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Next Food Network Star #508: LIVE BLOG
Published on: July 26, 2009 – 7:54 pm by Jillian Madison 
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Hi, I’m Jillian Madison, and I’ll be live-blogging tonight’s episode of Next Food Network Star for FNH! We’re down to Debbie (the lying Korean), Melissa (the frantic housewife), and Jeffrey (the boring, monotone guy with the greasy hair). Who will go home tonight? Stick around and let’s find out!
9:00 pm: Debbie opened the show by admitting she had some “lapses in judgment” – but added that she’s now ready to show the world “the real Debbie.” Thanks, Debbie, but I think the world saw your true colors weeks ago.
Meanwhile, in happier news, Melissa is in the bathroom using more hairspray than Dolly Parton.
9:03: Tonight, the final 3 will be throwing a dinner party for some food snobs. They’ll also be doing a live cooking demo in honor of the upcoming Julie & Julia movie. Great. Cue 10 minutes of footage of Meryl Streep in a chef’s hat.
9:06: Guys, brace yourselves. Debbie will be making braised KOREAN shortribs and ASIAN pear eggrolls.
9:08: Jeffrey Saad only spent $300 of his $1000 budget. What a waste. He should have spent the remaining $700 on some shampoo and/or a personality.
9:12: Blast from the past! Some of the eliminated contestants are back to work as sous chefs during tonight’s challenge. Michael Proietti is working with Debbie, Jamika is with Melissa, and Katie “Bugeyes” Cavuto is with Jeffrey.
9:14: Debbie just said her menu is “Debbie on a plate times 10.” I have no idea what that means, but I do know I suddenly lost my appetite.
9:16: Jeffrey just took the most UNGRACEFUL slurp of broth that I’ve ever seen in my life. More ended up on the floor than in his mouth:
9:20: How many more times are they going to use the word “ELITE” while referring to the dinner guests? Please. And why is the dining room so cold and empty? A random table thrown on a cement floor? It looks like dinner time at a super max prison.
9:22: Melissa just said her mom committed suicide while she was in college. That’s really sad… but isn’t that a tad too much info at this stage of the game?
To Melissa’s credit, she does seem much more calm and composed during her presentation. She did a great job during her live demo, too, even though she overcooked some of her chicken.
Alex Guarnaschelli just stated, “Let’s get rid of the cheese and bring out a big plate of those cookies.” We know, Alex. You like the cookies.
9:30: Debbie Lee is up next, and she is SO REHEARSED AND PHONY. Oh God. She’s even dropping Korean phrases and translations. No one was impressed. The judges called her dishes “bland,” “tough,” and “unoriginal.” Tyler Florence slammed her, too.
Debbie’s cooking an EGG ROLL during her live cooking demo. Because she’s KOREAN. (Were you expecting her to make ravioli?)
9:40: Jeffrey is up last. He is still so boring, and it just feels like he’s screaming at us. His food? AWFUL. One dinner guest went so far as to say he “disrespected Italian cooking.” While Tyler Florence complimented him nonstop, we think Anne Burrell’s expression more accurately summed up Jeffrey Saad’s entire performance:
UPDATE: Apologies! This live-blog came to an unfortunate, abrupt end because Food Network Humor crashed due to heavy traffic… stemming from the fact that DEBBIE LEE was eliminated from the show tonight! Her chewy, nasty braised Korean shortribs weren’t enough to keep her in the game! What a pity!
It is with great pleasure that all of us here at FNH say… BYE BYE, DEBBIE! Have fun managing your HOT DOG STAND and perfecting your KOREAN egg rolls. And just so you know, everyone who watched this season of Next Food Network Star pretty much hates you.
We’ll see you next week for the finale. Who will be the Next Food Network Star? Jeffrey Saad or Melissa D’Arabian?
Other posts on Food Network Humor:
---Next Food Network Star #507: LIVE BLOG---Next Food Network Star #505: LIVE BLOG
---Next Food Network Star #506: LIVE BLOG
---Next Food Network Star Finale: Live Blog
---Next Food Network Star: Ten Thoughts On Episode #503
HELLS YES IT IS ON
:( Since I am on the West Coast, I’ll be waiting for 3 more hours. Going to go on embargo mode now.
I do feel a disturbance in the food force though…
as if, Suzie just figured out a way to make a line of pots and pans for hot dog cooking…
this does not bode well….
Debbie, if you wanna show the “real you”, DON’T WEAR MAKEUP. XP
Debbie only had a few lapses of judgment?
We haven’t see the real Debbie?
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
No Melissa, Julia inspired FEMALE COOKS, not home cooks.
Emeril looks kinda bloated.
I thought Emeril cut all ties with the Food Network?
SEOUL TO SOUL
DAMMIT ITS BACK
SHE’S MAKING SOMETHING KOREAN…NO WAY!
OMG..A KOREAN short rib? Ok..you’re Korean. GET OVER IT!
Did anyone else catch the hideous sight of Shamu without makeup again? I just about vomited…
Love how Melissa’s still selling her “average housewife” schtick, even though she just admitted she’s lived in Paris. Wonder how many Midwestern housewives can identify with THAT, eh? Sure as heck isn’t me…
Biscotti, that’s Italian…Is it Markus Samuelson who says it’s a joke to Italian food?
Why is one of the neely’s at a table of culinary elites
so….since when are the neely’s part of the world’s “culinary elites”??????
Damn, it sounds like it’s gonna be Jeffery or Melissa this week.
But I guarantee you that Flay is gonna point out Debbie saying “I’m Korean” in her presentation or live demo.
