S10.E02: Please Try This At Home

[ModernWhimsy]

Someone's talking head mentioned how butcher girl had that retro or quirky thing going on that people liked....isn't this a broad assumption? Retro rad version 2.0 and homage to the offshoots.....they have tried to sell this over and over but no one is buying it. Taking classics and making them modern.....blah blah blah With A Twist! I'm just so over the forced POV.

Can you see the current lineup on FNS?!!

Giada - empty and cold toothy delivery. Unfriendly TV face. TV friendly body.

Bobby- grimaces a lot. Cold and stern and bored. Borders on abrasive.

Alton - king of abrasive. Aloof, condescending and dismissive.

[jumper sage]

Is that Loreal woman trying to do do Lucy Ricardo look or something?

 

 

 

THAT's who she reminds me of!

 

I think she looks like Rosie the Riveter.

 

I am caught up in yet another season of this show.  I promised myself I wouldn't.  Oh Alton, you are such a badass.  What a douche.  Bobby is ok and Giada is just trying to hard.

Edited June 9, 2014 by jumper sage

[cattykit]

I'm watching reruns of Alton's late lamented Feasting on Asphalt.  Now there's a P.O.V.

 

Somehow I get through Top Chef without having every little cheffie term explained to me.  If Christopher would just tone down the air of superiority, he might be very, very good.

 

Has Giada added more teeth? Weird.

 

Nah, they just seem like more in the light of the twin globes.

 

How anyone has gotten on this show at this stage without having watched every previous challenge and rehearsed, rehearsed, rehearsed???  Why do they always seem surprised by being asked to a) cook, b) speak on camera, and c) cook and speak at the same time?

[picklesprite]

 Why do they always seem surprised by being asked to a) cook, b) speak on camera, and c) cook and speak at the same tim

Potential contestant interview:

 

"Have you ever watched 'Food Network Star'?"

"Nope, but I love 'Survivor.'"

"Ever spoken on camera?"

"You mean, like, when I'm making vids of the kids at home? 'Put the cat down.' I might say that."

"Can you cook and speak at the same time?"

"I expect I could, if I could cook."

"How do you feel about cowboy boots?"

"Got nothin' against them, I guess."

"Great! You're in. Costuming is down the hall."

[smiley13]

I do have to wonder how a person ever got on this show without on camera experience.  Don't they have to submit an audition tape?  

 

If I were a person who was serious about this show, I would have watched the last few seasons, took notes on what type of challenges were included, and practiced in front of a camera repeatedly.

[J-Man]

 

My husband and I call it The Glowing Vulva of Culinary Knowlege

Funny, that's my nickname for Giada.

 

They have too many people with similar names this year: Chris and Christopher; Lenny and Kenny.

 

Loreal seems like she could be the southern (US) version of Nadia from Bitchin Kitchen, but she needs more personality.

[leighdear]

Christopher, the so-called "expert".  Claims New Orleans, but isn't from there, just works there now. Yes, for some big names, but that doesn't mean much on TV.  And if he's such a current hot shot, why did he take the time to be on this show?

 

My problem is when the judges were saying that he uses the buzzwords & terminology so people will feel he's an authority.  I get that from Iron Chef, where REAL master chefs talk the way they do in a professional kitchen. 

 

I don't see him lasting long in the competition. I think he just wants to be on TV.

Edited June 10, 2014 by leighdear

[jackjill89]

I am convinced they only want stereotypes. I don't think they really have any idea what their viewers want. They make a lot of assumptions. You know there have to be a lot of people who audition for the show that have solid POVs and practice. If they don't fit in one of their pre-determined stereotypes they are out of luck.

[Pepper the Cat]

I am amazed that Giada let her stud muffin go so early in the game. I figured he'd be around forever.

[SecretHaze]

I could never watch a show hosted by Lenny - I don't care if he's the most comfortable on camera or not.  That schtick is so grating, and borderline offensive -- "Of course, the little lady is going to want a salad!"  Of course.  Ladies only eat salad, while big manly men like meat, amirite?!

[gryphon]

I did like Lenny tonight, or Chuck Wagon as gryphon's guy called him.   Emily? Emmy?  the one with the NPR voice. zzzzz.

