# The Next Food Network Star - Season 6 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 7, 2010, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-next-food-network-star-season-6/542268 "2010-06-07T13:35:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![ministryman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@ministryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ministryman)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-next-food-network-star-season-6/542268/81 "2010-08-02T12:25:36Z")
So, I was wrong…Herb pulled himself out of the tailspin. Brad was the correct one to go; Aria has a camera presence; Brad is still Mr Deer-in-the-headlights. Unless Herb goes back into his funk, Aria will go home this week. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-next-food-network-star-season-6/542268/82 "2010-08-02T13:28:53Z")
So who is the favorite among “the oddsmakers,” if there is one? ---
**Author:** ![gwendee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/35a633/32.png) [@gwendee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gwendee)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-next-food-network-star-season-6/542268/83 "2010-08-02T13:50:53Z")
> [@Rebo](#): > > I think they should have cut Aria. I think she offers pretty much the same as we got from Melissa last year. And…since they’re now promoting a new show called family Style that doesn’t feature her I suspect Aria’s not the winner. I was sorry to see Brad go, but I’d support a Tom win. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-next-food-network-star-season-6/542268/84 "2010-08-02T14:26:39Z")
They kept freaking ARIA? Her potatoes were crunchy! And she’s not charismatic - she has no business getting a show! I wonder if they sometimes intentionally keep ‘villains’ around. OK, villains is overstating, but keeping people we like to hate. I would have liked either Aarti or Brad to get a show. I guess I’m hoping for Aarti - I’d like to learn about Indian food. That would be a useful show to add. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-next-food-network-star-season-6/542268/85 "2010-08-02T14:34:54Z")
Was it just me, or did the judges sound a little worried when discussing their remaining candidates right before announcing who got the axe? The tone of the statement that Aarti was the most camera-ready one of the bunch (and yet she keeps failing disastrously at times) sounded a bit strained, as if they were aware that this might be another season without a good show coming out of it. ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2010, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-next-food-network-star-season-6/542268/86 "2010-08-03T01:56:59Z")
Yikes! Didn’t see that coming. Moon-faced Aria must be doing someone at the network, because I don’t see how she survived. I still think Brad will have a traveling chef show, though. S Never thought I’d say this, but Aarti is starting to bug me a little. Get some freakin’ confidence, stat. And the “Aarti Party” concept is dumb. Yes, the words rhyme. Doesn’t mean that the title’s clever, or even makes sense. Tom is really turning this thing around. He went from nonentity to possible winner. Still think Aarti has this in the bag. Herb had a good week but he’s going down soon. Don’t think that’s going to be pretty… ---
**Author:** ![gwendee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/35a633/32.png) [@gwendee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gwendee)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2010, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-next-food-network-star-season-6/542268/87 "2010-08-03T02:04:22Z")
> [@Hippy\_Hollow](#): > > Never thought I’d say this, but Aarti is starting to bug me a little. Get some freakin’ confidence, stat. And the “Aarti Party” concept is dumb. Yes, the words rhyme. Doesn’t mean that the title’s clever, or even makes sense. When Suzie (?) said essentially “this opportunity doens’t come with a staff of psychologists telling you you’re good enough before each episode” I thought that was telling. It’s not as much of a lock as it looked like earlier in the season. ---
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2010, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-next-food-network-star-season-6/542268/88 "2010-08-03T03:48:06Z")
Oh Aarti please find some confidence. Please, please, please. You don’t suck and your food looks intriging and good. Go away Suzie. You praise cringe worthy Herb for his family sob story tie in and then chew out Aarti for doing the exact same thing. ---
**Author:** ![GrnEyedQT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f08c70/32.png) [@GrnEyedQT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrnEyedQT)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-next-food-network-star-season-6/542268/89 "2010-08-04T01:20:50Z")
I think they either want Herb or Aarti to win because of their ethnicity…especially Aarti because she’s Indian and they don’t have that…they’ve already got a few guys like Tom…and too many like Aria already…so if Aarti can get some self-confidence she’ll probably win…I’m pretty sure some of the judges would like to give it to Herb…but he’s not ready and they know it…it would be easier to work with Aarti and help her build up her confidence…but Herb needs some serious therapy before he’s ready…his whole cooking point of view has very little to do with what he loves to cook it has to do with the fact that the food he really loves made him fat and he can’t let that go and cook what he really knows and loves…Cuban food…which I would love to learn how to cook…somebody really did a number on him. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-next-food-network-star-season-6/542268/90 "2010-08-09T05:16:51Z")
