Tonight on Food Network Star, the remaining contestants had to
create an Italian themed dish from Buitoni products. They were put into groups of two and in a twist, had to present their opponents dish rather than their own. After this challenge, everyone was divided into two teams of three to film a three minute food story show. One team did a show about a pizza place, while the other did a show about a donut shop.This was also the episode where the winner of Star Salvation re-entered the competition as well. Continue reading to see who won Star Salvation and also for a quick recap of tonight's episode along with the contestant that was eliminated.
Lovely was the winner of Star Salvation and rejoined the competition tonight. Here is how everyone fared on this episode:
Stacey Poon-Kinney - Had to present Rodney's dish and ran a bit short on time. On the 2nd challenge, she wouldn't let the donut shop owner get many words in. Way too excited. Cried despite winning the challenge.
Russell Jackson - Presented Nikki's dish and tried to talk about his sins. Pauses between a lot of his words and sentences as usual, but did pretty good on the intro for the pizza shop.
Rodney Henry - Presented Stacy's dish and said sweet about 10 times, and nothing else. Revealed he wants to travel for his show, so wants to be the next Guy Fieri. Got to talk about another type of pie, a pizza pie. Once again is hard to understand.
Nikki Dinki - Presented Russell's dish and won the first challenge by preforming the best. She got to pick her two team members for the 2nd challenge. With having done hosting in the past, she seemed like a natural during the 2nd challenge.
Lovely Jackson - Presented Damaris's dish and used the usual Lovely adjectives. On the 2nd challenge, she had to interview two lifeless pizza shop customers.
Damaris Phillips - Had to present Lovely's dish and told a story instead of talking about the dish. Did a good job on her introduction for the donut shop segment.
Nikki being able to pick her team of her, Stacey, and Damaris ended up working out as their team had the better presentation and made them all safe from elimination.
That meant someone from the pizza shop team (Lovely, Rodney, Russell) would be eliminated tonight. After the judges deliberated, they decided to send home Lovely. So much for Star Salvation doing anything for the show besides dragging out the competition an extra week. Somehow Rodney and Russell keep squeaking by week-after-week.
What were your thoughts on the elimination tonight?
Should have been Rodney.
ReplyDeleteWhat was the point of Star Salvation then?
ReplyDeleteWhy? Lovely was too much, but she was given a crap job, there was no comparison
ReplyDeleteDidn't like her before, didn't like her tonight. Danushka had it right about someone calling themselves "Lovely." Was very surprised that Chad didn't make it back - he at least attempted to be creative last week.
ReplyDeleteI don't get what they see in Rodney, he is very schticky and gets on my nerves. However, I was glad to see Lovey go if for no other reason than maybe they will rethink the whole Star Salvation thing next season.
ReplyDeleteRussell is not that great but my god is he hot! Very easy on the eyes.....
As I see it, one team had a crappy owner and a good customer (interview wise) while the other team had fun owed but lifeless customers. Obviously in the real works you would try to get better customers but she also could have gotten more out of them
ReplyDeleteThere was none - it was completely pointless. I don't know why they do stuff like this, just a waste of time. I really think this has been one of the worst years ever for this show. I am beginning to think this show has ran its course. Aarti was a terrible winner, Justin doesn't even have a show, I couldn't even tell when Aaron and Jeff's shows are on. I am beginning to think the FN is content showing reruns of DDD, RI, and Chopped all day / everyday.
ReplyDeleteYes kids it turns out Star Salvation was just a big metaphor for this entire show. But on the bright side we did get a relatively entertaining 30 Minute commercial for Buitoni pasta and touch faucets.
ReplyDeleteI agree that Star Salvation was worthless--who cared that Lovely came back? Fortunately, she did an about face and left. Everything with her was 'party on a plate' blah, blah, blah. Nikki and Damaris both did well this episode; Stacey faltered, which was surprising. Rodney will get cut, because I frankly don't see how you can build a cooking show entirely around pies, and I can never understand what he's saying. Russell just doesn't have the camera presence, and even though he did better this week, he himself said he has been up for elimination six times--correct?
ReplyDeleteFrom the final three,I thought for sure that Stacey was going to win it, but I think it's going to be between Damaris and Nikki.
One of the reasons I liked Danushka, she said things as they were & didn't play for the camera. That being said- she was awful on camera.
ReplyDeleteWish they made a top 14 or somthing instead of having "Star Salvation." Hated Lovely when she was on the show, and this week re-flamed that fire. Her POV has to be one of the worst on FNS history. I'm exited for an all female top 3. So much dead weight this season...
ReplyDeleteAre you kidding? He's Guy Fieri 2.0! They've already got a drive-around-and-eat show lined up for him, I guarantee it.
ReplyDelete"Sandwich King" is on Sunday mornings usually, and it's getting good ratings.