Edited June 10, 2014 by gryphon

[heebiejeebie]

 

I could never watch a show hosted by Lenny - I don't care if he's the most comfortable on camera or not.  That schtick is so grating, and borderline offensive -- "Of course, the little lady is going to want a salad!"  Of course.  Ladies only eat salad, while big manly men like meat, amirite?!

 

 

Yeah I saw a few minutes and was stuck with the image of Guy Fieri mounting that Ree "Reads Straight from the Can" Drummond and Lenny the result.  The only show I'd watch with Lenny is "Trying to Butcher an angry Bull with a Nail File in a large open field"

[Kromm]

I hate that Lenny can actually cook, and actually talk, and yet feels he needs to look and in some ways act like a total clown just to fill this show's insatiable maw that needs to be fed with "a point of view".  We all know that's why he's dressed like a cartoon version of a cowboy.

I think I really want Jersey Girl to win.  She's attractive, can actually cook, and seems genuine and likable.  She's got a bit of boring going on, but I think that's only by Food Network Star standards, which probably would prefer her acting like Snooki, so she has a "character".

For my personal Jersey girl reasons I am loving Nicole.  Normal sized hair, normal manicure, normal makeup, utter lack of a "Joisey" accent, tacky jewelry and animal prints - she's like the NJ people I actually live with!  Go Nicole!

Bingo,  She's not a stereotype.  Which is why she's doomed (even though she seems like the real deal in all of the truly important ways).

I predict Loreal will learn fast and get better and better every week, but even she is going to have to race to catch up with Lenny now.

My problem with her is that her "act" seems just as calculated to me as the Cowboy's is.  I suppose we have to accept that it's the only way to win this show, and that these people are actually SMART for seeing that and bending to it, so I can't totally blame either of them, but on another level it [pun intended] chaps my ass that someone has to dress and act like Roy Rogers, or Rosie The Riveter to stand a chance on this show.

Edited June 10, 2014 by Kromm

[backformore]

on another level it [pun intended] chaps my ass that someone has to dress and act like Roy Rogers, or Rosie The Riveter to stand a chance on this show.

 

So are you saying that "Roy Rogers"  and "Rosie the Riveter"  are NOT culinary points of view?  

[Kromm]

So are you saying that "Roy Rogers"  and "Rosie the Riveter"  are NOT culinary points of view?  

Well, I guess there's this... (not that many of them exist anymore)

 

[smiley13]

The hair product does not remind me of Rosie the Riveter.  Back in those times, ladies were not all "inked" up.  I don't know what act she is trying to pull but boy is she irritating.  If she keeps reminding us she is a butcher, she may be the Debbie "I'm Korean" Lee of this season.

[cooksdelight]

I am convinced they only want stereotypes

So am I. I know a guy who's good looking, a great cook, and he's got TV experience doing morning news segments where he shows viewers how to cook something. He's applied to this show multiple times, I cannot figure out any other reason for why they don't pick him.

If Pageant Girl is going with a Date Night POV, I am going to start counting how many episodes she gets by with this before someone mentions "Uh, dear, that was Damaris' gig last season."

[TiffanyNichelle]

I'm glad Luca left because every time I saw him I thought "my name is Luka, I live on the second floor" and man that is just a downer for a frivolous reality cooking show.

[Intuition]

 

I think she looks like Rosie the Riveter.

 

Hah, I called her that last week!  Loreal is definitely this season's "Retro-rad".  They're making us love her now.  I'm waiting for the moment they find something wrong with her just to get the audience all behind her.  Man, I could write these things by now, LOL.

 

As for Luca, I think he was a fake contestant, which is one reason he went home so early and seemed to be completely out of his depth.  Perhaps they put him in the lineup for eye candy, but also someone not at all qualified and easy to send home in the first couple of weeks.  Perhaps it was just me, but I think even his accent was faked.  Perhaps he was born in Italy but came to the U.S. when he was a kid so he can fake the Italian accent very well.  When he was asked questions and gave only one word answers his accent totally disappeared.  I am used to hearing people with Italian accents and boy, did that stick out like a sore thumb to me!  I paused it and played it over for Mr. Intuition every time and he thinks I might be right that he was putting on a fake Italian accent and that when he only had to speak one word he didn't "turn it on".

