A Couple of Random Thoughts on The Next Food Network Star's Adam
Monday, July 28, 2008 | posted by Mike
Nothing profound here...just two things:1. We've been getting a bunch of folks coming to the site after searching for Adam's recipe for beer can chicken. Unfortunately, that isn't one of the "featured recipes" up on the TNFNS's site, but we did track down this recipe from The Surreal Gourmet. It looks pretty similar to Adam's version.
2. So, Gordon worked with each contestant on his or her potential show mini-pilot. And, since Aaron's pilot is pretty much what we'll be seeing with his show, I'm guessing that the Network was "on board" with each of the concepts, the idea being that they could quickly transition to producing and airing the show, right? Adam's show was heavily invested in the concept that they'd be using Web-submitted ideas/questions and other "high-tech" features. Now, doesn't that sound an awful lot like Ask Aida? What would have happend if Adam had won? Would we be seeing Ask Aida? Or was it a sign that we shouldn't have expected Adam to come through in the end? Just wondering...
FYI...Adam's old (now-closed restaurant) is fondly remembered by one of my co-workers who was a regular at The Smoke Joint.
Labels: The Next Food Network Star
LiveBlog: The Next Food Network Star Finale
Sunday, July 27, 2008 | posted by Mike
Well, this is it, kids! Will it be Lisa Garza, Adam Gertler or Aaron McCargo?I'll be providing a running commentary of wise-ass remarks below. Just keep hitting refresh every now and then for the lates. Feel free to weigh in with your thoughts in the comments or via e-mail to mike@tvfoodfan.com.
Now, as soon as Mrs. TVFF finishes watching Bridezillas, we'll be ready to go...
10:01 - Bobby Flay says it may be the best cassoulet he's ever had. Somewhere, Tony Bourdain throws something at the TV.
10:04 - It may not be Eagles vs. Cowboys, but the Philly/Camden vs. Dallas dynamic between Adam and Aaron on one side and Lisa on the other, I guess that's a sales point.
10:05 - GORDON!!!!! I miss his Campbell's soup commercials.
10:06 - "Show in a Box." Hehe. Damn you, Saturday Night Live...you've ruined "in a box" for me forever!
10:09 - Lisa's fuchsia dress kinda clashes with the orange set. (Yes, I had to check with Mrs. TVFF on both the spelling of "fuchsia" and whether they, indeed, clashed.)
10:12 - First commercial. I'm glad this is the last episode, as it means it will also be the last time that Mrs. TVFF comments on the green blouse that Lisa wears in every interview. Mrs. TVFF is convinced that she either owns the same blouse or one that looks remarkably similar. Regardless her point is that either they're doing the interviews all at the same time, or she wears the same outfit for all of the interviews. Me...I'm just looking forward to a day when this is no longer a topic of conversation in the TVFF house.
10:17 - I'm not bothered by the beer can shoved up the chicken's ass, but the jalapeno sticking out the top is weird.
10:18 - "A little bump." Perhaps a terrorist fist jab?
10:23 - Gordon really captured the issue with Aaron, which is that he's really fine if/when he doesn't try too hard and "seize up" or ramble to the point of incoherence. Of course, that's true of all of the contestants, too. But this gets to the problem of judging the folks on this show, which is that being on camera, and doing something complicated on camera while trying to talk eloquently, is a decidedly unnatural thing. That's why it's a good thing that the judges are people who are accustomed to looking at raw talent and seeing the diamond in the rough.
10:31 - Lisa's got a good connection to the camera, although you do feel like you have to "keep up" with her.
10:35 - The above was a pacing comment rather than a comment on her knowledge or, as Mrs. TVFF would say, her pretentious tone.
10:36 - Feasting coming soon!!!! (September 7th)
10:38 - Hungry in Philadelphia: also known as me at approximately 11:45 a.m. Terrible name, espeically since the show has no real Philly connection and makes no reference to the main hook, the interactivity.
10:41 - Anyone else who would like to point out supposed liberal leanings in tonight's liveblog should feel free to do so in the comments!
10:46 - If I put a steak in a pan like that, we'd be taking the batteries out of the smoke detector to stop the beeping. Must be nice to have a ventilation hood.
10:48 -That is one animated set of former contestants.
10:50 - That Alltel Circle Back feature gets to me. Really...my attention span isn't that short. I remember all the way back to the beginning of the hour. And is it really necessary for those tuning in late? Nothing has been decided, and I'm sure they get the gist of it. Whatever. It's getting late and I'm getting crotchety.
