NFNS 8/6 with Spoilers

[debbiel]

What? No one has started the thread for tonight's episode yet? But I don't start threads!

MB...gone! Finally. She irked me even more than usual tonight. She referred too often to her creativity. The judges referred to her creativity and knowledge of food. I just didn't really see either in her. Not an absence of knowledge, mind you, just nothing remarkable. And I really didn't see the creativity tonight.

Penny was atrocious. I didn't dislike her as much as others during her run, but she was just awful tonight. I'm not a great cook, but I would have a chance of beating her food prep speed if I were asleep.

Glad to see Susie do so well with her dishes. Jeff I felt bombed it with his three mayo lobster sandwiches (though not as much as MB with her three poorly executed dishes). Vic was...eh. Though he did inspire me to take some ground lamb out of the freezer.

None of them interested me on the commentary. Maybe I'm just a curmudgeon tonight. I just don't feel like any of them were explaining anything to us. Vic's triple "not a bad dish" at judging was pretty funny.

There was no tension when the judges identified the bottom two. Everyone knew at that point that MB was going home. There was no way they were picking her over Jeff for final three. I think MB and Jeff knew it, Susie and Vic knew it, the judges knew it, we knew it.

[LiveRock]

<Clears throat>

Now that I got off my chest...I really adore Suzie, she has the chops, the genuine personality, and the spirit to pull this off. Jeff, is a likable and capable contender though so I think it will be down to the wire. Either of them would be fine hosting a show. Network Star? It's hard to tell...there have been quite a few winners before that never quite made it to "Star" level.

I like Vic, he is authentic and purposeful, but I don't see him in a starring role anytime soon. From a persona standpoint, Steve Martorano may have beaten him to the punch.

http://www.cafemartorano.com/yocuz.php

I do wish all three of them well as I feel they all worked hard and deserve a spot in the finals.

[NellyNel]

lol!!!

I like all of them too...With Jeff being my favorite.

I had never cared for Vic before...i felt there was just something about him that I didnt like...but he won me over with his hilarious "It's toothpaste for the Devil" remark.
I thought it was quick thinking, clever and quite funny!

[uncommon]

Seriously, Mary Beth made me want to scream. She couldn't cook half the time, she wasn't in the least bit interesting or engaging, and frankly the "Sunday Supper" thing was such a tired and uninspired idea.

I like Jeff - he's goofy but his food looks and sounds really yummy and he's enjoyable to watch.

[LiveRock]

I have to agree that Penny was a very good cook and I would love to try any of her dishes...cooked by any other person that is. I’m afraid if she were the one preparing the dish I would not enjoy it as I would be too preoccupied looking for the "secret ingredients" she may have used - Eye of newt, wool of bat, a tiny lizards leg perhaps - as this woman is evil personified!

Mary Beth likely would have been the one to go in this show but Penny's deliberate attempt to sabotage, even though she no longer had a stake in the game, was nothing short of spiteful sophomoric malice...all qualities I recognized in her very early on. To put it mildly, I hope she never (ahem) graces the screen of my television again!

Had Penny won I can only imagine what they might have called her show: Penny’s Diabolical Dinners, Contemptuous Cooking, The Witch Whips up Dinner perhaps?

[NellyNel]

Eye of Newt ect... - LOL!!!

Funny, but a bit harsh, really...
(I always seem to be defending the "villian" of reality cooking shows!! Stefan, Marcel, Mike I, and now, Penny.)

I honestly don't think she was as bad as the edits made her out to be. Especially in the Iron Chef challenge.
I remember the food truck challenge, also, where she was prepping her own food at the same snails pace...
and she didnt like Marybeth, so I'm sure she was not going to break a sweat for her...BUT, I do think it was edited so that she appeared far more lax than she even was.

She was competitive, and she didnt hide the fact. (better, IMO, than a passive aggressive type or a phony) And she did seem to get along well with the guys.

[LurkerDan]

Perhaps she wasn't as bad as the edits made it, but I think she had to have been pretty bad for the judges and Alton to not only notice, but comment on it, and for Alton to even say something directly to her. Never seen anything like that before, so that says it was pretty bad.