[Kromm]

The hair product does not remind me of Rosie the Riveter.  Back in those times, ladies were not all "inked" up.

Putting aside that one issue (although remember, Rosie the Riveter was not the same as a typical lady back then but instead an aspiration of factory working women), there's the kerchief in the hair, a very similar haircut, similar makeup, and frankly an expression that I could envision on Loreal's face....

 

[RealityGal]

I like Lenny. I would like him a whole lot more if he toned down his wardrobe. I find it hard to take him seriously with the Rhinestone Cowboy gear on, but he's charming and can cook. I don't find him to be like the pie guy at all. Pie guy couldn't cook his way out of a paper bag and what they found charming about him I found incredibly smarmy.

The man had on a neckerchief secured with a napkin holder around his neck.  yeah, he could take that down a couple thousand notches.

 *shudder* pie guy.....the mere mention of his name makes me want to hit someone in the face with a pie.  It actually makes me want to hit pie guy in the face with a pie.

Conspiracy theory: Giada pushed to get the others to vote Luca off so she could start fooling around with him without any conflict of interest issues.

All i know is that they have the formula off again.  You don't get rid of oddball first and then incredibly cute foreign exchange type who loves his grandmother.  You just don't do that.  You get rid of that boring girl with the flat voice first, listen, farm first with a bedtime story voice isn't going to set the food world on fire.  Or, you get rid of pageant girl first, just to show 'em you mean business, and you won't have any cutesy wutesy crap on the show!  Then you get rid of Kenny, or even bearded Cuban guy because they are just "meh."

 

Normally oddball doesn't get sent home first, even if she is serving up mudpies, come on now!

I am pulling for Kenny because FN does not have any Asian chefs excepting Moriomoto on Iron Chef.

 

I feel into almost this exact trap with Project Runway.  I just wanted an AA woman to win because it hadn't happened before. But they always had an AA woman on who just wasn't right, or her stuff wasn't quite right, or her attitude was just awful.  When they finally did crown an AA female winner, it was truly someone who was objectively talented, with a great attitude, who I thought was the best designer.  I think PR made a good decision to put talent before political correctness, and I think maybe you'll feel the same once an asian who is the best contestant wins.  I don't think Kenny is it, but he may be in the running for "most confounding eyebrows"

I agree FN needs some more asian representation but I can't pull for Kenny. I can't even vouch for his asian-ness because a typical decent asian home cook knows their way around the various uses of corn starch in asian cuisine. Baffling.

Bye Luca! The objectification was amusing since it's a staple of all reality shows. Big boobs, blonde hair, white teeth, big muscles, ripped abs...women and men don't really escape it either way. I'm pretty sure people who are cast in the object role....know it.

If Aryen went back in line and thanked Lenny for helping her out, would FN show it?

 

that whole thing just rubbed me the wrong way.  She should have given him some sort of recognition, so I hope she did and we just didn't see it.

 I need to see just how big a belt buckle can be...the one he had on last night needs its own zip code, or maybe even its own show.    I want to see him every week get more and more wild, and then maybe even come out one week and do a type of Brokeback Kitchen show.  

John Oates of Hall & Oates fame once had a cartoon about his mustache.  Oh the mustache went on adventures, saved the day, I think it flew off his face when he fell asleep and saved the world.  I automatically thought about that cartoon when I read your comment.

[SusieQZie]

I have to say, this season (all two episodes- haha) has been pretty boring. While I have no favorite, I do have a fun story with Ruben. During the show, I tweeted that all the contestants are annoying. He tweeted me back "that sucks." Anyway, we exchanged a few tweets. He seems pretty cool. 

[Aquarius]

 *shudder* pie guy.....the mere mention of his name makes me want to hit someone in the face with a pie.  It actually makes me want to hit pie guy in the face with a pie.

 

You got that right.  Only I think it's spelled "pah."

[RealityGal]

You got that right.  Only I think it's spelled "pah."

You're right - my bad.  I had been trying to put pah behind me, but I disrespect delicious pie when I couple it with pah guy.  If food network wants to make up for pah guy, I would suggest a show where once a week I kick pah guy in the nuts and then hit him in the face with a pah he made.  We could call it something kitchy like "pah to nuts"  even better would be if he only thought he was gonna get hit in the face with pah, but then BAM! I kick him in the nuts too!

