S11.E01: Food Star Food Festival

[Gbb]

#douchetag

For the win.

I know I'm supposed to hate Matthew, and I do, but I just couldn't get past how ridiculous he is. He's like a little kid dressed up in his dad's suit screaming at anyone who doesn't play along and pretend he's a grown up. That, combined with his utter certainty that he's the smartest guy in the room (and the specialist snowflake that ever snowflaked) and his complete lack of awareness of how he comes across just ends up being more pathetic than anything else.

Momchelle can go any time now. I believe that she literally never spoke without using the word "mom" or "kids." And what was with the condescending "and what did you learn from the judges" crap? Matthew was way out of line in his response to her but she was definitely poking the bear.

So far I really like Jay, Rue, the tallish Italian food truck woman, and Eddie (I could watch him cook healthy food all day long. And if he wanted to drop and give me twenty every now and then, I wouldn't object).

Edited June 9, 2015 by Gbb

[bluepiano]

How is "my mother raised a champion" a straight answer?  It was just more douchitude.

 

Not that it matters a lot, but my memory of the exchange is that when she asked what he learned, he responded by saying something about needing to be more focused. Then she couldn't resist pressing the point and started in with "as a mother let me tell you something." So as I said, as obnoxious as he may be, I don't blame him for snapping at her. She was over the line, and it had elements of kicking someone when they're down. And I thought that saying he was there to learn from the mentors, not another contestant, was legitimate. Oh wait, I forgot. She's a mother of three. Well alright then, her maternal instincts certainly entitle her to offer unsolicited advice whenever she feels like it. Maybe she will start checking the other contestants nails to see if their are clean.

 

Regarding all the food truck owners, because of the relatively low start-up and operating costs compared to a brick and mortar restaurant, many food trucks are owned by people with little or no professional food experience. It's a way for people who love to cook to take a flyer at seeing if they can actually make a living from it. Without having the resume of an experienced chef that you generally need to attract investors for a restaurant. So I think the food truck thing is really in line with the fact that this show can no longer attract people who have a serious professional culinary background.

 

They have no trouble getting those kinds of people for "Chopped," because that's just a one shot deal. Think about it. What person with a successful food industry career would want to put it on hold to participate in this farce of a show, which has a dubious reward even to the person who actually wins the whole thing? Well, if you look at Arnold, the one contestant who does a real food career, I think you get the answer. Someone who lives for attention.

Edited June 9, 2015 by bluepiano

[Surrealist]

One of these days they'll have the contestants (I can't call someone who apparently wants to cook a hashtag a cheftestant) do their presentations privately, so the folks who go later don't benefit from the mistakes and critiques of those who go earlier.  That being said, I still managed to be surprised that nobody volunteered to go first.  You're trying to show these people that you're a star and you try to hide and wait to be called on?  A star would have jumped up and yelled, "Let me show you bitches how it's done."  You're not prepared with a presentation (of course if you actually are, you get criticized for being prepared) that you can whip out on a moment's notice?  What show did you sign up for?

 

Thank you for saying this because, for the life of me, I don't understand how the contestants forget that this competition is set up for its winner to get his/her own cooking show on FN. You're supposed to be fearless about getting up in front of an audience or a camera.

[needschocolate]

I wonder what sort of motherly advice Momof3 was going to give Matthew before he stopped her...

 

"As a mother, let me tell you that you should never skip your ritalin dose when you know you will be under pressure."

 

"As a mother, let me tell you that I am very proud of you for realizing that you need to focus more."

 

"As a mother, let me tell you that you have a little something on your cheek.  Let me spit on this hankie and wipe it off."

 

"As a mother, let me tell you that it is cold outside and you should put on your sweater."

 

"As a mother, let me tell you that you are not getting any dessert until you have cleaned you work station."

 

"As a mother, let me tell you that hash browns and corned beef hash are more important than hashtags."

 

"As a mother, let me tell you that you presentation made no sense."

 

"As a mother, let me tell you that you have no soul and no one loves you." 

