The folks at The Food Network have gone and chosen another unremarkable and unmarketable winner for the “Next Food Network Star.” Tonight Aaron McCargo, Jr. was crowned this season’s winner, and his first show will be on the air NEXT WEEK.
Aaron McCargo, Jr., Winner of “Next Food Network Star”
My guess is that his show will last only a few episodes before fading out. There was nothing unique about it. The “big, bold flavors” concept has been done and redone numerous times. His “culinary viewpoint” is same old-same old. He seems like a nice guy - and he certainly seems likeable, but I don’t see anything that sets him apart from any other everyday cook.
I’m still sad that Lisa Garza didn’t win. She was hands-down the most qualified and the most interesting contestant. In my opinion, she could have had the most success with a Food Network show. I have a feeling, though, that Lisa will go on to do great things. I would have TiVoed her show and watched it every time. I will probably watch Aaron’s show a time or two just to see how it goes, but I doubt it will hold my interest beyond that.
I’m not surprised at their choice, though. Last year’s finale was a disaster. The Food Network doesn’t have a very good record when it comes to selecting winners. The gay couple that won the first season are no longer taping shows, although reruns are still shown at times when insomniacs are the only ones watching. The second year’s winner, Guy Fieri, has been their one success story. Last year’s winner, Amy Finley, had just about the most boring cooking show I’ve ever seen. I made myself watch it twice before giving up on it.
I’m not surprised that Adam Gertler didn’t win. Adam’s show as contrived and fake. The internet caller was so perky and scripted. It was a good idea for a show, though. At least his idea was something different. Lisa’s show was something different. Aaron’s show was absolutely nothing different. I just wonder at the decision making process of the selection committee.
Congratulations, Aaron. I truly hope you prove me wrong because you seem like a really nice guy and you have such a nice looking family.
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July 28th, 2008 at 12:28 am
You’re completely wrong. Lisa was very uncomfortable to watch. Her nerves made ME nervous. She came across as very fake and pretentious. I mean, her whole “sophisticated” thing is so annoying. This show is supposed to be about simple food that appeals to everyone. All of her food is pretentious fancy stuff that most people have never even heard of . Remember her episode with the girl scout on rachel ray? She was horrible. Does she really expect us to believe that a 7 year old girl wants to eat steak with horse radish and couscous? Oh please.
She does not connect with the camera at all and she takes her “sophisticated” thing too far. And has anyone noticed her glare, when she makes her eyes all squinty and mean looking? My whole family has noticed its so annoying.
Adam and Aaron were my favorites from the start of the season.
July 28th, 2008 at 1:29 am
Unremarkable? What do you smoke and can I buy some? Martha Stewart liked him. Morimoto liked him. His cooking was hands-down consistent and well-liked by all. Lisa Garza doesn’t even have input into the menu on the restaurant she co-owns.
July 28th, 2008 at 2:04 am
I completely agree with you. Personally, I thought Lisa did the best.
I was really surprised that Adam made it as far as he did. On three separate occasions, he picked out the wrong foods and created more work for himself and his teammate(s) - ultimately putting them at serious risk for elimination. Aaron, while a nice guy like you said, just doesn’t really have a television personality. He even said so himself - that he was not a “camera person.” I remember my mom and I looking at each other and saying, “Well, then, he’s on the wrong reality competition!”
In stark contrast, Lisa had personal anecdotes and really showed off her culinary point of view very well - taking very simple ingredients and making them into a meal that seems so sophisticated and upscale.
I also liked the premise behind Adam’s show - but Ask Aida is sort of heading toward that path. I don’t know how interactive her show will be, but it looks like it might head down that trail. Aaron’s show really doesn’t have much going for it. Personally, after watching and re-watching and RE-watching again, my conclusion is that their choice came down to polls and demographics.
July 28th, 2008 at 2:38 am
Ok. im just going to say it.
Didnt surprise me that Aaron won. FN needs more black representation.
If it doesnt work out, they can just let him go after the 6 tapings.
July 28th, 2008 at 6:37 am
Sorry, when did you get to be the guru on all things Fodd Network? Adam’s show is already being done; it’s called Ask Aida. Lisa is the Barefoot Contessa and Giada on uppers all wrapped in one.
Aaron was the best choice and he will tweak his food perspective. Lisa’s snotty perspective of cooking in her expensive outfits doesn’t make her approachable to the home cook. Oh, and with comments like “if I can do it at 13 so can you now” don’t make me feel too great. She’s too pretentious and smug.