Someone, to Debbie: “You really are an artist.” PUKE. They’re gonna need to show more clips of Amy Adams to make up for that.
yeahh. i saw her hideous make- up free face. i just barfed in my mouth a little…
oh yeah. guess what? shamu’s making korean short ribs and asian pear egg rolls, because she’s korean of course. just thought i’d tell you that.
Did anyone see that they called Debbie an “artisan????” If she wins, I just may kick my TV. And I agree with Mike…wtf are the Neelys doing there??
well hell, Megan, where is it written that a “housewife” can’t have spent time living in foreign cities? and i hail from the midwest myself.
at least Melissa isn’t going on forever and ever about her (Korean) culture.
LMFAO
I guess the Neely’s are there for diversity, since Markus doesn’t really count…
HAHAHAHAHA Debbie’s got to cook Asian for Morimoto. That’ll be fun.
I agree about the Neely’s how can they be considered elite, my guess is that food network needs to give all their “stars” spots on the show
WTF
I thought Melissa was making a cheese plate?
Oh, poor Jeffery. He got the lame one.
Also with that list of people…I hate Alex G____. And the Neelys don’t really fit in the “Culinary Elite”
Oh, those sous chefs aren’t stacked at ALL…. They gave Jeffrey Undercook It Katie, I see.
wonder how much they got paid to plug the movie.
GAWLICK YOU NEED IT ALL PEEEEEEEEELED?
SEOUL TO SOUL AGAIN
Jeffrey should have gone back in the store and bought some more stuff! Only 25 scallops for all these people?? And now Jeffrey is sabotaged with Katy.
If Debbie is still on after today, I’ve decided I won’t watch the last episode. I can’t stomach it, heh.
Jeffrey wasn’t using double/triple coupons?
It is nice to see that so many posters have decided to follow Darth Vader’s advice and are giving into their hate.
Is that the same Marcus Samuelsson on the judging panel who got whomped by Bobby Flay calling something an insult to Italy? I think he got the lowest score ever in Iron Chef America, and now, well, he’s apparently qualified to comment on somebody else’s food. Gotcha.
Hold on – is Debbie Korean?
Debbie on a plate times ten.
Umm…Debbie, I don’t make my pulled pork out of ribs. I use a pork butt! I like to have my ribs with a bite but not have to gnaw like a squirrel…or a whale…
Wasn’t saying that housewives “can’t” live in foreign cities, but the average Rachael Ray viewer (and she’s gunning for the same audience) probably hasn’t.
Koreans do this, Koreans do that. Debbie, do us all a favor and shut the hell up.
kay.thanks.bye
Well Melissa is collapsing, it’s the two chefs with the least experience teamed up with each other.
Melissa’s collapse might mean Debbie will still be Korean next episode.
Die Debbie. Die.
I see that didn’t invite Tony Bourdain or Sandra lee to this little party – I guess they prefer at least one dinner where someone isn’t swinging from the chandelier and vodka bottles aren’t found hidden in furniture.
look on the bright side, if last years contest is anything to judge by….If debbie wins, she’ll be relegated to nothing more than a weekend time slot filler. One hour a week wont be too bad, especially if no one watches.
Maybe theyll put her show right after Aaron McCargo’s :D
This is just awful. I cannot stand Debbie one tiny bit and already I can see that she is probably going to win. I can’t watch.
Jeffrey looks like he’s been putting that broth in his hair.
they should have made it a real challenge and stuck Jeffery with Jen (the chick that served green beans in the 1st episode), Melissa with Eddie and given Debbie that stupid Indian chick from last season……..or Guy Fieri
Fear success at the wrong thing?
WTF DOES THAT MEAN
Why are the showing eliminated cooks from this contest on the show tonight?
Wait Melissa weren’t you raised by some illegal while your Mommy was in school?
Why would you talk about suicide, Melissa?! WHY WHY WHY WHY?!
yes, mention “suicide”. that’ll perk up the appetites.
“Don’t fear failure. Fear success.” wtf
Well, that brought the room down
Melissa: “My mom blew her brains out. Enjoy your meal!”
Aww, poor Melissa :( I feel sad now.
NO NO NO, TAKE THESE HACKS OFF THE “ELITE” TABLE PLEASE!!!
Ohh, poor Melissa. Her voice is just breaking with nerves. Does not sound good at all.
Melissa is the artisan
She’s in the final
Go Melissa!
John Besh’s coat is hideous.
uh oh, my boy Jeffrey might go down this week.
Wow, they’re editing this really weird. Melissa’s feedback was a lot better than they made it look earlier.
Does anyone else think that Anne Burrell looks like Guy in drag??
it was melissa who was the artisan!!! hurray for her. it may have been TMI about her mom but whatevs–she’s got gumption. i think bobby flay fell in love with her a little and she made sunny cry!
i think jeffrey’s out…
Any of these three will end up like Amy Finley — gone after one season.
Yay Melissa! I’m glad she did well.
lol at Somebody.
Melissa’s story seems pretty complicated or convoluted. Not sure which yet.
It would be the funniest thing if Melissa is the one that crashes burns.
Dammit, I’m out of it “Debbie”
I read (can’t remember where though) that Amy F. from last season turned down another season.
As much as her super-mom act annoys me, Melissa deserves this the most out of the three. She’s genuine (unlike Debbie), and she’s a hell of a cook (unlike Jeffery).
Wait..Debbie isn’t going to pull out all the stops? Shouldn’t she be trying to impress the hell out of people.
Oh, it’s Debbie next. She looks like she should be on that special Olympics poster when she’s running.
debbie just said “i’m gonna be me, and that’s enough.” that’s right debbie–that’s quite enough.
DEBBIE
NOT ASIAN ENOUGH?
what, Debbie’s food isn’t Korean enough tonight?
i’ll make her bleed her culture…
tough beef!!!