10:52 - The Chef Jeff Project apparently involves a lot of yelling.
10:57 - Brooke Johnson gets to make the big announcement?
10:58 - Nope...Bobby announces that Aaron McCargo Jr. is the winner.
10:59 - I think the discussion between Aaron and Bobby hit the nail on the head in terms of why Aaron won. He got notes from the judges, he responded to them and provided to them a show that included the exact things that they were looking for from him. There's something to be said for having your vision and sticking to it, but the thing that gets you ahead on these shows is to incorporate the judges' suggestions. Simple as that.
Recap: Well, if you went looking to find the winner when you heard about the leak the other day, you would have known who the winner was. Unfortunatly, I was trying to preserve the suspense. Oh well.
I would be lying if I said I wasn't happy to see Aaron, the Camden resident, come out on top. I'm still not certain that his show will be a must-see for me, but he was certainly my home-town rooting interest. And if you knew anything about Camden, you'd be happy that someone from there was getting a chance to make the city proud.
Thanks for tuning in, everyone! Hope you had a good time!
Labels: The Next Food Network Star
The Winner is Out There (But Not in This Post!)
Friday, July 25, 2008 | posted by Mike
...so beware.It's JAG, making his triumphant comeback! I kid, of course.
A SideDish commenter caught a snafu (with a capital "F") on the Food Network Web site that revealed the winner. And, of course, I managed to open the page and see the photo evidence before realizing what was up. Grrrr.
Let this be a warning to you...anyone who wants to preserve the suspense should tread very carefully on the Web.
Of course, this won't change our plans for a fun-filled liveblog of the finale, Sunday at 10 Eastern. You bring the beer (Victory HopDevil, please) and I'll bring the bitchy comments.
Labels: The Next Food Network Star
Liveblogging The Next Food Network Star Finale
Have a laptop or computer near the TV? Planning on watching the TNFNS finale? Well, log on to TVFoodFan.com at 10 p.m. Eastern this Sunday and we'll be providing a running commentary on the event. I can't promise that it will be insightful or profound. I can promies you it will be snarky.
Obviously, the big warning here is that we're going to be posting a spoilerific commentary, so those of you who are either DVRing the show for later watching or anyone living in another time zone that doesn't want to know who wins should probably stay clear of the site after 10. You west-coasters can check it out after it airs locally. Of course, you can pull up the site and follow along, too. Each entry will be time-stamped. Just DON'T SCROLL AHEAD.
OK...you're officially warned! Hope to see you on Sunday.
Labels: The Next Food Network Star
Free Advice for Future "Next Food Network Star" Contestants
Monday, July 21, 2008 | posted by Mike
Here you go...possibly the best suggestion that I can offer you:Make friends with the cameramen.
Why is that? It's so, when five pounds of protein roll off your shopping cart in the middle of Whole Foods, maybe he or she gives you a little signal instead of just filming you while you walk away obliviously.
Labels: The Next Food Network Star
Kelsey Forgets the First Rule of Culinary School
Monday, July 14, 2008 | posted by Mike
"You do not talk about culinary school."Good bye, Kelsey. Fortunately, they haven't settled on a winner over at Legally Blonde The Musical: The Search For Elle Woods (which shows up on the DVR weekly thanks to Mrs. TVFF), so maybe you still have a shot over there. You look like you'd fit right in!
Labels: The Next Food Network Star
Tough Times for Rachael Ray (and a Note on TNFNS)
Monday, July 07, 2008 | posted by Mike
First up, I think we're officially in the home stretch with The Next Food Network Star. Mrs. TVFF turned to me last night during the episode and stated that she didn't see a watchable star among the group. She may be right, but last night did give me a bit of hope that the eventual winner can handle him/herself on camera pretty well. I'm still not sold that there is a compelling food program coming from one of these folks, but I'll take a show with someone who works well off a prompter.Saw the quick commercial for the new Ted Allen show. I know the idea that it was close to Good Eats was thrown out there, and the slightly zany nature of GE is on display, but from a content standpoint, it definitely looks like a food-centric MythBusters.
Ahh, Rachael. We haven't talked much about Ms. Ray lately, mostly because I'm nowhere near a TV when her show is on. But we have been able to track her rising star as she went from how-to host to veritible media maven, so we like to keep tabs. As you may have heard, life hasn't been too good for her during the past week or so.
