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Next Food Network Star: Episode 8 Recap (8/1/2010)
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Another week, another episode of Next Food Network Star! Last time, Serena was sent home after she failed to impress a gaggle of pretentious douchebag hipsters at a “supper club.” This week, the 5 finalists faced yet another camera challenge before cooking a meal for Eva Longoria… or as Aarti called her, the “definition of elegance.” What-ever.
Remember last season’s terrifying footage of Korean Debbie in the mirror putting her make-up on? Yeah. Well, tonight’s show opened with an up-close shot of Aria in the mirror applying her mascara:
THIS was pretty much the reaction my friends and I had on the couch:
Stop doing that to us, Food Network. SO NOT COOL.
Next up, Giada asked the gang to create their own unique signature dish that clearly reflected their… wait for it… CULINARY POINT OF VIEW. What, were you expecting something original? What do you think this is? HBO?
This was the obligatory (read: boring) family episode, and the finalists were visited by their loved ones from home. This, of course, translated into several minutes of boring footage of everyone crying more hysterically than Sally Field at the end of Steel Magnolias. Tom’s fiance showed up, as did Brad’s little brother and Herb’s young daughters. Aria was joined by her 3-year old son Luca. I can only assume he lives on the second floor.
Aarti, meanwhile, was reunited with her husband – who apparently dressed himself in Evil Knievel’s closet earlier that morning.
The camera presentations were a little bit better this week, except for Herb, who was a hot stuttering mess. The judges didn’t like Aarti, and Susie Fogelson said Brad was “a little bit stiff.” No word on if that’s because he was nervous, or because he accidentally popped a Viagra earlier that day.
For some ungodly reason, the judges declared Aria the winner of the challenge. Tuschman said she “brought the food to life.” Ironically, her mashed potato pizza then called him an asshole.
If Aria won, her show would supposedly be called “FAMILY STYLE.” It’s a shame, then, that the Food Network ALREADY HAS A SHOW NAMED FAMILY STYLE – and they ran commercials for it during tonight’s show! They aired the pilot for it a few months ago, and it’s about a brother/sister who run a restaurant together. Sooooooo, it looks like ARIA isn’t the winner. But we already knew that, right?
For the elimination challenge, Giada told the 5 finalists they’d be cooking a meal for Eva Longoria (cue OOH’s and AAHs from the peanut gallery). Each person had to create a dish inspired by a particular emotion. Brad got “surprise,” Tom got “jealousy,” and Aarti got “fear” – which somehow translated into a bullshit connection to her mother’s lamb kabobs.
The finalists prepped their meals at the Food Star kitchen, and finished cooking them at Eva Longoria’s restaurant Beso. Aria was completely taken aback by how absolutely gorgeous the restaurant was. Um, hello, Earth to Aria: it’s EVA LONGORIA here. Did you really expect her joint to look like a freaking IHOP?
Brad presented his dish first. He was a little bit nervous and he undercooked his steak, but the judges didn’t seem to notice. Bob Tuschman asked Eva if she had any questions for Brad, and this is pretty much what happened next:
Brad handled it like a champ. He comically said, “Actually, I haven’t.” Oh Brad. You so crazy.
Tom told a corny story about a tale of 2 tunas, but much to my surprise, it actually worked. He tied his dish into his jealous emotion perfectly, and as a result, he was named the winner of the challenge. Herb was the runner up.
During judging, Susie Fogelson called Aarti out on the fact that she’s still acting like a whiny, annoying, self-conscious brat. Fogelson said, “What you don’t get with this show is a bunch of shrinks telling you you’re worth it before you go out onto your set and do your show every day.” OH SNAP! Those are the funniest words I’ve ever heard come out of that woman’s mouth. Finally. I’m so tired of Aarti’s Pity Paarty that it makes me want to scream.
I’m pretty pissed off about the elimination tonight, and I strongly disagreed with the person the judges chose to send home. In the end, they decided to keep Aria and send BRAD SORENSON home. What a total mistake. They got rid of the guy with the personality, and kept the phony girl who cuts people off while they’re talking. No wonder Fogelson was so upset during elimination. She had the sense to realize they made a huge mistake.
But what do you expect from a network that really has no clue what the hell its viewers want to watch?
So let’s hear it, FNH. What did you guys think of the episode?
Other posts on Food Network Humor:
---Next Food Network Star: Episode 6 Recap (7/18/2010)---Next Food Network Star: Episode 5 Recap (7/11/2010)
---Next Food Network Star: Episode 7 Recap (7/25/2010)
---Next Food Network Star: Episode 4 Recap (6/27/2010)
---Next Food Network Star: Episode 2 Recap (6/13/2010)
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267 Responses
This episode PISSED me OFF. Brad was legit funny, while Aria reminds me of a sad clown. Who really needs to keep her makeup on.
WHY!!!! The two they kept both failed and ALWAYS CRY! I hope one gets home sick and leaves so they can bring Brad back and make up for the HUGE mistake!
Brad’s improvised comment about his virginity, delivered with perfect timing, shows that he has real TV personality potential, despite whatever crap the judges are slinging. I cannnot believe that Aria and Herb are still around. I guess the judges are keeping the emotional basketcases around for the cheap drama. I have hated Aria from Day One, as she impressed me as a complete fraud right off the bat. Apparently all you have to do to go far on NFNS is blather about families, kids, mini-vans etc. Melissa D’Arabian rode that all the way to a win. I did not need to hear about Aria and the loser who knocked her up coming over for Sunday dinner. Who cares? Even when a guy wins NFNS star he does it by calling himself Big Daddy and talking about cooking for his kids. Brad, like Jeffrey last year, lost because he made the mistake of thinking the show was about food. The shows gets keeps getting worse every year.
ITA. I was hardly surprised, though, since this show has been stunningly ghastly since the season premiere (if you can call it that). This is what I TRULY do. Not. Get. There are soooo many excellent chefs out there (in real life, on a gazillion TV shows, one of them being that “beverly hills private chef” thing) – what I’m trying to say is that there is such an embarrassing wealth of cooks/chefs, in various stages of employment or un, many of whom are drop-dead gorgeous, hot (the two most important attributes in a FN host), highly articulate, bi and trilingual, highly entertaining, funny, smart and smart-alecky, ad nauseum and infinitum – & they can COOK. So where oh WHERE did these folks crawl to us from? In the many many thousands of taped submissions, THIS is what we get? Sorry. This is what I just – don’t get. And never will.
I was sad that they sent Brad home – I thought he would really get something going with his new point of view now that he stopped needing to prove himself. I would tune in to watch his journey.
I would never watch Aria’s show, ever. Her food is every day and her personality is annoying.
I doubt I would watch Aarti’s show because if I want Indian food, I go to a restaurant – it is a really narrow focus and would not kep me tuning in week after week – I might look her recipes online if I was wanting to try my hand at it.
Tom had fun and to me that makes it fun to watch. I would like to see him win it.
Herb is consistantly shaky and too serious about himself instead of his food – so what you were a chubby kid! You certainly are not alone in that!
They REALLY need viewer voting on this stupid show. Sending Brad home was retarded.
they don’t have viewer voting anymore because one tyme they had it for the finals. the person the people voted for quit 6 weeks later and moved to france
I do have to say that drew’s reply makes sense, from a business standpoint. Though this could be avoided in future, I’d think, if they allowed viewer voting until the last two were standing – and then turned it over to the network honchos who’d already done their due diligence behind the scenes re: the reliabilty/nut job/wacko factor of each finalist.
I’ve seen this explanation before, and I don’t understand the connection (given one is assumed). Could not a person “quit 6 weeks later” just as easily if they are chosen by BobSuzeCo? Or, was there viewer voting throughout the series (not just the final, mind you) which allowed a flake to be carried through to the end, whereas they may not have survived that long if eliminated solely by the unholy triad of the two Bobs and Suzie?
Loved the Damian and Janice clip. Add the two of them to TNFNS, and it might actually be interesting!
This episode made me want to curl up in the bottom of a hole and cry myself to sleep every night for the next three years.
And it’s not JUST because they kicked Brad off, though I am strongly against the fact he left. The whole episode was just awful.
Wow. Incredibly strong reaction to just about the most dismal show I’ve seen since…*gack* I can’t think of anything else this bad. Historically. EVER. Anyway, the first line of your post initially had me thinking you were quoting Aarti. From her faarti paarti.
Maybe it was.
I was Moh-Ti-Fied.
Tom is growing on me more and more. I actually found his corny fish-tale sort of endearing. Kudos to him for at least trying to be creative.
I liked Brad a lot and I was very sad to see him go. I was sort of holding my breath for some soft of divine intervention in the form of Aarti being sent home, or at very least bursting into flame but alas…no such luck.
Oh, and when they marched all the family members in I was secretly hoping there wouldn’t be anyone for Herb. He really needs to get the boot.
“Tom is growing on me more and more. I actually found his corny fish-tale sort of endearing. Kudos to him for at least trying to be creative.”
Agreed. I actually DO think he is quite creative. I can totally dig Tom’s show, whatever it is. I think he could actually pull off what Guy Fieri can’t, which is doing a “cool manly-man cooking show” that people actually want to watch. :-)
Wow I thought it was just me feeling that way. I could not hate him.
