Arti's Potty

...I'm not eating that.

Vic may be considered a plant/ringer in some respects: He's competed at least once on the Food Network Challenge...

The tall guy, short dark hair, with the big earrings?
I thought I recognized him from "Chopped".

The one I'm referring probably called himself Vic Vegas, and is heavily tattooed, and was in the Bottom 3.

VIC

JUSTIN B
It's the earrings that make me think I saw him; or is there another chef with those?

I think you're right about Justin being on Chopped... They had a primetime marathon Saturday night, and a guy who kinda looks like him (but had seemingly bigger earrings...) was on...

LAST EDITED ON 06-07-11 AT 04:18 PM (EST)

Alicia (can't talk girl)

Chris (college jerk guy)

Howie (can't cook guy)

Jeff (might actually have a chance guy)

Juba (can't speak a 2 word sentence guy)

Justin B (earring guy)

Justin D (totally unforgetable guy)

Jyll (let me do all your work for you girl)

Katy (?? girl)

Mary Beth (mediocre girl)

Orchid (not Orchard girl - top contender)

Penny (mean not-sexy girl)

Susie (wants anything but Spanish girl)

Vic (tough tatoo guy)

Whitney (promising top contender girl)

Whitney reminds me of Rachel Ray.

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Responding here so that I can use Jbug's Cheat Sheet.

Juba: They made the right call getting rid of him. Not sure how they get to the finalists, but it's hard for me to believe he (and others) got through to the finals unless there have been no "speaking" auditions.

Alicia is not long for the show. There is something odd about her. I can see how she's been a model, but there is still something odd there. She is a total train wreck.

Jeff's sweat was completely disgusting.

Glad Vic finally plated some food.

Don't like Penny at all. Totally NOT sexy. I think she'll be there a while based on her cooking, but she's not a draw for me. Interesting strategy that didn't work out how she wanted it to.

The 2nd Challenge: I'm still getting used to the format. I think I was a little bit confused on this challenge, and it also may be that I missed something. I thought some of the dishes were completely off from what they were supposed to be. In the end, I do think the right person went home, although I really think it could have been any of them. Alicia seems like a total blonde, and Chris seems like a total dufus.

Oh, and I think I'm developing a little crush on Bobby Flay.

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So far I think there are several people I'd watch on a regular show. In past seasons, there have only been one or two, so I'm hooked on seeing this play out.

I think the females are far superior to the male contestants overall. I'm pulling for Mary Beth the most, then Whitney, Orchid and Susie. Penny will go a long way, but hope she doesn't win (like I hoped Melissa D'Arabian and Arti wouldn't win, but you see how that worked out).

-A Tribetastic Creation

Interested. I'm only through half of Episode 1. All these 2-hour shows kill me.

It looks like from here on out, it's just "Food Network Star," as opposed to "The Next . . ."

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and NOT HGTV at all

Except they replayed the premier on HGTV this weekend! I was so confused.

Thanks to tribephyl for the sigpic!

I completely understand.
I wish more of the new shows would show re-runs later in the week - anywhere!

The Food Network runs their shows many, many times during the week. I haven't checked, but it might even be on Demand.

It's interesting to think back on the winners of this show. Of course, Guy is everywhere, to the point of overkill.

Melissa still has her show and I guess Arti's show is coming back.

Big Daddy seems to be getting a bigger presence on the network. I thought he was pretty awkward, but he seems quite comfortable and dynamic now.

Adam Gertler didn't win and has his own show. Not sure who the winner was of that season, but Adam is doing well.

Curly haired Tom, from last season (?) now has his own show.

This seems to be one show where winning isn't always the only way you get your own show.

Big Daddy won Adam's season.

& I've never seen or heard anything of the the guys who were allowed to complete as a team/couple (way back - maybe 2nd season or 1st?)

The Hearty Boys. I know that for a while their show was on one night a week at 3am or so.

They're still catering. I actually saw them do a cooking demo at the Family Farmed Expo back in March. They made Red Wattle Pork belly with butternut squash spaetzle. It was delicious, especially the spaetzle (I only had a tiny taste of the pork belly, since I had two tiny moochers with me and they polished it off before I could have a taste.) They were pretty knowledgeable and entertaining, too. It was a good demo.

They made a cocktail, too (but I missed some of that part of the demo so I can't really describe it.)

A Mmmmmmmoonie plate special!

(There were some Top Chef demos there, too. Stephanie from the Chicago season and Dale from the Miami season (and All-Stars) both did cooking demos, too. I missed Stephanie's demo (but saw her afterward) but I caught Dale's demo.)

Boy, was I ever glad they got rid of that 'marbles in the mouth' Allysa last night! Man, what a cry-baby, and who could understand half of what she said??? She and what'shisface that completely blew everything on the men's team, they were just disasterous!!

I hope these judges continue with some brains this season, and don't just keep people around for the drama. AND, I hope they get it right for once. They haven't done that since Guy, and that was, what? Season one? OR so???? I don't know because I've only been watching since Big Daddy, whom you never see, anyway...

I figured out what was odd about Alyssa's speech - it looks like she had her back teeth gritted - or her jaw is locked - when she talks.

When I mock her, I can do so by keeping my jaw fairly immobile. So maybe she has a legitimate jaw problem? If so, why would you decide a tv career is for you? Much like radio djs with a lisp.

