I could link to this week's Next Food Network Star viewing party or my exit interview with this week's eliminated contestant, Shane but instead I'd like to link to my friend and colleague Jacob, The Food Network Addict.
On his blog this week, Jacob reveals how editors tinker with each episode and change the "reality" of this reality show much as, I'm sure, editors tinker with reality shows all across the dial. In this case, he shows how Lisa's Rachael Ray show fumble was overdramatized and how Adam's apparent homerun wasn't quite a triumph. Most interestingly, though, he shares the language used in their reality show contracts:
"22. Applicants acknowledge, understand, and agree that the Released Parties' use or revelation of Personal Information and Recordings as defined in these Eligibility Requirements may be embarrassing, unfavorable, humiliating, and/or derogatory and/or may portray him or her in a false light."
That's quite a lot to sign away! As shared in my chat with Diana "Should chefs do reality TV?", I think more often than not the trade-off isn't worth it. After reading that language, it only strengthens my convictions.
Comments (24)
It is funny you should mention this, because as I watched the show, I immediately thought, "wow, what a really sloppy editing job, couldn't they have been a bit more subtle." Do they thing that we don't know what a "listening" face looks like, as opposed to someone who can't think of anything to say. It was obvious that the clip they kept showing was just her listening to Rachel talking.
This is the reason I stopped watching Hell's Kitchen, because I found it insulting as a viewer--at least show some craft in your construction of "reality."
P.S. I guess we can assume Lisa won't be winning TNFS
Posted by Craig | July 8, 2008 12:34 AM
As someone who works in post production, and edits on a daily basis, yes, the editors can & do "bend" the stories. I love looking for that stuff when I watch reality tv. BUT, let's not forget, the editors are doing this because the PRODUCERS are telling them to! haha! ;)
Love the blog, first time commenter here! My dream is to work on a food/cooking television show!
Posted by Erin Cottrell | July 8, 2008 8:36 AM
Adam! Where's the spoiler alert? Did you have to mention that Shane was kicked off?
Posted by Justin Dickinson | July 8, 2008 10:01 AM
Just to clarify, editors don't change things willy-nilly to suit some sort of agenda of their own. They get their instructions from the producers.
Blame them for any excessive drama you may find unnecessary.
Posted by Editor Mistress | July 8, 2008 12:21 PM
Yeah, of course, reality shows are edited to suit the drama, but you can't edit the fact that Shane totally didn't relate to his little brownie and couldn't even remember her name. However, that says nothing about his cooking and that's the problem with some of these challenges. And Lisa did totally get overwhelmed by Rachel Ray. She said it herself.
Posted by Angela | July 8, 2008 3:06 PM
Sigh. That's one of those things I always struggle to remember when it comes time for judging, etc. - that not only is it about picking a winner, it's about creating a show that people will tune into once a week. If it was just about talent and studio compatibility, I suspect it'd be a lot less fascinating to watch.
Of course, I'd watch it anyway, but still.
I do think that line about "may be portrayed in a false light" is just a covering-their-asses move, more than a statement of intent to tweak the editing so that viewers favour some contestants over others. I should think it's safe to assume that the contestants will see the show eventually, and I don't think the network wants to hear the folks who got kicked off complaining about not having their best face forward on camera. I'm probably just being naieve.
Posted by sara no h. | July 8, 2008 7:49 PM
Am I the only one who thought RR stepped out of bounds/overwhelmed/put her ego out there?? Or was that all editing, too? I thought she was extremely "Rachel Ray" on this. There is nothing subtle, giving or gracious about her and I knew disaster was lurking for them the minute I heard they were cooking w/ her AND kids.
Posted by Jeanne | July 8, 2008 9:59 PM
Am I the only one who thought RR stepped out of bounds/overwhelmed/put her ego out there?? Or was that all editing, too? I thought she was extremely "Rachel Ray" on this. There is nothing subtle, giving or gracious about her and I knew disaster was lurking for them the minute I heard they were cooking w/ her AND kids.
Posted by Jeanne | July 8, 2008 10:00 PM
$30 for dinner for 3 cooked at home is "good?" That's good for once in a while, but for every night? No way!
I do agree with not dumbing food down for kids, though.
Posted by Irish | July 11, 2008 4:59 PM
$30 for dinner for 3 cooked at home is "good?" That's good for once in a while, but for every night? No way!
I do agree with not dumbing food down for kids, though.
Posted by Irish | July 11, 2008 5:00 PM
Speaking of scandals... how aboout Food Network letting the cat out of the bag about the winner Aaron by showing the exit interviews of Lisa and Adam? Kinda gets rid of the reason to watch the finale doesn't it?
http://s28.photobucket.com/albums/c207/Partogea/?action=view¤t=oops2.png
Posted by DOh! | July 25, 2008 1:32 PM
The Food Network does it again, picked a lousy winner from the Food Network Star. Aaron? You gotta be kidding. How can they pick him over Adam. Adam had personality, Adam had concept, he know how to work the camera. I fear that Aaron will go the way that all the other Food Network winner did, cancelled shows!