I have always liked Tom a lot too. He is funny, down to earth, can cook and should stay. And Aati’s Potty should go! She is a loser from the word “GO.” But they seem to like babying her. She would be the first to run off screaming and in tears if she got her own show and the least little thing went wrong. She is nothing but a “diva wannabe.”
I have been on the Tom bandwagon since I first started watching. He seems like he would present a show I might actually watch. Yeah he is a little corny and rambling at times but heck so is Alton Brown and he is one of the only things worth watching anymore.
They made the wrong choice this week, Aria is terrible and one of the judges this week made the comment that described her best, she calls her show family style but seems to have no sense of what family style is actually all about. Brad was actually developing a point of view, Aria has none which goes well with her lack of genuine personality.
I’ve loved Tom since the beginning, too. Besides Brad, he seemed like the only non-douche on the show. I figure if I wouldn’t mind getting beers with the guy, I probably wouldn’t mind watching his show.
Brad going home was a mistake.
Especially before Aarti Faarti.
And Aria (speaking of, I agree with the commenter that said they didn’t need the visual of her banging her baby daddy. I, of course, had to take it one step further in my mind and visualize her giving birth. so gross.)
Well this is a network that chose Melissa DeWhatsherface to do a god-awful show and is producing more and more reality shows as opposed to actual cooking shows….so I expect this. It was completely stupid to keep Aria. Although we all know she wont win anyway, it’s totally going to be Arti or Tom.
Had Brad won his own show I (and I am sure many others) would have even enjoyed it on mute (because he’s kinda cute). FN is stupid.
I can’t believe–just when we were ready to cheer Aria’s departure–that BRAD got booted! Ugh! I was so looking forward to not seeing her sneaky puss. Who is she she blowing to remain on this show?
Dunno, but she limbers up for it with her sex doll face each week, apparently. Got it twice in tonight’s installment.
It must be Giada. Bob would probably run screaming from the room if a woman propositioned him and I’m pretty sure Susie wants to make babies with Herb.
It can’t be Giada– she’s not a judge.
Email sent about Family Style – 11 pm
Post mentioning it in a prior show – 11:41 pm
Jillian wins =P
I didn’t even bother watching this week. Your recap is enough lol.
Tweet mentioning Family Style: 10:30 PM :)
http://twitter.com/FNHumor/status/20102623851
Oh Twitter *sigh*
Not that I mind when it’s interesting but…. eh :P I’m not one to look there.
I did get around to watching this episode — I quite wish I hadn’t. Aria made me want to cry from embarassment the whole time, like when you hear a recording of yourself and realize how stupid you sound.
I agree… they eliminated TOTALLY the wrong person. :(
I had the biggest crush on Brad. Fuck food network.
completely agreed. I don’t know if I’ll even watch the show anymore–who will I look at?
I still kinda think Herb is cute…. and I like the healthy thing. Even though I think he should absolutely not win.
I second that crush >:(
I didn’t watch the episode and nearly screamed in class when I found out he got booted.
Fuck you ‘Food’ Network; I’m never watching you again (well, maybe for Aunt Sandy’s trainwrecks).
I liked Aria in the beginning, but uh, yeah. No.
Brad? Looked kinda’ hot without his grandpa’s hat on. What does the Food Network have against young guys that have a passion for food and real training? (Anyone remember Shane Lyons?) I just hope they don’t do to him what they did to Adam Gertler.
Ironically enough, Shane went on to take over a restaurant here in Colorado Springs called “Nosh”. It has been critically praised and is one of the only restaurants here to garner four starts from the newspaper’s restaurant critic. So…I suppose the guys that can actually *cook* don’t stand a chance on this ridiculous show.
Oh wow! That’s awesome!
Agreed.I remember really liking Shane and thought he got cut too early. Here was this 21 year who had already graduated from the Culinary Institute of America, could cook rings around most of the other contestants, and they ridiculed him for making French food although he’d never been to France. I hated the show that night, but what happend in this episode comes really close. Herb cooks one disastrous meal after another, and finally makes a decent dish so Brad gets booted. FN is not about food. Simple as that. It’s just dumbed down infotainment for soccer moms.
ITA w/everything you said and esp. the hat. I caught myself wandering through the room and glancing at the screen and wondering who the “sort of tallish guy with the 3 days’ growth” came from…then later wondered if brad had a SOUS chef and I wonderedy why nobody else did. Finally sat down to actually watch the dumb show to discover that the mystery guy was…uh…brad. He might have done better had he lost those nasty caps after week 1.
Isn’t Shane on Fit TV now? “Lyon in the kitchen” or something like that? Not sure.
WHAT?????????????????????
Brad goes home, and Aria, who claimed her potatoes FIRST cooked for 50 minutes one day and 20 minutes the next, STAYS. I guess the fastest, no make that fattest LIAR wins her own show! Aarti really needed to Paarti home. Her false humility is grating on my nerves. Herb did okay, Tom was a pleasant surprise, but what exactly would his show be called, other than — “Tom’s Show”, er,”Tom, the Unshaven’s Show, or, “Tom, please iron your shirt, Show.” The NFNS show is unmissable only so we can read this blog each week, otherwise, they’re looking like a skit from Mad Magazine!
Integrity is important to Food Network. Yeah, right.
Funny how, whenever she ventures outside the curry shtick Aartie is completely useless. I cannot believe they kept her, but for the fact they need to milk her Indian food proposition. But my 3-year old son would be better than her in the kitchen. She is boring and her pity party, along with Herb’s are contrived and a pretty lame excuse for lack of skills and confidence. I do not even want to talk about Aria: she should have gone last week and Serena should have been kept in the game. They wanted to milk the emotional rollercoaster with the son. Serena at least would have brought some hot brother/sister/cousin we could have looked at. Overall take on the episode, boring.
I’m no longer a fan of Aria, but I don’t think she lied about the potatoes. She did put them in for 50 minutes the first day, and then for 20 minutes the second. The first day she said she was behind and should have had them in for a good hour, but had only 50 minutes, so she was concerned. And since they went into the oven the second day presumably cold from the fridge, 20 minutes probably wouldn’t have been enough. Anyway, don’t see where she lied. But maybe I’m missing something.
She didn’t lie she’s just an untalented moron.
jeez louise, I am so beyond over that nasty wench, I couldn’t care less about whether or not she lied about her stupid spuds. What IS amazing is that the judges did actually touch on what I would think might be a worrisome point (i.e., hiring someone with an already recognizable “high maintenance” quotient, i.e., mizz paarti)…hell, I’d have to think that aria’s HMQ would be off the charts (as would the HMQ of that other famous fat liar from this series…Debbie Lee whatzername the Korean from last season)…what with aria’s ability to come up with an edible dish roughly once every 3 weeks (and I’m not talking about a great dish. I’m talking about something that’s not slop.)…her highly unattractive and embarrassingly misplaced sense of what’s needed to “get ahead” (interrupting, lying, embellishing, miming sex dolls to up the facetime score, as this is the only way the camera guy will focus on you)…but again, to me, the high maintenance quotient should be viewed on a sliding scale that obviously takes into play the desirability of the person being maintained. If we’re jumping through fiery hoops to keep amanda seyfried happy—well, then. But THIS loser tank??? Puhleeze.
And just when he took off his hat! He is 1000x hotter now that he’s proven he doesn’t have a giant bald spot under there. Seriously, FN, he’s a creative, talented chef, AND HE’S SO CUTE. FN is lacking in both the “people who can actually cook” AND the male eye-candy departments. Also, I’m surprised you didn’t mention Aria’s weird explanation of her “joyful” meal representing her deadbeat husband wanting to hook back up with his baby-mama.
Brad’s food may not have met up with his emotion, but at least it was a good dish. Aria served crunchy potatoes AND fucked up the “Star Challenge.”
yes, but she succeeded at making me want to shoot myself at the “camera challenge”
Theyre totally setting this up for that stupid bitch Aarti to win. I already dont watch 10 Dollar Dinners, I sure as shit wont be watching a show called “aarti party”
It won’t be called that. And I still won’t watch whatever show she does eventually get. Ah, that is if she wins. Still hoping she doesn’t.
that’s not “party;” it’s “potty.”
I’m completely done watching this show now that Brad is gone, that’s just complete BS.
I’ll still keep reading these recaps about it cause this is way more entertaining anyway.
I completely agree with you!! No more Brad…are they nuts?????
I knew he would be eliminated eventually, but it still sucks he’s gone. Brad is SO HOT and funny, and I totally would’ve watched his show.
Totally agree! I enjoyed Brad and I’m so pissed they let him go instead of Aria. He would have made a great addition to FN. He actually can cook and he’s classy.
aHA!! Bingo! There’s the word – classy – that’s been left out of every single word written about this show or spoken ON it. Primarily because, as it stands, there is none. But I agree…of this sorry crop, Brad was the only one who possessed even a modicum. And they gave him the ol’ FN heave-ho…sooo…that’s that.
I think, honestly, that the only reason Aarti would win is so she could fill a niche. God knows the Food Network spent years having a lot of middle-aged white chefs telling us how to cook, and now it’s all about “diversity”. I don’t think she has the personality, and she’s clearly not the best cook. The best cook was just sent home, and he was the only reason I bothered to watch the show at all. As for Aria, she and Aarti are the same person, different accents. Chubby girls with fake “warm” personalities aka Paula Deen. Herb is just an emotional disaster, and he’s disgusting to watch. Tom is a lovable loser, but I can’t imagine taking him seriously.