OMFG
DEBBIE DIDN’T SEASON ANYTHING
HER BEEF ISN’T TENDER
SHE IS CRASHING AND BURNING
yo, Debbie, your meat is tough? really interesting that you explain that the KOREAN way to serve meat is on the tougher side. sigh.
I wonder how Debbie is going to blame the gay guy?
wow. nice excuse for your tough meat, shamu.
Woo Melissa! I agree the suicide bit was TMI…I felt like she might have gone on too long at the beginning.
I’m guessing it’s Jeffrey that’s going down today.
Dang…It looks like it’s gonna be Debbie and Melissa. Darn, at least greasy Jeffery can cook…somewhat.
“we Koreans like it to be a little tough”
Does she not realize shes the only fucking Korean there and shes serving (mostly) Americans??
The dough was raw? Are we sure that Katie didn’t make it??
OMG Debbie needs to go home…….NOW!
That has to be the most mentions of Korea (or being Korean) in a 4 minute segment in TV history
goodbye jeffrey, it was good knowing you. There’s NO WAY debbie or melissa are going home this week.
Melissa lived in Paris…but said “THROWED”???
Sounds Texan to me.
SendDebbieHome. SendDebbieHome. SendDebbieHome. SendDebbieHome. SendDebbieHome. SendDebbieHome.
Melissa’s story about her mom broke my heart. The truth of this would eventually come out and it would be mentioned because that horrible experience is a part of who she is, yet it was overwhelming to hear. It was brave of her to say.
Melissa’s food is great but she talks too much. Debbie talks fine but her food isn’t very good. Jeffrey will be leaving.
I sympathize with Melissa…but the suicide should have come out way earlier in the competition than right before the finals.
A pathetic attempt at pity points.
Did anyone else notice that Bobby was looking a little yellow at the judges’ decision table?
Melissa lives in Texas now.
Debbie’s packing tonight.
GOD! Debbie SO phony!
Sorry Debbie, I do NOT want to get to know you…unless that means I can throw you off of a skyscraper…
I hope Debbie just stays for the drama.
anyone else creeped out by how bob said their names for their final words
oh really debbie, you understand the whole population of america? really?
Debbie’s a human, and that’s why people will want to watch her show!
is debbie CRAZY? she understands “the koreans, and the americans” ergo she “understands all of america!” WTF?!
I can’t stand Shamu but I think Jeffrey is toast.
jeez, Debbie is a total nut. i want to watch her so she can study me? nope. try again.
oh please get rid of Debbie. please.
DEBBIE IS KOREAN. WE KNOW THAT DAMMIT
Fascinated by the stories?
What stories?
I’M KOREAN
YOU KNOW I’M KOREAN
IN KOREA
GARLIC KOREA KIMCHEE HOT DIGGITY DAWGS
OH WOW….DEBBIE’S GONE. THANK GOD!
YIPPPPPIEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!
OMG OMG YES YESSSS DEBBIE IS SO GONE.
I can’t believe Debbie is gone. :(
Honestly, all three of them aren’t worthy of the prize.
Melissa is really horrible, I don’t like her at all, she’s not fresh or original.
Jeffrey needs some help, but he deserves it more than Melissa.
Both of them kind of suck though, yknow?
DING DONG THE DEBBIE’S GONE!
Btw, doesn’t seem that this new Jeff Corwin show is just a sorry attempt at countering the success of No Reservations and Bizarre Foods over on Travel?
Corwin is a zoologist, right?
Bourdain and Zimmern are chefs.
Corwin should not have this show.
I screamed “YEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSS!” so loud after Debbie got the boot that my poor dog is still hiding under the bed 8 minutes later.
Go Melissa!!!
I HATE that Alex woman. I hate her worse than Debbie. She’s such a snob she makes Ina look warm and fuzzy.
YESSSS!!!!
As Helen Lovejoy would say, “Won’t somebody PLEASE think of the Koreans?!?!”
My mom and I just double hand-waved Debbie out the door!!! Can’t contain my excitement!!! Hope Melissa wins… I started cooking last year and would totally watch her.
Ding Dong Shamu is gone.
I really don’t know who is going to win. I think Melissa has the best basis for a show, but a little too similar to Sandra Lee for my taste.
Wow, I may just tune in when the show comes here in SF Bay Area…gotta see how the Korean’s face falls to the floor when booted! (priceless, I hope??)
Have you noticed that Debbie is an asian Ina Garten. She even laughs the exact same way, not to mention the heavy breathing. I bet she watches Ina, and thinks that’s going to be me some day. Well at least she thought that way before tonights show. It’s funny how she called herself a curvy Korean. Yikes!!!
i agree patrick about corwin, since when is a nature show guy a good host for a traveling food show like that. a Major WTF moment
Thank Goodness Debbie is GONE. I cannot believe she said she should win because she understands ALL Americans, and Americans want to her to win so we can study her??? Debbie is a pathological liar, conceited nut.
Hooray!
Anyone else think Jeffrey was throwing the Barry White eyes at Melissa on the balcony?
Am I the only one who finds Melissa incredibly annoying? She seems very good at what she does, but she lets her interiority complex (as a non-chef) show waaaay too much. We are not here to watch your personal vendatta at someone who ridiculed you. And I can’t stand the way she smiles … so fake!!! I don’t think she would bring new things to the FN. They already have tons of shows that focus on quick and easy (but somewhat) elegant food. She just reminds me of that ice doll from last year. What was her name?
Saad … D’Arabian … nobody’s cooking Middle Eastern food yet?
I almost started reading all this till I realized that this is from THIS week’s episode which has yet to air where I live. All I’m going to say is Debbie better be getting the hell out of this competition! GO JEFFREY GO!!!
Lisa Garza, ice queen from Texas.
