Tonight was the most disappointing episode of the Next Food Network Star I have ever seen. Nikki Dinki - food blogger and YouTube online chef - was eliminated for the most baffling of reasons. Alton said she lacks "food authority." And Rodney is a food expert??? Nikki didn't know what a pilaf was, and Rodney's food was undercooked and tasteless. Rodney calls himself "the Pie Guy," and he undercooked his pie crust. That's enough to be eliminated on Chopped. Yet, Nikki goes home. That was ridiculous.
Alton Brown, you were foolish on this one. Giada De Laurentiis, where was your voice? And, Robert Irvine, I am incredibly disappointed in you. Robert, your show Restaurant Impossible has always been about improving food and style and presentation. I've written about how your show impresses with its intent to emphasize quality. And your choice to keep Rodney "More-Flour-on-Me-Than-the-Pie" is a disturbing departure from everything your show claims to emphasize. If Rodney Henry cooked and acted on your show the way he performs on Next Food Network Star, you would chastise and even mock him, and then you would teach him techniques and proper kitchen behavior.
Nikki can become more of a food authority - but Rodney will never have class or maturity. And he doesn't know food. Rodney is no food authority. He will never be anything more than a buffoon. Keeping Rodney "Pie Style" Henry around simply means the Food Network is looking for a clown. They are appealing to the lowest common demoninator. And that's just sad, especially for a network that has brought the world's attention to some of the finest culinary artists in the world. Rodney Henry on the same network as Bobby Flay or Tyler Florence or Giada or Alton or Mario or Geoffery Zakarian or Morimoto is a culinary abomination. Clearly, Nikki Dinki has star power and great potential, and she will go on to have her own successful show and brand - Meat on the Side.
Going in to this week, I was convinced the finalists would be Nikki and Stacy or Nikki and Demaris. Never did I believe Nikki would go out for something as minor as her supposed shortcomings this week. In fact, her concept - Meat on the Side - is the only fresh and unique idea that the Food Network could immediately produce and broadcast. Alton Brown even said specifically that - her show is ready to produce. I am seriously considering not watching next week's episode of the Next Food Network Star. For the next two weeks, I may watch the last few minutes to see who goes on. And I will never watch a show with Rodney Henry on it.
Poor, misguided, foolish, and inexplicable choice on the Next Food Network Star tonight. I seriously question the integrity of the judges on this one. Are Alton Brown and Robert Irvine secretly food slobs? Are their kitchens actually as messy and inconsistent as Rodney? Was there some personal issue with Nikki that we don't understand?
The decision to eliminate Nikki Dinki and keep Rodney Henry is truly tasteless and indefensible.
Free Nikki Dinki.
And click here for my thoughts on the final three and their pilots.
Poor, misguided, foolish, and inexplicable choice on the Next Food Network Star tonight. I seriously question the integrity of the judges on this one. Are Alton Brown and Robert Irvine secretly food slobs? Are their kitchens actually as messy and inconsistent as Rodney? Was there some personal issue with Nikki that we don't understand?
The decision to eliminate Nikki Dinki and keep Rodney Henry is truly tasteless and indefensible.
Free Nikki Dinki.
And click here for my thoughts on the final three and their pilots.
18 comments:
Bitter. Throwing one person under the bus because the person you liked went home is tasteless. Go rant to your husband or something, we don't want to hear it.
This program has already been filmed and the contestants are home. Why get upset about something that has already happened? Reality TV is all about entertainment. This is entertainment.
If you don't want to hear, you can stop reading and visit another page. You obviously wanted to hear feedback and opinion because you went looking for it.
And I'm not "throwing someone under the bus," which generally implies betrayal of someone you know or have supported. I've long criticized RodneyHenry because as a critic, I am unimpressed with his lack of control and culinary talent. There is nothing wrong with such criticism. Rodney is a mess, while Nikki had talent and a marketable show. Rodney should have gone home long ago.