And someone truly competitive would have tried to win, even if it was for Mary Beth. In all the years I have watched shows like Top Chef, when they bring contestants back, they sometimes clash with the people they didn't like, but they ALWAYS try hard. After this episode, it seems to me that she's far more catty than she is competitive. A true competitor would have tried to help their team win. What she did was the opposite of being competitive. So, while she may have some competitive nature to her, it's clear that she's got way more spite in her than competitiveness.

[monavano]

Well said, LurkerDan.
Were I Penny, I would have been *mortified* that Alton Brown noted my complete lack of efficiency. But Penny didn't give a horse's patootie.

[The Dairy Queen]

Worse than that. She actually seemed rather pleased with herself.

Too bad. She seems to be a fantastic cook.

~TDQ

[jmckee]

"Cooking is caring. Cooking is love. Cooking is respect." -- Michel Richard. I wouldn't eat Penny's food for the same reason I wouldn't eat that horse's patoot Gordon whatzisgoof's food. I don't like not-nice people.

[debbiel]

I'm too much of a cynic about reality tv. While I believe that Penny did deliberately slow herself, I can imagine a scenario in which the judges/Alton were directed to comment on it rather than those comments and Alton approaching her occurring naturally/genuinely.

[breadchick]

Susie gets the show on Food Network. Jeff gets the show on Cooking Channel, finding the best sandwich shops in the country. "The Earl of Sandwich" perhaps. Yawn.

Travel food is now so overdone, so tiresome.

[Joanie]

I'm probably in the minority since I don't cook a lot, but I prefer the travel shows since I *do* travel a lot. More exciting than standing in a kitchen gathering ingredients, for me of course.

[monavano]

MB really grew on me this show. She showed great generosity and respect when commenting on Vic's dishes and especially with Penny being an outrageous passive aggressive piece of dead weight. I felt it totally uncalled for to handicap MB like that. The other sous chefs were busting moves!
Penny was not MB's undoing. It was MB's lack of cooking chops, lack of vision and lack of creativity. The difference between her 3 dishes was nominal.
Jeff not making mayo was a major blunder and I thought his sandwiches looked just OK. He didn't bring it, but no way he was going home with his natural TV presence. I mean, seriously, he's good and let's face it, will get a show. He's probably taping now!
Susie is the best chef. One who I'd definitely watch. From that standpoint, I want her to win so I can view. But again, let's face it, she's got a show too!
I predict Vic will be next to go unless Susie or Jeff screw up majorly.

[smartie]

I agree they showed MB in a positive light regarding Penny. She could have really thrown her under the bus but she was pretty humble.

[babette feasts]

"Penny was not MB's undoing"

You're right, she was her own undoing, Penny just let it happen. Weren't they hugging and bffs after the last challenge they worked together in? Or is that just how fake they both are?

Lamb is SO up Penny's alley, and MB didn't even try to engage her about the ingredient, so she failed from the begnning. I don't know if it would have been possible for MB to get an iron-chef worthy performance out of Penny, but she did not appear to even try to get it. The other sous chefs would have no doubt taken pride in helping their iron chef win, too bad for Penny she can't be that generous.

[DGresh]

I thought MB's comment near the end that "it was going to be a REALLY tough decision for the judges" was kind of hilarious. I think everyone watching the show was thinking "no, not really".

[AMFM]

agreed. she was REALLY arrogant this episode.

[chicgail]

I didn't read that comment as arrogant as much as I thought it was deep denial.

[AMFM]

maybe.

[Withnail42]

MB was lucky to have lasted as long as she did. She really didn't bring anything. She was just bland enough to keep her in the middle of the road and there for in the competition.

[AMFM]

can i just mention again that even though i don't think she's perfect... i still really want to eat susie's food. that looked great.

[Janet from Richmond]

I do too! And I like Jeff's personality.

I'm no fan of MB, but I have to say I LOVED the black dress she wore when she was eliminated.

[Joanie]

I thought it was a nice dress too. I don't remember them getting dressed up all the time for elimination but probably just never noticed.

[smartie]

all the women have worn dresses for elimination for the past few weeks, I think at the beginning they didn't but we noticed it a few weeks ago.

Vic dresses strangely - all those short sleeved t shirts and something on top - is this to show off the tatts?