Coming this fall on FN: MILF Meals!
Debbie’s making ASIAN stuff again. What is it about Asian people having to constantly tell you they’re ASIAN and everything about them is ASIAN. It’s like their homes are decorated with ASIAN furniture and they make ASIAN food and go to ASIAN restaurants and hang with other ASIAN people. (I know people who do this, only they are THAI. Everything is PHO PHO PHO.)
Bye Debbie.
I hope Melissa wins. She’s cheerful and sweet and down to earth.
Jeffrey was talking about cooking with his daughter again. And putting chipotle in stuff even tho Bobby Flay just TOLD HIM LAST WEEK that he’s always gravitating toward Mexican ingredients.
“Thank Goodness Debbie is GONE. I cannot believe she said she should win because she understands ALL Americans, and Americans want to her to win so we can study her??? Debbie is a pathological liar, conceited nut.”
Agreed. That was strange to say she understands Americans when all she ever talks about is being KOREAN and all her food is KOREAN or ASIAN. WTF? I don’t want to study her, is she on crack?
How do you get the screenshots up so FAST, Jillian? Awesomesauce. I look forward to reading this blog EVERY DAY.
I just have to say reading this website was disgusting. You all are so cruel to people who are fat. Debbie = Shamu? Seriously? Thats horrible of you all. Commenting on how she looks without her make-up? Do you all have any decency? All of you are just as bad if not worse than Debbie. Its a freaking reality tv show and you guys act like shes stabbed someone. Debbie may not have the most integrity, any of you snarking her online here are no better.
Just thinking about how they made that Julie and Julia movie because that lady blogged Julia Child’s recipes. They should make a movie called Jillian and Julia and Julie about a lady who parodied the movie and the food network, lol.
Those Thai(and Vietnamese) people are all over pho because it is one if the best dishes in the world. I discovered it a few years ago and am now addicted. Have it once a week at least.
The person who really stood out as not belonging at the table was Sunny Anderson. The Neely’s run a successful BBQ joint, which isn’t much different from what Bobby Flay does. Aside from Bob and Susie, who are judges, everyone else is a successful professional chef. But Sunny Anderson is who, exactly? Beats me who she is or how she got her own show. She’s unwatchable.
Ten to one Debbie already has a deal with the network. TNFNS is a show with its own purpose and that’s ratings. Debbie was the villain all the way until this week and went out on a high note. She’ll be back.
Wow. She’s really gone. I almost miss her reminding us that she’s Korean every five fucking seconds.
Gina Neely showed GREAT RESTRAINT, not getting up and kicking Debbie’s ASS over those ribs. I was REALLY waiting for that one, since I live here in the land of the Neely Family’s many BBQ joints (AKA Elvis Hell). I thought Gina was uncommonly refined and elegant, just saying that the ribs were “missing something.” In her normal environment, somebody would have had a black eye! For Debbie to call ANY of that “Southern” food in front of the Neelys was taking a HUGE step off of a STEEP CLIFF.
Uh-uh, Debbie. Go back to YOUR rice patty. We make da gumbo in ours. And we know what corn is for.
I’m overweight, Drake and I think it’s funny because I see it as people not picking on Debbie because she is fat. They use the fat to emphasize how awful she is because she is a stinking lying Korea-obsessed conceited crazyfreak! I have nothing against fat people especially who work in the food industry (they say never trust a skinny chef!). I just think people attack debbie and use the fat aspect because she’s so horrible. if she were NICE I think no one would even consider picking on her for her weight. She’s not even THAT fat, honestly. But her lying and stuff make her ugly. That’s why we pick on the makeup thing, too. It’s the inside that makes her ugly on the outside.
i didn’t think debbie was that bad…her food seemed great but her personality wasn’t. i hope jeffrey wins because melissa seems to crazy for me :\
(btw princess crazypants, i dunno what kind of thai people you hang out with but the vietnamese came up with pho ;D)
I am so thrilled!!! I thought after Jeffrey bombed on the risotto that he would be the one to go tonight. I’m not sure that Jeffrey is really a good enough cook to win this, he’s royally messed up a few of his dishes this season and seems to be very one dimensional.
Melissa on the other hand could actually make a decent show. It seems there is more to her than she is letting on, she mentioned at the beginning of the show that she spent time in Paris? I wonder if she really has had some culinary training and is using the “I’m just a housewife” excuse so that people will give her more leeway. Time will tell, but at least Debbie didn’t win!
“Those Thai(and Vietnamese) people are all over pho because it is one if the best dishes in the world.”
Sounds good, Glock. I just got tired of my Thai friend always hanging out with another Thai friend and going pho-ing and not inviting me because I’m not freaking Thai. And of course she’s refer to me as an “Anglo” which I didn’t like the sound of. Always pointing out our race differences. I don’t talk to her anymore. She can go pho herself.
“(btw princess crazypants, i dunno what kind of thai people you hang out with but the vietnamese came up with pho ;D)”
Heh!
I was really hoping Gina would say, “these ribs don’t make me wanna slap my momma!” or something. I knew corporate shill/frantic housewife Melly Mel was safe when I saw Sunny tearing up over the momma suicide mention.
oh, and I love Alex the Cookie Monster and Grumpy Pâtissier, their reactions were pretty standard for them.
“I’m overweight, Drake and I think it’s funny because I see it as people not picking on Debbie because she is fat. They use the fat to emphasize how awful she is because she is a stinking lying Korea-obsessed conceited crazyfreak! I have nothing against fat people especially who work in the food industry (they say never trust a skinny chef!). I just think people attack debbie and use the fat aspect because she’s so horrible. if she were NICE I think no one would even consider picking on her for her weight. She’s not even THAT fat, honestly. But her lying and stuff make her ugly. That’s why we pick on the makeup thing, too. It’s the inside that makes her ugly on the outside.”