And then there were three. I think they made the right choice. Tom really swung for the fences this week. Too bad the dishes all sucked. ---
**Author:** ![LH75](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lh75/32/4438_2.png) [@LH75](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LH75)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-next-food-network-star-season-6/542268/91 "2010-08-09T12:19:44Z")
True, but on Iron Chef, a swing and a miss is better than watching the pitches go by hoping for a walk… ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-next-food-network-star-season-6/542268/92 "2010-08-09T15:14:41Z")
Definitely. That’s what saved his ass. They respected that he actually took the challenge, as opposed to Aria, who wussed out and just dabbled with the bacon. I would watch any of the Final Three’s shows. ---
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-next-food-network-star-season-6/542268/93 "2010-08-09T16:55:40Z")
Aarti for the win. My husband called Herb me llamo Jerkwad yesterday and he’s right. I can’t stand watching him. He looks so uncomfortable in his own skin. I still have no idea who Tom is and I don’t care. Aarti amused me. The judges kept sitting there whining about how she wasn’t getting anything done. She’s not an idiot. She knew shrimp cooks quickly and she took the time to really think about her dishes before she made them. Brava. Aria couldn’t get off my screen fast enough. She was rude to Alton and made unappetizing dishes. ---
**Author:** ![Angel\_of\_the\_Lord](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/angel_of_the_lord/32/2949_2.png) [@Angel\_of\_the\_Lord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angel_of_the_Lord)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-next-food-network-star-season-6/542268/94 "2010-08-09T18:06:27Z")
I’m actually pretty happy with this final three. Last year, I didn’t think I’d be interested in any of their shows; this year, I’d give any of them at least a watch or two. Glad they got rid of Aria, though. The stuff she made for the challenge wasn’t anything I couldn’t make. And I don’t mean, “anything I couldn’t make given the recipe.” I mean, “anything I couldn’t come up with in five minutes in my kitchen, even given my currently mediocre level of both skills and culinary creativity.” I also didn’t see that alleged camera goodness; she just seemed too fake and aggressively smilely. Meh. ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-next-food-network-star-season-6/542268/95 "2010-08-09T18:37:13Z")
> [@LavenderBlue](#): > > Aria couldn’t get off my screen fast enough. She was rude to Alton and made unappetizing dishes. When was she rude? I was only half-watching. Her food was extremely lacking. Tom’s food was way out there! Bacon steak? I still like him though. I can’t remember what Herb made. He’s very forgettable. Aarti’s going to win. Her food must have been awesome to have all the Iron Chefs praising her dishes so highly! ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-next-food-network-star-season-6/542268/96 "2010-08-09T19:21:49Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > And then there were three. I think they made the right choice. They chose the right person to go home, but I think the win should have gone to Herb. Herb is not my favorite, I don’t want him to win it all, I’m not really impressed with either his “Point of View” or his personality. But he’s the only one who pulled off both sides of the Iron Chef challenge. Aarti’s food was great, but she was a dud on the camera side and Tom was engaging, but apparently threw 3 inedible dishes out there. (Aria failed both). Herb got robbed. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-next-food-network-star-season-6/542268/97 "2010-08-09T19:26:43Z")
No he didn’t. He failed the food side badly. Two dishes does not a win make. Aarti stomped him so hard in the food challenge that no amount of camera presence (or lack thereof) was going to give him the win. ---
**Author:** ![xenophon41](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xenophon41/32/253_2.png) [@xenophon41](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xenophon41)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-next-food-network-star-season-6/542268/98 "2010-08-09T20:02:06Z")
Also, although Aarti’s floor reporting sucked, her “push” was excellent, and she’s natural in front of the camera. The judges’ worry with Herb seems to be that he’s a bit of a dud when he’s speaking directly to the viewer. Not so good in a tv personality. ---
**Author:** ![GrnEyedQT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f08c70/32.png) [@GrnEyedQT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrnEyedQT)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-next-food-network-star-season-6/542268/99 "2010-08-10T12:14:35Z")
Aarti may be insecure, however, winning will give her all the confidence she needs…everybody knows she can cook…she’s got a great personality…all she needs is a chance…there is no one on Food TV like her…there are already enough people like Tom and Herb…personally I would not enjoy watching either of them…I hope she wins. ---
**Author:** ![GrnEyedQT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f08c70/32.png) [@GrnEyedQT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrnEyedQT)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-next-food-network-star-season-6/542268/100 "2010-08-16T02:46:08Z")
Congratulations Aarti…you are the Next Food Network Star!!! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-next-food-network-star-season-6/542268.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-next-food-network-star-season-6/542268.md?page=6)