“Tom is a lovable loser, but I can’t imagine taking him seriously.”
I can. IMHO he can be polished… In fact, it might already be happening. It’s much more difficult to polish bad food from an untalented “chef” than to polish sloppy presentation from a good chef serving good food.
“Herb is just an emotional disaster, and he’s disgusting to watch. ”
And this is how you TENDERIZE A STEAK. BAM PUNCH PUNCH PUNCH PUNCH!!!!
That steak got what was coming to him for calling me FAT!
I think I agree (well, I know I do) but that’s only because I do not take ANY of the FN hosts seriously. And I never have (with the exception of alton). FN is not remotely interested in hiring someone we might take as a serious influence in our kitchen, or, heaven forfend, a serious chef from whom we might learn a trick or two. They’re interested in hiring someone who appeals to the people ordering cookware at 2:30AM on a Sunday morning in the middle of February. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. I’m just saying that FN cares about nothing – absolutely nothing – but the bottom line—adding to it and expanding on it and augmenting it. And being taken seriously not only does not contribute to that, it serves to detract (and subtract) from it. Call me a cynic.
OK, here are my new NFNS odds, Vegas style…
Aarti +50: Let’s face it, she’s virtually guaranteed a spot in the finals and still the favorite to win… Though she did get that verbal spanking from Susie Fogelson tonight, and these last three weeks have been a roller coaster for her. If anyone can sneak right past her for the final win, it’s…
Tom +75: At this point, I also think he’s virtually guaranteed a spot in the finals. He’s “the lovable loser underdog” who finally caught his big break, and it’s hard for me not to root for him. His cooking keeps getting stronger, and his presentation now sounds great… Funny, and fun. If Aarti keeps screwing up, he’s now in position to slip in for the win.
Aria +450: Time is running out on Aria. She just isn’t impressing the judges like she used to. She needs to show more dimensions to her personality and cooking, and do so VERY soon… Or it’s lights out for her.
Herb +500: He’s on borrowed time now. Yes, I realize he will make the finals if Aria implodes next episode (which is always possible) and/or one of the frontrunners unexpectedly chokes (which may happen, but I doubt it). But if he does, I have a hard time seeing him beat Aarti and Tom.
I guess it was always a possibility for Brad to go, but I guess this was finally the moment and Herb pulled yet another Latin flavored trick out of his hat to spare himself and leave Aria and Brad on the chopping block. And facing the choice of her bubbly personality or his calm, cool, and collected presentation, let’s face it, we all should have known which way most of the judges were going. (As much as many of us vehemently disagree, FN wants the “BIG personalities!”)
Last year Jeffery Saad took a lot of heat for being too mellow. They don’t like calm cool personalities at NFNS.
Looks like they prefer raving fruitcakes.
Insane people don’t have the space in their heads to question what the hell is going on…
No, they don’t. Apparently, calm people don’t make good ratings monsters and cookware salespeople for FN. And besides, we all know most of the great TV chefs are on PBS… ;-)
Yeah I was so angry that they sent Brad home over Aria. Brad is so much more relatable then Aria. Aria is annoying because she’s always perky and said she “didn’t do melancholy”. Its like she’s a kindergarten teacher during story time 24/7. Ugh I really dislike the decisions made by food network. The reason why they found Brad charming is because he wasn’t smiley all the time but once in a while he would be boyishly charming, and they sent him home for that. GRR.
Lots of boob display by Giada tonight.
I noticed that too, but her hair looked like it needed some poofing.
Yeah, I’ve never gotten giada’s hair. Jeez, with alllll that dough…if she can’t afford to spend the time on her own hair and must make do with those ghastly weaves, you’d think she’d at least have them maintained a bit better. Cripes, Kate Gosselin maintains her extensions better than giada does.
Giada shows lots of boob so all the men will be staring at her chest instead of her freakishly oversized head.
Beyond upset that Brad was sent home. That was COMPLETELY the wrong decision.
I agree that they should have viewer voting on this joke of a show.
Aria reminds me of an uglier version of Melissa D’Arabian.
LOL! A MUCH uglier version, though…and I dunno. I’m not a huge d’arabian fan, and don’t watch her show, but wow. If you were to throw her into THIS season??! She’d leave this pack in the dust and never look back. Actually, if you were to throw one of the real housewives from NJ into this season…fill in the blank.
This show is such a mess the only good thing to come out of it are these awesome recaps (well that and Aarti’s juggs.) They really should stop calling it “Search For the Next Food Network Star” and just call it what it actually is… BOB AND SUSIE WANT TO BE ON TV SO VERY BADLY.
If I have to hear Tushieman whining about not being told a story one more time I think I’m going to have to smack him upside his lopsided face with a Giada brand ladle (on sale now at TARGET!)
WHY THE FLIPPING FUCK WOULD THEY LET BRAD GO?!?! WHAT THE FUCK!!
What she said!
I am more angry than I have ever been in probably my life, over some stupid reality show and a contestant that got sent home. That should tell you how awesome Brad, or as I call him, Hatman, really is.
They sent him home over Aria? Are you freaking kidding me? Her show is simply a direct copy of at least twelve other shows already on the Food Network.
Hatman lost because he didn’t have his lucky hat. It killed him.
I am really pissed off that Brad was the one sent home tonight. I’m sick of Aria and her phoniness… I’m sure that the rating on the show are gonna drop like crazy now that Brad’s not on it…
You’ll notice on Food Network’s website Brad is ahead of Aria. And obviously she doesn’t win, so what kind of bull crap are they trying to pull?
Let’s all go over there and vote for Brad and drive them crazy!
I’d vote for Dzintra if it’d keep that beyotch Aria from getting a show. Getting to vote for Brad is just a bonus.
I just voted for Brad all ten times. Also, what is Aria holding in her picture? It looks like a sardine…
I believe it’s salt. Probably part of a spell that keeps her on the show.
When it got down to Brad and Aria I was extremely happy and I was screaming for Aria to get her ass out. Then they said she’s safe and sent Brad home.
For the love of God, she’s a deceitful little bitch who puts on that fake smile every week. It’s been the same smile since day one, and they’ve even told her to cut it down. She did for that one episode after they told her, but now it’s back and stronger than ever, and yet they still keep her.
Brad’s been showing he has potential. He cooks good food, he’s got a personality, the only problem he’s been having is translating it on camera. But these contestants aren’t actors, or at least they’re not supposed to be. They’re supposed to be people that can cook and entertain an audience, and Brad has been capable of doing both of those things. He just needed a little help getting rid of his stage fright, and recently he’s been doing that.
I didn’t come into this show with much hope after seeing all of the contestants and the fact that none of them can really bring anything new and innovative to the Food Network. Aarti is the closest with Indian cuisine, but she’s so god awfully annoying that I couldn’t bear watching her show. Brad was the second closest, and in my eyes, the only one with actual potential. He’s young and already a great cook, so overtime he’s only going to get better. He could essentially bring a show like Michael Symon’s “How to cook like an Iron Chef” on the Cooking Channel, just without looking like a member of the Aryan Brotherhood, and he could bring exquisite recipes to a mainstream audience.
With Brad now gone the only one I could hope to win would be Tom, but I don’t think he’d really work well with the Food Network. He’s a funny guy but I don’t see enough of the cooking potential to overcome the entertainment level. I want to watch a show to learn how to cook, that’s the point of the goddamn FOOD network. Not stupid reality shows, not stupid challenge shows, just a person in front of a camera teaching me how to cook great food.
A-fucking-MEN
Times 8.
I think that’s it. I think Tom would probably work well as a FN personality, hosting a food travelogue show rather than a show that relied on cooking demonstration. Truthfully, the same might be said of Brad.
Tom is Adam Gertler 2.0.
Poor Adam has to fight to get a 6 program run on either the FN or Cooking Channel.
Is there room for more????
I must say I totally know why they kept Aria. They couldn’t keep Brad down anymore. He finally figured it out this week and there is no way they would be able to live down him losing to Arti with his resurgence. Everyone knows Aria and Herb are gone it’s just a matter of when and with Tom they can play the well Arti is more camera friendly card. Something they could never do with Brad still around. It’s a shame since I think Brad and Tom are the two most deserving ones left.
Brilliant critique…….really explains the situation so clearly! :)
Masterpiece comment!
Normally I wouldn’t be this upset over someone being sent home on a reality TV show, but Brad was gorgeous, funny, and could actually cook. Tom is the only one left I would watch, mostly because he’s got that goofy stoner vibe. Aria? She’s like the bastard offspring of the Joker and Rachael Ray. I’d be afraid she’d try to eat my soul if I was in a room alone with her. I’d only watch Herb if he were naked and had a muzzle on. He’s a hysterical mess of a man. Aarti could benefit from that drill instructor shrink from that Geico commercial. Hell, I’d like to throw a tissue box at her myself.
I literally just laughed out loud at this comment. Aria is BEYOND annoying but bastard offspring of the Joker and Rachael Ray? Fucking poetry. Brad was the best thing FN has had on in a while and they BLEW IT. Sure, his idea for a show came last minute, but it’s iNTERESTING AND DIFFERENT. He’s a refreshing presence and even though he may “clam up” a bit on camera, he’s still got more GENUINE personality in his little tweed hat than Aria could ever even dream of having!