[jmckee]

Yeah. it's part of his "Vic Vegas Action Figure" look.

Can't. Stand. The. Guy.

[AMFM]

i didn't notice. now i want to watch the reruns...

[James Cristinian]

I don't know if anyone noticed, but before the segment where Mary Beth gets eliminated, Susie did a commercial for Delta Faucets. Looks like she's going to get a show, in my opinion.

[Manassas64]

FN has spoiled the ending just about every season by adding the winner to their host page on the website, showing the promo of their new show before the ending, etc.

No quality control. LOL

[cmvan]

Other contestants have had the same thing, even ones eliminated, so I don't know how serious;y you could take it. Maybe it was just her turn...

[C. Hamster]

When he called his sandwich a "classic" lobster roll, I cringed. A Sandwich King should know what the classic sammies are.

[Joanie]

I was surprised they liked the walnut in the lobster roll. That sounds so wrong to me. Lobster rolls are one thing that I think getting all creative really works against things.

And as far as Penny moving from Celeb Appren to Flavor of Love, I think you have to update it to Bad Girls Club, (I only know it cuz of The Soup) which makes sense for her.

[foodiefan6]

I don't think any of the dishes (except perhaps Susie's) was Iron Chef-worthy. Seems like the judges lowered their expectations, perhaps based on who they wanted to advance. Glad, though, that they put Jeff in the bottom based on his dishes but it was clear he was not going to be dropped -- just a little scare to get him to step it up and justify a possible win in the finale.

[C. Hamster]

Mary Beth is actually a lawyer, which explains a lot.

Penny just downgraded herself from Celebrity Apprentice to Flavor of Love.

I am now rooting for Susie, though I do like Jeff.

Food Network Humor posted a possible winning contestant spoiler. Peek at your own discretion.

http://foodnetworkhumor.com/

[AMFM]

ok - i actually didn't read the spoiler. but the susie fogelson thing was hilarious.

[jmckee]

Your Penny remark is the funniest thing I've read all day!

[jujuthomas]

Thanks for the link that was great.

[josquared]

I think in his decision of who to face, Jeff more or less put him and Susie into the final two. I don't think either he or Susie (as it turned out, Jeff lost) were going to lose to whomever lost the Vic/MB battle (Susie v. Vic could've been interesting, but I still think Susie would've prevailed all things being equal.) I suppose Vic could be a spoiler, but compared to the other two, he has less of that "it" factor going for him.

Both people who basically went with a concept three ways (Jeff's sandwiches and MB's lamb chops) ended up losing. It would be interesting to find out if any past contestants either in the current or past configurations of Iron Chef ever tried that tack.

The very best you can say about Penny's effort is that she wasn't trying very hard. It would've been interesting to see if MB could've nailed her lamb dishes if she got anyone else but Penny as her sous chef. Despite this, the right person was sent home this weekend.

As far as favorites, I figure they're leaning toward Susie right now, but Jeff is going to get a show regardless. Vic? Still meh on him.

[Manassas64]

I agree Susie and Jeff with both get shows. I feel that they will find a home for Whitney, Mary Beth and Vic somewhere. They liked them all a lot, from a personality standpoint, they just need more time finding their niche.

I felt this was a great group this season and they could really do a lot with them on both Cooking Channel and FN.

We need new blood!

[jmckee]

Vic? Really? The dude's a disaster on television.....

[Withnail42]

THis is playing out just as one would expect from FN.

And Penny has be a real idiot, to want a career cooking on TV then go out of your way to cook badly and sabotage another contestant. Does she really think that makes her seem like a sellable personality, a team player? Or someone you would want to work with? She comes across as one of those people who'll cut of there nose to spite their face.

[chicgail]

Apparently she's driven more by winning/losing, being right, sabotaging others than she is by actually having a TV cooking career. At least that's the game she's winning.

[ChefJune]

In the end, Penny hurt no one so much as herself. I think Mary Beth would have gone home without her sabotage. That was mean spirited and hateful. I sure hope it comes back to haunt her.