And despite the events already concluding, the nature of commentary is to "comment" on past events. I am disappointed after the Rockies lose, even though I can't change that.
I am also baffled as to why Rodney is still on the show. My friends and I joke that he must be sleeping with Giada or something. He is very difficult to understand in his presentations, his food hasn't been that memorable, and his concept doesn't particularly imaginative or special. Are people really going to tune in to watch somebody make a pie every week? And then sometimes it seems like he just wants to be another Guy Fieri. Guy's show is popular, but does it really need a reboot already?
I find Damaris more fun to watch than Nikki, but I think Nikki definitely had the best idea for a show. I personally would have watched it. I think her elimination was unfair must have been based on something besides her performance.
This system has as of recently been taped and the hopefuls are home. Why get annoyed about something that has recently happened? Actuality TV is all about amusement. This is amusement.
Wow, Topcrowdfunding, how very wise and Buddha-like of you. You don't get upset about anything that disappoints you? Never been sad for a team that lost. Don't have an opinion on who's a better cook and who was treated unfairly? How very zen of you. Or maybe you just don't care very deeply about anything. Of course it's amusement. So is the NFL - but I still wanted the Broncos to win the SuperBowl and was disappointed when they lost. And then I talked with other fans about it in the days after. It's part of being human. It's not like I'm saying I'll jump off a building over this. But I do have an opinion like thousands of others.
The direction of how Alton perceived things changed just in one show? Ridiculous. Robert, do what you are supposed to do and stop choosing a pie style failure. If Rodney becomes the next food network star, I will get food network removed from my cable.
These comments critizing your article are baffling. Expressing a logical and highly defensible media review on a blog? Imagine! Nikki had been virtually perfect leading up to last week while Rodney, though I'm sure personally very likable, has been a hot buttered mess. The idea that this article represents some personal anger or shortcoming on the part of the author is not only smugly self-righteous, but seems to reflect a newborn's unfamiliarity with what the internet is for. This Philadelphia foody with a cum laude degree in broadcasting couldn't agree more with your feelings about last week's episode, and while I'm not yet ready to completely write off Food Network Star, my confidence in it's integrity has been badly shaken.
Thanks, Jeremy. I appreciate the feedback and support. Interestingly, I tweeted that I was no longer following Robert Irvine on Twitter b/c I questioned his judgment - and he responded directly with three tweets questioning my decision. Wow. This one seems to really have gotten under the skin of all viewers. Can't think that it was anything but a huge mistake.
Couldn't agree more, wait, yes I can. All four of the remaining finalists don't seem to have any business being on a TV show. Nikki was the only one that came close to having an interesting show. I think it is a big conspiracy of the meat and dairy industry trying to put down the vegetarian agenda.
I completely agree. Nikki would have had the only show I had any interest in watching... Russel is the biggest ongoing weirdo, Pie Guy is a clown and Stacy is painful to watch. Damaris is the only decent one now but I still like Nikki better.
I absolutely agree. I was shocked that she went home. She is fantastic on camera, has an interesting cooking style, and is relate-able. I'm certain she could study a few cooking terms if necessary. All the contestants are nice, but I would never watch a show with either of the men remaining. I'm actually surprised that these are the best contestants they could find for the show. Nikki will certainly find success elsewhere.
It looks like you have a good thing going with your blog! I'm sorry it took me til the end of the season to find it.
I like Demaris, however, not crazy about her concept of teaching men to cook. I like the improvements that she made in her presentation. Totally agree in Nikki Dinki.
also: WHY is russell still here?
Totally agree with mmazenko on all points. Now that the show is over I think questions have been answered as to why the sudden change and why Nikki was let go. I have often felt the same thing has happened in other reality shows such as American Idol. A better offer comes and or life takes a turn and the show will try to keep it's integrity by creating letting that individual be cut.
Nikki will be successful elsewhere. There is no doubt in her skills and personality!
She hooked up with Bobby Dean with a show. No surprise there.
Still pissed Nikki was sent home, utterly ridiculous.
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