First, there was word that she's writing her memoirs, which received a scathing mention from the always-bitchy Ted Casablanca. Be sure to check it out. There's apparently some drama about the name of the forthcoming book.
I know what you're thinking: Hey, this is good news. If she's writing a memoir, that must mean that she's really made it...she's truly important.
That's where you're wrong. The fact of the matter is that, unless your name is Winston Churchill or Bob Dylan, you're not interesting enough to actually warrant having your life and thoughts chronicled. The only requisite for a memoir is an audience willing to buy it. This is no slight to Rachael, but we already knew she was popular, and a memoir is always more about the writer's ego than his or her imparting wisdom to the world.
It's not the life story that lets us know that Rachael has entered the upper echelon of media personalities. It's the news that a former employee on her show is suing for discrimination. Welcome to the big time, Rach.
A former accountant for Rachael Ray’s cooking show has filed a $1 million lawsuit saying he was forced out of his job because he has an eating disorder.
Aaron Ferguson says in Manhattan court papers that he has suffered from anorexia for about six years. He says his supervisor repeatedly exhibited "hostile behavior" and made "vile," discriminatory and hurtful comments.
...
The lawsuit names CBS Corp., CBSTD Inc., and three individual employees of the show as defendants. Ray is not named.
Labels: Rachael Ray, The Next Food Network Star
Perfection Means Never Having to Say You're Perfect
Monday, June 30, 2008 | posted by Mike
We like Lisa Garza. We really do. Which makes this semi-rant a little tough for us.Sure, she's a bit too fussy some times. But she seems to be trying to work through it.
Yes, when she wears that necklace, we can't stop thinking of Wilma Flintstone. But the girl can accessorize!
And, yeah, her eyes have a strange habit of disappearing from time to time.
But if one thing has been sticking in our craw lately, it's the fact that she keeps bringing up the fact that she keeps bringing up the judges' feedback that she has to be "less of a perfectionist." Pu-leeeease!
Really? That's kind of annoying. Like when you go in for an interview, get that, "What is your worst trait?" question and respond with the fact that you care too much about your work or that you spend too much time at the office. In other words, it's just a different way of telling us how great you are.
That said...she's far from being the most annoying reality food contestant of the season (that's Jen from Hell's Kitchen) and she appears to have some real cooking chops, so we expect to see her around for a while.
Labels: The Next Food Network Star
How Not to Shuck an Oyster
Monday, June 23, 2008 | posted by Mike
Do you see that big, black rubber thing with a wooden handle attached to it? Yes, it certainly appears to be a mallet. WHAT?!?!
Now, I'm no fishmonger, but I'm fairly certain that there is no good way to get an oyster out of it's shell by using a large hammer. Something's telling me one of the producers was having a good time and hoping that the could stump the contestant enough that he or she would "give it a whack."
Actually, I've shucked oysters. It's not that hard, and I think it's actually a tiny bit easier than getting into a smaller clam. The one thing that made it tough is that you have to find just the right spot and that the shell can very easily flake, and then you're going to be spending five minutes picking shell out of your oyster.
If you're interested in how you really get into an oyster or clam, check out this tutorial on the Food Network site.
Great, now that I wrote about this post, Mrs. TVFF will be asking for oysters again.
Labels: The Next Food Network Star
TRAINWRECK!
Sunday, June 08, 2008 | posted by Mike
Next stop: Quitsville.Oh, Nipa. Really? There were probably thousands of applicants who wanted a shot at this. You got it, and this is what you do with it? The fact that she's still in the running is a testament to either Kevin's ineptitude or the judges' desire to keep one of the few contestants with a clear, non-mainstream culinary POV.
Maybe she should have just cried. It worked for Shane last week!
Other than the boneheaded tantrum, the young season of The Next Food Network Star has been quite good, with a focus on food that is making me feel good about the culinary integrity of a program that could have veered into the realm of simple popularity and personality contest. Hey, they're cooking with duck...it can't be all bad, right?
Note: I know it's been a while, folks. More on that soon, but I promise to be better. Really, this time.
Labels: The Next Food Network Star
It's That Time of Year Again...
Thursday, May 01, 2008 | posted by Mike
Oh, yes...The fourth season of personalities, challenges and a shot at Food Network stardom.