[inaplasticcup]

It always does, I think. Karma is what you make it! :)

[jujuthomas]

OH, I was SO FRUSTRATED with Penny and her smirk! I wanted to reach into the tv and shake her. DH sat down with me just in time for final judging, didn't believe me when i said MB would be going home. I was glad to see her leave, I agree with all-y'all that said Jeff really failed with three mayo-lobster sandwiches, altho they all looked delicious. Vic's input was totally lame, Susie did not do well with her commentary, but I so wanted to try Susie's food, and eat Vic's lamb burger. yum.

[chicgail]

Vic has softened and become quite likeable. Jeff will get a show no matter what, but it's Suzy's to lose.

[mcf]

That's my take, too.

[jmckee]

Vic should have gone home. He made some nice dishes, but was clueless in the commentator and judge roles. He manages to sound stupider every week.

[debbiel]

But, MB didn't execute well on any of hers last night. And, again, I don't think she was particularly interesting in the commentator role either.

[inaplasticcup]

And that overwrought bisque description... :|

[debbiel]

+1 That was dreadful. I'd rather replace my Duke's mayo with another brand than hear that again.

[jmckee]

"Yew kin have mah Duke's mayo when yew pry the jar from mah cold, daid fingers."

[debbiel]

:)

[DGresh]

Oh god yes. And besides, that's not even CORRECT. She keeps saying how knowledgeable she is and then she doesn't mention that (at least traditionally) a bisque is MADE WITH SHELLS.

[wincountrygirl]

Sorry - shells? Do you mean shellfish?

[chicgail]

I think DGresh means the shells of the shellfish.

[wincountrygirl]

Penny totally did that on purpose - she hates MB. The judges even noticed and I'm surprised they waited so long to say anything. When Alton said something to her like - someone who moves so slowly at kitchen stadium usually loses, she flashed a look to the camera that said that was her intention.

[Joanie]

I was actually surprised to see this. I felt like she'd kind of gotten out of that evil character and why would she need to sabotage MB at this stage of the game? But when she gave that look, it was really an ugly moment. Chris seemed to step up nicely and Whitney and Jyl did great.

I agree about Jeff's lack of creativity with the lobster, man he could have mixed that up some more. I did think he was great "commentating" (there's something about that verb that sounds wrong to me). I agree with debbie that Mary Beth's knowledge didn't seem so plentiful. I'm surprised the judges didn't comment on Vic's third use of a "not a bad dish", not just that he was being nice but being boring and redundant.

[inaplasticcup]

I'm not surprised. I'm pretty sure I read somewhere that she tried out for some other reality show like the Apprentice or something like that. Likely a famewhore trying to get herself cast as a drama queen villainess on whatever show will have her.

[mcf]

Are you referring to Penny or MB? Penny may be harsh, but she's clearly a very good cook for real. MB has bothered me all season; she can't cook and there's nothing uniquely qualifying her to speak about food, from my perspective. I like Jeff, but I think Vic, Susie and Penny had the best food this season, except for the use of that mint jelly sauce last night.

[inaplasticcup]

Penny. I'm not saying that she's not a good cook, but being a good cook doesn't guarantee that you don't want to make a reality show spectacle of yourself.

[mcf]

I don't know if she's a fame whore or just ambitious. She's just made herself so unlikeable, would have a deficit to overcome with the audience. I'd buy a cookbook by her, though.

[libgirl2]

I'm not surprised. It would make sense with her being the villain on here.

[mcf]

Don 't commentators "comment" rather than "commentate?" Irks me, even if it's not a made up verb . :-)

[inaplasticcup]

I think Susie's pulled a Don King on just about every episode...

[chicgail]

What does "pulled a Don King" mean? "

[inaplasticcup]

You know. She makes up words and stuff... :)

http://kotaku.com/5015640/make-don-ki...

[Shrinkrap]

I thought it meant an outlandish hairdo!

[chicgail]

That's what I thought.

[sasha1]

This word totally bugged me too, so much so that I looked it up. And what I found is that, much to many people's chagrin, it is in fact a word. The source I consulted said, humorously, that in fact a commentator does comment, but that at some critical point people began saying that what a commentator does is commentate, not realizing that there was already a perfectly good word for what a commentator does. I laughed, anyway, after I cringed.