I personally am the same way. I didn’t think the statements about Debbie’s weight was necessary, but Debbie just slowly became more and more and more about her image as “The Korean Everything.”
In fact, she summed herself up tonight as. “I’m imperfect! I’m the curvy, Korean, Southern Girl who loves to eat!”
That’s annoying. >_>
ahahaha fatso’s out
hope jeffrey wins but melissa is deserving as well
surprised they didn’t keep fatso for the drama
Picking on a person’s size is not my thing (as someone who used to be quite fat myself) but it is hard to find anything appealing about someone that dishonest and grubbing. Even without the obesity – and frankly, I’m not very keen on a hugely overweight chef, since if I’m going to cook their food I’d like to think I’ll live long enough to see dessert – there is plenty not to love about Debbie.
Did anybody else notice the bitter tears in Suzie’s eyes as she bade farewell to Debbie?
“Goodbye, my sweet ticket to the Asian demographic.”
Here’s my free advice to Suzie – hire an Asian chef who is anyone but Debbie Lee.
There is a G-d! My husband and I double-high-fived when Debbie was kicked to the curb. No way did we want the “Sumo Chef” to win.
I’m a grandmother now but would have appreciated a vibrant young home cook like Melissa when I retired from teaching and became a stay-at-home mom. Her effervescent personality, intelligence, travel experience, and culinary expertise would be a welcome breath of fresh air in FN’s repertoire at this time.
Best wishes to Melissa who I hope will be “The Next Food Network Star”.
I’m SO happy!
When I yelled out in joy after Debbie was eliminated, my husband turned to me and said, “Do you really care this much about it?”
Ummm…..yeah!
The pussies on the Food Network site get pissed every time someone calls Debbie Shamu. sCREW them. I am so glad that pig is gone.
I am hoping Melissa wins as well – I am a new,working mom who is trying to figure it all out. But, PLEASE, can someone who is a vegetarian, god forbid a vegan, get in this and win??? There are a lot of us out there waiting….
Well, I guess it’s back to “M*A*S*H” reruns to get my for those of us who long to hear the word “korean” every three and a half minutes…
Drake, one of the things that happens when a person decides that they want to be in the big white hot spotlight of fame is that people pick them apart. Is it fair? Not always. If a person expects the big dump truck of money to arrive at their house and for them to be a celebrity, they have to expect that it isn’t always going to be adoration, endorsements, being moved to the head of the line, constant applause, freebies, limos, cameras, magazine covers, huge pay checks, their own line of products at Kohl’s, etc. She is doing it for fame and opportunities that come with fame. The best way to avoid this is not to try to seek fame.
Drake, I want to support the spirit of your post.
Debbie got on my nerves for her clear lack of integrity in the competition and her constant reminders that everything she ever cooked was because she’s Korean. I was glad to see her go.
But I do find the bevy of anonymous posters saying “That Debbie Lee had no integrity and she’s an ugly, fat pig!” a bit ironic.
Because nothing sez, “I gots a whole lotta integrity!” like making fun of a total stranger’s body from the safety of your home.
I still think Melissa will win it all. She keeps improving each and every week and she has that spunk while on camera. Although Jeffrey could pull it off.
Rose, we are all “anonymous posters” I have yet to see anyone post their real name, home address and social security number.
Your saying that you are annoyed by Debbie’s constant reminder that she is “Korean” is no different than people who comment because she is “fat” It is just a different annoyance. You found this “ironic?”
You say, “Because nothing sez, “I gots a whole lotta integrity!” like making fun of a total stranger’s body from the safety of your home.” You are making comments about her for “whatever” reason and this is your form of “integrity?” You aren’t making comments about her body, you are making comments about some other aspect of her presentation. Exactly how is this different/better? You are judging her on another level, yet judging her, nonetheless. You are judging her personality from “the safety of your own home” Bogus comparison.
omygod. rose that was hilarious. that was exactly what i was thinking :)
I love Melissa. And I hate everyone. I’m a single girl in the city who is overworked and underpaid and is so bitter, but Melissa warms my cold, cold heart. She is so sweet and she’s so bleepin’ SMART! I hope she wins. I wish she were my mom.
Why were the Neely’s and Tyler Florence invited? WTF? What an insult to actual chefs! I love Rick Bayless’s restaurants, I’m surprised he would show up to this kind of crap.
lmao, if you listen closely, Gina Neely said Melissa’s pastry was, and I quote…”bangin” (and thats without the ‘g’), that must be a new terminology among the culinary “elite”
YIPEEEEEE! Ding dong the LIAR is gone! Bring it on home, Melissa!!
I agree Barb, Debbie just rubbed me the wrong way with her constant mentioning of her being Korean. I think Melissa is just as confortable cooking a toasted cheese as she will be cooking a gourmet meal.
I know actual Koreans (as opposed to Korean Americans) who don’t feel the need to mention their heritage every five minutes. Debbie needed more Soul, less Seoul.
Ahhhhh…….Soul to Soul…. more like Anus to Anus
Ding dong the witch is dead!
I choked on my martini when Debbie called herself curvy, she’s shaped like a fucking barrel!
Earth to Debbie: let her eat hot dogs!
Kthxbye!
Does anyone know if Debbie is Korean? I’m not sure, she doesn’t really get into her heritage much.
The only good thing about Debbie making it to this week was watching her get one step closer to the finale and then being denied. She should have been gone last week if not the week before.
I don’t think Jeffery will win next week and I hope he doesn’t. He’s so boring anyway, his show would be best featured in between an infomercial sandwich from 2:00-3:00 AM.
