TVSquad

I called it back when the competition started. I wasn't surprised at all when the announcement was made.
Like I said earlier, I could easily watch either one of them in a food network show. I don't think Alton's suggestion was helpful for the show's title. It almost seemed like some kind of sabotage. "Ingredient Smuggler"??!? If they had actually made a show with that title, I can imagine the US customs people would have been all over it for giving people the impression they can bring foodstuffs from other countries to the US without difficulty by hiding it in their suitcases.(yes I know some manage it , but it's still illegal and to promote it is unethical)
The shows seemed rushed and frantic but I suppose when you have to get all your info into a five minute show it's going to feel that way.
Either way I am looking forward to what they will do with both contestants, cause you know they will have shows for both of them eventually.

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Predicted a Melissa win when Debbie got kicked off the week before. Debbie was really the only one of the top three with a "real" concept. She would've aced that portion of the finale and with her natural charms in front of a camera, would've probably wowed with her pilot as well.

So when Debbie was cut, I knew it would go to Melissa. Her momentum has been building since those shaky first few episodes. Plus the judges are just enamored by Melissa's kernels of wisdom even more so than they are by Jeff's charms. Plus you're right "Kitchen Survival Guide" is way more marketable than "Ingredient Smuggler." What was Alton thinking? Poor Jeff. Though probably not since he'll probably have his own show as well and he doesn't have to do his first episode in a week's time. Yikes.

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While Melissa became favorite in the last few weeks I was a little surprised she was the network's choice. That being said, the suits at FN would be idiots to let Jeffrey get away from them.

What I think it came down to was branding strategy. Of the two, I think FN felt Melissa was a better brand; one that would appeal to their audience and one that would be easily marketable.

I think both of them did a really good job, but I agree with "wulfn1," Ingredient Smuggler was the most stupid title ever. Kitchen Survival Guide really fit Melissa's culinary POV and her style; it's also marketable in many ways -- I can already picture the kitchen gadget line. The idea of taking one ingredient and using it in easy to prepare foods is also a really good idea, but I didn't think it was executed well in the pilot presentation. I also don't think Jeffrey gave the better performance.

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remember that both Aaron and Adam got shows from last year -- Adam's just wasn't premiered the next week (and is/was a better show, even if it is a personality show and not a cooking show). At least Aaron got renewed, unlike Amy or the Hearty Boys.

Adam's show was NOT his pilot, although they've used the idea from Adam's pilot for a different host. So I, like everyone else, expect to see Jeffrey on a show relatively soon. And the idea for Jeffrey's show was good, but I agree: how did that name and concept ever get past the network's lawyers and consultants? using new or exotic ingredients in a more familiar recipe is a very nice idea. If Jeffrey doesn't do it as a show, expect them to have someone else do it eventually.

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I am looking forward to Melissa's show, I was really impressed with her and her tips. I liked Jeffrey a lot, too, esp in the beginning, but he fell off a bit for me at the end. I am interested in his show too, but I wanted more info - like what was that ingredient made of? What does it taste like? But I def thought it was the right top 2 and a good season.

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I was very happy with the finalists. It did, however, prove that Bobby Flay has the last word. He liked Melissa, but not Jeffrey. Susan and Bob liked Jeffrey. No democracy there.

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I would like to MAKE her Chicken recipe and I would like to have HIM make me his sandwich...both meals were wonderfuld but I'm not sure where someone in a rural area is going to get a spice from Africa...I don't know where I'd get it in a Metropolitan area...there lies the difference and the Networks choice was right.

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Becki - I'm with you. Loved Jeffery's approach, but have no idea where I'd get an exotic ingredient here in the midwest.

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Unlike in past years, this year Bob, Susie, and Bobby had both a hard decision and an easy decision. The hard decision was, of course, "which one is best". But in some ways this was their easiest decision ever, because IMHO it wasn't possible for them to make a BAD decision this year. In every previous season, each of the two (or three) finalists carried some measure of risk. This season, both of the finalists related well to the food, to the camera, and to other people. Both brought tasty meals to the table. If Jeffrey had only used orzo instead of trying the risotto...

I also agree with a previous post. The Food Network should make room for Jeffrey, just as they did for Adam Gertler and "Will Work For Food". Something... ANYTHING. He's a starter - put him in the game.

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Ho Hum .... Melissa brings nothing new to the Food Network lineup. It's more of Rachel, Sandra, Aida .... Jeffrey would have added a different take on ingredients - something "exotic". I agree "Ingredient Smuggler" was a bad title, perhaps something more in the vein of, and yes I hate to even go there "Spice Up Your Life".

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I understand why they chose Melissa. Though I think she is less talented than Jeffrey, she probably appeals to a larger percentage of FN's customer base, and her concept is marketable. It's also pretty dull in my opinion. I've seen shows that address what Melissa is trying to accomplish, and the internet is flooded with recipes that do just this.

Personally, I like Jeffrey's concept and even the title, 'Ingredient Smuggler'. I don't think it was really intended to suggest that one should go to foreign countries and illegally smuggle ingredients. Can I go down to Wal-Mart and purchase harissa? Probably not. A simple amazon search turns up several options though, so it's not as if it isn't accessible. I guess I'm in the minority here, but I was looking forward to Jeffrey's show and have no interest in Melissa's. I hope FN finds a place for him!

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I'd say they went with safe, but not the best.

Melissa's concept is safe but deadly boring and a bit of a rehash of what they already have in Sandra Lee and others. Her pilot felt so overly familiar it could have been a clip from some show already on the air. The tips are fine, but they were no more inspired than the raft of information in places like Good Housekeeping and Gladd commercials.

Jeffrey's pilot was far more interesting and engaging. The judges gave it the biggest nod they could when they said it not only made them hungry, it made them want to go out and try what was being demonstrated. That's what keeps viewers coming back.

The title could use a little tweaking, but was headed in the right direction; it was the kind of concept their marketing and production people could have easily refined into some as memorable as the show itself. As for accessibility, it took exactly ten seconds on google shopping to find not only dozens of places to order his ingredient from, but the exact product used in the pilot was one of the first results returned. There's not really much that's hard to find and obtain in the age of the internet, just about wherever you are.

C'est la vie.

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Perhaps I am the minority, but, though I watch the Food Network often, I very rarely cook what I see on the shows. I look to these programs to inspire my dishes, not create them. I will, in fact, be making a mint and sundried tomato mayonaise this week.

Jeffrey's idea was far more original and came with, in my opinion, more expertise. I hope that he will also get his own program, because I don't see the legs with her concept.

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