ReplyDeleteThe ratings for "Star" are pretty high. When you look at it as an advertisement for the network, rather than a competition to find a new host, the decisions make more sense.
As someone from Kentucky I really hope that Damaris wins. Every week she has a viewing party at a restaurant in Louisville. She is very sweet and answers many peoples questions on facebook and has posted recipes that people has asked her for. Out of all the contestants she has been the one that I like the most.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking that Chad should have won, but something tells me he wouldn't have fared any better in today's challenge. I think he would have gotten eliminated last night too. At any rate the whole Star Salvation thing was a COMPLETE and UTTER waste of time.
ReplyDeleteCan we just wrap this up and give Nikki and Damaris a couple of shows and call it good?
ReplyDeleteThere was nothing wrong with the donut shop owner. Stacey simply did not ask him questions or allow him to talk; rather, every time he opened his mouth, she spoke over him. He was not a "crappy owner" in any way, shape, or form. Lovely essentially gave up when the customers in the pizza shop were so laconic rather than soliciting further comments by asking them questions. She might have asked what their favorite toppings were, how often the came to Vito's, or how long they'd been patrons, but instead, she pretty much gave up the ghost.
ReplyDeleteWe'll never know, of course, but when Giada said that the vote wasn't unanimous, I figured that the dissenter was Alton and that he wanted rid of Rodney. He hasn't been happy with him for awhile now.
ReplyDeleteLovely was basically brought back for the purpose of this stupid video stunt, then sent back again. What a waste. I also find it hard to believe that she beat out all the other talented cooks in the "Salvation" challenge - Viet, Chris, Chad, etc. Viet would still be in the running if Bobby Flay didn't have a grudge against him. The winner is clearly going to be Nikki or Stacey. It's so obvious. Food Network Star statistically "needs" a female winner anyway.
ReplyDeleteWhy are the judges not mentoring the contestants? They seemed so much more involved last season. I loved a bit of competition between the judges. This year the judges are boring and there are some contestants who could not ever have a show of their own. They still freeze up even though they have been in front of the same group and film crew for the entire season! Why did they change the format?
ReplyDeleteI agree that it may be a top 3 with women this season.. although Russell and Rodney had their highs, theyve been having more lows overall than Stacey, Nikki, and Damaris (combined even!)... although i do think Russell has more of a cutting edge idea for a show, I just dont see him keeping it consistent since hes been rather up and down the whole season. His show and personality though I can totally see on Cooking Channel so if he fails here we may just see him there... Rodney i dont think will survive next week.. i agree with many that hes had his due for a few now... i mean its the same problems with him: too much of a 'cool' talker to actually talk and get the point across. Although I did have hope for him early on in the comp, hes just plateued out... Rodney can fit in with the Food Network Personalities naturally but the competition is just showing he may not be as ready as he hoped.
ReplyDeleteThis has been one unusual season because out of the three women left i wouldnt mind either winning... they each have an element of likeability and their own unique pov to bring to the table so i say its any of their game.. Nikki could win it because shes a natural on camera and in front of a crowd but also her 'veggie with meat on the side' thing is pretty unique and i would get into that.. Damaris was the dark horse and now has caught up with Nikki and Stacey.. I believe her whole package can work so well on Food Network.. it wouldnt be surprising if they want a fresher southern belle to make up for the controversial loss of Paula Deen to the channel. And Stacey is the endeering one with unique quirky ideas that i can see a wider audience getting into.. though her recent nerves do scare me, but a lot of the times she seems to doubt herself more and she needs to give herself more credit because she is also a whole package of camera-ready skills, personality, and cooking capabilities.
Salvation was a set up for Stacy. Stacy and Robert Irvine know eachother from Restaurant impossible. Robert might have even gotten Stacy on the show.
ReplyDeleteThe point of it all was a safety net for her. If she fails, Robert can push her threw. If she doesnt; pass the weakest chef to make the competition easier.
Meanwhile, the viewers are thinking "Star Salvation is so cool! Nvm they passed the worst chef,its so stupid!" Which is a great cover up reason to not use Star Salvation in season 10.
Noted that Stacy said "WE MUST WIN" along with some beads of sweat. Probably because she knew that she no longer has safety. Now you're probably thinking, "Why would Robert Irvine go threw so much trouble for one girl?" Its not so much him, but food network itself.
Food Network sends one of their most iconic chefs to go help a struggling restaurant. He transforms and has produced a miracle (Stacy's Restaurant has been doing great ever since Restaurant Impossible btw). This common womans family has been saved by food network and now she has a solid shot at becoming the next Food Network Star! Food Network should be your one and only destination for a culinary uplifting!