I always wish we had two people going home each week at this point. You know who is never going to make it.

-A Tribetastic Creation

Episode 4 I think.

I was completely shocked that it was Justin B. because the editing all night had me thinking Justin D. Of course I somehow missed about 20 minutes due to a DVR malfunction and then not having it on the actual channel. I'm going to try to re-record to get what I missed.

The Cougar Town cast seemed very mellow to me. Courteney didn't appear to be pleased with anything.

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It obviously shocked Justin B also, he was very surprised that they sent him home. He can definitely cook, but he has no personality at all. My wife thought it was going to be Penny, but that was mostly wishful thinking.

In my opinion, the 2 front runners at this point are Orchid and Mary Beth. They both can cook, are at ease in front of the camera and have outgoing/pleasant personalities.

The only male that has a chance at this point is Jeff and it's not much of one.

LAST EDITED ON 06-28-11 AT 02:56 PM (EST)

Agree. Alterna-look guy that cooks is not interesting to me. You still need a personality that isn't completely off-putting and he seemingly knew he screwed up in front of the camera numerous times. He apparently thought he could skate on his cooking, or thinks more of his personality than he should.
Agree
Agree

I'm rooting for Mary Beth. A food writer doing a show is a good twist in the usual fare.

-A Tribetastic Creation

Bringing Penny back to help Mary Beth was just wrong. It was obvious to everyone that she was doing all she could to make her lose. I wouldn't be surprised to find out that she messed up the recipes.

If they are going to bring back the eliminated contestants to help, they should bring back enough of them so everyone can have a choice of who will be helping them.

I totally agree!! What a witch!

I'm hoping Vic wins, but it'll probably be Suzie. I even like Jeff (is that the funny guy's name?). He's won me over too. I'd watch his show. Vic too but Suzie? No way.

Thanks Tribe!

I like all three.

I want Jeff to win. Susie probably will.

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They're already promoting the winner's show (I get the east coast feed here in the left coast time zone) -- but if you scan ahead on DirectTV schedule for next Sunday, they just list it as "Next Food Channel Star 7 Winner's Show"

Actually, I'm hoping a couple of the runners-up get shows as well...

Merci, Pepe for the siggies

Yay. So happy about Jeff.

I had looked through the DTV Guide to see if I could "cheat." LOL.

I agree with you. I would watch Susie's show. I would watch Vic's. Maybe Mary Beth. I liked her a lot at throughout the season, but I didn't really like her last night in how she treated Jeff. I didn't get that.

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The final four was heads and shoulders above the last few seasons. I like Suzy and her cooking, but I don't see how it's really different than any other Mexican cooking show out there. She tells a few more stories than the others?

They are right that Jeff and his concept appeal to both men and women. It's a unique concept that isn't on the air yet. An easy decision IMHO, but I thought they were so smitten by Suzy they might give it to her. Jeff was the better business decision. I can see him and Guy doing a few duo specials.

-A Tribetastic Creation

I will most def be recording Jeff's show! And I would have watched any of the 3. Wow, Mary Beth??? WHAT the heck was that about? I almost liked her, but not any more! She is out of my life forever now!!

Talk about a sore loser, and there was never anything shown for a basis on which she could even place blame. So, what was her problem? I feel she was just a stuck up broad who wanted to win so badly, she just couldn't handle that the judges liked Jeff more.

Go, Suzy, who never ever said a bad word about anyone (that we know of), and still made it to the finale! You go, GF! She just smiled, worked hard and did her thing! What integrity and grit she had. Same for Vic! I loved this final 3. They were way better than any I've seen in a very long time!!!! And I bet ya they'll all end up with some kind of a show, somewhere. Heck, if Tom Colicki (however you spell it) can show off big food, why not?? RIGHT??

I watched the show, but don't remember Mary Beth saying anything that would label her as a sore loser. Was it in the Reunion show that she said something?

The only thing I can think of that she could have been upset about was the fact that she had gotten Penny as her helper. But to be honest I don't think it would have made a difference, I think it was her interviewing technigue that caused her to be eliminated.

The tension was brought up at the Reunion show. They showed the clip where she was eliminated and Jeff went to hug her, and she basically rebuffed his efforts. It's funny because I remember watching her elimination and not even realizing it had happened. In fact, I think I recall thinking she was somewhat graceful.

She got Penny by luck of the draw in the Iron Chef round, I think, but I do recall something where Jeff did some pairings, and maybe there was something there that she didn't like.

I think her perspective could have been very interesting. I would have loved her meatloaf recipe. In the end, I don't think she is comfortable enough, and that is why she was eliminated.

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Agree.

Suzy did tell more stories, and I think in that regard, that may have made her one-dimentional. She thrived only when going to those stories/roots.

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Yep, Jeff's concept was different from any other.
Suzy was just Mexican food - nothing exciting to me.
Vic was unusual at least.

I can see Jeff & Guy together.

On the reunion show Mary Beth was a sore loser.
Soooooo glad Penny didn't win; I would never watch her - regardless of how great her food was.

They really didn't show much of some of the early bootees.

I'm so glad suzy didn't win....would've been more of the same. At least sandwiches are different

Thanks Tribe!

This must have been more popular than I thought it was.