The Next Food Network Star is back this summer with a star-studded fourth season on Food Network. This season Bobby Flay takes a seat with the selection committee full-time and the finalists are put through the ringer to prove that they can take the cake (and the pizza, and the lobster, and the potato salad) to be the last chef standing and winner of his-or-her own Food Network show. The series kicks off with a few friendly Food Network faces on Sunday, June 1st at 10pm ET/PT.TVFF regulars know my rule: Don't bother learning the names of reality show contestants until you're 1/3 of the way through the season. However, if you insist on getting a head start on things:
The 10 finalists include: Nipa Bhatt (Victoria, MN), Jennifer Cochrane (Woonsocket, RI), Lisa Garza (Dallas, TX), Adam Gertler (Philadelphia, PA), Cory Kahaney (New York, NY), Shane Lyons (Colorado Springs, CO), Aaron McCargo Jr. (Camden, NJ), Kelsey Nixon (North Ogden, UT), Kevin Roberts (San Diego, CA), and Jeffrey Vaden (White Plains, NY).Best name? McCargo. Why? Because it sounds like the nickname you gave your high school buddy who always wore baggy pants.
Wait...what's this?!? Adam from Philadelphia and Aaron from neighboring Camden, NJ (which yours truly passes through every morning on the way to the day job) means we have a side competition, which I have officially dubbed "The Battle of the Ben Franklin Bridge." In this epic clash high above the Delaware River...who...will...survive?
So, our rooting interests are officially split, but Aaron from Camden will have our full allegiance if he manages to work Campbell's Soup into each dish he makes.
Labels: The Next Food Network Star
The Ongoing Appeal of Colombe Jacobson-Derstine
Thursday, January 24, 2008 | posted by Mike
Regular readers of the site know that I have a bit of a "like/hate" relationship with reality competition shows. They're kind of like candy...you know they're not good for you, but you end up binging on them anyway.A perfect example of this is the debut last night of Fox's Moment of Truth. I'm not sure if I like the show or not, but I am pretty certain that the presence of a lie detector game show on network television is one of the signs of the apocalypse.
So, just as with candy, I like to quickly move on from my reality competition show experience, with nothing but a little extra weight around the mid-section to show for it. I don't really expect or particularly want these folks to hang around, have careers and otherwise take up space in my increasingly limited attention span. But hey, that's just me. Millions of American Idol winner CD buyers obviously disagree.
With all this in mind, I find it funny that -- every few days or so -- we get a noticeable spurt of people who search Google for Next Food Network Star contestant Colombe Jacobson-Derstine and then visit TV Food Fan. They usually all visit within a half hour period, and all they are Googling is her name.
You may remember that we did a post about her non-NFNS resume when she was eliminated, so we know that she had some other irons in the fire. I'm assuming those other activities have something to do with it, but I can't figure it out.
You guys have to help me with this one:
If you're visiting this site as a result of a Google Search of "Colombe Jacobson-Derstine": Please leave a note in the comments or drop me a line at mike@tvfoodfan.com and let me know why you went looking for this information. Was it a movie you saw? I have to know!
If you are Colombe Jacobson-Derstine: Congratulations, you've officially beat the odds and lasted longer than your allotted 15 minutes of fame! This is something to be proud of...after all, nobody's searching for "JAG" anymore.
Labels: The Next Food Network Star
Here's Your Big Chance
Monday, September 10, 2007 | posted by Mike
Did you spend the last season of The Next Food Network Star staring at the events taking place on the screen and thinking to yourself, "Hey, I could do that!"
Well, it's time to put up or shut up, because Food Network is holding open tryouts beginning tomorrow in five cities.
According to a press release:
The network is currently conducting a nation-wide talent search and encourages both professional and amateur chefs to apply. Applicants have until Friday, October 12, 2007 to send in a three minute audition tape explaining why he/she should be Food Network’s newest star. Applications and contest rules can be downloaded from www.FoodNetwork.com starting Tuesday, September 5. In addition, contestant hopefuls can also apply in person at one of five open-call auditions that will be held around the country. Applicants should bring an application, photograph and resume and/or bio to the auditions, which will allow them to meet with network casting directors.
As someone who, once upon a time, actually got a spot on a game show (no, I'm not kidding) at an "open" casting at my middle school, I can tell you that you need to bring all the energy and personality you have with you to the tryouts.
If you think you have what it takes, both from a culinary standpoint and personality-wise, and if you live in one of the five cities, have at it. Check out the dates and locations below.
Seattle, WA – Tuesday, September 11th from 10am-4pm
Hotel Andra (Ballroom)
2000 4th Ave.
