Next Food Network Stars on Rachael Ray

I don't TiVo Rachael Ray's daytime talk show, so I completely missed the show this past Thursday where the final 6 contestants on The Next Food Network Star appeared. Thanks for the zero cross-promotion, guys!


Unlike past appearances on RayRay's show (this one happened much earlier in the contest), the contestants had to cook in pairs. That could be disastrous, as the judges love to call out anyone who appears to not be cooking/talking/engaging enough during this challenge. (Remember Lisa Garza's freak out about "being censored" last year?)

Soooo, watch the videos online and then see how the producers edit their demos to suit their story. ;-)

Also, I hope everyone (in the U.S., that is) has a great and restful Independence Day. Thanks for reading!

Food2 Open House at Spike's Good Stuff Eatery

I had a great time on Tuesday over at the Food2 open house, held at Spike Mendelsohn's Good Stuff Eatery. I'd been meaning to check it out ever since my blogging friend Jordan Baker wrote her begrudgingly positive review of the place.

So burgers, shakes, & Kelsey Nixon are promised? I'm in.


I ran into Kelsey the last time I was in New York and got to chat with her for a minute, but it was great actually spending some time talking about what's going on with her at Food2, her life, and what she thinks of this season of The Next Food Network Star.

Kelsey let me know they'll be shooting new webisodes of her show with Spike for Food2 very soon, this time in the close-to-DC Silver Spring, Md. (perhaps to accommodate Spike's need to be close to his restaurant?).

She's also living in New York now with her husband, doing spokesperson gigs for Pyrex and Smuckers, and still generally trying to "define her brand," a phrase she said with kind of a knowing eye-roll, realizing the inherent silliness in the statement--to think of yourself as a brand and not an actual person.

Let me tell you this, though: after talking with Kelsey twice now, I can assure you that she's definitely not the overly perky, hyper person brand you saw on last season of The Next Food Network Star. She's friendly and warm, but doesn't seem to take anything too seriously. She's not breaking down and crying over the slightest thing (like she may have appeared to do on the show).

What else we talked about:
The Next Food Network Star - Season 5
Kelsey was surprised by how many people were throwing others "under the bus," saying that with her cast they all made a conscious decision to not do any of that stuff in front of the camera. "All of our reputations were on the line," said Kelsey.

Kelsey also likes Melissa D'Arabian (but doesn't think she'll win), and was glad to see her assert herself in last week's episode, proving "she deserves to be there."

What's next for Kelsey?
Her contract with Food Network expires at the end of July, so she'll be open to a lot more offers. Food Network has a first right of refusal contract with all contestants for one year after the final episode airs. So when those offers from competitors start coming in right after the show, Food Network has the ability to prevent you from doing any of them... which can obviously lead to a loss of income, which isn't helped by the fact that none of the contestants on The Next Food Network Star receive any type of payment at all.

Sooooooo I really am hoping lots of good things come to Kelsey Nixon now (the soon-to-be contract-free Kelsey). I may have written some harsh things about "her" in the past, but even when I've done that I knew it was just the "brand" producers were giving us. Kelsey Nixon is not just the person we saw last year on TV.

Luckily, Kelsey's ready to start anew. Look for her on Food2... and I'm sure lots of other places, soon.

Guy Fieri No Longer Friday's Spokesman

I just learned that Guy Fieri will NOT be returning as spokesman for the T.G.I. Friday's eatery. Zoinks!

Perhaps the chain didn't like his response to TMZ when he said: "No, I'm a Food Network chef. I just do commercials for Friday's. You know how it works."


This is according to a person who spoke on condition of anonymity, due to their intimate connection with the deal.

I guess this means they won't be back as a sponsor of Ultimate Recipe Showdown?

Bye Bye Teddy Folkman

So Teddy Folkman was kicked off last night on episode 4 of The Next Food Network Star. While I think Katie and her increasingly frightening bug eyes (I wouldn't normally suggest this, but please squint a bit) should have gotten the boot first, Teddy had it coming.

His food was good, but when it came to presentation he was just, let's go to the judges for this description, "so fake and nervous" (Susie Fogelson) and "so awkward" (Bobby Flay).

In the judges' deliberation video online, Bobby Flay even compares Teddy to a late night infomercial pitchman.