+1 — great post, Snark Lady. :)
I was so disappointed to see that once Brad finally took off the yucky “lucky” hat that his luck actually ran out!?! Dang!
Um Yeah, one of the funniest comments I have ever read!! “Hysterical mess of a man” that is going to be something I am saying for a LONG time!!
I laughed ’til I cried over when I read this! So true.
They kept the blow up doll? The kept the damn blow up doll? Why? Why? What a farce.
I’m so pissed off right now. She’s been getting worse all season and her food and presentation were lousy in the elimination challenge. I can’t see any reason to keep her around. She’s annoying as hell. Of course that’s what Food Network likes, ANNOYING personalities.
Brad really grew on me. He was likable in a non-over-the-top way. I would have loved watching him. A Giada for us girls, and he wouldn’t even have to show me his cleavage. Do you think Bobby is threatened by a cuter, hotter male chef?
I wish Brad good luck. He was a good sport throughout and deserves better than what TNFNS dished out.
I don’t give a rat’s ass about any of the final four. This has been a lackluster group, the show has been boring all season. FNH recaps are the only reason to watch this mess of a show.
Way too many Target ads in my area tonight.
In spite of it all I have to give Kudos to Tom he did a great job tonight.
If Bobby Flay was threatened by the existence of men hotter than him, he wouldn’t be able to leave his house.
Brad should not have been sent home!!!!!!!
He can cook and he is absolutely adorable and REAL!!!
Sick of seeing staged/fake shit on the food network…get over it already!
If you would just pick real people to do the job you would not have to come up with the “cooking” channel!!!!!!
I also think Tom is genuine and creative.
I loved the tale of two tunas! LOL
I would watch his show.
Aarti is very real too…I can relate to her a bit.
Aria…GO AWAY!!!!!!!!!! Buhhhh….BYE
Herb..train wreck…love ya…but please go home and love your family. Just hug them every day.
I cannot believe they got rid of Brad! He was so cute and as others have said..actually knows how to cook well!
I was so sure it was going to be Aria. UGH…
I don’t really care about who wins or loses anymore, Aarti Party’s winning anyway!
But I still like watching the show (actually I can’t pull myself away from it), and these recaps are deathly funny. I about lost it at the Luca reference, and these rest had me laughing out loud. Brilliant!!
What is wrong with those FN people? Herb is clearly psychotic and wouldn’t last a week under any kind of pressure. He should have gone home weeks ago. Brad is so much better than any of the people left, he was the only reason I watched.
I agree with keeping Aria over Brad being a questionable decision… I kind of think, though, that Brad would probably have been a better fit for a food travelogue show rather than a cooking demonstration show. Aria always was more comfortable in front of the camera, but I have to admit it was a WTF decision. I suspect it was, similar to what took Jeffrey Saad down last year, that it was not clear enough how Brad would fit into a narrowly defined FN brand cooking demonstration show. Aria’s food hasn’t really seemed all that impressive of late, which is why I was surprised that she stayed. Brad, as much as I liked him, would have been hard to fit… would he have filled a Tyler Florence-like role? His “Pro” idea was destined to fail, because they already have Anne Burrell, who is more experienced, has more credibility, and is a lot more interesting to boot. I will, in the spirit of generosity, retract my statement from last week speculating that the everpresent hat was to camouflage a receding hairline.
Herb pulled out magic when he needed it. I think had he stumbled in the slightest in that final challenge, he’d have been a goner, but he outperformed the others when he desperately needed it. Clearly, the judges love the concept of his show, or the concept of a muscular Latino chef, to the point where I think he’s been given a bit more slack than others… but he’s been a rollercoaster, both in terms of the food and camera skills.
Aarti was given a gift tonight. All she needs to do is get through the next two rounds without completely self-destructing and she’s golden. (And, I will say, having seen some of her Youtube cooking videos, she is capable of being quite funny.) Tom poses the only real threat at this point, and his culinary POV appears to be recycled from Guy Fieri and Aaron McCargo.
FN completely missed the boat on demographics. Brad would probably have had a devoted following and decent ratings out of the mancandy factor alone.
Well, just because they booted Brad doesn’t mean he won’t get a show…
I wish they’d given Jeffrey a show last year instead of Adam Gertler though.
DON’T YOU DARE COMPARE ANYONE TO THE DUSCH BAG AND GHETTO MAN! No one deserves that insult. Both of them prove just how nuts FN tends to be with their phony predetermined shows. Aria would be the closest comparison to them IMO but wouldn’t even pin that on HER, though I can’t stand her.
I agree, that was my reaction when I read the comment about Guy. I actually find Tom endearing.
I make the comparison between Tom and Fieri/McCargo only in terms of culinary POV… American food with “big flavors.” I absolutely agree that Tom is not cringe-inducing the way the other two are, but simply point out that Tom’s current culinary POV is something currently used by others on the network.
I do agree that Brad would be good on a FN show but suspect a food travelogue show rather than a cooking demonstration show would be a much better fit. Adam Gertler v 2.0 indeed.
i think im saddest that brad went home only because he was so freaking cute and I still wanna find him and do him.
You Think Giada makes a knife I can slit my throat with?
Im on my way to Target now. FoodNetwork has completely Jumped the Shark! I watched Melissa D’Arabian put rice in mason jars,for a $10.00 picnic with her family including, 10 preschool kids. I guess I could watch Phony, ugly assed, Aria grinning and mewing on a weekly basis or the psychotic “food shit tips”, from Herb if I had too,but damn it How in the world could they kick off Brad?!!! You couldn’t give us a hotter man please!!!!I would be so upset if this recap wasn’t so funny. Jillian as usual,you and the gang rock!!!
It’s about time Brad took that damn hat off! I was starting to think that it was stapled or glued to his head. Even more amazing was the fact that Brad had a full head of hair! When a guy wears a hat 24/7, he’s usually trying to hide a bald spot or thinning hair *cough*BretMichaels*cough*
Keep up the good work Tom! I’m hoping he kicks Aarti Potti’s ass and wins TNFNS.
Fuck this show. Aria should have gone home just for awkwardly incorporating her marital problems into her “Joyful” meal. Who the hell would watch a show about cooking for your family when there are already at least three shows that do the same thing? Brad was adorable in this episode. He would have had such a strong audience. And Brad may have taken a while to come up with a point of view, but in the end his was probably the most creative. Tom is the only tolerable contestant left. But with Aria remaining, I really don’t think I can watch this show anymore. This is really one of the most upsetting things I have ever seen. These judges are mental, I swear.
And Aarti’s Party is supposed to be the winner? Is someone else gonna do the cooking for her or is everyone just supposed to smoke a big fatty so they don’t notice her ineptness and bad food? She sucks, find someone who can cook real Indian food and not look like an idiot on camera.
Also, a big boooooo and hissssss for booting Brad over lame Aria.
They have accused other people to be one note but when Aarty goes out of her comfort zone she cannot create decent food. I call this a one-trick pony!
I hope all of the billions of people who commented on this topic actually take NFNS seriously. I’m just sayin’.
Its called, “sarcasm,” look it up.
i can’t believe they sent brad home over aria.. i was sure they’d send her home. well.. i was hoping, anyway. she’s so annoying. and brad finally found his point of view, too. :( ridiculous.
I’m sorry, are you talking about a soap-opera? Cuz, it totally sounds like it.
The problem with Brad is that I feel he is so goddamn boring. I like how he wanted his show to be called “Pro” but he can’t seem to cook steak?
It makes me wonder what would happen if these “chefs” were on Top Chef or something that actually forced them not to do a rehash of Potatoes Gratin or something like that. They don’t seem to know how to cook very well at all…
The problem is not with their expertise or their knowledge of cooking, but of the moronic challenges and stupid time constraints that are placed on them. OMG – great TV! Not to mention the editing……that’s where the magic happens. The story told is nowhere close to what really took place.
I’m with you on the Top Chef thought. The contestants there are given ridiculous situations to contend with, but still manage to remember their chefly skills. In fact, I have to remind myself, watching this show, that they’re looking for a television personality, not an actual chef.
I am lost by what you mean here: “Aria was joined by her 3-year old son Luca. I can only assume he lives on the second floor.”
My name is Luca. I live on the second floor. I live upstairs from you. Yes, I think you’ve seen me before…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luka_(song)
Catherine, “My Name Is Luca” is an old 80′s song by Suzanne Vega. I knew it would be brought up cuz every time Aria said his name, it reminded me of it!
I just knew the Luca line was coming this morning and still laughed.
That was a damn good song, too. Tugs at the heartstrings. The recap comment made me LOL, though :)
I was wondering how many people got that! Too good!
Wow – disappointing show all around. I am LMAO at who they deemed worthy to return.
Idiots.
It’s like Passions, the ill-fated soap. Seriously. I keep waiting for a great flood or something to take over. It’s completely rediculous.
That sobbing, phoney cow, Aria, should have packed HER bags! RIP-OFF!!!! Brad was 1000 times more appealing and far easier on the eyes. The judges’ decision was worthy of a Sandra Lee, Kwanzaa cake salute. Lost respect for Bobby tonight – once upon a time he was a young, struggling chef too.
If Aarti wins, I’ll never watch this network again. What a pig! Bad skin, dead animal hair accessories, one-trick cuisine – Not impressed!
Pulling for Tom now. Tom is the star of “Let’s get high and have FUN!”
