the petite pig

who won the next food network star?

i came into work this morning and checked my typepad account and saw that my hits were through the roof.  "huh?" i thought, as i haven't posted a new entry for a little while now (my move to san francisco along with trips to target and bed, bath & beyond have taken over my life!) but then i realized, last night must have been the finale of season 3 of the next food network star.  as someone that lived in a tivo-less house and now lives in a tv-less apartment, i have missed the last 4 episodes.  however, my cousin amy was kind enough to catch me up on last week's melodrama with our mr. jag.  i still haven't the seen the episode but from the sound of it, it seems that it was pure reality-tv exploitation.  all of that could have easily been edited out but that would have been too easy.

anyhow, so i've restrained myself from checking out who actually did win season 3 on the food network site.  i only found out that the two women were left (finally, a woman!) when the ladies from last season (beth, carissa, evette and i) started an email chain discussing our thoughts on the show.  i was a bit surprised that it was the two women left (nothing against either of them) as the network already has a "rory" and an "amy" (i.e. there are already too many caucasian women on the network, no?).

so, you tell me . . . who won?  and if nobody tells me, i'm sure i can find out somehow, but it's just more fun hearing all you nfns viewers' opinions.

my take on season three of "the next food network star"

i'm sure a lot of you caught the premiere of season three of "the next food network star" this past sunday. i didn't plan on watching at first as my battle wounds from season two are still somewhat raw. but my curiosity got the best of me, and i found myself plopped on my couch in front of the television set sunday night. this time, the network managed to dish up eleven new victims as opposed to just the eight we had in our season, and i have to say, i am super, super relieved i sent in my audition tape for season two and not three.

although the show definitely has become more "glammed" up in each subsequent season, it has grown into a completely reality tv-tainted monstrous mix of "top chef" meshed with "real world." while the eight of us from season two had our own studio apartments in chelsea, season three's finalists have been subjected to bunk-bed accommodations. personally, i'd like to leave all bunk-bed memories to my days in college. and as for being videotaped in my sleeping quarters, i'd like to leave that reserved for special intimate occasions only. i highly doubt this new living arrangement had any thing to do with production budget but rather a desire to drum up a new dramatic edge for the show. we'll just have to wait and see what kind of "real world" drama breaks out . . .

season three has definitely entered the realm of reality television, and by doing so, it's departed further and further from the original purpose of the show. i found myself thinking this a lot during season two: "what the hell do half of these challenges have to do with being a cooking show host on the food network?" i'd like to see how half of food network's current hosts fair on most of these challenges. i'm sure most of them would find them incredibly difficult and completely irrelevant to their jobs. season three will no doubt deliver even more contrived challenges that have nothing to do with being a cooking show host. but it's all about good tv, right?

and so i endured the pain of the first hour of the two premiere. i empathized dearly with the eleven new finalists. i've been in their shoes. i can share their excitement but i can also share their pain and absolutely anxiety. it ain't easy folks. so all of you on television without pity, try to be nice and give 'em a break. i'm still trying to get up the guts to watch the second hour (i couldn't continue after the cake challenge). hopefully i'll make it through the rest of the season and get to see what lucky individual will be crowned the next food network star. but then again, guy fieri will always be the original king in my book.

the food network was nice to give us season one and season two folks a little plug, so check out where we are now.

you know what i think. now i want to hear what you think about season three.

another season, another seven victims

for all those food network viewers out there, you've probably already seen the commercials .  .  . yes, i cannot believe that it's been almost a year since i sent in my audition tape last october, but the food network is bringing "the next food network star" back for a 3rd season.  if you think you've got game in the kitchen, get that camera out and show those casting directors what you're made of cause you never know what might happen.  hmm . . . maybe even i'll have to give it another go.