The Next Food Network Star

[3894]

Yowza, do I love this one.

It's come down to Guy or Reggie. Go here to watch their pilots.

I thought Reggie's "Simply Spectacular" began well. I like him as a person but he lost me at the "girls, girls, girls". It just sounded like a man speaking down to women, instead of a "Let's cook, girlfriends".

Guy's pilot is "Cooking off the Hook". It's meant to appeal to Gen X and Y but it also appeals to an old broad such as myself. I see Guy as a friend who happens to cook really well. He gets my vote.

What do you think?

[XHarryB]

I haven't seen much of the show until last night (no new Grey's Anatomy). I can't decide who I like better. I preferred Reggie's personality, but Guy's food. Though both were decent in all areas.

[tod]

I was waiting for Ms. Lookee-at-my-big-ring to get the heave-ho and when she couldn't time-budget her segment with Julie Chen she finally got it, to my relief. She's Sandra Lee without the warmth.

Alone with the camera, Reggie suddenly got way nelly on us, getting in touch with his inner Carson Kressley and addressing the audience -- and the food -- as "girls." Which I could live with if the food looked promising, but it didn't. (I want to crack Ina Garten in her smug face every time I see her waltzing into her kitchen, but when she makes with the food it looks good and I want to be there and load up a plate.)

Guy, on the other hand, had a kind of brusque approach that was more businesslike than the let's-get-together-and-chat-and-cook approach of most of the other Food TV hosts. I like him.

One vote for Guy.

--t

[3894]

She's Sandra Lee without the warmth.

Best line I've heard in many a moon. Bravo, tod!

Did anyone else start thinking about what to pitch when the contestants went through that exercise?

[The Lovely Mrs. tod]

I thought Guy showed more promise. I was trying to project what Guy and Reggie would be like if they expanded to a full half hour. Reggie, I think, will get rather annoying after 30 minutes. Guy, given the opportunity to expand what he's doing, may be quite entertaining.

I loved his description of Paula Deen as being "intoxicating". Or was that Reggie? At any rate, whoever said it was right.

I vote for Guy.

-TLMt

[XHarryB]

She's Sandra Lee without the warmth.

--t

Sandra Lee has warmth? She always came across as annoyingly phony to me.

I'm thinking you all may be right though. Reggie's schtick will get old, but Guy's food will still be good. May have to send a vote his way.

[tod]

Sandra Lee has warmth? She always came across as annoyingly phony to me.

--t

[3894]

re: Sandra Lee

DoodleDuck explained it well: she's the Food Network's Stepford wife.

I watched her do a brunch menu a few days ago. One of the dishes should have been called Cardiac Arrest. It was frozen hashbrowns (built-in fat) + sour cream (more fat) + shredded cheese (still more fat) + bacon (no comment). Daughter #2 looked at me and said, "Mom, I have tummy cramps just from watching her make it".

[adriennek]

Well, I came on to start this thread but I guess "Great Minds Think Alike"?

tod: Sandra Lee without the Warmth: YOU NAILED IT!!!!!!
(XHarryB - that was the point. Sandra Lee has no warmth and that woman had even less.)

Reggie and Guy were my two top choices so it's hard for me to pick. I agree - Reggie started to get to be a little too much at the end. Ok, you're Sassy. Got it.

Guy just seems like another Emeril or Booby Flay to me. On some levels I like him. He didn't seem to be as annoyling arrogant as Bald Dude, so I'll give him that!

I think Guy will get it.

Adrienne

[The Lovely Mrs. tod]

re: Sandra Lee

DoodleDuck explained it well: she's the Food Network's Stepford wife.

I watched her do a brunch menu a few days ago. One of the dishes should have been called Cardiac Arrest. It was frozen hashbrowns (built-in fat) + sour cream (more fat) + shredded cheese (still more fat) + bacon (no comment). Daughter #2 looked at me and said, "Mom, I have tummy cramps just from watching her make it".

I lurk on another board devoted to food and frequented by foodies. You know what they call Sandra Lee?

Shamdra.

There's MAJOR gossip about her and that show and how she got it and how she keeps it.

-TLMt

[3894]

There's MAJOR gossip about her and that show and how she got it and how she keeps it.

Well, when even my 8th grader was trying to decide if her physique is enhanced ...

[adriennek]

Well, when even my 8th grader was trying to decide if her physique is enhanced ...

