The Same Food Network Star

Last night was the season finale of The Next Food Network Star and the winner would receive a shot at culinary fame by having their own series on Food Network. In the finale challenge contestants Melissa D'Arabian and Jeffery Saad shot pilots for their potential show. Melissa is a stay at home mom who used "kitchen survival tips" as her culinary point of view while Jeffery, a former restaurant owner used "ingredient smuggler" as his pilot theme.

Both contestants performed well throughout the competition and were worthy of their own series, but isn't the winner controversial just by the title of the show? The show is called "The Next Food Network Star" but isn't Melissa "The Same Food Network Star" we have seen for several years now? Melissa is not a trained chef and she focuses on quick easy tips to help you create your meal. She also has the typical "nice mom look". Does this sound like any one else on Food Network?













I really think this is a bad, lazy move by Food Network. It feels like they decided to pick someone who can step right in and shoot a series based on their other successful programs like Semi Home Made (Sandra Lee) or 30-Minute Meals (Rachel Ray). Not to take anything away from the stay at home mom who comes up with inventive ideas on how to make easy meals, but there are plenty of viewers who would like to see something new.

Jeffery wanted to show us how to take one ingredient that most American's aren't familiar with and incorporate it into some of our favorite foods. Nothing fancy, nothing difficult, just something new and exciting. Isn't that what The Next Food Network Star is about? Finding the person who is forward thinking and brings something new to Food Network?

I do wish Melissa luck and I'm sure I will end up watching her show, I'm just not very excited for it. Even if Jeffery Saad never gets a show on the Food Network I hope they follow through with some version of his "Ingredient Smuggler" because I would love to learn how to incorporate something new and exciting into my meals.