Could they possibly be referring to the late, great BILLY MAYS?

Teddy's on-camera delivery may have had a similar, loud style, but he could have definitely taken some lessons from Mr. Mays. Teddy's sentences were rapid and awkward and he spoke like a hyper salesman. That kind of delivery definitely doesn't work for food TV. On the other hand, when you watch the now-infamous Billy Mays commercials (KABOOM! OxiClean! Mighty Putty!) he still comes off pretty natural. You almost expect Billy would act exactly like that in person.

Billy was also always 100% sure of himself--something Teddy rarely seemed to be, always second-guessing his wording, stumbling and mumbling while trying to read his cheat sheet off his hand.

So bye bye Teddy. Your food was always great, but I just don't think you got what it takes to be on TV.

***************************

This morning on the flight back from Chicago there was a somewhat morbid article about Billy Mays in the in-flight magazine. An online version appears on the magazine's homepage, the headline still reading: "What's next for this one man brand?"

Next Food Network Star - Episode 4

I'm pre-posting this, since I'm in Chicago this weekend. I may or may not have seen the episode yet... but what did you think!?! Did Debbie get whacked in the face on purpose?

Be back soon.

GIVEAWAY: Ina Garten "Summer Entertaining" DVD

Happy Friday, everyone!

In honor of Ina Garten's first-ever appearance on The Next Food Network Star and the fact that's officially Summer (yay!), I'm giving away her "Summer Entertaining" DVD.


The DVD includes the "Surprise Beach Party," "Sunshine Food," and "Summer Beach BBQ" episodes.

To enter:
Send me an email at foodnetworkaddict [at] gmail [dot] com between now and 12:00AM on Monday, June 29, 2009 with your favorite Ina saying in the subject line. I'll pick a winner at random on Monday, June 29.

Good luck!

UPDATE: The contest is now over. I've notified the winner and as soon as I hear back from them, I'll post their name. Thanks to all of you who entered; I loved all the quotes!

New Share Our Strength Video

Wow...quite a lot of sadness today after the passing of both Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson. Check out this Share Our Strength video, below. Luckily we still have time on Earth to help out and do good.



Share Our Strength is Food Network's official charity partner.

Emeril: I'm Concerned

Former Food Network star Emeril Lagasse showed up at a few New York events recently looking a bit... disheveled. What's going on, E?!




That's Emeril attending a benefit screening of Up on top and him outside of the Ed Sullivan Theater in NYC before an appearance on David Letterman, bottom.

It's not good when Mario Batali looks more in shape than you in a pic!


Come on, Emeril! Use some of that $50 million you got from Martha Stewart to get a trainer. You gotta stay healthy if you're gonna be BAMing for much longer.

Paula Deen on Kathy Griffin's My Life on the D-List

On last night's episode of Kathy Griffin's My Life on the D-List, Kathy received an invite from Paula Deen to come stay at her home in Savannah. Paula promised to console her over her recent Grammy loss.

But before any consolation could occur, Kathy managed to hit (accidentally) Paula in the face with a switch!


Paula also informed Kathy (and her ever-present entourage) about her house's "turd alert" rule; you gotta yell it out whenever you stumble upon one of her adorable pooch's droppings. Ahhh, beautiful.

Kathy's special recipe of "cake soup" that she prepared for Paula (cupcakes mixed in a Kitchenaid mixer with vanilla ice cream) seemed right up Paula's alley! Look for it in an upcoming ep. of Paula's Best Dishes.

Check out all the videos on Eat Me Daily!

Bye Bye, Eddie Gilbert

Eddie Gilbert, who was kicked off of The Next Food Network Star in last night's episode, broke another cardinal rule of reality TV competition shows. Thou shalt not say:


Umm, yes it will be.

Does anyone even remember who the 3rd person to get kicked off last year was? Cory? (No, she was first.) Ummm... was there a Carly? Miley? I'm drawing a blank here.

Don't ever promise anything when leaving a reality show! At the most, say that you'll be working at the McDonald's in Silver Lake if anyone wants to stop in and see you. Then, if you do anything that surpasses that, you'll look like a hero.

And even though it was clearly Eddie's time to go, he got a warm, warm goodbye from one of the judges....


I think Bobby's liplock was cut in the editing process.