Stay tuned next week as Jeffery learns the difference between an onion and a tomato. Nice preview!
Debbie was definitely TOO HYPED to last this long! So glad she’s gone.
Hey Debbie ——> BU- BYE!!! Go Melissa!!!
Of course they are capped for maximum amusement, but I’ll be damned if scrolling through those pictures isn’t just the most visually offensive thing I’ve seen in a while.
Is anyone else confused about Melissa’s stories? Over the course of the season we have heard that her Mom was a Commander in the Navy, she grew up speaking Spanish taught by her nanny, she never ate chillis but traveled and coincidentally perfected her habenero challange. And now she says her Mother was single, raised two daughters in college and then later commuted suicide? I’m sorry but I find it strange she always has the perfect story in every episode and none of them match up.
OH… I can’t believe Debbie lasted this long. Debbie was so caught off-guard (surprised?) when the kalbi-jim was tough. Should have used a pressure cooker. Really, Debbie? Koreans like their meat tough? Unfortunately, Debbie doesn’t know much… and Koreans took a big hit to their cooking credibility. Oh… and I’m Korean and so was this comment. Seoul to Soul… oh please please please shoot me.
So I have a bit of a conspiracy theory about Debbie – I’m wondering if they strung her along and edited the footage afterwards to make her look bad so that, afterwards, they could say “but we *tried* to get a Korean chef but she just didn’t make it” without anyone crying over it or accusing them of prejudice…
I dunno – that’s the only theory I can come up with for why DTLK made it this far. I’m just really glad she’s *GONE*!!!!
Why is Debbie holding an asthma inhaler in the last image posted above? Did she suffer an asthma attack after being voted off the show? Its very strange to see her covering her mouth and holding the inhaler… Any thoughts??
Tia, No. You people suck. (Vegans, not moms)
The stupid thunderstorm in NJ blew out my satellite dish so I missed the end of th show. Wow I can’t believe Debbie is gone, thought Jeff would be the one to leave. Debbie does hot dogs! You know what? I’m Korean!
Tia-actually I agree and think it is weird that they’ve never had a vegetarian cooking show.
Someone else mentioned Jeffrey giving Melissa the googly eyes on the balcony at the end. I saw it and thought the same thing.
Thank god she got sent home. I was about sick of her anyways. I missed it last night but thanks for the update on everything that happened. Even if I have watched the shows up until this one, I have had fun reading the blogging. I can’t wait to see what happens with the final episode and what is blogged on here.
I know Melissa will win because really they put her up against Jeffrey. So once again we get a chick who lived in Paris and sucks up to the management. Wow sounds like a yawn a minute..
What makes Tyler Florence not a chef? Just because he isn’t currently running a restaurant doesn’t make him not a chef. And if that’s your definition of a chef, then in this case, the Neelys would then be chefs because they have restaurants.
I am reminded of the scene in the “Wizard of Oz” where the good witch told the Munchkins “come out, come out whereever you are”. The wicked witch is dead. The house of Bob fell on her Korean, lying, backstabbing head.
안녕히 계십시오; 작별 인사
@Sarah – Is anyone else confused about Melissa’s stories?
You betcha! I can hardly wait till next week when we hear yet another thrilling episode of “Melissa’s tormented/warm and fuzzy/world traveler life”. Too many versions of her life’s experience. And why is she talking about suicide in front of the judges? Oh, wait. Sympathy vote, perhaps? She is just too irritating. That big “horse mouth of teeth” smile just makes me want to scream. FAKE FAKE FAKE. Move over Debbie. I think we have a helper for your hot dog stand.
Go Jeff. At least we don’t know alot about your private life and would prefer to keep it that way. Just don’t make risotto for a crowd. I can’t believe he did that! What an idiotic idea.
Oh, well. My enthusiasm is gone. I really don’t care who wins now. Neither will draw my viewing time. Bob and Susie have seen to it that all the potential joy of watching has been sucked out by all the freakin drama.
My Gawd, the only people missing from the dining panel were Amy Adams & Meryl Streep. And the flippin’ movie doesn’t come out for another 2 weeks? It’s been hyped more than Harry Potter or the Iron Man sequel.
From the time the biographies hit the ‘Net I picked Jeffrey to win. I didn’t give Melissa a second thought, but she’s been a dark horse all the way. I sort of feel cheapened by this season.
Don’t get your hopes up. They’ll just bring back Aaron McCargo at the last minute and he’ll win again.
I hate that I missed the live blogging last night. I’d just like to add that I would be so fucking pissed if Gina Neely criticized my cooking.
That’s all :)
I think Bob & Susie kept Debbie around this long because they had to. Love her or hate her, Debbie got people talking and kept a lot of people tuning into the show. Would you tune in to see what lame dish Jeffrey was cooking, or to see Melissa running around a kitchen like a chicken with her head cut off? I wouldn’t. Snore.
Jeffrey and Melissa are BORING, and Bob & Susie know it. They couldn’t hack it in the world of reality TV, where (like it or not) drama = interest = ratings. As a result, no one is really that invested in them or their life stories or their cooking point of views. Hardly anyone even mentioned the fact that Melissa’s mom committed suicide because people just don’t care!
Bottom line: “Boring” is the worst possible characteristic of a TV host, and that’s exactly what Jeffrey and Melissa are. In keeping Debbie around for ratings, Bob and Susie dug themselves a deeper hole: namely, NO ONE CARES WHO WINS THE SHOW. And once people become apathetic, you’re in trouble.
Food Network needs to hire a consultant to help them decide which people to bring on NFNS. They’re choosing the most awful people.
