Tag Archive for ‘Bob Tuschman’ at Laptop Television Mom

Well, this working mom gig I have has been keeping me from my blogging. Oh well, even I know when to walk away from the laptop (and the TV) and focus on things like dance recitals, summer camp, client meetings, and a load of laundry or two. That said, I am still a loyal watcher of The Next Food Network Star and have been joining the weekly calls to talk to the judges and eliminated contestants. Lets’s get caught up:

Drama and Divas: There’s been some drama in the show, including some fallen stars and some surprise winners. One thing I have noticed is some lost confidence and some uber-divas. So, during one of our weekly conference calls, I asked Food Network’s Vice President of programming and production Bob Tuschman how he can differ confidence from Diva-ness. Bob quickly pointed out that the two are often “flip sides of the same coin” meaning that most stars on TV and film are “charismatic and demanding.” [LTV Mom: You probably need a little of both to reach the top of your game, but appearing cocky turns me off no matter what you do for a living.]

Points for Bravery: A blogger on the call asked Bob if the contestants got “bonus points” for creating a daring dish, even if the dish was a flop. Of course, this question was in reference to the famous “jerk cabbage” that was created during a challenge in Week Three. Bob response was “ultimately not” and the contestants still have to focus on execution. We also asked what saved the chef behind the nasty dish from getting the axe, and Bob quickly replied “there was somebody worse than him.” [LTV Mom: This was the week Dzintra Dzenis went home.]

Learning from Experts: I love it when guest judges appear on the show, and on Week Three, famed chef Guy Fieri joined the cast. One blogger asked Bob what the contestants can learn from someone like Guy, and I appreciated Bob’s response when he said there is “so much to learn from Guy, he’s a model for what you can do in this competition.” Bob also said “Guy is 100 percent unapologetically Guy.” Bob recommends that aspiring celebrity chef should follow Guy’s lead and not try to imitate other people and “don’t do what you THINK a cooking show host should be. Don’t try to become a TV host, that will get you sent home.” Lastly, Bob underscored that “Guy is Guy whether the camera is on or off.” [LTV Mom: Great reminder for all of us, regardless of our profession.]

Good-bye to DAS: Week Four’s eliminated contestant was cutie-pie Darrell (DAS) Smith, who hails from the Great Midwest. As a viewer, I could see a spark of “something” in DAS, but he just couldn’t get past is nerves to shine on camera. During our conversation this week, DAS admitted that he was so stunned by the serving raw chicken to Wolfgang Punk during the first episode that he never recovered. (DAS called Puck “culinary god.” I asked DAS for his signature dish, to which he replied: “A potato crusted halibut over assorted vegetables, what ever is fresh and in-season, and a rosemary beurre-blanc sauce.” I also asked DAS what goes through his mind when he’s in the middle of cooking a dish for an elimination challenge, only to be confronted by Bobby Flay. DAS admitted that the kitchen creates a very high –pressure situation, but the contestants get to the point where we are comfortable with the judges. He added, “We are all chefs, and it’s like talking to a regular chef.” I tell you what, DAS showed more charaisma and charm on the call than he did on the show. He told stories about being on his grandma’s farm, picking fresh tomatoes, and watching her create tomato-basil soup. Now that would have been a charming story on-camera.

Dishing with Dzintra: Week Three’s eliminated contestant was the eccentric Dzintra Dzenis who famously told her challenge partner to “shhhh” while in front of the judges during an elimination challenge. Manners aside, this Texan beauty is (as my mom would say) an odd duck. Even Bob wisely called her “interestingly quirky” but her downfall is that she can appear “dazed and confused.” On the plus side, Dzintra is a great teacher and she truly loves food. Like previously eliminated contestants, I asked her signature dish, to which she replied: “A nice great big piece of beef tenderloin that’s grilled, steak fries, steamed asparagus and hollandaise sauce.” I also asked her for a favorite restaurant in her hometown of Austin, to which she replied: “Chez moi!” She added there are so many good restaurants in the area, but “I really love my cooking, my family loves my cooking, my friends love my cooking. It’s all about here. It’s home.”