I cannot believe Aria stayed and Brad got booted. I’d bet the final will be Aarti (already a given) vs Herb. You just know they want to have a show that would reach millions of East Indian viewers, or a show with Hispanic culture with someone that can actually cook (not that I am saying he can). Sorry Tom, Emeril already did big food..too late.
Aria is so one-dimensional (personality-wise anyway, the rest of her is quite multi-dimensional, if you get my drift).
IMO “The PAARTI’s Over” and she should go home next. Herb looks like a wounded puppy. He can’t do the camera. C’mon Susie get rid of these two! You really F’d up by sending Brad home — you’ll regret that!
NOOOOOOOOOO!!!! BRING BACK JUSTIN TIMBERFAKE!!!!!!!!
YES!
I was so upset about their decision to send Brad home; I’m pretty sure every female viewer of the foodnetwork was. I’m so tired of having to hear Aarti’s “you can do it speech” on everrryyy epidsode.
Just like Melissa D’arbian.
This was an infuriating episode and those douches sent the awesome BRAD home and kept that shitball Aria. I can only hope they give Brad a show anyway because he is adorable and fun. Fuck Aarti Faarti and her stupid Paaaarti. As I was falling asleep last night, I came up with some alternate names for Aaarti’s show:
Aarti a la Caarti
Haarti Aarti (hearty, yo)
Taarti Aartie
Smaartie Aartie (cooking with Smarties candy)
Aarti’s Faarti (what’s that smell coming from the kitchen?)
Staarti Your Day With Aarti
Aarti’s Caarti (she has to push a food cart through NY)
Aarti Loves Havarti (indian dishes all must feature havarti cheese)
Aarti’s Biparty (bringing together dems and repubs over mediocre indian good)
(indian food, not indian good)
Aarti’s Biparty – Aarti cooks for Ina’s friends (Gay/Lesbain/Bi)
Don’t forget: Aarti’s Cooking with Havarti.
Brad was the fucking king of that show. The fact that they sent him home over Aria, of all people, is not surprising given FN’s track record but it is still infuriating. I’m betting they kept Aria around to reduce the legitimate competition for Aarti.
I did love it when Susie rolled in, balls to the wall, and shut down the Aarti Party like the campus police on move-in weekend. I’m glad someone finally told it like it is re: Aarti’s whiny bullshit.
Tom’s tuna hallucination actually impressed me, but I still don’t like him enough to ever watch his potential show.
I hope Brad goes on to do something much more awesome. On TV, where we can all see him.
RE:”If Aria won, her show would supposedly be called ‘FAMILY STYLE.’ It’s a shame, then, that the Food Network ALREADY HAS A SHOW NAMED FAMILY STYLE – and they ran commercials for it during tonight’s show!…Sooooooo, it looks like ARIA isn’t the winner.”
This actually doesn’t prove anything. Every season contestants come up with their own show ideas/titles. The network always changes the title and premise to something else entirely.
That was the joke….
Re: “That was the joke…”
Actually, no it wasn’t.
When Eva Long-BORE-ia asked Brad about his virginity I knew something was up. She said she was tasked to ask personal questions? So why’d everyone else get asked why they should be on FN or what their emotion was? Brad’s talent exceeds Tuschman’s vision of a ‘home cook’ all warm and cuddly. He’s exceedingly good at finding people who can’t cook and who the vast audience can’t watch.
Please someone, tell me what Herb’s show name is, have no idea what the h*ll he’s saying. My translation: Herb Needs Medication
It’s “Cooking Con Sabor,” or “Cooking with Flavor.”
….yeah.
He should be Cooking With Prozac.
Maybe it’s just me, but his chosen show name has always struck me as incredibly lame. Cooking with Flavor. Uh, yeah, Herb, as opposed to… what?… Maybe you’ve seen too many other cooks using Styrofoam packing peanuts and water as exclusive ingredients in their recipes? I hear he has an equally creative show title waiting in the wings, in case he wins: Cooking con Comida.
I read somewhere that all of the finalists had to pass some sort of psychologial evaluation…I think Herb sent a stand in for his evaluation or took all of the right meds at the right time.
more like they all had to FAIL a psych evaluation…and somehow Brad made it through
It’s called:
“Cooking with Herb, who used to be this fat kid from Paramus but is now a stud and member of Team Sexy, so there, eat it you big bully jerks, I hate YOU SO MUCH I WILL KILL YOU!!!!”
I suspect Herb will be the next Food Network “celebrity” whose mugshot we’ll get to point and laugh at.
I’m really shocked that Brad was sent home. He can cook, he’s good looking (especially without that stupid hat), and seemed like an genuinuely sweet nice guy. He was stiff on camera, but was getting better. There is no current show on the Food Network with a young guy, or hosted by a man who’s not either creepy, arrogant, weird, or nasty. The really blew it.
Aria? She has a cute little son, send her back to him as soon as possible. She’s obnoxious, her food isn’t the greatest, and her “oh my God” blow up doll/fish mouth expressions drive me nuts.
Herb. He must be bipolar (seriously). A likealbe guy, but exhausting to watch. If you came up behind him and said “boo: he’s scream and be stuck up on the ceiling. I usually do like his food though.
I’ve grown to like Tom. He has a good personality and can cook, even if he does look like an unmade bed. I’ll be he’ll be one of the two finalists.
Aarti. I think she’s fantastic on camera, is fun to watch, can cook, and will be the winner. She’ll have to find a new name for her show though, The *first* time I heard it, “Aarti Parti” sounded cute and clever. Now it makes me cringe and want to cry.
It comes down to entertainment and who would you be most likely to watch. None of the people eliminated up to last night was watchable. I’d never watch Aria, might watch Herb, would have watched Brad (*huge* mistake sending him home), and would would Aarti or Tom.
Brad was such my favorite; I don’t even want to watch anymore because I’m not a huge fan of anyone else
Typically reality show bullshit. First, make a dish that reflects your POV. Fine, they’ve all been itching to do just that. It’s a dish they know and like. But, first, you gotta add an ingredient you hate, so of course that throws off the whole dish (especially since they had already started prepping it). Then, let’s get you all worked up with your loved ones mid-cooking. Now, let’s complain that your food wasn’t quite right and your presentation was off. Well, gee, d’ya think?
Then let’s give you random words that you somehow have to translate into a meal (“My word was ‘antidisestablishmentarianism,’ so I prepared a seared scallop done two ways with a…”).
None of which is anything that an actual Food Network star would every actually have to deal with. If Aarti gets her own paarty, she will never have to cook a meal with okra if she doesn’t want to, and if she ever does, she’ll have assistants to help her figure out how to make it palatable. And she’s sure as shit not going to build an episode around “fear,” and, again, if she does she’ll have more than three hours to decide what that means in culinary terms and cook the damn meal (not that Food Network stars actually do their own cooking anyway).
So we really have no idea whether any of these people has got “it” or not.
Very well said!
I completely agree with everything you said. This bugs me week after week, on this program. Any FN star, no matter what their show, WON’T have these circumstances to work with. Will they have to think on their feet at times? Sure. Will they have equipment that fails when they’re doing something live? Of course…they’ll all have snags along the way. But the challenges they throw at these contestants on NFNS are nothing short of ridiculous. How is it fair to give one person the task of making a “JOYFUL” meal, while someone else has to make one motivated by “FEAR”? Seriously? What in the hell was Aarti SUPPOSED to come up with? And then Suzie said her tie-in with fear was weak?? I’d like to see Suzie be put on the spot and try to come up with something that would fill that bill. Just idiotic.
Week after week, I feel like we aren’t seeing these contestants’ actual chops, we’re seeing them put through assinine challenges that yield dishes they’d NEVER make on an actual show they’d host.
Dead on.
They had to get rid of Brad now so their pre-ordained winner (Aarti) will look like she actually earned her win during the upcoming final (what – she has to beat Aria? Yeah, I could beat Aria). Brad is too much actual competition and he kept getting better, so they had to boot him now so as not to make Aarti’s inevitable fake win too obviosuly apparent.
Yep. So true.
Wow, just wow. I am so glad I stuck around and watched Poirot on PBS. Just wow. I am so happy that I no longer waste an hour of my time on a Sunday night watching this crap. Thanks FNH for at least doing a wonderful public service and sitting through this farce every Sunday night.
Now, I wonder how come Bobby Flay can win his Iron Chef challenges all the time and Morimoto, who for me is the most successful Iron Chef always seems to lose to lesser lights? And how can a judge who is 50+ years have problems separating bones from a piece of fish. Where I come from children, no matter how small are given fish with the bones. Mothers usually supervise the picking of the bones, but once a child gets to at least 8 years old, they are able to separate the flesh from the bones. And a 50+ year old man has problems doing that. No wonder MacDonalds was sued.
Loved the psychologist comment. My son and I have an over/under on the number of times Aria will make O face during the episode. The current line for next week since they are traveling is 4 and a half. Let me know if you want in on the action.
Biggest issue? Aarti and Aria have shown zero growth. They started strong, plateued and now are just cliches of the cliches they started with (remember Multiplicity – it doesn’t get better). I’m not sure Brad would have won, but at least he explored where he wanted to go.
Speaking of Brad, dude, you have Surprise as your word. Do something crazy! Put a sea urchin, bull testicles, fertilized duck eggs inside a pie or something. Make them think they are eating one thing and put a spin on it. Dumb, dumb, dumb.
