Food Network got it wrong

I know all of these shows are taped in the winter time, and air a couple months after completion, but I'm watching some serious blunders on The Next Food Network Star season 5.

I've watched almost every show, and feel I know the contestants well, we know they can cook they would NOT be in the top 5 if they couldn't cook, it comes down to other issues outside of cooking.

Lets recap last night's show.

The bottom two 'finalists'

Debbie
Michael

Michael has admitted that he is afraid of the cameras, but it seems that the Food Network does not want to take the time to coach him to get him more camera friendly, this seems to me to be an out for his openly being a homosexual. I've seen worse people in front of the camera on Food Network, and they have taken the time to coach and work with them.

Which brings me to Debbie, who repeatedly says "I'm Korean", she can cook, we all know she can cook, she's proven that, but what is more important is that her honesty and integrity are non-existent.

I have quit watching shows because I feel they lack the integrity, especially competitions like this, its one reason I won't watch Top Chef anymore, the honesty and integrity just aren't there.

Food Network set a precedent with Jag, followed by Robert Irvine, followed by contestants from this season, Eddie Gilbert, and Teddy Folkman. Eddie was using Food Network Star's own recipes on the show when he should have been coming up with more of his own. Teddy had some of the same issues as Debbie with honesty, and trying to rewrite the days events, he went a week later, but now that brings us to Debbie, who seems to have a history of sabotaging her team mates, this wasn't an individual challenge they had last night, she claimed to have catering expertise, Jeffery put her in charge of expediting, and she did nothing. She left the work to Melissa and Jamika to put out NINE appetizers, while she putzed around and thought of nothing but herself. What made it worse was she tried to take credit for the success of the other 9 appetizers getting done when she had nothing ot do with it, keep in mind the events were recorded. If you think back to the first episode of this season the cake fiasco was on her, she was teh one who bought store bought angel food cake, glopped some preserves on top and then some whipped cream, and they had the audacity to cut someone who made a simple fresh green bean dish. Her integrity went out the window right then and there, and she proved she was in it for her and in it to win.
Bob Tuschman's blog stated he wanted Debbie to go Home, Susie wanted Debbie to go home, and it was Bobby Flay and Ted Allan that wanted her to stay because her dishes were exceptional....put the blinders on guys because that's all you want to see, is that the dishes were good, her attitude, non team player didn't fase them in the least.

Here's where I'm going to throw in my serious opinion. I think Food Network had predetermined from the start who was going to win. They have more than once said they need someone representing the Far East Cuisine.

But, is Debbie the one to do it? Personally I don't think so. She's a natural in front of the camera, but based on integrity issues, I won't watch her. The whole scenario makes me wonder if she isn't going to win because they are afraid if she loses she will file a law suit against them for discrimination. And if that is the case its really sad what America has come to because you can't choose someone based on talent and integrity you have to think every possible scenario, good and bad.

If anyone but Debbie is cut next week, I have to say that I will not watch the remainder of the show because it will give more credibility to the show is 'fixed', and not talent based.

So until next week
Mooch