The Next Food Network Star: Why I’m Ready for An “Aarti Party”
Commentary by Donna Emery
August 9, 2010
This week on The Next Food Network Star, the final four contestants had an Iron Chef-style battle in order to pare the group down to the final three.
Aria, whose effervescent personality has bordered on grating for me throughout the season, finally went home.
Aria seemed like a nice enough lady; and her enthusiasm for her style of cooking was apparent. I just didn’t think her talent potential was as high as some of the other contenders’. (Including some who have already been sent home.)
That leaves us with the top three of Aarti, Tom and Herb. I have been an Aarti Fan since day one. And although Tom and Herb have had some good moments, I don’t think either of them can touch Aarti; as regards star potential.
To be honest, if I’d had to predict the finalists, during the early part of the competition, I never would have chosen Tom. On the first week, when he put on that ridiculous yellow rain slicker and clowned up his promo, I figured he was there for comic relief and would soon be sent packing. When he stayed on, I was surprised and a bit disgruntled.
But Tom has proved he has the right to be there. His personality is engaging. His concept: (The Big Cooking Show) is appealing and his likeable mannerisms have grown on me. Last week, when he won his first elimination challenge, I saw his real potential. Although his kitchen skills aren’t as polishes as his competitors’, and this week’s offerings were universally disliked, he has lots of creativity and is willing to try anything. This week, when he did commentary for Aarti’s Iron Chef segment, he shone for the camera in a way that none of the others (including Aarti) were able to do. I can see him having fans and attracting an audience.
As for Herb, he’s shown promise since the beginning. His show concept (Cooking Con Sabor) is an idea whose time may have come. He can charm many different types of audiences (as past episodes have shown us) but his efforts in the kitchen have been inconsistent. He’s also had a few weeks when his on-screen personality has wavered. Herb is an interesting guy to watch, and he’d be a great guest on someone else’s show, but I can’t see him carrying a show for an entire season.
But I think Aarti can.
She lit up the screen; from the first week forward. Her smile is incandescent. Her voice is enchanting. And, most of the time, her cooking was enjoyable. I find myself looking forward to the parts of the show that she is on; and, even on the weeks when she fell short, I’ve rooted for her to stay, and win it all. If she has a weakness, it’s in her occasional lack of self-confidence, when she is in less-than-familiar territory. It’s as if her lack of spontaneity saps her of her charm and skill, when responding to on-camera surprises) This is an important element to the competition and is certainly a factor in the judges’ ultimate decision. If anything deprives her of the win for this season, it will be this.
But I think her amazing personality – and its ability to draw admiring fans – should cause the judges to overlook this flaw and give Aarti a chance to do her “party”.
Because that’s a show I’d watch. And I don’t think I’m alone.
Who do you like to win this contest? Write me at mrsed4ever@yahoo.com, and let me know.
Donna is a nurse and teacher, and a mother of 5. She lives in Pennsylvania and is admittedly addicted to many reality shows. You can reach her at mrsed4ever@yahoo.com.
Send Press Releases, Tips, News, Gossip:Click Here
All articles are the intellectual property of and copyrighted by the individual authors.
By submitting an article to Reality TV Calendar you are granting Reality TV Calendar
permission to display the article in perpetuity.
