Food Network Star, Episode 3 - Chopped Lite (SPOILER)

[cmvan]

Well, this group actually took to the challenge pretty well apparently, even though they were faced with both the dreaded Baskets of Doom and the equally dreaded category of Dessert.

The judges' reactions particularly to the contestants' last moment platings were amusing - they really seemed to get into it, verbalizing more than we get to see in the actual Chopped. I especially enjoyed their reactions to Justin.

I did get a bit peeved when they did a teaser at one commercial break, showing Michelle getting spooked by the stares of what the editors made us think was clearly Alex Guarnaschelli, but turned out to actually be Giada. What was that all about?!

And my local boy, Eric Lee, did well again, and is perking up his presentations. Maybe we'll see him and Justin in the final.

As for the 2 at the bottom, it could easily have been either one to go. I think they chose Josh because he was unfocused, choked on camera, and got on their nerves with his 'rock star' schtick, which never really panned out.

[smartie]

Rock guy deserved to go, did not come across well on camera.

Love the Rocky Horror Show image for Justin!

Giada needs to be on What Not To Wear, she dresses inappropriately for her age and shape.

[2roadsdiverge]

Every time I see her I think "little tiny body, great big head!" She needs to do something to change her proportions.

[acgold7]

That is, in fact, exactly the way she was described on the executive floor (and is attributed as the reason for her success) at the Network.

[coney with everything]

I was glad to see Mr ROCK go--I personally considered him to be a poor man's Joel McHale, but not in a good way.

#no seasons and no movie

[pdxgastro]

You know what made me mad? The last chance challenge was geared towards grilling and Miss "Girl on Grill" Nikki was a shoe-in. That is such CLEAR manipulation by the producers. It's gotten to be that if I were a contestant I wouldn't worry about messing up on a main challenge because the last chance might be more up my alley. Know what I mean?

[FoodPopulist]

I don't think it is clear manipulation. I expect that they have to have those elimination challenges ready before they know who will be doing them. Logistically, I expect it all has to be planned before filming even starts, so they probably have no way of knowing that Nikki will be facing that challenge or that she will still be in the running by that point in the competition.

[DGresh]

I agree that it probably wasn't a setup. But something I wondered about, is that they have their 30 minutes to make their food, then they spend the next (apparently) X minutes to get mentored, do their pitch, THEN the food gets eaten by the producers. (Last week they had at least 15 minutes of practice time before the filming of the pitch; apparently this week was more on-the-spot) Isn't the food a bit old and cold by then?

[2roadsdiverge]

I think about this with many food competitions. I wonder if it would be sound strategy to prepare a dish that would still be good after sitting out for 30 minutes.

[chowser]

I'm guessing they switch it up and eat the food earlier. It would be easy to do with editing.

[acgold7]

I can't speak to this show specifically, but I know with ICA, it's quite some time between the time the official cooking is finished and the tasting/judging begins -- at least an hour so they can get all the beauty shots and cutaways. All the dishes are remade from scratch for tasting.

[2roadsdiverge]

So if the person screws up -- burns the bacon, curdles the milk, adds too much salt -- the first time, do they have to remake the mistake as well? Or on Iron Chef America do they assume that all of the dishes are made competently and the only challenge is the concept?

[acgold7]

It's a good question. I think execution certainly plays a part but I'm sure there have been times when the later version got "fixed." I'm guessing if the clock runs out and they neglect to plate something, they can't fix that, though.

[chowser]

That's a good question--the first round is like a practice round and then they get to perfect it for tasting.

[Joanie]

I didn't see the separate thread for this episode. My comment was the fact that 30 min to see the ingredients, come up with the plan, cook and esp. plate for NINE people seems completely unfair. Getting three plates ready is next to impossible on the regular Chopped shows, 9 is nuts.

[ipsedixit]

I'm pulling for Justin.

[rochfood]

Justin..you mean Marcel ?

[ipsedixit]

Yes, if Marcel was off his ADD medication.

[DGresh]

Justin annoys me. Especially his lips :)

[ipsedixit]

But he's like the 5 car pileup on the freeway, you can't bear but to watch.

Schadenfreude all the way.

[chowser]

If this doesn't work out for Justin, I think he should be cast in the next Rocky Horror Picture Show. He won't need make up. Like this:

http://www.google.com/imgres?q=justin+warner+food+network&um=1&hl=en&sa=N&biw=1600&bih=785&tbm=isch&tbnid=EdwgM6M5JKu3fM:&imgrefurl=http://www.foodnetwork.com/justin-warner/index.html&docid=b-yRIWHvB5mZuM&imgurl=http://images.scrippsnetworks.com/up/images/0185/0185256_480x360.jpg&w=480&h=360&ei=4PvDT5f_J4Ls2gWNjMiEAQ&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=488&sig=106429482816540261672&page=1&tbnh=131&tbnw=165&start=0&ndsp=31&ved=1t:429,r:13,s:0,i:104&tx=88&ty=62

http://pichaus.com/curry-gif-tim-show...

[DGresh]

I also was annoyed by the "teaser". What on earth was the point of that. And it was time for Josh to go; he would have been on the bottom last week if Team Giada hadn't won. He's a mess on camera.