New York, NY - Monday 9/17/07 from 11am-4p
Food Network Studios
75 Ninth Ave. (Chelsea Market)
Los Angeles, CA - Monday 9/17/07 from 10am-4pm
Chefs, Inc.
10955 West Pico Blvd.
Las Vegas, NV - Tuesday 9/25/07 from 9am-3pm
David Burke Las Vegas
The Venetian Hotel-Resort-Casino
3355 Las Vegas Blvd. South Ste. 108
Minneapolis, MN - 10/9/07 from 10pm-4pm
The Chambers Hotel
901 Hennepin Ave
Labels: The Next Food Network Star
Can't... Escape... Food... Network... Star
Wednesday, July 25, 2007 | posted by Mike
I was going to go for the Pacino line in Godfather III about getting pulled back in, but I figured it was a bit cliché.
Hey...I didn't see this (perhaps I was asleep at the switch), but did Amy spill the beans about winning the whole shooting match while appearing on local television? An anonymous commenter below pointed us to this video of a local news appearance, which features her saying "on my show...if I win" the week before the final episode. She also mentions the fact that the show had already been taped.
The spot aired on the 19th. It's one thing to say "if I win" or "if I'm lucky enough to get the job" or whatever when you actually don't know, but let's just say she was treading dangerously close to the line on this one.
On another note, Jen (a.k.a. Spooneroonie), a regular at the Television Without Pity forums and a reader here, pointed me towards a blog entry found by fellow TWoPer Ravenna McBride. The entry, which appears on the site run by the food editor of The Record of Bergen County, NJ (and the hometown newspaper of Mrs. TVFF) points out the extreme lengths to which Rory backers went to get her elected. I'm all for campaigning, but the advertisements seem a bit much.
I always think about how politicians feel after losing an election and spending all that money. Especially the ones who self-finance their campaigns. Isn't rule number one of movie-making that you never use your own money? I think they're on to something.
Finally, there's been quite a bit of chatter about how JAG was shown the door, and the question of whether he resigned/was tossed off/got off easy/whatever. The sentiment I've been seeing is that FN should have come down harder on him. While I understand the urge for a pound of flesh, there are some things that you have to keep in mind when scrutinizing the handling of this sort of thing by a high profile organization. And, oddly enough, two recent scandals in sports are helpful in illustrating the point.
When an organization like the Food Network has to publicly deal with a situation such as JAG, they have to do it in a way that allows the departed to save face. They have to ignore the urge, either internal or external, to heap on a helping of embarrassment in addition to the walking papers. Why? Because, regardless of how good it might feel, you have to preserve your ability to deal with other individuals in the future.
If you become known as a loose cannon organization that will toss any "problem" overboard at the drop of the hat, it's going to be very difficult to get other people (even fine, upstanding people) to do business with you if they feel that they have to be constantly worried about being dumped and made into a scapegoat. Often, the organization has to go over and above in offering the face-saving exit, and it is frustrating to the public who wants a high-profile repudiation. But that's just how these things work.
Which brings us to the Atlanta Falcons and Michael Vick. They are honoring the NFL's request that Vick not take part in team practices, but have still retained the "innocent until proven legally guilty" path with Vick. At the same time having the owner publicly state that the charges themselves are revolting.
But if the Falcons were to jettison Vick at the first word of the scandal and send him off with a "don't let the door hit you on the way out," how would that look to future free agent players who are considering signing with the Falcons? Good organizations will eventually do the right thing, but how it's handled is looked at by potential future employees. Why not sign with a team that doesn't embarrass you? With other television networks out there as options for possible talent, Food Network has to keep this dynamic in mind.
The exception to the rule is now being played out with the NBA Tim Donaghy referee scandal. This is a perfect example of the situation where it it perfectly permissible -- even necessary -- to send the offending individual out the door with a swift kick in the rear. The reason is that what he did (allegedly fixing games for gamblers) calls into question the very credibility of the game. If the problem cuts to the core of the organization and if it has the ability to shake the public's faith in the organization to the point that its continued success (or even existence) could be put in jeopardy, you have to vocally and vociferously condemn it. It's like a cancer that requires you cut off the arm lest it spread throughout the rest of your body.
The Food Network wasn't in that sort of situation. JAG's transgression didn't even go far enough to call into question the validity of the competition on the show. His offense against his organization pales in comparison to Vick's, and it's not even in the same universe as Tim Donaghy's.
Labels: The Next Food Network Star
There's Got to Be a Morning After
Monday, July 23, 2007 | posted by Mike
And there is, although it is a rainy and gloomy one here in New Jersey.