[JTMacc99]

Those I like: Sita, Jay (Early frontrunner to me, has a very good on camera appeal), Dom, Eddie (Very impressive!), Emilia, Christina, Rue, Alex

I agree about Jay. The fact that he brings with him the skill of talking to the camera like he is talking to a person in the room is a HUGE advantage.  If that wasn't a fluke, and he can actually show me some fun or interesting things about food with a Louisiana focus to start, I can see him doing well on food TV.  It is unfortunate that he isn't TV pretty, but he does seem to be TV personable.

[rab01]

Gah, I just read that Emilia is a Beauty Pageant veteran.  So she occupies two former contestant slots - Pageant Girl from last year and Ice Queen, of which they seem to have one every season.  She'll be the one Tusch and Susie will tisk at as they send her home for lack of warmth.  I can just see those "dials of doom" now!

 

Speaking of Tusch and Susie, I hope they are more present on screen this season.  I haven't liked how absent they've been the past few seasons.

I just read some of her Q&A on the FN site and it's completely irrational but I hate her so much now:

 

"a beauty pageant veteran with a French culinary degree and a wicked sense of humor",

 

"culinary instructor and software company executive",

 

"Win or lose, this is going to make us stronger in everything we do. Even if we don’t get a show, I know it's just going to make me a stronger chef, a better teacher, even a better mom."

 

Every line felt like the equivalent of the boring interview: Q - "what's your biggest weakness"   A - "perfectionism."

[Wings]

I don't think FN is really looking for someone to have a show.  If they find someone good, of course they will give them a shot.  The agenda is to make money on a realty show for the network. 

 

Amelia will not last long, she gives terrible TV.  She has zero potential and will be out next.

 

I would have loved to seen an Asian contestant.  That is the food I am most interested in cooking/learning these days. 

 

No one other than the girl from Zimbabwe is bringing anything different to the table. 

 

I want to see them ban tomato sauce next season.  

[cooksdelight]

Arnold is Asian, and his Asian cuisine is very different.

[riverheightsnancy]

"As a mother, let me tell you that you have no soul and no one loves you." 

BWAAAHHH!  Very funny. 

[grisgris]

Food truck owners (check)

Food bloggers (check)

Obnoxious villain (check)

SAHM (check)

Resident bitchface (check)

Muscleman (check)

Health food nut (check) -- bonus points for combining with above cliche'

Ethic spin (check) -- I'm ARMENIAN!

Italian wannabees (check)

Underdog quota (check) -- excellent cooks but camera unfriendly

Wildcards/WOW factor (check) -- Drag queen guy

Unkempt "free spirit" (check)

Previous contestant knockoff (check)

Hipster (check) -- see obnoxious villain

 

Yep. Looks like Central Casting did their job again this time.

[Surrealist]

I don't think FN is really looking for someone to have a show.  If they find someone good, of course they will give them a shot.  The agenda is to make money on a realty show for the network. 

 

Obviously, but in theory.  ;-)

[Wings]

Arnold is Asian, and his Asian cuisine is very different.

 

He appears to have some Asian in him but I did not get the message that, that was his focus.  I would love that to be true, though.  I got entertaining and budget food from him, but I could be wrong.  Cheftants remain a blur for me until a few more episodes have aired and they settle into their trip. 

Obviously, but in theory.  ;-)

 

Yeah, duh!  I did a Barbara Walters there, stating the obvious.  Oh god, please noooooooooooo!  I am not old enough to be there.  Pray for me and my dead relatives who are looking down on me.  

[cooksdelight]

Wings707, his parents are Vietnamese, I think, I know is mother is. I posted three of his recipes in a new thread I started for us to collect recipes from this years contestants.

[ari333]

Mathew and his killer eyes..... scare me.

[Surrealist]

Mathew and his killer eyes..... scare me.

 

I'm trying to figure out when his exit will be.

[Bella]

I'm trying to figure out when his exit will be.

 

Not soon enough. He doesn't have the cooking chops to go deep, but I predict they will keep him around for the drah-ma and let him go at about the 2/3 mark.