July 28th, 2008 at 9:40 am
Okay, I agree with Ben. As an african-american myself and being an avid watcher of many Food Network Programs, I am extremely glad they picked Aaron. For one thing, there are no CONSISTENT positive images of african-american males on television, let alone on a cooking network. I know there was the former attorney with dreadlocks that used to be on and Al Roker doesn’t count as his programs are specials only and not weekly, consistent programs. They needed to find a black man becuase frankly I don’t want to see another pretensious person like Lisa Garza condescending to me about various dishes just to prove that she has SOMETHING TO PROVE. I loved Adam and I felt so bad for him, but after seeing his idea, “Ask Aida” was already playing. I’ve been routing for Aaron all along, because he said that he wanted to be able to say that “dreams come true” even if you come from Camden, New Jersey. He never mentioned his color, but its clear to me that he will be a refreshing face cooking good food. Yes, yes, I know he needs to work on his stage presence, but the FN people will polish him and I think you should not count him out as he could be another Guy Fieri - who is awesome and really made the best of his success. Aaron would do well to hang around him and Bobby Flay. I think from the Las Vegas show, Bobby Flay was in his corner, even though Bobby said he liked Lisa. So kudos to Aaron. I wish him well!!
July 28th, 2008 at 9:45 am
When it comes down to it, Aaron was the lesser of three evils:
Unlike Lisa, he doesn’t actually piss off or annoy entire swaths of viewers.
Unlike Adam, he actually knows how to cook.
Aaron has a certain star quality though and, if he becomes comfortable with himself and his personality, he may make it. Aaron, please don’t try to tell any jokes though. That ‘eating disorder’ shtick was an unfettered disaster.
Oh–and as for demographics, that’s another enormous reason for his selection. If Aaron (aka “Big Daddy”) were a 150 lb white guy, there’s no way he even gets selected to be among the 12.
All of that said, good luck, Aaron. You’re a nice guy. Just don’t forget to relax–and and don’t forget to not allow your children to run away again while your show is running.
July 28th, 2008 at 9:57 am
I agree with you 100%. They missed the mark. It was obviously rigged for Aaron after the Vegas show. I hope FN wises up and offers shows to Lisa and and a few of the other contestants. I am so tired of dumbed down food. Give me something new and interesting. They have so many hosts doing two or three shows. Share the wealth. Who knows, you may get more viewership…
July 28th, 2008 at 10:56 am
I thought Adam’s promo was very unique and original, but then the VERY next commercial break, “Ask Aida”; shot he show down immediately.
Lisa is pretentious. And she makes me think of Japanese animation when she squints.
Aaron is awesome. Did they choose him because he is black? Don’t care! I have liked him all along. Maybe he’s show will be par for the course, but if he gets the opportunity to interact with people (like Guy’s DDD), he will absolutely shine: GUARANTEED!
July 28th, 2008 at 10:59 am
July 28th, 2008 at 11:29 am
Aaron deserved to win hands down. He has the best ideas and recipes and a charm in from of the camera. I wish him great success. I enjoyed his taping the best of the final takes. Congratulations Aaron, you are the best and you proved it!
July 28th, 2008 at 11:32 am
I was thrilled to see Aaron win. The obstacle of overcoming his initial camera-shyness is something that would be easily conquered. But the natural ability he has to make things just taste good without being pretentious about it is a true talent. He knows flavor… I’m excited to see what he does with his show and can’t wait for his recipes to be published.
July 28th, 2008 at 11:54 am
Adam’s show was an update of TFN show, Food 911 with Tyler Florence. The difference: Tyler came to someone’s home and made a housewife swoon as he cooked side by side - Adam interacts via webcam. It’s a nice update idea, and it actually could work.
Lisa made the best food. Adam was the most entertaining. So, you choose Aaron as the poor man’s version of both.
6 shows, and then out. BTW, Guy is still on TFN, but not as a chef…he’s a road warrior, because of personality, only.
July 28th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
Here’s an interesting excerpt
http://au.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080727162327AAzM1IL&r=w&pa=FZptHWf.BGRX3OFPgDNXUw9E.yYMeW7ivfiiz
CZ_H3YwLXNmsQ–&paid=answered#Qs1VG2jhV2z6wTTJaC3A
July 28th, 2008 at 12:56 pm
BROTHER AARON TRULY DESERVED TO WIN…NOT ONLY IS HE AN EXCELLENT COOK BUT HE IS ALWAYS SUCH A BLESSING TO MANY PEOPLE..I AM VERY PLEASED TO SAY THAT I KNOW THIS MAN PERSONALLY AND IF ANYBODY DESERVED TO WIN IT IS SURLY HIM…CONGRATS BROTHER AARON..YOU DID IT..