But I'm sure it's sunny in San Diego or wherever Amy is right now. She got to share the moment with her considerable family (minus her conspicuously absent husband) and -- if she's smart -- she's already hard at work figuring out exactly how to prepare each of her recipes without referring to her most recent trip to France.
OK, let's get this over with...
The producers of last night's finale of The Next Food Network Star just might be fans of our ongoing Monday series of musical tributes to the lacrimonious (Is that a real word? Don't think so. But it sounds good.) events of the night before, because they were good enough to tee up a montage of teary departures as part of the season highlights. And so, from the Great White North, I bring you The Guess Who...
We got an anonymous comment in last night's post regarding JAG that I think made a great point. When given the chance to elaborate on his regret by Marc Summers (good to see him again!), he didn't offer up the most honest and forthright apology I've ever heard. It's kind of like when you say, "I'm sorry you feel hurt by what I did," instead of just saying, "I'm sorry for doing what I did." There is a significant difference between the two and the first signifies a serious lack of understanding or acknowledged culpability.
Although the folks behind TNFNS certainly didn't intend it going in, this season provided drama, deception and a significant bump in traffic to TVFF (for which we are greatly appreciative...any chance of a fugitive from the law in next year's group?). The producers addressed what could have been a disastrous public relations situation in a way that actually heightened the tension and enjoyability of the endgame -- even going so far as to reference it in the teaser for the finale. Well played, Food Network, well played.
Labels: Amy Finley, The Next Food Network Star
And So, It's Amy
Sunday, July 22, 2007 | posted by Mike
More on the final episode tomorrow, but I suppose that congratulations are in order for Amy. I'm still not 100% sold on her cuisine, but I do feel a bit better about her on-camera presence. See you on Saturday mornings in the fall...Rory has to feel like she got a kick in the pants. She's in the finals against someone who (a) tried to quit a few weeks back and (b) was eliminated in the penultimate episode. For her to lose the popular after all that vote has got to feel lousy. She didn't look like she was handling it particularly well after the announcement of the winner.
Maybe this is some kind of cosmic payback for something she did. If anyone in Texas sees her walking around with an Earl Hickey karma list, let us know.
Labels: The Next Food Network Star
Susie Fogelson Comes Thiiiiiiis Close to Cursing
Monday, July 16, 2007 | posted by Mike
Hey...the JAG confrontation wasn't the only thing worth mentioning on last night's episode.
First of all, it was good to see the Food Network Public Relations department get some screen time! The contestants were escorted to their various interviews by Carrie Welch and the extremely cool Lisa DelColle, who does a fantastic job and who has been very good to us here at TVFF.
Secondly, did anyone else notice when Susie almost said one of George Carlin's magic words? I think it was when she was giving it to JAG about his mysteriously appearing/disappearing personality. She did manage to avoid the TV-M rating by going with "flipping." Part of me really hopes she was frustrated enough to go the whole nine yards and that what you heard was actually dubbed in later. The image of Ms. Fogelson in a recording booth trying to loop "flipping" into her line would be priceless.
Also, there's voting to be done! Head over to the Food Network site to make yourself heard.
And, finally, you didn't think we'd get through an episode without some crying, did you? Of course not! So we're proud to continue our ongoing tradition of a tear-stained song to accompany our tear-stained contestants. This time, we're going with a clip from HBO's Flight of the Conchords, which we in the TVFF household didn't get to see last night because of some flaky cable service. Thanks, Comcast!
Favorite line: "I'm making a lasagna...for one."
Labels: The Next Food Network Star
"I've Been to a Whole Lot of Places, But Afghanistan Wasn't One of Them."
Sunday, July 15, 2007 | posted by Mike
Wow.
We've been covering the JAG Situation for some time now. For the longest time, all we had was conjecture and speculation when it came to the question about how it would be handled. Well, it all went down tonight...on screen.
After hashing out the week's pros and cons for each of the contestants, they came back from the cliffhanger final commercial and kept Rory and JAG, eliminating Amy.
Then came the curve ball.
After a few screens of text explaining the story and stressing that he did not clear up the situation during a press conference, they brought JAG back in for a sit-down with Bob and Susie. JAG came clean about the situation and, emotionally, stepped out of the competition. The judges accepted his resignation and they brought back Amy for the final competition.
It was an amazing thing to watch. Obviously, the story has been getting quite a bit of play here and on some other websites, but I wasn't aware of it making the leap to other large media outlets. For the Food Network to treat the issue with this much seriousness, and for them to respect their audience enough to deal with it in the manner that they did is very, very impressive.