[Surrealist]

Not soon enough. He doesn't have the cooking chops to go deep, but I predict they will keep him around for the drah-ma and let him go at about the 2/3 mark.

 

I agree with you. I don't think he's going anytime soon, but I suspect he won't end up as a finalist. I'll eat my words if he does.

 

Besides, once he's kicked off, he can sign up to compete on another FN show.

[aradia22]

I'm recapping again. It skews my perspective because I'm watching specifically to make jokes and to find little flaws and magnify them. I picked up on the person going home early in my recap. They set it up with that interview about ignoring the judges' advice. I really dislike Matthew but he'll be good to skewer for a few weeks if he lasts. I find Michelle much more annoying and overrated than they seem to at the moment. I remember Eddie from Masterchef. I wrote my recap last night and I can't remember any of the others right now. We'll see what happens.

[ari333]

Momof3 seems to be rockin that Seinfeldian two face thing. Ykwim? Depending on the lighting or something,

[ivygirl]

Momof3 seems to be rockin that Seinfeldian two face thing. Ykwim? Depending on the lighting or something,

I tuned in a bit late, so when I first saw her onscreen, I actually thought she was Haylie "'Real' Girl's Kitchen" Duff. 

[Aquarius]

I tuned in a bit late, so when I first saw her onscreen, I actually thought she was Haylie "'Real' Girl's Kitchen" Duff. 

 

THANK YOU!  It's been bothering me since Sunday night who Armenimom looked like.  I kept thinking "I know someone who looks just like that!"  I was thinking it was a personal acquaintance and wracking my brains.  But you're right, it's Haylie Duff!  (Not a personal acquaintenance, LOL).

 

My impressions of the bunch, at least the ones I can remember:

 

Louisiana Man, whom I am guessing from all your comments, is named Jay, seems nice enough but on a completely shallow level he reminds me of Lenny, so I just can't go there yet.  My husband loves him though.

 

I wish Suzy Wong was a contestant.  She seems a lot more interesting than Arnold.  Sigh.  He was an early favorite of mine, but I am underwhelmed.  There's still time though.

 

#douchbag has some serious Damian eyes going there!  At first I was thinking he was just some hipster a-hole but man, those looks he was shooting Medusa.  Some scary stuff!  (And hey, Suze, while we're on the subject, I'm guessing that a hashtag tastes like vinegar and water, based on Matthew's presentation).

 

Last season someone in central casting screwed up and brought in Nicole from New Jersey.  I see they've fired that guy and his replacement brought in someone who wouldn't look or sound out of place hanging out with Snooki and the Situation, or cooking for the Sopranos.  This new guy will go far, I predict.

 

Dom is totally "great chef who just struggles with the camera"  cannon fodder.  His redemption arc will last four or five episodes, and he'll try really hard, but in the end they'll sadly let him go because he just couldn't learn to be comfortable in front of the camera. I hope when they let him go they don't mess up the editing and splice Alton Brown in when the judges give their canned speech.  That would be embarrassing.

 

I take it that I'm the only who finds Sita's half black/half Italian schtick sort of offensive.  It's like she's racially profiling and stereotyping herself or something.  She uses it as a label.  I don't like labeling.  Even when people do it to themselves.  Tell me what it means to be half black/half Italian, what are your damn experiences, don't just slap a label on yourself and call it a day.  And yes to whomever said upthread about hating the head bobbing or head weaving or whatever that's called.

 

Aaaand speaking of labels, Armenimom needs to stop.  Like, now.  I get it.  Offspring has emerged from your Armenian womb.  OK.  Move on.

 

Rue seems pretty good.  She's interesting at least.  Eddie is easy on the eyes and I think if he refines his message he'll do okay.  His shrimp looked good.  I don't remember the Sandwich Prince's name but he can go any time as far as I'm concerned.  I think Emilia probably DOES have a sense of humor but it's that jagged dry kind that doesn't come across well in edited sound bites.  "Stepford" was the perfect word for her presentation, and it shows that #douchebag at least has some humor going for him. 

