In all the excitement between Mad Men and Big Brother, I totally forgot about The Next Food Network Star, which anointed its winner on Sunday evening. Needless to say, I wasn’t thrilled with the selection. If for some reason you haven’t heard the results yet, stop reading now.
So the winner of this fourth iteration of Food Network Star was Aaron McCargo, an affable if marble-mouthed gent from Camden, NJ. I have no doubt that what he cooks is delicious, and in the early episodes of the series, I was pulling for him to win. However, about halfway to three-quarters of the way through the season, it became apparent that while I’d totally go to a restaurant of McCargo’s, I’m not sure I would trust him as a teacher or authority figure on the network. He doesn’t even know what a chipotle is for crying out loud!
Lisa, on the other hand, not only seemed to be totally knowledgeable, but her taste level was exactly where I’d like it. BEAUTIFULLY BASIC. Seriously, the Food Network needs more shows in the Ina/Giada/Tyler vein: simple, but skewing upscale and urbane. Instead, it looks like we’ll just be getting another “down home” show, courtesy of “Big Daddy.” Nothing against soul food, but we already have Paula Deen, Sunny Anderson, and the Neelys. Oh well. I guess since last year’s winner, Amy Finley, sort of flamed out, the Food Network decided not to waste time on another upmarket (and viewer selected) choice.
What Aaron does have going for him is plenty of personality  that is, when he’s not making AWFUL, AWKWARD jokes in Vegas or simply staring dead-eyed into nowhere. Sure, on-camera technique takes a while, but Aaron could be downright awful. Then again, Lisa had her share of bombs too. A certain challenge where she cooked silently for forty-five seconds comes to mind. Nevertheless, while Lisa still may have needed a little refinement, at least she could speak clearly. Aaron’s got marble mouth like none other.
Probably the best on-camera person was Adam, but that’s where his appeal began and ended. I trust that he can cook. I don’t trust that he has a depth of knowledge. And I don’t trust that he won’t annoy me after a while. Plus, his whole internet-gimmick show drove me nuts. The idea of fan-interaction with email is cool, but having a webcam up there? It just seemed dumb. Of course, I can see why corporate types would love it. The whole conceit makes them seem forward-looking and advanced. Nevertheless, no use complaining about it because Adam’s pilot never even came close to winning. And how did Bobby Flay only learn about that beer can chicken concept just now? I feel like I saw that two years ago on Ham on the Street, a show which I always enjoyed. Where did it go?
Nevertheless, with Aaron’s tearjerking story about his runaway son, I couldn’t help feeling like he had the sympathy factor. Plus, he had a story: ascending from a rough neighborhood to glory on the Food Network. It’s all very Horatio Algers. Lisa, on the other hand, had only a severe bob, giant collars, and squinty eyes. I guess I can see how that could be a turn-off. But it shouldn’t have been. Ultimately, backstories are nice, but experience is more important. Lisa had the authority that the Food Network execs are always yammering away about. I’d take that over a sob story any day. And I’m clearly not the only one.
What did you think about the Aaron’s victory? Agree or disagree?
this was TOTAL HORSESHIT
aaron was the worst of the lot, and its like susie vogelson doesnt even know the difference between right and wrong.
its so sad.
I would so much rather watch “Cooking Korean Shit with B-Side” than anything from Aaron. And I have to admit, while I hated Lisa on the show I thought she had the best show concept and best pilot by far.
When they didn’t eliminate Aaron after that pathetic Vegas buffet and even more hideous presentation, I knew something was up. They had to put all three to the final round or it would have been more obvious than it was.
I’m with you B; Lisa’s show would have been good. They could have broken her of that squint problem, she didn’t always squint and her food was interesting.
Thank you! I wasn’t the only one who couldn’t understand what Aaron was saying half the time.
Big Daddy?
This is why Bourdain hates The Food Network.
hb
If Adam and Lisa had been more viable candidates, I would be pretty worked up about this. As it was, Lisa was really unlikeable and a complete spaz on and off the camera. I have no doubt she was the best cook, but to watch someone on tv you have to enjoy her and I always secretly wanted her to fail because she was so pretentious (“Look at me! I made this in 4 inch heels!”). Adam, while a little precious, seemed to know nothing about food that wasn’t smoked. So, I’m not outraged that they chose the nice guy. I do agree that downhome cooking is an overdone cooking genre and his show won’t last.
Lisa was robbed of her own show. The premise of this farce was to find the most marketable, skilled/talented chef to have their own show on FN. You would think they would want a successful show not one that people will watch once to see if Aaron stares like a deer in the headlights. I think he is a likable guy but both he and Adam were out matched by Lisa’s talents from the onset. Lisa was squinty and frantic but thats behaviour they can change on camera. Her talent was undeniable. She really was someone I can see in a Ina type role and I would have watched her.
The problem with this show vs. Top Chef is that many of the challenges on TNFNS are stupid. How does making dinner on a train make you a candidate for a tv show about cooking? Unless you plan to gear your show about cooking on a train…
Lisa was robbed but maybe someone will have seen her and decided she deserves a show anyway –
Lisa was robbed of her own show. The premise of this farce was to find the most marketable, skilled/talented chef to have their own show on FN. You would think they would want a successful show not one that people will watch once to see if Aaron stares like a deer in the headlights. I think he is a likable guy but both he and Adam were out matched by Lisa’s talents from the onset. Lisa was squinty and frantic but thats behaviour they can change on camera. Her talent was undeniable. She really was someone I can see in a Ina type role and I would have watched her.
The problem with this show vs. Top Chef is that many of the challenges on TNFNS are stupid. How does making dinner on a train make you a candidate for a tv show about cooking? Unless you plan to gear your show about cooking on a train…
Lisa was robbed but maybe someone will have seen her and decided she deserves a show anyway –
Plain and simple, Aaron won because he is an awesome black dude who will have a show on a network that already has too many generic white people.
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