There's no telling how "voluntary" JAG's resignation was, but the fact that it played out the way it did in front of the cameras and the with judges not hesitating to accept the resignation, it was clear that if a resignation wasn't forthcoming, it very well may have been mandated. You have to hope that it was voluntary. JAG spoke about being honorable, a value that is prized among all veterans and particularly among members of the Marine Corps.
There was no good possible ending for JAG. There was no way to save himself after going too far down a path of lies.
Perhaps, though, he gets some semblance of redemption from his final act.
Labels: The Next Food Network Star
Even I Know They're San Marzanos...and JAG's Crying Jag
Monday, July 09, 2007 | posted by Mike
So, how did we celebrate our record breaking day on Thursday? By breaking the record again on Friday, thank in no small part to the folks at the Good Eats Fan Page, who got a kick out of our post about Chris Cognac on the red carpet. Thanks for the link, guys!
I think it's all but official at this point...we'll be having our first female The Next Food Network Star winner. Even if JAG makes it through the next round, I can't see him taking the top prize. Especially after he displayed the poise and grace of a three year old when he pitched a fit about tanking in the Iron Chef challenge. After pulling the Johnny Fontaine routine, I really wish Alton or someone would have slapped him around and told him to act like a man.
But, yet again, tears were shed. And so:
As for the elimination, I feel kinda bad. Paul really seemed to want it. But, he was a perfectly nice and likable guy who I will completely forget about in 3...2...1...
Seriously, though, the San Marzano thing bugged me, and I think it's indicative as to why none of the remaining contestants are particularly enticing as candidates to host their own show. Two questions were asked by Alton Brown during the Iron Chef segments. One of them was why a dish was "Moroccan" and the other was where the canned tomatoes came from. In both instances, they simply didn't know, displaying a stunning lack of knowledge and/or preparation.
Here's a hint: Moroccan dishes use spices like cinnamon, cumin and coriander. That would have been a good place to start. Or you could have -- you know -- just asked the chef. As for tomatoes, when someone asks you where tomatoes come from, it's a good bet that they're going for San Marzano. Do I expect Joe Blow off the street to know this? No. But I do expect someone who has their own food show to display at least a familiarity with an ingredient that continually shows up.
The judges have been hammering home the notion of having a culinary point of view, and they're right to do so. Because, the fact of the matter is that none of them have demonstrated enough knowledge or virtuosity in the kitchen to convince you that you should listen to what they have to say.
You watch cooking shows for one of two reasons. Either the point of view or "hook" of the show is compelling (meals you can cook in under 30 minutes, authentic Southern cooking, etc.) or the host is an expert or just a general force of nature (Mario, Emeril, Giada, etc.). You can be one, the other or both (Rachael), but you can't go "0 for 3."
I will say that I have no doubt that Food Network will be able to polish the eventual winner into someone who can, at the very least, get from point A to point B on a recipe in front of the camera. They're professionals and their brand is so strong, they'll be able to plug the winner in and turn out a watchable show. But for the show to be inspired, it's going to take a dramatic leap from the winner that I'm not certain is possible.
Labels: The Next Food Network Star
TVFF Interview: Paul Rieckhoff on The Next Food Network Star's JAG
Thursday, July 05, 2007 | posted by Mike
Last week, we had a post on the JAG situation which referenced an updated Military Times article and recapped a bit of the reaction that we were hearing regarding JAG's background. In the course of the post, we mentioned that Paul Rieckhoff had weighed in on the controversy and was quoted in the MT article. As I said at the time, Rieckhoff is an extremely high-profile advocate for veterans' issues, and his group, IAVA, has been very successful at bringing a number of important issues to the media's and public's attention. He's also the author of Chasing Ghosts, which takes a pull-no-punches soldier's perspective look at policies and decisions surrounding the war in Iraq.
According to the biography on his site:
Paul Rieckhoff is the executive director and founder of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), the first and largest organization for veterans of the War on Terror. During his time in the Adamiyah section of central Baghdad, he led his light infantry platoon on hundreds of combat patrols with the 3rd Infantry and 1st Armored Divisions. He continues to serve his country as an Infantry Officer in the New York Army National Guard.