I can’t wait to see who made, “the worst thing I have ever eaten in the history of this show,” next week. I hope it’s Indian spiced or from a family plate.
I just gotta say that I actually love Aarti to bits. Her food looks good, and every time I see her on screen I just want to run up and squeeze her. I don’t know if that makes for a good FN host or not, but I don’t care. She’s fucking adorable.
But anywho — last night’s episode was ENRAGING. I still can’t believe they sent Brad home over Aria. Oh, and what was their excuse for keeping her around? She “glows.” So does a fucking light bulb. Get real!
I like her too. When Tushy was whining that Aarti had “lost her way” or something–she won both challenges in last week’s show and has far and away won the most challenges overall. She had a bad week, meh. I really thought the final two would come down to Aarti/Brad–now we are stuck with Aria another fucking week. I cringed when she talked about her baby daddy and how he, in effect, wanted to mooch meals off of her (oh, sorry, “be a family”). Blech.
I really don’t get this immense wave of Aarti backlash that’s come up in the past few weeks (though I do love Jillian’s comments, LOL). I mean, in all honesty, she has been the only contestant so far who is consistently good, and this week was her first bad week. If you look at the FN Facebook page, there’s basically three groups against Aarti. There’s people who can’t stand her bubbly cutesy-wootsy-ness — which, OK, I’ll give you that. Understandable. Then there’s the people who don’t like Indian food — and because they don’t like it, that means everyone else doesn’t like it, right? And then the… well… racists. I’ve seen some pretty nasty comments on there that have made me sit back and go, “Whoa…”
“There’s people who can’t stand her bubbly cutesy-wootsy-ness — which, OK, I’ll give you that. ”
That and, as Jillian put it, her constant “Aarti’s Pity Paarti”. Based on her mannerisms, personality and “woe is me” attitude on NFNS, she’s just not someone I’d want to watch. Though, if she gets her own show, I guess all that could change. Maybe.
If Aarti would stop whinging and having mini-breakdowns every week, I wouldn’t mind her. She started out with a fun, likable personality, but now it’s just tears and self-pity constantly.
I am a devoted Aarti fan, but that right there is REALLY annoying me. Ina Garten has said that when making some recipes, she’s absolutely mortified and doesn’t think they’ll come out, but she does it anyway. Aarti needs to learn to suck it up and deal with it and do her job.
I am not so down on Herb. Most of us see this competition as just a stupid TV show, but there would be a lot of stress actually doing it if it would help you complete a dream, and I think he’s just trying too hard. Winning could relax him some. I admit I don’t think he will win, but I could see Herb being a male Jillian Michaels type character, former fat kid makes good. He could do a show where he helps people with food the way Jillian helps with exercise. JMO
Food Network has already had a show based on one of Herb’s POVs, with that Juan Carlos Cruz guy. He won a weight loss, reality, show challenge a few years back, and subsequently, got a show on Food Network,as a low calorie commando chef. It was cancelled and hes, allegedly been, accused of putting a hit out on his wife in recent news. I could easily see the same sordid, outcome for Herb or worse if he loses. You think they could steer,clear of unnecessary drama,at the FN and not repeat that mistake. Herb is highly unstable, I do believe that Juan Carlos, is eerily, similar to Him. Check out this video. http://www.radaronline.com/exclusives/2010/05/video-juan-carlos-cruz-clowns-wife-jennifer-his-alleged-murder-target
And look what happened – JUAN CARLOS tried to murder his wife!
There’s something about a fat free diet that makes ‘em snap!!!
Thank goodness I watched True Blood instead of this! I was so pissed when I ff my DVR and found out that they sent Brad home (yeah, I only watch the episode AFTER watching who got the boot… Yeah I’m a nerd!)
Brad really was the only reason I was watching this show! He’s cute (as many of you have mentioned), he’s funny and he can cook! What’s sexier than that?! The men have Giada to watch (and most of them don’t give a *#:!! About the food), so what’s there for us ladies? Damn…
Well, whoever wins I’m sure most of us will watch at least once and b*tch and moan about it for awhile and then we’ll get over it.
I really hope Brad gets his own show, though… There is no harm in hoping…
“…so what’s there for us ladies?”
Guy Ferry!
(…and now I will go into self-imposed exile….)
There isn’t anything for the ladies because Food Network labors under the delusion that only female cooks can be authoritative in the kitchen. Notice the fact they’ve used age against Brad and that guy Shane from a few years back, yet Claire Robinson has a show and she looks young enough to still have the hangover from prom night. There used to be a lot more men on Food Network, but they’ve steadily disappeared.
“There used to be a lot more men on Food Network, but they’ve steadily disappeared.”
They realized what a piece of crap FN is and have gotten the hell out of there! With the exception of Alton Brown, only the douchebag brigade is left to run the island.
@Kelley I don’t think Brad will wind up with his own show, due to being eliminated too far ahead of the winner of NFNS. If FN gives the 5th-place person a show, but not anyone else besides the winner, then why have a NFNS? I’m not saying I agree with this (I was upset that Brad went home before Aria and Herb), but I can’t see the network giving Brad something.
go to the FN website… Brad’s already hob nobbing with FN celebrities – including Susie. Brad will be sticking around…
BIG mistake sending Brad home! He is so articulate and talented and has a lot to offer the viewer. I wish him much sucess in his future.
Sigh. Fucking Aria skates by another week. Rachael Ray clone that she is. Brad should NOT have gone home. He showed the most progression this week out of all of these assholes. Not to mention he is quite easy on the eyes! Food network screws the pooch once more… although if they had kept Brad, they couldn’t have legitimately made Aarti the winner, which we all know by now she is. FN fucked that one up too by posting her as one of their chefs on their website. What a joke.
I HATE Rachael Ray. But to compare RR to Aria is insulting. RR is vulgar and low class.
But Aria – that’s a $hit$how right there. She takes no pride in her appearance (Croydon facelift, obese, whose poor clothing choices emphasize her size), she grins perpetually, she lacks integrity. She hasn’t made one interesting dish.
Housewives in Iowa would look at Aria and be reminded of everything they don’t like about their lives.
I wanted to see the last of Aria, but feel the judges’ choice was not that crucial last night. Do they preserve yet another somewhat cute white guy who can cook ‘n’ chat, or yet another fat, jolly woman who can cook ‘n’ chat? The FN already has plenty of both.
I totally do not get the people here who are obsessed with FN having some special racial quota system…so what race/sex do you think they need? Asian trannies? Spit it out.
I, personally, would LOVE a cooking show with Asian trannies.
I don’t know anything about “people here who are obsessed with FN having some special racial quota system”, but I do think that it might be nice to have a show about Indian cuisine. But, Aaaaaarti isn’t that person. She’s way too annoying, her range is, at best, limited, and they should get someone who can cook.
And, yeah, bring on the Asian trannies!
Well, maybe Debbie Lee was an Asian tranny–so THAT’S why they were pushing her on us last year!
I would love to see a show with asian trannys too. Have you SEEN Mana of Malice Mizer? Look him up hes beautiful, plus he likes cooking. That would be a show I’d watch. Screw Rachel Ray.
Why does everyone like Brad? He’s too shy and uncharismatic to be a TV personality. He’s a true chef it seems and needs to be successful in some venue other than in front of a camera.
Because he’s cute. The female-viewers need a bit of eye candy. The next best thing is Bobby Flay. Hm, explains why Brad was booted!
I agree with the eye-candy on the part of the female viewers, but frankly, I just think he’s a cool guy, the person I would want to hang out with.
Who would want to hang out with Aria over Brad? No one, except her creepy depressing son who probably wants to run away from his horrible mother.
Susie said it best: “All he has to do is smile”
By the way this is the first week I notice it’s Aarti Paarti and not Aarti’s Paarti. Not only is she spelling things weird to make it catchy, she is using her name as an adjective.
Next up, her food will be deemed Aartilicious.
Or AARTERY clogging!
Or Aart-eriffic.
Aart-astic
Aart-istic
Sweet Brad will be missed. Remember when he and Aria were on the food truck and she insisted that the food remain simple? Brad was such a gentleman about it; although, I will bet he disagreed! Where did that get him?? Sigh.
You mean Aria’s decision to nix fresh strawberries in a strawberry shake? Brad was too nice – and that cost him.
Oh, the humanity! I cannot believe that Brad got sent home last night. I’m telling you right now, as God is my witness, if that lumbering, plaid shirt wearing, needs a rake to comb through that ‘fro Tom, wins this thing.. I am done with the Next Food Network Star. Note to Food Network Panel: I still have not forgiven you for unleashing Guy Fieri on an unsuspecting world. Is it really necessary to bring on this dim wit that calls himself “Big Chef” ugh..seriously.
I wouldn’t eat Tom’s food without assurance that there would be no hair on the plate. An assurance that he couldn’t give.
Can’t agree with you more on Fieri (and I REFUSE to “roll” the R!!!) FEE-AIR-EEE!!
I was watching the show last night with my 13 year old son. He was totally flabbergasted at the teary reunions with families that had been apart for eight weeks. My son has endured three deployments by his dad and found all the emotion to be over the top and fake. He was yelling at the t.v. that all of these people should go out and experience real hardship!