 

The woman who was eliminated, never doubted it would be her after they showed the clip of her stating outright she was not going to listen to the judges.  Yep, she put that noose around her own neck and jumped right off that chair.  Or glowing vulva table as it were.  I'm glad she's gone, too.  I don't think I could watch more of her talking about cooking with all that HAIR not only down, but swept into the front like that.  I just kept mentally screaming "HAIR IN THE FOOD!" during her presentation.  Which is funny, because I noticed a lot of the hosts don't bother tying their hair back while actually cooking, but there was something about that huge sheet of black hair lying over her shoulder that made me think chomping into a bite and dragging out one of those mile-long strands.  Yikes!

 

I'm sure I've missed two or seven contestants.  Overall I'm pretty underwhelmed at this year's crop.  I thought last year's was bad.  I don't know why I even keep watching.

[Mischievious]

 

Louisiana Man, whom I am guessing from all your comments, is named Jay, seems nice enough but on a completely shallow level he reminds me of Lenny, so I just can't go there yet.  My husband loves him though.

I'm glad someone else said this. So many people seem to love him but I seriously got a Lenny vibe from him. Due to the outpouring love for him I didn't want to say anything. I hope I'm wrong though because I do love Cajun food.

[rab01]

I'm glad someone else said this. So many people seem to love him but I seriously got a Lenny vibe from him. Due to the outpouring love for him I didn't want to say anything. I hope I'm wrong though because I do love Cajun food.

He reminded me more of Tom Pizzicca (the runner-up a few years ago who got a show called Outrageous Food), a wholly less threatening mental image so I'm crossing my fingers.

[Aquarius]

I'm glad someone else said this. So many people seem to love him but I seriously got a Lenny vibe from him. Due to the outpouring love for him I didn't want to say anything. I hope I'm wrong though because I do love Cajun food.

 

I hope I'm wrong, too, because I love Cajun food and . . . Lenny <shudders>.

 

I think what reinforced my feeling was when he announced that he's a hugger and declared himself "a big ole Southern teddy bear!"  Hopefully this need to hug, etc. applies to people and pets, and not brisket or creamed corn.  I also tend not to trust people who announce they are huggers.  That has nothing to do with the Lenny similarity.

 

I watched this shitfest OnDemand again last night.  I know.  But there was absolutely NOTHING else on (luv ya, Comcast!).  Here are some highlights I forgot.

 

Bobby:  "He says 'hashag' and I'm like 'WTF'!"  Golden!  This is why I continue to love Bobby even though he's not such hot husband material.

 

The look Giada flashed when someone (I think Suze) commented that she just didn't get the "cheat day" thing.  Like she was reacting to the word "cheat."  Maybe it was just me reading into everything but it looked like someone in editing doesn't like Giada much.

 

Tush saying about Matthew that he's never seen a 22-year-old with such fire in his eyes.  That's literal fire, Tush.  Like in The Omen.

 

Arnold saying "Exhausting" as his one-word description of Matthew's presentation.  I'd forgotten this.  There may be hope for my Arnold love to bloom after all.

 

Dom muttering, "We might have to team up to get rid of this guy" about Matthew.  Too bad the good-chef-bad-camera-presence arc lasts only four shows or so.  Dom might be fun to keep around.

 

And wow, I'd forgotten that Armenimom used "childbirth" as her fourth or fifth word!  Way to just throw that **MOM** thing out there.  I guess it never occurred to her that there are people who might not want to hear that word while trying to enjoy a food-based show.  I really hope that was a one-time thing.

[cooksdelight]

Maybe it was just me reading into everything but it looked like someone in editing doesn't like Giada much.

Watch the commercials. The last still shot they show of Bobby and Giada show Giada in full-on shark teeth mode. It's not a good look.

[GaT]

I think what reinforced my feeling was when he announced that he's a hugger and declared himself "a big ole Southern teddy bear!"  Hopefully this need to hug, etc. applies to people and pets, and not brisket or creamed corn.  