July 28th, 2008 at 3:33 pm
I think among the three, Adam deserved to win after watching their pilots. His was unique and funny. I have a strange feeling that Bobby Flay is responsible for his loss. I feel like Bobby never liked Adam from the beginning. In fact, I think he’s insecure with Adam.
July 28th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
I stand by what I wrote. Lisa was the most deserving. Adam’s show was unique but the part shown on the finale was too scripted and fake. I think it’s a good idea- especially if they use REAL emails and situations. Aaron did NOT bring anything new to the FN - despite his charm and endearing qualities. Lisa really struck me as knowledgable, unique, fun and funny. I would have enjoyed watching her show. I can’t imagine Aaron having anything on a show that would make me want to watch it. As I said earlier “big bold flavors” have been done repeatedly on other shows. Nothing new there. I will watch Aaron’s show next week - and I sincerely hope he proves me wrong. I just saw nothing in any of the Next Food Network Star shows to indicate that he will.
July 28th, 2008 at 6:13 pm
I was torn between Adam and Aaron. Adam could cook atleast when he chose the dish. Aaron however never had a problem with his food except for the buffet. Its too bad FN went with Ask Aida instead of Adam which I think could have been a better show.
Just because aaron had problems in the begining being on camera does not mean he will always be that way. He slowly got more and more comfortable. Who knows with an almost infinite amount of takes and good editing his show could be really good.
July 28th, 2008 at 11:52 pm
Adam and Lisa were both too skinny. The Food Network wants chubby hosts to fit in with the chubby audience. Look what happened to Rachel Ray, Tyler Florence, Emeril, Mario, etc. I keep waiting for Giada and Bobby Flay to balloon up like the rest!
Seriously, though, I think FN picked the one they throught would have the broadest appeal to the audience. Aaron seemed the warmest and most personable. Lisa and Adam were too quirky.
July 29th, 2008 at 9:35 pm
Once again, Food Network blows it. I’m sick to death of shows that cater to people who don’t know anything about food, and Aaron’s show will be just one more to add to the generic heap. Food knowledge? Did anyone else hear him say he let his steak rest so the juices could “build up inside?” Juices don’t “build up,” Aaron. I wanted Lisa to win. There aren’t many Food Network shows worth watching anymore. I thought Lisa’s show could have taught viewers a thing or two. And yes, she’s quirky. What’s wrong with quirky? At least she’s not boring. And she doesn’t talk like she has marbles in her mouth. I can’t stand listening to Aaron speak. I was aggravated every time I watched him, and will never watch his show. (Although I agree with everyone else; he DOES seem like a really nice guy.)
July 31st, 2008 at 10:39 am
aaron was waaaaaaaaaaaay better then mr. i make raw food adam and ms.nervous wreck …congradulations AARON MCCARGO JR. imma so watch ur show
August 2nd, 2008 at 1:21 pm
A black person here, (Gail) posted and I quote “They needed to find a black man…” and “there are no CONSISTENT positive images of african-american males on television”. Even she obviously knows it was RIGGED, and is in favor of that. He was simply a quota. His show has about as much chance of succeeding as Ralph Nader has of winning the Presidency. Enjoy your 10 minutes of fame.
August 2nd, 2008 at 5:16 pm
August 4th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
There were no viable candidates to choose from but this guy, McCargo is an absolute embarrassing train wreck of a personality. He can cook, that’s for sure but he is brutally difficult to watch. From his inability to enunciate to his clumsy and awkward mannerisms is all horrible.
August 8th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
Are you kidding me?
This energetic talanted guy is the best thing to come along since the Neelys started THEIR own cooking show!
I WANTED him to win because an Afro-American has never won it before. One Afro-American (Reggie Southerland) came close in the finals, but Guy Fereri beat him out.
There aren’t many Black cooks on that network with their own show, and Aaron brings fresh new bold flavors and tastes, as he likes to call them, to his new show.
I truly congratulate him on a job well done! What will you say in a few months when his show is still on the air?
Oh. And BTW, the debut of his show this past Sunday has scored big rating in the Top 5. What do you say to that?
~Malik7.