[inaplasticcup]

LOL. I thought you were gonna say you looked up *fibrier*. :)

[jujuthomas]

<snicker> that's what I thought at first too, lol!

[sasha1]

I think it was apparent to all of us that that wasn't a real word!

[Shrinkrap]

I thoought Penny looked sort of softer. Less harsh shadows or something.

[jmckee]

All three of us -- wife, son, and I -- said at the same time: "She's doing that on purpose."

[wincountrygirl]

She had no problems finishing any of her own challenges on time.........so, there you go!

[AMFM]

yes she did though. remember the food truck - she was totally slow making the filet sandwich. MB had to help.

[monavano]

Oh, right! Good memory.

[The Dairy Queen]

Penny totally sabotaged MB, but I think MB would have gone home anyway. The judges were fully aware that Penny was sabotaging MB and, I'm sure, took that into account. I think the person Penny shot most in the foot is herself. She has really proven to be a mean, spiteful, unprofessional person. Who is going to hire such a person?

~TDQ

[monavano]

I agree. Time and time again Penny showed a really ugly side. I don't see FN giving her anything. Shame-- waste of talent.

[NellyNel]

As someone pointed out earlier, Penny was known to have been slow in the kitchen before, but wow - to say she was "la di da" doesnt even cut it!
However, I really thought the episode was "edited" to make it seem even more so...
and the shots of Penny's face were hilarious - I'm sure they were edited in that way for the viewers amusement.

[smartie]

what an unkind woman, I thought the judges could have been much harsher on Penny, sure glad her personality showed through earlier and she didn't even get near to having her own show.

Cable went out last night after a bad storm so I had to watch the episode on catch up tonight.

Also glad MB went home, too sickly sweet and not a good enough cook.

[wincountrygirl]

I also thought the judges should have done more than just that little chat with Alton. Everyone knew she was clearly doing it on purpose. I'm not a fan of MB - she deserved to go home, but she did that without help!

[DiningDiva]

Mary Beth should have taken responsibility for what was happening in her kitchen and called Penny out on the speed issue. An actual Iron Chef would not have tolerated insubordination (which is what Penny was) in the kitche. Had MB done that she might have stayed rather than Vic.

[wincountrygirl]

I agree - and I think MB was the right choice to go regardless of what Penny did.

[DiningDiva]

Yes, MB was the one to go. From day 1 I never cared much for her. Someone on a previous thread used the word "disingenuous" to describe MB and, for me, it fit. She always seemed a bit forced and phony to me.

[pine time]

I'd said that early-on, too. Her style just seemed forced, and I wasn't as impressed with her talking about food (altho' she certainly seemed to dazzle the judges for awhile). Won't be surprised to see Suzy win, but both Jeff and Vic have some limited airing show for awhile.

[DiningDiva]

In spite of his lobster and mayo faux pas last week, I think Jeff gets the FTV show in a dead time slot and Susie gets the Cooking Channel show that will (most likely) ultimately be seen by a wider audience.

I've actually kind of liked Vic from the start and glad to see that he managed to find his "sea legs" if you will. Unfortunately, he isn't as easy on camera as the other two so I'm not really sure if he'll end up getting a show or not. Not sure they really want to groom someone. Herb from last season was better on camera than Vic and his food was pretty decent too, but we haven't seen a show from him on either channel. I strongly suspect that's where Vic will fall.

That said, someone else on this thread (I think) commented that this season had a lot of strong contenders and thought we'd see some of them back with shows. I would agree that and suspect we might see Whitney in a more classic food show setting. Part of what Ina has going for her (aside from years owning her shop and catering) is that her delivery is so calm and reassuring that she makes you think you can cook anything and have it turn out. Whitney has that same reassuring quality, she just hasn't quite mastered the warmth and animation piece yet. I can see FTV taking some time to work with her rather that Vic...she's got more "mass appeal" than he does. And, if you go back to the 7/31 thread, there were far fewer "glad she's finally gone" comments than for any other competitor. Like Vic, Whitney wasn't quite ready for prime time. Penny or MB? I'd rather poke myself in the eye with a sharp stick than watch them on television, these few short weeks waere enough :-)

[joonjoon]

Bad Penny, Bad.

[debbiel]

Oops...That should be 8/7. Sorry!