Its the over all image Food Network is after. Im quite sure that the finalist will be Nikki, Daneras, and Stacy. They need Nikki who has been doing great. Along with her "meat on the side" out look because Food Network is lacking in the field of vegetarians. Daneras fills the slot for Southern food. And Stacy is Food Networks product child -to which they may have already endorsed a lot of money into her business.
Who ever they pick will be who the Food Network thinks they can make the most money and ratings off of. Not that its a bad thing, its just business. But tv show competitions are never fun when someone is playing with weighted dice.
If they even get a show. Bear in mind Justin won last season and got one episode of a show and since then....
ReplyDeleteWith Susie and Bob MIA most of the season, these guys haven't been hammered on the "culinary point of view" like all the other contestants were. Nikki is pretty much the only one with a clear cut show concept, an idea that's missing from the current FN lineup (I'm ignoring Rodney here because "pie guy" is not a concept, it's a nickname). I like Damaris, but not sure what her show would look like. Stacey is trying too hard at this point. Russell's a hottie, but they've said a few times that his cooking skills aren't up to snuff, so the best he can hope for is a drive-around show on Cooking Channel, where they tend to banish the "edgy" hosts.
ReplyDeleteFrom what I observed last year, I'm not surprised there are no "teams" this year. Speculating, I think maybe an ego or two was bruised and it was probably requested that not to happen again. In the current format, everyone is wonderful and there are no losers because there is no competition. Not nearly as interesting or exciting but definitely safer and easier for the actual FN stars. It's also possible that's not the case and the producers just decided to give the contestants more of a chance to shine on their own. I don't really like the team challenges because there's too much opportunity for sabotage. I'd rather see the contestant sink or swim on their own merit. That said, I'm already ready for next season. This one kinda fell a notch or two. I'm not jumping for joy to see a show by any of these people. They need to do something, though. Apparently, the network is not happy enough with most of what they have to even air it. Like someone else said, it's RI, Chopped, and Triple D on 40 times a week each. All great shows that I DVR (new episodes only) and love, but geez... where's Justin's show? Where's some excitement? Where's a show like Emeril's was with food, guests, and music? Hopefully the new seasons will be here soon. I'm ready for Great Food Truck Race to come back. Seems like it's been gone forever.
ReplyDeleteYeah, and I saw some black helicopters too.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad he doesn't have a show; Justin gets on my nerves.
ReplyDeleteI felt a little bad for Stacey though because she was trying to hurry the owner along to fit everything into 60 seconds, which unfortunately came off as her talking over him.
ReplyDeletewhy is Russel still here??
ReplyDeleteThis episode was such a disappointment. It was a complete waste of an episode where we are still left with the same 5 people as last week. If they felt the need to do this star salvation crap, then they should of had 2 people up for elimination this week that way the Star Salvation winner *Lovely* could of still had the opportunity to stay & "change the game" & we could be where we're supposed to be at this point in the show. That being said, thank God Lovely was eliminated though. Her attitude is awful. I'm just upset because I was hoping this would finally be the episode where Russell goes home. The only thing he's been rebelling against is winning. He's cool & you can see he's trying, but he barely ever gets it right. He tries, but he does it in the wrong way i.e: bringing up his sinful POV (that he finally chose) at the pizzeria. Honestly though, I'm not sure any of them are FNS. Stacey & Nikki are boring. Damaris is never consistent. I love Rodney to death, but he doesn't focus on his food as much as he should when he's presenting & Russell, to me is just all wrong. I don't get him or his food really & as Alton said, I'm not convinced that he's as good of a chef as he thinks he is.
ReplyDeleteI don't think she was ever invested in them in the first place to be honest. Like one the critics said, she wasn't even listening to them. It's like she had an automated question & response for them, but didn't really care about the answer. She hardly gave them eye contact. It's not like Faith (the little girl) had much to say either. She named 2 donuts, but Nikki was engaged & genuine.
ReplyDeleteReally?! Russell is so hard to look at in my opinion lol. I respect your opinion & I'm not making fun of you or anything. I just find it funny, because I've always felt the exact opposite. On Rodney, like Alton said, he's not schticky, that's just him! Rodney is just himself & even though sometimes it's over the top, that's him & he's genuine & lovable. I love him, but I don't see him winning. He's so much of himself that he seems unwilling to bend to anything else. Which is fine, but it won't get you on The Food Network.
ReplyDeleteWhat's funniest is that there was nothing "party on a plate" It looked like food, good food, but nothing "party" about it. I don't even think she knows what she's talking about with that whole party on a plate crap.
ReplyDeleteYES! I was thinking the same thing. I was just confused as to how she possibly beat out Viet. Bobby Flay couldn't even beat him.
ReplyDeleteTalk about sliding through a competition. I think that's the most times I've ever seen anyone in the bottom on any reality TV show.
ReplyDelete