 

 

 

LOL, I just spit my water all over my keyboard.

[leighdear]

FINALLY! 

 

I've been racking my brain all week trying to remember who Rosa reminded me of:

http://www.foodnetwork.com/shows/food-network-star/contestants/rosa-graziano.html

 

It was that stupid niggle in the back of my brain that WOULD.NOT.GO.AWAY.  Finally dawned on me that this could be her mother:

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001689/?ref_=nv_sr_3

 

I know how profound this discovery will probably be to all of you, so I just HAD to share.  *ROFL*

Edited June 11, 2015 by leighdear

[GaT]

It was that stupid niggle in the back of my brain that WOULD.NOT.GO.AWAY. 

Wow, my brain skimmed that the first time I read it & got a big old WHAT???? for a second LOL

[smiley13]

FINALLY! 

 

I've been racking my brain all week trying to remember who Rosa reminded me of:

http://www.foodnetwork.com/shows/food-network-star/contestants/rosa-graziano.html

 

It was that stupid niggle in the back of my brain that WOULD.NOT.GO.AWAY.  Finally dawned on me that this could be her mother:

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001689/?ref_=nv_sr_3

 

I know how profound this discovery will probably be to all of you, so I just HAD to share.  *ROFL*

She reminds me of Kaye Ballard when she was in "The Mothers In-Law."

[autumnh]

She reminds me of Kaye Ballard when she was in "The Mothers In-Law."

 

 

YESSS!!! Now I know not everyone will remember Kaye Ballard...now I want to watch it! lol

[BW Manilowe]

I hope I'm wrong, too, because I love Cajun food and . . . Lenny <shudders>.

I think what reinforced my feeling was when he announced that he's a hugger and declared himself "a big ole Southern teddy bear!" Hopefully this need to hug, etc. applies to people and pets, and not brisket or creamed corn. I also tend not to trust people who announce they are huggers. That has nothing to do with the Lenny similarity.

I watched this shitfest OnDemand again last night. I know. But there was absolutely NOTHING else on (luv ya, Comcast!). Here are some highlights I forgot.

Bobby: "He says 'hashag' and I'm like 'WTF'!" Golden! This is why I continue to love Bobby even though he's not such hot husband material.

The look Giada flashed when someone (I think Suze) commented that she just didn't get the "cheat day" thing. Like she was reacting to the word "cheat." Maybe it was just me reading into everything but it looked like someone in editing doesn't like Giada much.

Tush saying about Matthew that he's never seen a 22-year-old with such fire in his eyes. That's literal fire, Tush. Like in The Omen.

Arnold saying "Exhausting" as his one-word description of Matthew's presentation. I'd forgotten this. There may be hope for my Arnold love to bloom after all.

Dom muttering, "We might have to team up to get rid of this guy" about Matthew. Too bad the good-chef-bad-camera-presence arc lasts only four shows or so. Dom might be fun to keep around.

And wow, I'd forgotten that Armenimom used "childbirth" as her fourth or fifth word! Way to just throw that **MOM** thing out there. I guess it never occurred to her that there are people who might not want to hear that word while trying to enjoy a food-based show. I really hope that was a one-time thing.

I thought it was the guest Judge, the guy from TVGuide, I think, who didn't understand what "Cheat Day" was when it came to food. For some reason, I couldn't believe he didn't know "Cheat Day" means, like, a day each week when you (normally) get to eat anything you want/something specific you want but can't have, instead of following whatever (weight-loss, not medical condition-related) diet plan you're currently on.

[Lura]

Welcome to the "Bobby and Giada Lovefest," in which the two exchange knowing glances to boost the ratings, all the while insisting that nothing is going on.  As one person said, sympathetically, "Awww, they're both lonely."  My point exactly, but must we watch?  Without Uncle Alton there to chaperone and to add his frequent bon mots, this show promises to be my nomination for Most Boring Show of the Season.