Well her show IS called "SEMI-Homemade."

I'm just saying TM/3894

Adrienne

[LeslieM]

Reggie gets on my nerves and gets lost in the kitchen.
Guy needs to develop a tad more but it's clear he's a pro in the kitchen. He gets my vote.

Great lines about "Shamdra" and "Sandra Lee without the warmth". Why can't I ever be clever?

[The Lovely Mrs. tod]

Well, when even my 8th grader was trying to decide if her physique is enhanced ...

Well, I will say she's a trophy wife. Or was, apparently she's being traded in for a new model. And someone very high up at Food Network admitted publically to being smitten with her.

And I think your 8th grader is on the money. Classic mis-direction, it takes your attention away from the slop she's "cooking"...

-TLMt

[3894]

Classic mis-direction, it takes your attention away from the slop she's "cooking"...

So what's up with Giada's deep V-necks? Wobblehead can actually cook.

Me -freakin' - ow. I love this stuff but back to the wannabe stars.

Bald guy had zero appeal. And it was too easy to get him angry.

I thought the Asian girl was terrific. Sorry to see her go.

[tod]

So what's up with Giada's deep V-necks?

I don't see a problem.

Wobblehead can actually cook.

No kidding. Try the parmesan crisps.

--t

[The Lovely Mrs. tod]

I had mixed feelings when the sofrito lady left. I didn't think she was coming across well but I wonder if she might have matured into a good program. Because Food TV's definately got room for her type of cooking.

-TLmt

[Alex S.]

I've caught it a few times but the show hasn't really connected with me the way Top Chef on Bravo has.

From what I've seen I'd send them all packing. If I had to pick I guess I'd go with Reggie but I don't expect either of them to have long successful careers on the network.

[adriennek]

I had mixed feelings when the sofrito lady left. I didn't think she was coming across well but I wonder if she might have matured into a good program. Because Food TV's definately got room for her type of cooking.

I got tired of her fast, actually. ALLL of her food used special ingredients. Just once I would've liked her to tell me where I could get them or what I could substitute to come close to it. She always just said, "my grandmother used this in everything." Uhm, ok.... I've never heard of it. How can I possibly copy this recipe at home?

Just this month, Penzey's magazine had a great example of this. They gave a recipe to make Garam Masala if you couldn't find it in your store or didn't have it on hand already.

I thought that her focus was wayyyyy narrow and it made it hard for me to feel like I could do what she could do.

Adrienne

[stan4d_steph]

I've caught it a few times but the show hasn't really connected with me the way Top Chef on Bravo has.

From what I've seen I'd send them all packing. If I had to pick I guess I'd go with Reggie but I don't expect either of them to have long successful careers on the network.

I've been watching Top Chef too.

[3894]

Stand back! I'm derailing my own thread.

Andrew Cuomo is dating Sandra Lee. My smelling salts, quick!

[The Lovely Mrs. tod]

Stand back! I'm derailing my own thread.

Andrew Cuomo is dating Sandra Lee. My smelling salts, quick!

I had heard that rumor. I liked the first rumor better. Is this confirmed?

Never mind, I just Googled them. THAT'S quite an interesting story there...

-TLMt

[tod]

So Sandra Lee ditched the hubby who grabbed her as a trophy wife for an unnamed-by-me-producer-big-wheel-at-Food-TV and then dumped HIM for Andrew Cuomo?

Geez. I know what I would call her if she was doing this for $25 crack vials, but when you start working at these money levels...

--t

[XHarryB]

I just wish they'd stop refferring to Sandra Lee as a "celebrity CHEF". If she's a "chef" then so are the old ladies giving out samples at the grocery store. The "recipes" are the same, Sandra just has more money and a ridiculous TV show. She's a disgrace to the many truely amazing chefs on the Food Network.

[The Lovely Mrs. tod]

I just wish they'd stop refferring to Sandra Lee as a "celebrity CHEF". If she's a "chef" then so are the old ladies giving out samples at the grocery store. The "recipes" are the same, Sandra just has more money and a ridiculous TV show. She's a disgrace to the many truely amazing chefs on the Food Network.

Oh yeah. They cancelled 'Sara's Secrets' and 'Molto Mario' and they renew Sandra Lee? In the words of the immortal Sheridan Whiteside (a man I'm fond of quoting): "I may vomit".

-TLMt