food even on the foodie channels. I think she's happy in her close-knit community. Paula Deen OTOH seems to really enjoy getting in there with a room full of people and being the center of attention.

[Shrinkrap]

And I believe she used to suffer from agoraphobia!

[John E.]

Are you sure it isn't Paula Deen that you are thinking of that suffered from that condition?

[Shrinkrap]

Yes: I was referring to the last sentence of monavano's post.

[John E.]

Yeah, I missed the reference. Sorry about that.

[dmjordan]

The ones that have gotten a show in the past have all been in the top 3 (maybe 4--correct me if I'm wrong). If she were good enough for a show, I don't think that she would have left this early.

[monavano]

I think it depends on the season. This one doesn't seem to have as strong of a pool to cull from.

[Joanie]

Right, which makes it less likely she'd have a show. If the people were all good to excellent, you'd expect good people to go home early. But they're not that great and she's out with 8 people still left.

[C. Hamster]

I agree. They could have ans should have tossed off Chris or marybeth. Kicking Orchid to the curb seems like a sign that they didnt see a future for her.

[chowser]

I think part of it is drama--Orchid is nice and doesn't bring it. Chris and MB both bring some kind of drama, dislike, i.e. viewers. It's a matter of time before they go. Penny is the same. They'll keep her because she brings in viewers. I think they're playing up Suzie in a good way to make her the feel good heroine/potential winner.

Not that I'd ever do reality TV but I've said if I did, I'd act the crazy villain for the first part of the show so they'd keep me on until they got rid of most of the contestants. At that point, I'd do a 180, "learn" the lesson and be nice and drama-free, and pick up the performance. If Penny, in the next few weeks, learned to play nice, she has the cooking skills to win.

[soupkitten]

LMAO-- great reality cooking show survival strategy, Chowser!

[DiningDiva]

It takes about 3 seconds to make a first impression, whether it's a person, house, car, or whatever. But it takes 3 months or more to change that first impression.

Penny cooked her goose by being so mean and nasty from the get-go. Even if she changed her behavior from the next episode on, I'm not so sure enough people would change their negative opinion of her. FTV lives and dies by their sponsors, if they (the sponsors) perceive that Penny wouldn't be a good fit for to hawk their brands, there is no way she can win.

Omarosa didn't win The Apprentice, but she made a good villian and she parlayed it into a mini-career of appearances after the show enede.

[DiningDiva]

The audio and the video aren't in sync. Is that a West Coast phenomenon or AT&T Uverse? It's annoying to watch Tylers lips moving and not matching the words coming out.

[jujuthomas]

Dh works for Comcast - when the audio and video get out of sync like that, change the channel and back real quick. it works for us every time.

Oh topic - Chris' lobster/cheese roll looked disgusting, Jeff's meatballs looked SO good - i was glad I'd made my own for dinner! I really wanted to try Suzy's soup, and to KICK both Marybeth and Penny in the shins! ;) I thought Marybeth would go home for sure.

[saeyedoc]

Suzie's albondigas looked good, but they should have rice in them to be authentic.

[John E.]

Maybe Suzie's albondigas did have rice in them. I started to make this soup a couple of years ago after first having it at a restaurant in Arizona. It's really easy to make but it doesn't freeze well because the meatballs are delicate.

[paulj]

Rice may be common in Mexican meatballs (albondigas), but is it the defining feature? Doesn't it just function like the panade in Italian meatballs? The Mexican version derives from the Spanish, which in turn has Moorish-Arabic roots (the 'al' part of the name).

[John E.]

I don't really know if it is the defining feature or not. I've only eaten it at a single restaurant and rice was in their meatballs. Rice was also an ingredient in the recipe I found on-line.

[DiningDiva]

I've eaten and made albondigas for at least the last 30 years. Rice has been a recipe ingredient in the majority of them but it was not a major or definining ingredient. It acts more like a binder than anything and you don't need much

[John E.]

Yeah, I knew that about the rice. I've actually made the soup with meatballs in which i've forgotten the rice and it was fine, but I'm not one that worries about authenticity.

[inaplasticcup]

I think the rice is probably a meat stretcher. I don't think I'd miss the rice in an otherwise well executed albondigas soup.

[DiningDiva]

Jujuthomas, thanks for the suggestion I'll try it if it happens again.

[joonjoon]

Ok...seriously who smothers lobster in cream cheese like that???? I would have fired Chris. All he needed to do is toss that lobster with some butter and/or mayo and it would have been great.

[Joanie]

Yeah that sounded wrong when he started making it and got even worse. What was he thinking? As some woman said, he smothered the sweet lobster taste. It's weird how everyone thought Orchid would win then she just plummeted. Vic still walks like Frankenstein.

[LikestoEatout]

Orchid just got bowled over by stronger personalities each week. I would have rather seen Mary Beth go and quit the cat fights with Penny. They even said Mary Beth hasn't given them anything good, food wise.

[joonjoon]

Someone like Orchid seems to be on every season of NFNS - someone who is naturally camera-genic and doesn't get freaked out by the lights and starts off well while everyone else is crapping their pants. A few weeks later when the contenders get comfortable with the spotlight is when the real race begins.