[cooksdelight]

They are re-running this episode now, and I'm able to pay a little closer attention than I did the other night. 15 minutes in and I'm already sick of Pageant Girl. WHY are they shoving her down our throats? Is she the winner? I don't want to see her on TV, she can't teach me anything and she's ditzy as hell, in my opinion.

Lenny, on the other hand, can lead me to the promised land of tumbleweeds and cow patties. :) I hope he's learned his lesson to stop helping someone else and expecting them to turn around and give him credit.

[Kromm]

You got that right.  Only I think it's spelled "pah."

And the last part is "stahl" (unless you go with the other nickname, "Pie Hole"--as in "shut your pie hole, Rodney!")

[mlp]

So far Lenny is my favorite.  He does have a shtick but I think it's an "honest" shtick rather than something he came up with to be on TV.  He works on a ranch and sometimes cooks from a chuckwagon.  I'm guessing that his costume and persona are part of his job on the dude ranch and have become part of who he is.  I'm also inclined to think that he's genuinely a nice guy. 

 

I might like the Cuban guy but his beard is too long for his face and looks creepily biblical IMO.  I disliked Loreal immediately because she reminds me of Sara from Top Chef whom I couldn't stand.  I also don't care for Kenny but I like pageant girl least of all.  She looks pretty until the camera closes in and you see all the makeup or they show her in profile which isn't attractive at all.

[Kromm]

So far Lenny is my favorite.  He does have a shtick but I think it's an "honest" shtick rather than something he came up with to be on TV.  He works on a ranch and sometimes cooks from a chuckwagon.  I'm guessing that his costume and persona are part of his job on the dude ranch and have become part of who he is.  I'm also inclined to think that he's genuinely a nice guy. 

No real cowboy dresses like that.  

 

The only people who I can think of who do would be people specifically doing it for tourists (which if he actually works on a Dude Ranch is I suppose possible).

[mlp]

 

No real cowboy dresses like that.

 

No, of course not.  I don't think he's presented himself as a real cowboy.  He's said he's a chef who works on a ranch and sometimes cooks from a chuckwagon.  I've just assumed it's a dude ranch and his costume is part of it.

[RealityGal]

 

 

No real cowboy dresses like that.

No, of course not.  I don't think he's presented himself as a real cowboy.  He's said he's a chef who works on a ranch and sometimes cooks from a chuckwagon.  I've just assumed it's a dude ranch and his costume is part of it.

 

But I think we can all agree that its time to get rid of the neckerchief held together with a napkin ring around the neck.  Can we all at least agree on that?

 

Although, on another note, I think there is something odd about Lenny's teeth, at first I was so busy focused on the sequins and the buckle and the hat and the lasso, but there is something going on with his chompers.

[phoenix780]

They are re-running this episode now, and I'm able to pay a little closer attention than I did the other night. 15 minutes in and I'm already sick of Pageant Girl. WHY are they shoving her down our throats? Is she the winner? I don't want to see her on TV, she can't teach me anything and she's ditzy as hell, in my opinion.

 

I don't think she's the winner.  I think she's...I can't think of a metaphor, but I think she's there to absorb viewer hatred so the other contestants stay relatively clean as they narrow them down.  Plus she gives them the facial expressions they need for an exciting moment to use in commercials.  Nobody else seems all that excited/thrilled/shocked by every little thing that happens.  They need someone who is, at least for now.

 

When she's cut in a few weeks it'll be a huge relief, which gives us happy energy to get through to the end.  And there won't be enough time for us to generate passionate hatred for anyone else remaining so we'll likely be OK with the outcome ("At least it's not pageant girl...").  That's my guess, anyhow.

[Lamb18]

You're right - my bad.  I had been trying to put pah behind me, but I disrespect delicious pie when I couple it with pah guy.  If food network wants to make up for pah guy, I would suggest a show where once a week I kick pah guy in the nuts and then hit him in the face with a pah he made.  We could call it something kitchy like "pah to nuts"  even better would be if he only thought he was gonna get hit in the face with pah, but then BAM! I kick him in the nuts too!