Rieckhoff is a nationally-recognized authority on the war in Iraq and issues affecting our troops, military families, and veterans at home. He is a frequent TV and radio commentator and has appeared on ABC's This Week with George Stephanopoulos, Fox's Hannity & Colmes, NBC Nightly News, 60 Minutes II, CNN's Paula Zahn Now, ABC's World News Tonight, Hardball with Chris Matthews, Air America's Al Franken Show, and NPR's All Things Considered, among many other programs. He and IAVA have also been featured across the country in numerous major national newspapers and magazines. He was named one of "America's Best and Brightest of 2004" by Esquire.
Prior to his deployment to Iraq, Rieckhoff worked as a high school football coach and an investment banking analyst on Wall Street, and later spent several weeks contributing to the rescue effort at Ground Zero after 9/11. He is a graduate of Amherst College, where he studied political science. He lives in New York City's East Village.
We were lucky enough to hear from Mr. Rieckhoff after the post and he generously agreed to take part in an interview regarding the JAG situation. His perspective, as a leader of his organization and as someone who has recent combat experience, provides a point of view that not many of us possess.
TV Food Fan: How did the situation with Josh Garcia's record come to your attention?
Paul Rieckhoff: I first read about Garcia in the Army Times. A reporter from there called our group requesting a comment soon after the news broke regarding his record.
TVFF: Let me play devil's advocate for a moment. Some of the posters on the Military Times boards said they knew him, that he is a good guy and that he just got swept up in the moment. Beyond the fact that Garcia is being dishonest with the show's audience, what is the greater harm when these kinds of misrepresentations are made?
PR: It diminishes the service of all Afghanistan and Iraq veterans. And veterans of all generations. A key value that we all learn the US military is honor. Being honorable means telling the truth. Lying, embellishing or exaggerating your service record is not an honorable thing to do—no matter how you cut it. Veterans of this war have been received incredibly well by the American people, regardless of how they feel about the war, and we want to keep it that way. Mr. Garcia has undermined a sacred trust the the American people have with our nation’s veterans—especially in a time of war. There are no acceptable excuses here. Attempting to further your career on a falsified military record is not only shameful, it is also illegal. The type of cowardly behavior demonstrated by Mr. Garcia was a major problem after Vietnam, and was authoritatively described in an important book titled “Stolen Valor,” by B.G. Burkett and Glenna Whitley. I urge Mr Garcia and the executives at the Food Network to check it out.
TVFF: Other posters, both at Military Times and here at TV Food Fan, have voiced strong condemnation of Garcia's actions. As someone who served in combat, what is your emotional reaction to hearing misleading stories like these?
PR: 
It pisses me off. Big time. I take it personally. And I am sure that most other vets feel the same way. I have friends in Iraq and Afghanistan now. I have friends that have died in combat. And I work with Iraq and Afghanistan veterans every day. Our service members are honorable, heroic, dedicated people. Many have been wounded during their service. Mr. Garcia’s act of pretending to have experienced combat to further his career disgusts me. Our troops have earned the right to call themselves combat veterans through dedication and personal sacrifice. Mr. Garcia has not. He should be ashamed of himself. I don’t expect he’ll be showing his face at Fort Dix again anytime soon. If he does, I think our soldiers there will give him a very different reception than he received during his last visit.
TVFF: We mentioned in the original post on this subject that the issue of fraudulent claims of military service and honors has received significant press lately. Why is this issue getting so much attention recently?
PR: First, because it is a very serious offense. Lying about combat service is not something to be taken lightly. Especially when it is so egregiously for personal gain and fame. Second, we are a nation at war right now. Hundreds of thousands of America’s sons and daughters are in harms way every day. Over 1.6 million troops have served in Iraq and Afghanistan since 9/11. 3,570 have died (as of July 3rd). That is nothing to be taken lightly. Third, veterans work aggressively to take care of our own. We will unite and mobilize quickly when our integrity is threatened. Vets all over the US have responded to this news quickly, alerted the press, and contacted the Food Network demanding action.
TVFF: Have you or your organization had any direct contact with either Garcia or the Food Network? Have they responded to your calls to make a donation to a veterans' charity in the event that Garcia wins?
PR: No. Not yet. But I hope that they do. We look forward to hearing from them. They can call our office anytime. I am also in contact with plenty of veterans charities that could use some help from the Food Network. I hope they will do the right things to resolve this issue and make amends immediately. Millions of veterans and their families will be watching.
We'd like to extend our thanks to Mr. Rieckhoff for his time and encourage any of you who are interested in his book or the IAVA to check out the links above.
Labels: The Next Food Network Star