@Scoobie – I’m in agreement with you about the movie. HYPE HYPE HYPE. And I can guarantee it’s gonna be a dog. I’m sure it’s just me and my feelings regarding Julia Child, (my hero since I was 8 years old), but don’t even put that Hollywood spin on her, her life and her achievements. They may be able to apply makeup and wigs to make Streep look like Julia, but the rest is crap. IMHO.
@Jon McKenzie
No. They will bring back “I Quit/ No Mas! No Mas” Amy season 3 “winner”. She’s the original Mommy chef after all! She’ll come in on a flight from paris just before the voting and scream that she wants her show back
Oh wait. That’s mean. Which is why she “supposedly” did not take the second show (which I have doubts they even offered that boring slab of bland…)
Things we found out last night:
Debbie likes tough meat.
Debbie is Korean.
The Culinary “elite” includes, Tyler Florence, The Bitter Alex woman, the Neelys ?!!!!?
That Amy Adams is saccharin in actor form and in a just world she would not get any more work.
There is a Julia Child movie coming out soon.
Or should I say, there is a movie that involves julia child that some gal that hated her job glommed onto to her as a stunt gimmick and the lucky smuck got a movie deal out of it.
Is it only me who hates Amy Adams in the trailer? That weird haircut does nothing for her and the scene where she’s humping her horny hubby and has to “make a pear tart” is just weird. I mean just because you’re blogging your way through a cookbook doesn’t mean the rest of your life gets put on hold. I bet she stopped showering because she had to cook chicken cordon bleu.
Gah. The film looks horrible. I’s rather watch the real Julia Child than Meryl as Julia Child.
Maybe the Neelys were invited to serve guests, not eat with them. Culinary elite my ass.
Btw, I saw her BushPigness on Good Morning America this AM. That woman hoots and hollers more than a drunken coed on Spring Break. What a swine.
Anne Burrell looks like a total substance abuser. Maybe explains why she speaks like Kermit the Frog half the time.
Did Alex Guarnaschelli trade asses with Moms Mabley ?
Debbie on a plate x 10 and Korean’s like to gnaw on their food? How insulting to the Koreans! I’m so glad she’s gone. She may be Korean but she’s definitely classless.
So it looks like Jeff, the “Zen master chef” will likely win? Yay!
And without telling even one sad story of dead/sick parent/spouse/pet? Imagine that!
@Di
I think the key to his winning strategy was not revealing his Korean ancestry.
i hate debbie lee, i seriously started cheering when she was eliminated i was so happy
I KNEW that Shamu would be gone!
P.S. I was there, but they cleverly edited me out!
I dunno. That’s not the last we’ll be seeing of Debbie. I think Bobby will do a Throw Up….err,I mean, Throw Down, at her hot dog stand.
Just you wait. She’ll have her own show like that Adam guy does now, ‘Will Wor For Food’, or whatever the show is called.
Jeffery could rent the space on his forehead for a good buck.
“Cooking Without Boundaries brought to you by Golden Palace”
@Ugh – How about “Will Wok for Food” or “Will Wok your Dog”…
Ha Byrdie!! Oops! I forgot the k butt I like your titles better!
OK, so…am I the only one, when upon hearing Gina Neely say something like, “It’s missing…I dunno, something…” about Debbie’s short ribs who yelled, “LIKE BARBEQUE SAUCE?!” at her TV?
Anyone? Bueller?
Ugh, the “Will Wok Your Dog” is a perfect fit for that Korean chick’s new hot dog cart in LA. Wonder if she’ll wear her Korean Boots and her Korean black hose in the summer while she’s pushing her cart around in 95 degree weather?!? lol….
That challenge was the only one that even slightly resembled what they’ll have to do on a show. I’ll watch either Jeffrey or Melissa, and my family is split about 50-50 but I’m betting on Jeff for the win.
I was ripping apart my fridge last night looking for mousse ingredients and angry I’d forgotten bicotti.
I sure do wish someone from the FNH ruling class would finish the recap of this episode since the live blog went down. I really want to read about how the elimination took place!
Byrdie – I’m not a Melissa fan but I don’t find her story confusing at all.
Her mother was in the Navy and had kids at the same time (possibly divorced), she used the GI bill to go to College and needed a nanny to take care of her kids while in school (the GI bill also gives mothers in school a living expense and child-care allowance). Melissa’s mother committed suicide while Melissa attended college. Melissa lived in France for some time as an adult (many of us do for different reasons) because: A)She was a foreign exchange student. B)She took time off college to travel Europe. C)Her company transferred her to Europe, or she landed an overseas gig with a foreign company. D) She mentioned her mother-in-law is from Nice, perhaps she lived there with her hubby for awhile. She probably met hubby while living in Europe or traveling there. I met my ex while living in England, moved back to the US got married, then moved to Nice, moved back to the US and got divorced.
Does this clear up her story?
HA Byrdie!! Dem boots are made for walkin’…..yeah, right off the FN set and out into the street!
Hey, I just read that Dan Ackroyd turned down the role of Julia in that movie because they wouldn’t let him say, ‘Don’t forget to save the liver!”.
@Ugh – LMFAO! Just too funny!!!!
” @Di
I think the key to his winning strategy was not revealing his Korean ancestry. ”
HA he’s a cagey one, eh – but it works for me ; ) – all WILL be revealed . . .
sorry above response was to @designerjeans
(i’m still learning . . .)
Well, well, well. I AM SO PLEASED Deceitful, Deceptive Debbie is gone (Is she Co-Ree-Ann??!!). I am voting for Melissa all the way! I think Jeffrey’s “food without borders” is a crock, it’s just “food from south of the border”. Melissa is amazing, and real. I am high-fiving everyone over Debbie’s dive!!. For those of you who say who is a chef & who isn’t, well here’s the diff: Only someone who has graduated from an accredited culinary school–such as Le Cordon Bleu, C.I.A., etc, have the right to call themselves “chef”. Everyone else (i.e. Rachel Ray, et al, are “cooks”.