[Worldwide Diner]

It also seems like he shredded the lobster so that no one can find any lobster meat in the midst of all that cream cheese. Where TF did he get that idea to throw cream cheese in with lobster?

[AMFM]

he said... crab rangoon.

[chowser]

It was painful to watch him chop that lobster. Use tuna fish in a can if you're going to do that to good lobster tail. Dd you see the look on Bobby' Flay's face when Chris described what he did with the lobster?

[joonjoon]

Yeah when I saw him turn that lobster into hash I knew something was going wrong. He should have just stopped after the butter poaching part. The classic lobster roll is simple for a reason.

[NYCkaren]

I agree. That cream cheesy lobster roll sounded awful. How could that possibly be good?

[chicgail]

When he likened it to crab rangoon I knew he was finished. ick. What a great way to ruin lobster, one of the best foods on the planet.

[rasputina]

His dish looked and sounded disgusting, I can't believe he is still on the show I just don't get it.

[monavano]

Just the fact that he didn't squirrel away large chunks for the judges read stupid to me. I'd have served them each 6 ounces of sweet lobster. I think it was the lack of lobster that did his dish in.

[DavidPalmer]

I'm thinking maybe those tails were previously frozen? I didn't see the whole episode, but they were definitely pacific spiny lobster tails, and when he was splitting them apart, they already looked sad and dried out, which makes me thing either they were previously frozen or he simply cooked them to death. Smother them in cream cheese and he was doubly screwed.

[John E.]

What this evenings episode proves is that no matter what else a contestant does, they will not get sent packing for making and serving good food.

[smartie]

well I think that poor personality and bad food will have them in the bottom 2 or 3, there are still 8 and they have to be pared down one way or another.

[LurkerDan]

True, but if all you have is good food (ie, you suck in front of the camera), you will get sent home the second you make one mediocre dish (like Justin did a couple of weeks ago).

[AMFM]

ok - i didn't think the balls thing was that bad. kinda funny - and i actually don't have that sophomoric of a sense of humor normally. and there are lots of street food dishes that can be done in that form. honestly, i like only susie. everyone else is annoying. penny can obviously cook but... i can't imagine her coming out of this likable.

[AMFM]

oh and watching it again... i realized i forgot - i thought the charlie's angels and penny's cleavage commercial was way worse. maribeth also gets worse by the day.

[Janet]

Penny is getting softer, make up and attitude. Mary Beth was a total bitch tonight. Penny worked hard as a team member. She was slow, but her food was much more complex than her team mates. I agree she is abrasive but the others are not real nice to her even when she tries to be nice.

[Worldwide Diner]

It seems clear that Mary Beth helped Penny by chopping the onions, yet Penny denied needing Mary Beth's help? That was just weird. I'm guessing that neither cares for the other and will throw each other under the bus at every opportunity.

[coney with everything]

I surely do not see Penny getting softer...that "Reeowr" thing was beyond the pale. The judges finally called her out on the fact that she can't win when everyone hates her guts.

And the balls thing...apparently America's Next Great Restaurant taught them nothing :) (probably hadn't aired, I realize)

[alliegator]

I actually felt myself cringing when she did that!

[monavano]

Me too! Leave that sh*t on the playground, Penny.

[chicgail]

That kind of nasty - and weird - behavior will NEVER get her a show, no matter how well she cooks.

[smartie]

The judges pointed out that she has to get along with everybody and that means crew too. They said FN was like a family or something akin to that. Can you imagine if she took a disliking to say a makeup artist or a young Assistant Producer, especially female because it appears she does not get along with other women.

[chowser]

Exactly, and they don't need a diva who won't give anyone credit for anything when they step in to help out. Plus, you have to be able to take criticism (Sandra Lee must have the thickest skin for the types of comments she gets) and not bat an eye and not lash back. Can you imagine a food network star meowing like that at a customer waiting for an autograph if she's unhappy? She has a complete lack of class.

[chowser]

Food in ball shapes would be good--sexual innuendos that teenagers giggle over isn't. Calling their truck something like "Having a ball" would have been a much better sell than Balls on a roll which makes me roll my eyes. That said, I don't think people avoided their truck because of a sophomoric name--choose filet and lobster wraps or a falafel and meatballs?

I agree that Chris's ad was far worst, though. It was uncomfortable watching Penny and MB try to be sexy; and Chris as the leader? Ugh. And, Penny was even more unlikeable when she refused to admit that MB helped her. I'm glad Susie called her on her attitude.

[Joanie]

Does anyone else know the song "Balls to the Wall" by Accept? I assumed Jeff used that as his "inspiration". You're right, "Having a Ball" would have been 10 times better.

[boingo2000]

Ha! I actually thought at the time that "Balls to the Wall" would be a much better name, if you were going to go with the silly concept. "Balls on a Roll" just sounds forced. But still, you're right....for something like a Food Network Chef challenge, "Having a Ball" would have been much better.

But for a real food truck, I think "Balls to the Wall" with a heavy metal theme would be pretty cool. :)

[AMFM]

agree with all of you. both those names would be great. it's not that i liked the name, just that i didn't mind the concept. most food trucks have a theme. and funny can be ok.

[kprange]

I wanted to try the meatballs. I also wanted to try the wraps. Some of that food looked really good to me.

[AMFM]

susie's soup looked awesome.