 

The one bright spot of the opener was the "natural" gal -- Is she the one who is Italian-Armenian?  Whichever one she is, she had me at hello.  So did the radio man from Louisiana.  Dom stole my heart.  I figure that Matthew's mother is the happiest woman in the country right now with her son out of the house for what she hopes will be weeks.  Oooo, how he grates on the nerves!  He's guaranteed to be around for a while since the FN loves to antagonize us with the losers.

Edited June 12, 2015 by Lura

[riverheightsnancy]

Tush saying about Matthew that he's never seen a 22-year-old with such fire in his eyes.  That's literal fire, Tush.  Like in The Omen.

Laughed out loud at that!   The fire of a 1000 burning suns!

[Calamity Jane]

I'm glad someone else said this. So many people seem to love him but I seriously got a Lenny vibe from him. Due to the outpouring love for him I didn't want to say anything. I hope I'm wrong though because I do love Cajun food.

I mentally tagged him as "this year's Lenny," in terms of personality, but I certainly hope they learned from last year's fiasco and vetted the contestants better.  Withholding judgment for a while.  Don't you think the judges have to be having the same internal conversation about Jay & Lenny?  I wanted to hear one of them say, "Well, he certainly has a way about him, but there's a whiff of Lenny, so....."   

[grisgris]

I saw a commercial for FNS today and it said, "Meet the Finalists" and featured Rue, Arnold and the Louisiana guy.

 

Are there similar commercials with the other contestants or did FN make its annual f*** up by revealing the winners in advance?

[cooksdelight]

No, everyone on the show, all 12 of them, are called "finalists".

[shksabelle]

"MY MOTHER RAISED A CHAMPION."

Yes, Snowflake, I'm sure she said that to you every day which is why you have grown up to be the doucheturd you are today.

Damian from The Omen, indeed!

Oh, and is one of the contestants Armenian? I didn't quite catch that. '-)

[NikSac]

There's a Armenian on the show?  No way... and a Mom... AND a hashtagger?  I never would've known. ha...

 

I found out the local guy I've been rooting for just missed getting on FNS - although I think honestly that might be better for him in the long run.  I think he'll be on FN eventually, or he'll have some other cooking show. He's gotten a lot of really good press recently and his food truck is extremely popular. He runs out of Brussels Sprouts at his bigger events. (who would ever think about a food truck running out of those??)  Part of me wishes he was on FNS right now, and part of me's happy for him because I think he has better things coming his way.

[Clanstarling]

I'm cool with him not wanting to listen to her and maybe even interrupting her to tell her so.  But did he really need to be such an asshole?  I guess this is where I admit my age, but I do believe in not being disrespectful to people older than you unless they are completely disrespecting you...which she wasn't.

I thought she was a bit out of line, myself. Maybe not disrespecting him, but certainly talking down to him (the subtext of "as a mother" is usually "I know better than you"). His response was over the top, which negated any valid points he made. I was raised that respect is earned - which kind of backfired on the person who raised me that way. LOL. But I also believe that being respectful with people is the only way to make yourself heard.  (the old "treat others as you would have them treat you" concept) That being said, I can't wait until he's off of the show. He's unpleasant to watch, which pretty much makes him a no-go for a cooking show host.

 

I thought it was the guest Judge, the guy from TVGuide, I think, who didn't understand what "Cheat Day" was when it came to food. For some reason, I couldn't believe he didn't know "Cheat Day" means, like, a day each week when you (normally) get to eat anything you want/something specific you want but can't have, instead of following whatever (weight-loss, not medical condition-related) diet plan you're currently on.

My take was that they did understand "cheat day" but the food he served was healthy and didn't quite match up to the cheat day concept.

Edited June 13, 2015 by clanstarling

[Wings]

Tush had to say something positive about Matt because they know they have to keep him for drama! 

 

I would have snapped at the mom, too.  Never give unsolicited advice, in general, your children excluded.  And to a peer and competitor from a mom?  Oh good god no. .   He could have handled it better, of course, but she deserved to be silenced.  I am NOT going to like that woman and I don't like Matt either but I want him to stay awhile so I can watch him hang himself.  

[needschocolate]

"MY MOTHER RAISED A CHAMPION."