Go Melissa, Go Melissa, Go Melissa!!!
One more thing, I remember from the beginning, Debbie said “I don’t cook Korean, and I don’t speak a word of Korean”…yet another one of her clever lies…so glad she is gone baby gone….!
The whole ’shamu / fatso’ things kind of bothered me as well (and still do to a certain extent), but I agree that they are only really used because people already don’t like her personality. I mean think about Michael, he’s a bigger guy and I never saw anyone mentioning his weight. Why not? Possibly because he seemed like a genuinely nice guy rather than someone that repeatedly lied and tried to shift the blame.
So yeah, making fun of someones weight is a cheap elementary school thing to do, but if she hadn’t made herself quite unlikable I doubt anyone would be mentioning it the way they are.
I’m pretty sure the producers deliberately painted Debbie that way to create an arc in the show, and it really brings out the worst in the viewers. I especially like the comments about “going back to her rice paddy”, the “will wok for food”, the justification by EVERYONE that she deserves to be called Shamu, whale, fatso, because she’s fat AND irritating. Because what, Shamu was fat and irritating? Classy.
Well, I wasn’t really necessarily justifying people saying that, I was just saying that if she had been nicer (or shown in a nicer light) people wouldn’t be saying those things. But like I said it does still bother me, and it does seem like a 3rd grade ‘pick on the husky kid’ type of a thing. Kind of like the way everyone was mentioning Katies ‘bug eyes’.
And I agree that she was presented in a negative light on purpose by the show, which was confusing the heck out of me when it seemed like she was the pre-chosen winner (why show the person you want to win as a liar when you know they are going to be hated by everyone?) But then it just turned out they were making her into the villain of the series. :p
“…So yeah, making fun of someones weight is a cheap elementary school thing to do, but if she hadn’t made herself quite unlikable I doubt anyone would be mentioning it the way they are.”
Nail on the head here, CEPH! I called Debbie “Sumo Chef” mostly because she came across as a playground bully. Ina Garten is on the large side, too, but in no way is she unpleasant or threatening. In fact, Ina has been among my all-time FN favorites – along with the “Two Fat Ladies”. If Debbie had been honest, humble, and personable, size wouldn’t have mattered.
Two thoughts:
1. A Jeffrey/Melissa finale = a bland/blander finale.
2. Flay, don’t trash Jeffrey’s “culinary point of view” (I HATE THAT PHRASE!!!) too much. It seems pretty familiar to me. Like maybe an episode of “Boy Meets Grill.” Or possibly “Grill It.” Or maybe any other show you have on TVFN.
I’ve had some Korean food that was so spicy it was almost impossible to eat. I could never understand why, when week after week, Bobby Flay was on Debbie’s case to cook something with more Korean flavor, she never responded to the challenge. She should have taken the risk, just once, and made something that made Bobby Flay sit up, take notice and get a drink of water.
How long does this show take to film? It seems like a bunch of the contestants are gaining weight as the show goes on. It’s just more noticeable in Debbie’s case.
Jay, gina neeley said bangin, not really in response to any food, but what she was thinking about pat. I bet they were playin grab ass under the table.
The location of the dinner looked like it was in the same place the dinner was held on Cloud City in Empire Strikes Back.
I have liked Melissa since week one. I think she is fresh, interesting and for real! I do not dislike Jeffrey – He just bores me. I have been longing for Debbie to go home since her first lie on this show! I was so glad to see her leave!!!!!!!!!!! I hope Melissa wins. I do not have a very good record on this…usually the people I want to win do not win…but I really hope she wins. Anybody that can pull off two good pastries in one meal has my vote!
yes, calling a morbidly obese woman “fatso” is just awful…there’s absolutely nothing wrong with gluttonously stuffing food in your mouth until you are as wide as you are tall…why would anyone think that is amusing, *sob*…YOU CAN’T JUDGE ME…this is foodnetworkhumor.com, DO NOT LAUGH AT OTHER PEOPLE IT’S MEAN
*reads 50,000 entries calling sandra lee an alcoholic and ina garten a fag hag*
I have only seen the early shows but I am so glad Debbie is gone. Geez. Talk about lack of integrity. In all but one of the shows that I viewed, she either lied or misrepresented herself.
I did feel sorry for Debbie with those two guys helped her plate her dinner and then made it sound like they donated a kidney. If you didn’t want to help her, say no.
That said, Debbie is “too much.” Maybe she tones it down in the final episodes but I am with the earlier judge that said if I had to listen to her for 30 minutes, I would run out screaming.
And why do all the women cry when they get their feelings hurt. I did see some tears in a few male contestants’ eyes but so many of the women in these shows are all about “life’s not fair.” I want to add . . . “so? Is this a surprise?”
Jeff might not have STAR quality but at least he doesn’t cry, he is pleasant to everyone.
And THAT is why I prefer the Master Chef challenge. They don’t sabotage each other. They assist without telling the judges, “I sure did save her ass!” It is so much more enjoyable to watch because there isn’t the DRAMA.
Here’s the bottom line folks. They kept Debbie because of ratings. That doesn’t change the fact that a. she is Korean. She is. I knew her personally. b. a liar. She is. I knew her personally. c. that she has no integrity. She has none. I knew her personally. d. she isn’t that great of a cook. She isn’t. I knew her personally.
I say knew, because knowing her is a black spot on an otherwise great day. Feel free to verify this with any past Paragon Catering employee, her defunct and bankrupt catering company, which she makes no mention of. Curious, no? Maybe when her hot dog thing takes off we can all get the wages she owes us.