The pah Stephani on Masterchef would work just right for you - blueberry pah with pecans in the crust and pecans in between the lattice-work.  If that's not "pah to nuts" . . . Plus it was a rotten pah - she was sent home for it.

[cattykit]

 

No, of course not.  I don't think he's presented himself as a real cowboy. 

It looks like he's modeling the Austin Scarlett Urban Cowboy collection.  Enough, already.  Once to make his point, and then he should have stopped.

[cooksdelight]

I almost expect Lenny to come out as we near the finale on a white horse, plug in his outfit and we'll hear Willie Nelson wailing "Midnight Rider" in the background. :)

[Neurochick]

I agree. I like his personality & he seems to know his stuff cooking wise, but he needs to tone down the schtick. I also hope that he realizes helping your competitors is stupid, when he gave what's-her-name the idea, I just wanted to scream RAAAAAACE!

 

There is something about Lenny that bothers me, like he's probably a douchebag in real life.

 

I think he was in a no win situation when he gave that woman the idea (and she didn't have to take it either, so maybe she knew and wanted confirmation).  Had he said no, some people would have thought he was a douchebag who'd do anything to win.  The last thing I want to see on my TV is a jerk who'd screw anybody and anything to get a show on Food Network, a show which will probably last one season.  So he had no choice but to give her an answer.  Besides, according to the judges, Lenny is a better cook than Aryen so why should he worry?

 

To me Aryen doesn't stand a chance because IMO the judges probably don't know what to do with a black woman who can speak several languages and isn't "sassy."  

 

The difference between Damaris and Luca, to me, is that I can understand what Damaris is saying. Anyone can be taught how to tone it down, but if you can't speak clear English, you ain't gonna make it on TV 'round here in these parts. :)

 

Maybe something's wrong with me but I had no problem understanding Luca; I usually watch TV with the closed captions on, but I don't watch FNS with them on and I had no problem understanding Luca.

Edited June 14, 2014 by Neurochick

[chessiegal]

 

a show which will probably last one season.

 

I can only remember one winner that only had 1 season - Amy Finley, and that was her choice. Justin Warner, with 1 show is an anomaly, because Mr. Smarty Pants didn't want a 6 daytime show season.

[RealityGal]

 

To me Aryen doesn't stand a chance because IMO the judges probably don't know what to do with a black woman who can speak several languages and isn't "sassy."

 

I feel like this might be a little unfair.  I feel like they are giving her a shot because they cast her at all.  You know that in any reality show competition you have a lot of those in the "usual suspect" categories competing/sending in tapes.  If they really wanted a "sassy" black woman, they could have cast her...heck, they could have borrowed the casting types from any one of the Gordon Ramsay shows.  

 

I think they would love to have her doing better, Carla from TC has had great success being a non sassy black woman who is a little quirky and nerdy.  I think the Food Channel would like someone who isn't a stereotype of a black woman. However, it seems as though her food is gross and thats whats holding her back.

[Kromm]

There is something about Lenny that bothers me, like he's probably a douchebag in real life.

I keep saying to myself "Why does a James Beard Nominee NEED to pretend he's Roy Rogers anyway?"  I will say this, his audition video mentions Beard, but I can't find any reference to anyone with the last name "McNab" on the 2012, 2013 or 2014 nominee lists.

 

Nevertheless it does appear he does the Cowboy shtick off the show too.  It's on his website (and it's older content):  http://www.cheflenny.com/

[RealityGal]

I keep saying to myself "Why does a James Beard Nominee NEED to pretend he's Roy Rogers anyway?"  I will say this, his audition video mentions Beard, but I can't find any reference to anyone with the last name "McNab" on the 2012, 2013 or 2014 nominee lists.

 

Nevertheless it does appear he does the Cowboy shtick off the show too.  It's on his website (and it's older content):  http://www.cheflenny.com/

If his daily shtick includes "lassoing the lovely ladies" I won't be able to handle it.  It will be too much.

[ramble]

He can't lasso her until she adjusts herself though.

Edited June 15, 2014 by ramble

[Neurochick]

I feel like this might be a little unfair.  I feel like they are giving her a shot because they cast her at all.  You know that in any reality show competition you have a lot of those in the "usual suspect" categories competing/sending in tapes.  If they really wanted a "sassy" black woman, they could have cast her...heck, they could have borrowed the casting types from any one of the Gordon Ramsay shows.