My husband is in the Navy and I too have been through three deployments with him. I don’t doubt that these people miss their families, but the gooey show of emotion seemed a little bit contrived. Eight weeks is NOTHING; I’d do back flips if that was the longest separation I ever had to do again! (As it is, he’s missing my culinary school graduation, although I know it could be so much worse than that. I have friends whose spouses aren’t going to meet their kids until they are nearly 2 years old, and they’re infants now.)
My dad was career military. We didn’t live with him until I was six.
Damn civilians.
They have no idea and never will…..
I started watching after the beginning of the episode and I thought Brad was hugging his boyfriend.
lol
Now THAT would’ve been hot!
IM SO PISSED OFF….WHY DIDNT THEY VOTE ARIA OFF!!! STUPID SHOW…
I almost fell out of my chair on the Luca comment!!!
Me too!
I cannot believe they chose that sniveling little toad Aria over Brad. All I could do was shake my head and say, “you’ve GOT to be kidding!” Oh well, we already know that stupid-ass Aarti won anyway, but I was hoping to see Brad make it to the very end.
SCREW FN. I’m not watching this crappy show anymore for this season. I’m not going to lie, Brad wasn’t the most interesting person to watch, but he was still entertaining because he’s cute as hell and seems like a really nice guy.
Agreed. I can’t imagine continuing to watch this.
Tired of Aria. Don’t like her. Wish she would have gone this week.
But I am MOST tired of Tuschman and his snarky, pissy, snotty little expressions on his face while the contestants are doing their camera challenges.
Ever notice Bob when Herb’s in the room? Like a giddy 13 year old girl!
Heh heh heh! Really? I’ll have to watch out for that…
Oh my god, Tushy AND Susie drool over Herb. It’s revolting.
I keep expecting them to get in a cat fight over him. Either that or Susie to leap over the judging table and start ripping his clothes off.
Oh Susie! – we need to start a whole new page dedicated to her. I think she wants to eat Herb’s babies. So obvious!
Aria – two words (in that fingernail on a chalkboard voice of hers): “Hopple Popple”
Herb – two words: HOT MESS
Tom – Desperately needs a makeover. The “quirksome” look is rapidly getting sloppy and dirty. He doesn’t look clean. Looks like he’s got a bad case of swamp ass before the competition starts.
Aarti – Maha-dumpiness of Franistan! Nothing about her is interesting. Who would go to that Paarti? She carries on like Indian food is the newest thing. If you live in a big city, Indian is readily available. She’s not hoodwinking anyone here in L.A., please!
Brad – FN screws the pooch again. Of all of them he looked sane, easy on the eyes. Girls swoon. Guys would hang out with him. Like-able (a novel concept, Susie). Instead we’re getting whiney sausage wrapped in a sari… BLECH!
You mean HAHAAAAAAPLE PAAAAAAAHPLE.
@Jenna – YES! LOL!
But here’s the thing about Aarti–she’s a marketing opportunity. McCormick is doing those little spice kits for a specific dish, just enough to cook one dinner, IIRC. So Aarti and McCormick bring you Aarti’s curry of the month so that people who don’t have access to the Indian market or Penzeys can have their very own exotic tikka masala dinner courtesy of the spice counter at the IGA.
Not that there’s anything wrong with that…sometimes when you live in a large metro area you forget about the large parts of this country where a store that has goat cheese and naan bread readily available is 100 miles away.
Dammit, FN, Brad was easily the best choice, he was mellow and seemed like a really nice guy. Aarti’s a fucking tool. Her husband is cute though.
Um, I took a second look at that husband of hers… he’s not horrible, he’s not cute. Like Aarti’s Paarti, he’s simply forgettable.
i really thought aarti was going home and was shocked when they chose brad. what a disappointment that was!
Aarti= Aaron (I have a big bald shinny head) Mcargo. They have both been picked to fill a niche. Aarti like Aaron (I have a big bald shinny head) Mcargo will get carried through regardless of how obvious it is. Anyone remember the sudden rue change in Vegas that allowed ‘Big Daddy’ the go through to the finals even though he was by far the worst, but had the easiest challenges.
That and both their names begin with ‘Aa’.
I cannot be more upset about this, Brad had the culinary chops, a well-rounded personality that wouldn’t want to make you rip your hair out (I’m looking at you, Guy Ferry), and the social skills. Aria was the one that needed to go home this week. She has been consistently bad in food and boring in camera and presentation, as the judges SAID THEMSELVES. Doesn’t that mean she SUCKS and needs to get kicked off? I feel like I wouldn’t be able to sit through a show with her. And Tom to me equals another Guy Ferry, another Aaron McCargo, because the winners always end up being “BIG CHEFS” (like his so-called culinary point of view) that just yell in the kitchen and make an unappetizing MESS. Not saying he isn’t a good cook, or that he would be overly-obnoxious, but I think FN needs more variety in who wins this show. Brad, you will be missed. I hope the judges realize their mistake, lock Aria out of the house and throw her bags out the window so you can come back next week.
“Brad had the culinary chops”
Sweet Jesus, the “pro” couldn’t even cook steak. STEAK! Steeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaak. There were no chops. And if there were, I’m sure Brad would’ve undercooked those too.
Since Family Style is already taken perhaps Aria would consider Doggy Style? No, I’m not making fun of her looks. It’s her behavior that gets on my last white nerve. Aria should have been sent packing. Too bad Brad wasn’t wearing Grampa’s lucky hat last night.
I am so pissed! He was my favorite!!!
Way to go FN, you dicked up ANOTHER perfectly good opportunity for a show worth watching. Bobby Flay didn’t want him to win because he would have lost his audience to him.
I love Brad, but I wonder if he didn’t escape a terrible fate via his untimely elimination. FN has a nasty habit of transforming people who are at least moderately likable and talented into terrifying caricatures of themselves. Paula Deen was not always the “HEY Y’ALL” Airbrushed Butter Queen. Rachael Ray was irritating in her early episodes, but her abbreviations and psycho rambling have become more and more out of control. Sadly, everything on FN is motivated by money, and I’m actually really happy that they’re not getting a chance to turn Brad into a brand complete with idiotic catchphrases and overpriced cookware. He’s probably better off elsewhere.
@Mike P Yeah, I know its unlikely (read nearly impossible) that Brad gets a show or anything at all on FN. But… Kelsey got booted off 4th right? And she’s gotten some camera time…
Hmmm… Nah! @Snark_Lady_of_the_Sith is right: cute, talented young guys never get a break on FN.
Ohhh and @Ray: please begin your self imposed exile ASAP LOL! ;)
Brad really got shafted, Aria and Herb should already be gone. If Arrti gets a show it will be the same thing every week some lamb and rice crap my mom cooked while we watch Bollywood movies around the old Dumont. Go Tom.
Herb’s a physco.
These comments are as hilarious as the article. And I fucking love the ones where commenters get all pissed off and cuss a lot. That shit is funny as hell.
But I have a problem. I was once a happy home cook, but now I’m depressed because I can’t articulate my culinary point of view.
Bummer, Chris. Don’t you have any tragedy in your life that you can spin into a POV?
Oh, yeah, anybody catch the “after party” show they run on Cooking Channel after NFNS?
Cute Kelsey and Goober Gertler talk to the night’s loser. I just caught the Serena episode.
I agree with everyone here that Brad should not have gone. And yet you could see it coming.
Tom and Herb did well enough to be safe. And they sure weren’t going to send Aaaaarti home just yet if at all.
So that left Brad and Aria. And Brad went because:
(a) He was looking dangerously good (see also Brianna. Uh, oh! Makes good food. Out! Out!)
(b) They needed to be PC with an equal male/female ratio for the final four
(c) Aria is blackmailing the judges or is a demon from the 7th layer of Hades.
(d) All of the above
I liked Brad. I’m no cook but he made things that had me saying, hey, I’d like to know how to do that. I would have watched. Tom’s the only one I want to win at this point. I would watch his show.
To hell with Aria. I’d rather here Aarti Paarti 50 times in a row than hear “Welcome to Faaaaamily Style” one more time *shudders*
“(b) They needed to be PC with an equal male/female ratio for the final four”
I concur, Jay.
Agreed. The second I saw the bottom two I knew it was Brad leaving because of your point B.
I really wish Herb would have gone home. I can’t understand him. Bob and Susie’s eye candy or not, he’s a hot mess.
He and Aahti Pahti must have gotten too close to Dzintra Dzennis dzuring (dz)taping. All aboard the Bi-Polar Express!
Big Stoner Chef, ftw.
Aww, Brad and his brother were adorable at the beginning. Disappointment at his elimination! :”(
I actually thought Aarti was nice and cute at the start of the show, but shit is she an unchanging totem of culinary boredom. SMILE COYLY, HAVE FLOWER OR BIRD IN HAIR!
Her mannerisms are one of the things which have really turned me from liking her into quite the opposite. She practices the same tired expressions every time the panel comments on her food/performance, and sometimes does it when others are receiving their own judgments from Tusch, Suze and Flay. And then there’s that stupid-ass flower every week. And please, no more Bible talk. Wanna do that, then take your ass over to TBN.