Yes, Snowflake, I'm sure she said that to you every day which is why you have grown up to be the doucheturd you are today.

Damian from The Omen, indeed!

Oh, and is one of the contestants Armenian? I didn't quite catch that. '-)

 

I think that mothers sometimes realize that their child has issues that will make life difficult for them, and so they overly praise these children in hopes that she builds the child's confidence to the degree the child doesn't realize that no one likes them.

 

I imagine that Matthew came home from school saying that another kid called him an annoying jerk and his mother responded with  "They are wrong, honey, you are a champion!"

[cooksdelight]

I now have "We Are The Champions" by Queen stuck in my head...

[Bella]

I now have "We Are The Champions" by Queen stuck in my head...

 

Me, too.

 

I wish the "warm bodies/there for the drama" types were more plausible contestants. Who would ever cast Armenimom or MattDouche as host of a TV show?

[cooksdelight]

It's a waste of our time and theirs to have clueless people on the show. They must have had incredible audition videos.

[Terrafamilia]

I was surprised that Dom's video was as bad as it was. Did they only get one on-camera take? He must have a bunch of friends and family who have relentlessly pushed him to be on this show. Other than that I don't get his motivation if he's that uncomfortable on the spot in front of an audience.

 

Rosa can come hang out in my kitchen. That is all.

 

How many of the contestants made shrimp dishes at the challenge? My memory may be exaggerating but it seemed like every other one.

 

Rue's POV looks interesting. I've been watching Siba's Table on the Cooking Channel and have enjoyed it so having a look at the cuisine of southern Africa from a broader perspective could be a winner.

 

I, too, have wondered if Matthew has ADHD. My one-word description of his presentation would be fullofhimself. Matthew, child prodigies are only prodigies as long as they are children. You are no longer a child.

[SpottedCoachDog]

I DVR'd this and just watched. I scared the cats with my "Oh, Hell, nooooooooo!!!!" when I recognized that douchekebab Matthew from CTK. I know it's standard reality show bullshit to cast somebody so immensely unlikable that everybody else seems charming in comparison. But this guy makes me want to spork out my own eyeballs. Hey, Food Network.... #makeitgoaway

[latetotheparty]

"MY MOTHER RAISED A CHAMPION."

Yes, Snowflake, I'm sure she said that to you every day which is why you have grown up to be the doucheturd you are today.

Damian from The Omen, indeed!

Oh, and is one of the contestants Armenian? I didn't quite catch that. '-)

 

Right?  Who says shit like that?  He's like the Amway salesman of cheftestants.

[latetotheparty]

Tush had to say something positive about Matt because they know they have to keep him for drama! 

 

I would have snapped at the mom, too.  Never give unsolicited advice, in general, your children excluded.  And to a peer and competitor from a mom?  Oh good god no. .   He could have handled it better, of course, but she deserved to be silenced.  I am NOT going to like that woman and I don't like Matt either but I want him to stay awhile so I can watch him hang himself.  

 

This.  Matthew was an asshole but she was a concern troll and that's so condescending.  Can't wait to see the back of both of them.

[candall]

Plus I hate it when they have to remind you of their self-created nickname too.

I thought her two ethnic foods combo was an interesting "POV" (heh) but I won't be able to watch this show if she says "My name is Sita so in the kitchen they call me Mamacita" a dozen times in every episode.  And it seems likely that she will.

 

Maybe I'm having flashbacks to Survivor, when I was driven insane by everyone calling Carolyn, the non-20 year old woman, "Mama C."

 

Anyway.  The cast is fairly distinctive, with some good guys and some villians, so why did I keep falling asleep?  Seriously, I had to start over and FF to the successively later points where I had drifted off, on five separate occasions.  Was anyone else affected by the subliminal lullaby hidden in the audio?

[Fostersmom]

I just saw a promo with little Mr. Douchecanoe tells Alex Guarnaschelli she's a "beast, but in a good way" and the look on her face is priceless. I would love to see her beat the everliving snot out of him.