Next Episode: Tune into The Food Network on Sunday night at 9 p.m. PST to watch next week’s episode, and then come back to Laptop TV Mom for another recap!

– LTV Mom

Season six of the popular reality show Next Food Network Star kicked off on Sunday June 6, and from the looks of the premiere episode, we are in for a drama-filled treat. And the icing on the proverbial cake is that a handful of bloggers have been invited to interview Food Network’s Bob Tuschman, Vice President, Programming and Production; Susie Fogelson, SVP Marketing, Creative Services and Brand Strategy; and a contestant each Monday following the show. The bloggers, including yours truly, have the opportunity to ask Bob and Susie about the previous night’s episode, and then we speak to one of the eliminated chefs. We are one week into the process, and I am uber-excited for the show and the experience to interact with the Food Network executives. Let’s dive in:

About The Next Food Network Star: Just in case you are not familiar with the show, The Food Network airs a program each Sunday at 9 p.m. PST featuring 12 aspiring celebrity chefs taking on various cooking tasks with a “will they shine on TV?” slant. Each week, one chef is eliminated, and at the end of the season, the winner is awarded his or her own cooking show on The Food Network. Previous winners can be found HERE and HERE.

Q&A with Bob Tuschman:I tell you what, Bob was a really nice guy and fun to interview. Like on the show, he appeared calm, cool and collected (and perfectly on-message!) Here is a snapshot of the conversation:

Q: What are you looking for in a contestant? A: Bob pointed out that this show is “the toughest cooking show on TV” because the chefs not only have to cook, but they have to learn how to perform on-camera. Each contestant has to bring the right level of energy, look natural, share a clear “culinary point of view,” and possess star quality. He reminded us that Food Network receives thousands of pitches a year for new shows, so he needs to find someone who can “consistently deliver great food and great performances.”

Q: Are you worried viewers will lock in on one or two contestants too early? A: This question was top-of-mind because Aria Kagan was a clear stand-out and early favorite on the first episode. Bob said he does worry about viewers favoring a specific contestant early in the show, and then reminds us that no matter what happens in episode one, things can change quickly. Bob continued by saying that the judges need to see constant improvement in order to win, so don’t give up on anyone too early in the series.

Q:What is the biggest challenge contestants face and what is your advice to overcome them? A: Bob reminded us that the contestants really have to listen to the judges who also are there to mentor them. Bob and Susie — along with Bobby Flay and Giada de Laurentiis — provide tips every time the chefs are in front of the camera. (In fact, the judges spend at least 8 hours per episode mentoring the contestants.) They are looking for someone with charisma, and Bob added that charisma is like eye color, you either have it or you don’t… but you can learn to shape your charisma into something that works.

Q&A with Alexis Hernandez: Alexis is a farm-grown chef who likes to teach people the science behind food. Not only will he tell people how to make a vinaigrette, but we will teach you why adding salt can balance the acidity of the dressing. I call Alexis the unexpected farmer, because I know a lot of farmers but had never seen one in a paisley button-down before last week! He seems like a sweet guy, but his insecurities and under-cooked dessert made him the first contestant eliminated from this season. Here’s what he had to say:

Q: What would you differently if you could do the show over again? A: Alexis said he would show more personality on-camera, and share better and more-realistic cooking tips during his segments.

Q: What is the biggest difference from being a contestant and being a viewer? A: Alexis summed it up in two words: it’s overwhelming. He added that is hard to adapt when you want something so badly, when you want to win, but you are out of your element (and your kitchen).

Q: What is your signature dish? A: Alexis said his signature dish is braised beef chuck with red reduction and honey, infused with rosemary; carrot ribbons on top; served on a bed of Ramen noodles or puree of parsnips. (Yes, Ramen noodles like the soup we ate in college!)

Q: What was it like to meet Wolfgang Puck? A: Mr. Puck was a guest judge for one of this week’s challenges, and Alexis called him a “mega-god of food.” He also said that he never in his life expected the opportunity for cook for Puck, and he was so happy to meet his “hero.”

Next Episode: Tune into The Food Network on Sunday night at 9 p.m. PST to watch next week’s episode, and then come back to Laptop TV Mom for another recap!

– LTV Mom

Photo Credit: The Next Food Network Star