I’m somewhat surprised at how my opinions of the contestants has changed since the beginning of the show. I liked “the two A’s” (Aria and Ms. Two-A) quite a bit at first but now I can’t much stand either of them. I was neutral to Brad, but came around to liking him…and then he was cut. Dumbasses. Could not stand Tom at all, but now I enjoy him, though he really, really needs to lose that “Big Chef” BS and get some lessons in basic grooming. He was the only one who nailed the camera challenge, whereas everyone else fell flat on their faces, with Ms. Aarti Paarti being the worse of the bunch. My opinion of Herb has not changed, though. He’s a ping-ponging mental case and I’m weary of his constant “little fat kid” sob stories.
We had it rated 60/30/10 for Aria, Brad, and Aarti to depart. Looks like they took out Brad a la The Weakest Link, get rid of the best before the end so the weak can survive. Now Aarti can serve tree resin and still win. Nobody left on the show who can cook worth a damn.
We were all hoping for Aria to go home to her bastard child with the touch of stupid – that kid is going to pee the bed until he’s 19 years old.
I have to mention, did anyone else find the ‘cooking for a pretty woman’ thing funny? I can’t remember who said it, but it was about enjoying cooking for Eva Longoria because she is pretty. I couldn’t help but think, ‘Ooh, burn’ at Giada.
I think it was actually Brad who said that.
Sigh. If I was single and anywhere near the vicinity of Brad, I’d want to cook him dinner.
This was a completely bogus panel and they sent the wrong guy home. Aria’s food wasn’t even cooked, her story was WAY too personal (“Hi, this dish reminds me of the time my husband left me.” Jeepers!), and she’s a complete nut-bag who I can’t watch on TV for three seconds, let alone an entire 30-minute TV show about what she cooks for her broken-ass family… And SHE gets to stay?? How on earth could they send Dreamy McBrown Eyes and his cool new “CPOV” packing? It’s pretty much the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever seen on this series. Cutting a cutie-pie traveler who also happens to make really good food isn’t going to help Food Network salvage its 18-34 demographic of moderately hip viewers. What they failed to notice in Brad is that not everyone wants a patronizing mommy-dearest figure as a cooking show host. When I sit down to watch TV, I don’t want to get screamed at, patronized, and subjected to stories about someone’s kids. Brad’s dry charm is much more appealing to me. I hope that, though he was unceremoniously booted from the show, he at least got to be Fogelson’s house-boy. I think that’s what she was sorta angling for anyhow.
After I finished watching this episode, I was so flippin’ mad at Food Network… At first I thought FNH was being a little hard on the show, calling it the worst. season. ever., but now, I have to agree with you. Fail.
Susie, should be so lucky to get a house boy the caliber of Brad. I think her and Tushy are really having a cat fight over “Disturbed Herb, but he has got plenty of personalities for the both of them. I think that Herb really burns Bob and Susie’s flan in a good way!
Completely agree with everything you said. FN must have data that shows the only people who watch are housewives looking for someone to identify with. But maybe the reason they don’t have any hip viewers is because there’s nobody a hip person would want to watch. (The FN is probably out of touch enough that they think Guy Fieri is hip.) They were out to get Brad from the beginning of this episode. His presentation wasn’t that bad. He was still alot easier to watch than Aria or Herb. He forgot to mention “surprise.” Big deal, it was a stupid challenge to begin with. Has any chef in the history of the world every created a dish by starting with an emotion. And they have driven this “tell us your personal story” thing into the ground. Aria this episode was the definition of TMI. Do they honestly think viewers want to turn on the TV and hear about some nut job’s dysfunctional family? Especially when she’s just a glorified home cook making crappy food. And I don’t want to offend anyone, but is it a coincindence that the two women with weight issues made it the furthest. Look how many of the women hosts on FN have weight issues. They must not want to create any jealousy issues for their core audience.
I was really disappointed that Brad was sent home. He is very watchable, cute and cooked food I would like to try. However, I was overall disappointed in his interpretation of surprise and Aarti’s fear. They could have done so much more with the food instead of the story.
Aria….I don’t understand the appeal and why she has stayed so long.
I liked Brad and could dig his passion for food. He did show some spots where he was very personable and funny OFF-CAMERA. Whenever he was on camera he was a train wreck. He was able to write some good stuff to say, but his delivery was god awful. It’s been like that from day one. He sounds like a freakin’ robot. Very dull and unnatural. I’m pretty sure Aria will go home next week anyway so it’s no big deal.
I think Tom has really picked it up. The tuna story was pretty corny but I give him credit for being creative. I know Aarti got hammered for having a weak connection to her emotion but I think pretty much everybody did except for Tom. Brad had surprise and tried to say how surprised he was to make surf-n-turf the first time? Herb’s emotion was melancholy so he talked about how sad he was that he got fat off of Latin food instead of fattening American food? Because all of the food he listed that other kids got to eat was still unhealthy fattening junk. Aria had a decent connection but just forgot to say it in her presentation.
I hope Tom wins. I liked Aarti at first, but her constant self-esteem issues are annoying as shit.
Why in the world is Herb still there??? He should have been gone weeks ago. His food is rarely good and he is a mess on camera. He should have already been gone and Brad should have made it to the finals.
I know that the judges want the players to share their life stories but who wanted to hear Aria’s baby daddy drama??
And I think Tom’s gf totally felt up his man boob. Not that there is anything wrong with that.
I totally agree about Aarti! She has gone from being pleasant to a pain in the ass.
“Tuschman said she “brought the food to life.” Ironically, her mashed potato pizza then called him an asshole.”
Lmfao!
Read Bob T’s. blog. He said the deliberation for this past week went on for four hours, until 3am. Susie was so upset that she asked Bob T. to make the announcement… while Bobby Flay sat there, smug and self-righteous. Flay is making the decisions. It’s all political. He’s the big “money grab” for FN right now and they are all kissing his behind. Flay wanted Brad gone, so Brad was gone.. period, end of story.
In a perfect world, Brad & Tom would be the last 2 finalists…of course, in MY perfect world, they would both be tied down to my bed…
Go Girl!!! Tie down Tom! I’ll Tie down Brad!
I cannot stand Herb. And this coming from a woman who is very fond of Latin men. He’s an emotional mess and I don’t find him remotely charming. He seems desperate. And that shaved haircut does nothing for him either. Please send him packing.
http://www.youtube.com/foodnetwork#p/c/1/1pCBbANVoZ8
^ I love how their recap doesn’t show Aria’s awkward presentation about her marital problems, but exaggerates all of Brad’s “mistakes”. Brad’s presentation was miles better than Arias, as was his food.
http://www.youtube.com/foodnetwork#p/c/1/1pCBbANVoZ8
^ Usually when someone dish is bad enough to rant about for a minute, Bobby, you eliminate that person. Just saying.
i’m with you guys. i was so mad when they send Brad home! i screamed! i can’t believe they’re keeping the whiniest, over-emotional, inconsistent people with absolutely no personality on as the finalists. ridiculous. i may just stop watching and get my info here… but, like all train wrecks, i might not be able to look away.
Maybe if all Brad’s fans stop watching (which will reduce the audience to only fat housewives who can’t cook) fn will give Brad a show anyways. A lot of times a person who is more popular than the winner gets a show anyways..(Like popular contestants on the bachelor, various mtv show, etc.)
*Cough*Adamgertler*Cough*
Brad is hot, why did they remove him? D:
A few comments:
Once again, the challenge here was a total ripoff of a Top Chef challenge.
I found it rather amusing that Susie was showing her inner cougar and was teary when they were announcing who was going home.
Is it just me or did Aarti’s husband look like the guy in the movie Love Actually who traveled to the US to get laid?
I thought it sucked big time that Brad finally got his act together – had a great CPOV, lost the hat, looked hotter than ever, and still got voted off. How what he did was worse than uncooked potatoes boggles my mind. I really think FN lost a gem there. Yeah, he’s a little stiff on camera, but they could have done a show where it was more laidback – the whole culinary journey thing. Think Feasting on Asphalt.
Sorry FN, but you really screwed the pooch with this episode
In what universe is mashed potato pizza a good family dish? Does anyone recall the criticism on a previous season of using two starches? Wish I could remember the specifics so if any of you do, please let me know.
I’ve wanted Tom to win from the beginning and I hope he does since he has improved so much. Brad should not have gone! Aria can’t possibly appeal to anyone. And Aarti, according to the spoiler alert, is the winner? Another program on FN that I will avoid like the plague.
If Arti wins, Susie and Bob should stop worrying about her neediness and start saving up for the Clearasil budget. Why anyone thinks an overweight woman with bad skin could attract viewers is a mystery. She’s got more grease on her face than Paula’s used in the last 2 years.
this was the worst choice the selection committee has made. Brad has much more talent than Aria, and he doesn’t interrupt people when they are talking. I hope somebody reads this and realizes they made a huge mistake. If the winner of this contest doesn’t have more talent than Brad I will not be watching their show!
I’m late to this party but just wanted to comment that I thought Tom’s story was a total rip-off of Michael Midgley on Season 2 of Top Chef. The challenge was to cook for each of the seven deadly sins – Michael had envy (ie, jealousy), and cooked a trout and salmon medley, with some story about the trout being envious of the salmon, blah blah blah. It’s inconceivable to me that Tom didn’t see this and at least sub-consciously draw on it – picking a fish, telling a similar story, etc. He won his challenge as well. I’m going to reserve judgment until I see the last episode (still on my TIVO), but if Tom makes anything resembling a chocolate-cheeto amuse buche, I’m calling blatant theft of intellectual property.
I bet Brad is packing a nice one : )