August 8th, 2008 at 4:37 pm
TMS: Well, I wanted him not to win because he wasn’t the best candidate. Whether or not he was Afro-American had nothing to do with it. If you want someone to win because they’re black - that’s your business. Seems like a shallow reason to me, though. And Aaron bring NOTHING new to the Food Network. There are at least two shows hosted by blacks on the network - both of which are enormously more entertaining and watchable than Aaron’s. Why bring on someone that’s mediocre at best. I’ve known lots of really wonderful cooks who are African-American - find one of them! Sure his debut show had high ratings. Let’s wait and see what the ratings are for the shows 2, 3, 4 etc.
August 9th, 2008 at 8:05 am
After Season 3, when FN discovered that Joshua Adam “Jag” Garcia had falsified his records and lied about some of his past and then had to bring back Amy Finley, I thought I would not watch this show again. But, once again I found myself watching this stupid obstacle course and once again the Food Network got it wrong in Season 4. I think it’s time for a new FN Director and panel of judges. Aaron’s show won’t last.
August 10th, 2008 at 7:36 pm
Finally watched Adam McCargo’s show today. Oh dear Lord what a disaster! He is either doing a stupid giggle, yelling at me or doing his version of Yee Haw. I hate it when chefs tell me how much love I’m gonna get from my man by cooking him this dish. Oh please. I’m serious, his giggle is really off-putting. All his food is common knowledge to anybody who cooks at all. The show was edited so tightly it was distracting. They must have had to film 10 hours to get a 30 min show. Agree with above posters, he was a token black to fill a quota, the judges need to turn the job over to someone else, they suck too.
August 11th, 2008 at 12:26 am
THE FOOD NETWORK HAD TO ADD SOME COLOR,THATS WHY THEY ADDED 3 SHOWS WITH AFRO AMERICANS,”BIG DADDY” IS LIKE CODE WORD FOR YOU KNOW WHAT AS FAR AS IM CONCERNED ,,AND THE JUDGES ALL SUCK,ITS ABSURD,THEY SHOULD HAVE PICKED THE CONTESTANT LAST YEAR WITH THE BIG BOBS,AT LEAST THE COVERT REASONING WOULD BE OBVIOUS,BUT SHE DID KNOW HOW TO COOK
August 11th, 2008 at 12:48 am
I MEANT BOOBS,JUST TO EXPLAIN MYSELF A LITTLE DEEPER,WHY CANT A BLACK PERSON HAVE A show without lame cliche jargon and corny hip hop musak.If they want to do a japenese cook show,i might want someone from japan.If there gonna do a cook show about southern african american cooking i want a black chef from the south who grew up in the culture.But if your hiring a generic cook to cook generic food i find it racist that he has to act and perform in a way that people are expecting him to act.I dont care how any body behaves but judging from the production of the show this guys filling a quota. Hes a solid cook, like 10,000 other chefs around the country, i get no signature vision or identity .from this guy.This network has become the food eating nertwork,no one cooks anymore, everyone eats, with closeups of them washing there hands.I watched a show with that skinny broad giada or whatever her name is make expresso,please give me a break .Bring some real cooking back,loose the politcal correctness and fire all these a-hole execs on this network,especialy the judges,nauseating
August 11th, 2008 at 11:07 am
i agree,if it was about a cooking style or a cooking theme like semi homemade or 30 minute meal it would have been packaged as such.But the food network was obviously interested in marketing an african american cooking . As far as his personalities goes, any ethnic group has 3 choices, emulate the predomininte culture, emulate someone elses culture, or come up with your own identity.Whether this is his personality or not is probably not the issue.The issue it seems to me is that this is the vibe the food network wants to put out there ,to possibly appese there critics,which is a lame attempt to disguise the fact that they probably are aprehensive to get more chefs of color to do serious cook shows devoid of the theme that a black person is doing it and realy focus in on there skills
September 6th, 2008 at 4:30 pm
Aaron’s show is awesome. I love his food. That stuffed French toast looked great and I plan to try it. Stop hating…
Who cares if they NEED black viewers. I think he is awesome and am so glad his show will get more runs.
So blah to the nay sayers.
September 6th, 2008 at 8:04 pm
You know, Sip, now that I’ve seen Aaron’s show a couple of times, I’m going amend my earlier prediction. He’s better than I thought he would be. All the “Big Daddy” stuff still seems put on - especially since it wasn’t his idea, but the idea was from the Food Network folks - not him. Maybe that’s why it doesn’t seem authentic. However, he’s done a good job so far. I’m not ashamed to admit that I could very well have mis-called that one.
September 26th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
i aint hating him im hating the condenscending food network