 

 

Nope, I don't think it's unfair, to me, it's the truth.  When it comes to black women on reality TV, Carla unfortunately is the exception, while women like Sherri Shepard and that woman on "The Talk" are the rule.  If you're a black woman, TV wants you to be "sassy."  If you're not, they accuse you of being "inauthentic."  

[RealityGal]

Nope, I don't think it's unfair, to me, it's the truth.  When it comes to black women on reality TV, Carla unfortunately is the exception, while women like Sherri Shepard and that woman on "The Talk" are the rule.  If you're a black woman, TV wants you to be "sassy."  If you're not, they accuse you of being "inauthentic."  

But if the show didn't want to give a "real" black woman a chance, they wouldn't have even cast her, IMO. There are plenty of stereo typically "sassy" black women in every genre of reality TV clamoring to get on a show, they could have skipped Ayren's (sp?) tape altogether, especially since she apparently doesn't have a lot of formal training in the kitchen.

 

Dom Streater who won PR isn't a "sassy" black woman.  While I can agree that a lot of the time there is a stereotype, I think its starting to open up beyond that.  Carla's success would be something that another reality show would want to mimic, especially one like FNS.

[Kromm]

I think there are ways to be "sassy" without being an ass/ignoramus/arrogant twit and that seems to be where the casting falls down.  It's like they go on a grand search to find people without humility or self-reflection. Then again, that's true for reality show people ALL AROUND and not just "sassy black women".  It's more noticeable with those folks, because TV loves to cast to a "type", and I can't help but feel there's still a generation of casting agents lingering who's picture of "strong black women" came from 1970s sitcoms, where that means they scowl a lot, talk loud, and are bossy (because that's what TV did, even back then--magnified SLIGHTLY true things into hyper-reality, leaving behind just the exaggeration).

[RealityGal]

He can't lasso her until she adjusts herself though.

 

That sounds like the rootin' tootin' way to do it, after all you don't want the little lady to have a nip slip if you're trying to lasso her.

Edited June 16, 2014 by RealityGal

[ari333]

That sounds like the rootin' tootin' way to do it, after all you don't want the little lady to have a nip slip if you're trying to lasso her.

 

Hee. I hope he gives her time to digest her obligatory salad first.

[RealityGal]

Hee. I hope he gives her time to digest her obligatory salad first.

 

Well - you have to consider that the little lady is gonna get such a case of the vapors being around a such a manly rootin' tootin' son of a gun, with his big' ol' hat and his itty bitty pastel pink neckerchief that she won't even be able to eat that salad.  

 

The food is really for show - she is probably going to need smelling salts.

[Padma]

Lenny made me laugh when he whispered to Alex, "Don't worry, I'm sure you did fine."  If that's typical of his sense of humor, I'd watch his show.

 

He was so off-putting Week 1 with his Big Arrival, lasso demonstration, the watermelon size belt buckle, hat--every possible cliché--that I couldn't wait for him to leave. But...I must admit, he's kind of growing on me as he seems to not take the show all that seriously. If the cowboy thing is a complete OTT contrivance to avoid looking like a nondescript, overweight mid-30s guy with thinning hair...well, it's working to make him memorable after all, so kudos to him for psyching out the show.

 

He gets points again every time they show Bobby and Alton eating his food because I think their reactions are pretty genuine and they do seem impressed.

 

I was glad to see Luca go. He was pretty in an I've-had-myself-made-over-as-an-adult-way, but brought absolutely nothing else to the show. He seemed pleasant but bland, and couldn't cook. Next!

 

Sarah is getting a lot more on camera time than others. I hope this is because she's getting the villain edit not because she wins. The judges don't seem to be buying what she's selling (pageant-y "charm") so that makes her schtick more entertaining. I guess she's filling the Damaris spot but without the snarkiness.

 

I kind of like the black woman (sorry not to remember her name) because she's got an "international point of view". That and healthy cooking always get my interest and, as usual, get short shrift on this show (yes, vegetarian, too, but... we all know how that winds up--plus they usually find the worst "vegetarian" cooks. Kind of like the "healthy food" cook last week who made a version of BLT, kept the bacon and left out the tomato!)