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Does 'The Next Food Network Star' work? Vote!
Food Network has already created TV sensations with a number of now well-known names such as Emeril Lagasse and Rachael Ray, both of whom are known even by non-Food Network fans.
Bobby Flay, Giada De Laurentiis, Paula Deen and Alton Brown haven't done to badly for themselves either, achieving a following and reputation beyond their first show.
On Sunday, June 6 at 8 p.m. ET, "The Next Food Network Star" once again tries to find that next face, pesonaly and branding gold mine through a reality show format.
Check out the promo for the two-hour premiere:
It's a fun show, full of regular folks trying to make it big, celebrity chef cameos and colorful cooking/media challenges, but does it actually work? Does it accomplish what it sets out to do? Oh sure, each of the contestants get great exposure and may go on to capitalize on their experience (much like the runners-up in "America's Next Top Model" do) elsewhere but does the winner actually become a "star" of the caliber of the aforementioned Food Network celebs?
Let's take a look at the past winners:
Season 1: Dan Smith & Steve McDonagh
Season 2: Guy Fieri
Season 3: Amy Finley
Season 4: Aaron McCargo, Jr.
Season 5: Melisaa d'Arabian
From our perspective, "The Next Food Network Star" hit gold only once with Guy Fieri. He's such a big personality, he's become more known for hosting/eating than for actively cooking. On Food Network alone, he's headlined "Guy's Big Bite," "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives," "Ultimate Recipe Showdown" and "Guy Off the Hook," not to mention guest starring in "Dinner: Impossible" and "Paula's Party." He's even broken from the cable world and hosts "Minute to Win It" over on NBC.
The rest of the the winners, however, haven't really become household names. Each has had their one show, none of which achieved that much notoriety. McCargo of "Big Daddy's House" has potential though and he's appeared in a number of "Best Thing I Ever Ate" episodes, so his star could still rise.
Of course, just because we don't think the track record for "Next Food Network Star" is the greatest, doesn't mean we've given up hope.
We've already seen the premiere for Season 6, and one of our favorites is Aarti Sequeira, who has a great personality, different cooking P.O.V. (Indian) from the usual on cable and an adorable accent.
We love that she started out as a food blogger with an online variety show (and we found the Aarti Paarti YouTube channel and her blog). She's the kind of person whose food we'd love to try but also who seems like a fun person to hang out with.
Check out the Food Network video and then an episode of "Aarti Paarti" from her blog.
We're also psyched that the new season of "The Next Food Network Star" also features De Laurentiis as a mentor, since we remember how in "Chefography," we saw those first awkward attempts at filming a cooking show. She was not comfortable in front of the camera then, and we think her insight could be really inspiring to the contestants.
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Bobby Flay, Giada De Laurentiis, Paula Deen and Alton Brown haven't done to badly for themselves either, achieving a following and reputation beyond their first show.
On Sunday, June 6 at 8 p.m. ET, "The Next Food Network Star" once again tries to find that next face, pesonaly and branding gold mine through a reality show format.
Check out the promo for the two-hour premiere:
It's a fun show, full of regular folks trying to make it big, celebrity chef cameos and colorful cooking/media challenges, but does it actually work? Does it accomplish what it sets out to do? Oh sure, each of the contestants get great exposure and may go on to capitalize on their experience (much like the runners-up in "America's Next Top Model" do) elsewhere but does the winner actually become a "star" of the caliber of the aforementioned Food Network celebs?
Let's take a look at the past winners:
Season 1: Dan Smith & Steve McDonagh
Season 2: Guy Fieri
Season 3: Amy Finley
Season 4: Aaron McCargo, Jr.
Season 5: Melisaa d'Arabian
From our perspective, "The Next Food Network Star" hit gold only once with Guy Fieri. He's such a big personality, he's become more known for hosting/eating than for actively cooking. On Food Network alone, he's headlined "Guy's Big Bite," "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives," "Ultimate Recipe Showdown" and "Guy Off the Hook," not to mention guest starring in "Dinner: Impossible" and "Paula's Party." He's even broken from the cable world and hosts "Minute to Win It" over on NBC.
The rest of the the winners, however, haven't really become household names. Each has had their one show, none of which achieved that much notoriety. McCargo of "Big Daddy's House" has potential though and he's appeared in a number of "Best Thing I Ever Ate" episodes, so his star could still rise.
Of course, just because we don't think the track record for "Next Food Network Star" is the greatest, doesn't mean we've given up hope.
We've already seen the premiere for Season 6, and one of our favorites is Aarti Sequeira, who has a great personality, different cooking P.O.V. (Indian) from the usual on cable and an adorable accent.
We love that she started out as a food blogger with an online variety show (and we found the Aarti Paarti YouTube channel and her blog). She's the kind of person whose food we'd love to try but also who seems like a fun person to hang out with.
Check out the Food Network video and then an episode of "Aarti Paarti" from her blog.
We're also psyched that the new season of "The Next Food Network Star" also features De Laurentiis as a mentor, since we remember how in "Chefography," we saw those first awkward attempts at filming a cooking show. She was not comfortable in front of the camera then, and we think her insight could be really inspiring to the contestants.
Follow Zap2it and Zap2itHanh on Twitter and Zap2it on Facebook for the latest movies, TV and celeb news.
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she seems sweet & indian food is getting more popular in the US.
Why does every winner have to reach Bobby Flay heights for the show to be considered a success? I think things have panned out just about the way they should, with a top tier (Fieri), middle tier (McCargo, D'Arabian) and bottom tier (Hearty Boys, Finley).
i love guy and aaron. they were my choices as winners, also loved adam from aaron's season. loved seeing the two of them team up on Chef vs City. The rest have sucked. Jeffrey was much better than Melissa, and Hearty Boys and Finley ... just sad.
They didn't know what to do with the Hearty boys, so if you want to see THEM first they were on early Sunday morning,now occasionally they're on at 3AM a couple of nights a week.
Amy Finley never SHOULD have won; I think I saw her 3times.
Aaron McCargo's show is okay, but just.
I think the series has flopped because they want people to be culinary stars rather than regular people, which is what I thought we were getting when they started these shows.
MOST of Food Network has changed and not for the better.
It's unfortunate that Guy is such a massive douche. I'm from Santa Rosa, home to Guy's restaurants Johnny Garlic's and Tex Wasabi's. I know numerous people who have worked for him and all say he's just a total jackass. While the food at JG is delicious, TW is foul beyond belief. I'm shocked it's still open and they they opened another one two hours away in Sacramento. I can only imagine how the success has gone to his head even further. I remember one time, they closed down one of the busiest streets in Santa Rosa just so he could do a photo shoot. Unbelievable.
On the Food Network "chef" is a dirty 4 letter word. When you fill your TV slots with home cooks, you're not going to have many breakout stars. Who doesn't know how to cook burgers or make sandwiches?
Guy does seem like a douche. But his kids are great, so he can't be all bad (maybe it's more mom).
very disappointed food network is SO brand new and e legit the new cooking channel is for the peoplethat is very disappointing .... watching Chefs trying to Create a new food network star the last one they ELECTED and the show she is on is 10 dollar dinners it is about the personality because it is TV...it is a brand new genre people like me and my friends and family made this channel we want it to b can be brutal on the food but
the best show on Foodnetwork is Chopped...
anyone know where to find the season 7 episodes on line?