Hard to Believe They Didn’t Know
Posted on July 19, 2007 by Gary McCarty
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When it happened, I thought it was a set-up and that the producers of "The Next Food Network Star" knew all along.
What I’m referring to is the "sudden" discovery and disqualification of contestant Joshua Adam Garcia (who called himself [tag]JAG[/tag]) for lying about his background. Throughout the weekslong series, which I think I watched faithfully each week, JAG kept telling the judges that he didn’t like to "talk about my past." "I just love food" became his mantra.
Thus, on the penultimate segment when a note flashed across the screen about "months after filming," or some such, the show discovered that JAG had not served in Afghanistan as a Marine, nor had he finished his coursework at the New York Restaurant School, I was not shocked, but JAG was disqualified.
I can’t stand either of the two remaining contestants. One looks like she should model for toothpaste ads and the other like a patient for Dr. Phil or perhaps Dr. Freud himself. And this JAG guy was pretty overbearing himself.
In fact, I don’t think I liked even one of the contestants, not that the show’s track record is very good. The first winner, actually a tandem, did a lousy show for a season and quickly disappeared. [tag]Guy Fieri[/tag], numero duo, has done somewhat better and now has a second show in production and, in fact, participated in this debacle of a selection process.
Reportedly, the Army Times outted JAG, but I still think his deceit was part and parcel of the TV script all along–just to get a dramatic conclusion.
It won’t help. Whoever the winner is, this faux drama isn’t going to help her become a star. One season and out is about the best either of these two can do.
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4 Responses to “Hard to Believe They Didn’t Know”
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I agree. I think they did find out long before the end of filming and they saved it for a dramatic twist at the end. Unfortunately, for them the Army Times outted him before they could. I agree also with another commenter that I’ve read that they were way too generous with their comments on his dishonesty. I got the impression from the judges’ responses that if he hadn’t voluntarily resigned that they wouldn’t have asked for his resignation. Although, for JAG that was a very well-thought out and well-said response … makes me wonder if someone wrote it for him. But that’s reality TV.
I should’ve been clearer about how JAG was disqualified. You’re right. That scene where he disqualifies himself was a complete joke, and, I believe, part and parcel of the whole staged fakery of the show. As you say, it was “scripted reality.”
The funniest parts of those episodes was when Fogelman had to put on a good face for FoodTV and say that they do promote minority cooks. Whatever.
The second was watching Bobby Flay’s disgust at being in the same room as Rachel Ray. Watch the episode again to see how he flinches when saying Rach’s name. Or the look of frustration when sitting in the audience.
I find it impossible to believe that FN didn’t know before this. The network knows that in this day of “instant access” and bloggers “with nothing else to do” that someone would have come up this this sooner or later.
You mean to tell me that a network with great lawyers and researchers would do a crummy job vetting their contestants? If that’s true, then dollars-to-doughnuts someone in FN legal is in serious hot water.
This has “TV Wrestling” written all over it - not to mention that Paul and Adrien got totally hosed. Though, frankly, I don’t think any of this year’s crew have any real “star” quality about them - which guarantees the winner will be delegated to one season - airing 8:30 am on Saturdays.