Posted by Richard | July 27, 2008 11:05 PM
The ending for this season was rigged because I knew when they kept Aaron when he should have been cut that he was who they wanted and he was. They should have let the public vote so it would not be so rigged. That was so unfair is smelled in my kitchen . I will never watch this again
Posted by Jan | July 27, 2008 11:07 PM
I'll never watch the show again. Aaron stunk last week and when they decided to keep 3, you knew the fix was in. His spot in the last episode was clearly the worst. So he does the worst in the last two episodes but wins. The whole time your watching, your seeing ads for two new shows on the network featuring blacks. Now we have realitiy TV affirmative action for food network stars?
Posted by JohnOpincar | July 28, 2008 10:55 AM
Adam is the more entertaining host, but I believe the judges when they say that his food needs work. That being said, I was a bit surprised that Aaron won. His food is likely better and perhaps better suited for what the FN wants in a new show, but he needed a whole bunch of work with Gordon to make his segment even work. Perhaps with the pressure off, he'll do better.
2 things of note: Guy is still on TFN, but as a road warrior of sorts, not as a chef. His personality works, for that show.
And the other thing...I'd like to see future contestants on this show work with Gordon MUCH earlier in the season. He brought the best out of each of the contestants.
Posted by DaveCannon | July 28, 2008 1:48 PM
JohnOpincar - i just finished commenting on the FN site exactly the same thing you said here. When Aaron was allowed to stay last week i told my wife it was obvious they want a black guy to win - the fix was in. He was sooo out of his league. Adam was ok but only Lisa had the whole package to do a show tomorrow. I won't watch Aarons show.
Posted by mike | July 28, 2008 2:01 PM
I knew Aaron was going to win about 3 episodes from the last. They really wanted a minority to win. They were hoping Nepa would win and they would have their Indian show but when she fell flat on her ass they had to pick the next one. He should have lost in Vegas but instead they changed the rules for him and kept 3. He lost practically every challenge and still he prevailed, rigged. I will never watch the show again and will watch Food Network a lot less.
Posted by Nick | July 28, 2008 6:06 PM
I was so disgusted with the Food Network last night. Last week Aaron should have gone home as he did the worst but when they kept all three for the finale, I knew the producers wanted a minority as their Next Food Network Star. Don't get me wrong, I liked Aaron and even preferred him to Lisa but in all fairness he shouldn't have made it to the finale.
I'll never watch the next food network star again. And frankly, don't care if I ever see another food network show again.
Posted by ex Food Network Fan | July 28, 2008 7:24 PM
What a sham!!! Lisa should have won. She was so easy on the eyes and was the total "package" in my book. I don't care to know how to make bbq ribs or chicken since they are staples of any summer bbq. Lisa brought a sense of elegance and charm. Something that has been lacking at FN for a while now. Talk about grading on the curve! I hope Lisa doesn't fade away!!!
Posted by Joe R. | July 28, 2008 11:26 PM
The editing...it is obvious the way they repeat certain things for shock value over and over to add drama where none exists. That is an insult.
But to change the rules to they get what they want is a bigger insult. The show wasn't called the Next Food Network African-American Southern Cooking Star. He won't last, unless they use him for something else. Guy Fieri was interesting on his season contest, but look what they have turned him into...a traveling gluton.
The Vegas challenges were so unfair and uneven. Lisa had to be hoisted several stories, Adam dressed as a nightclub showman and then Aaron had to do nothing and still needed to redo it.
I am sorry I wasted my time watching it and can only hope that Aaron's shows are right up there with Amy Finley...who? Exactly. Last year's winner. Haven't seen her since.
And yet all the while, they introduce really bizarre shows with hosts who didn't have to compete to their show, but maybe should have.
Posted by Charles | July 29, 2008 9:01 PM
As with other reality shows on other networks, the impact the producers have on the outcome should make us all run for the border rather than watch this stuff. I'm glad to see that others dropped their jaws when Aaron won. He seems like a nice guy, but they really had to stretch it to get him in the top three - then left it at three so they could annoint him as the winner. It will be interesting to see how he does on his new show. Don't forget that out of the first three seasons of TNFNS, only one clear-cut "star" has been chosen - Guy Fieri. Bob & Chuck (or whatever their names were) were cancelled promptly, and the lady from last year was boring and they only showed a half dozen or so of her show. Winning this thing is only part of the battle - the odds are Aaron won't be a successful host and will be gone in a few months anyway.
Posted by Debbie | July 31, 2008 10:09 PM
I liked all three finalests but thought Lisa should have won.
She is unique and extremely talented. She would have been such an asset to the food network.
If the food network could get away with it they should hire her in some capacity. If they don't then some other show should. "Fine Living Network" perhaps.
Posted by Jude | July 31, 2008 10:17 PM
I'm glad that I've found so many that agree with my feelings that the winner was chosen without the actual need for a final challenge. With the Food Network pushing diversity on the choice of their newest hosts (could they have run those commercials any more frequently?), I knew that the winner would be Aaron. To be honest, I really wanted Adam to win but the finale made me feel that Lisa was the best of the bunch and the only one who was truly ready to start the next day filming an entire season of a cooking show.
Posted by Stout Of Heart | August 1, 2008 8:07 PM
The food network is clearly in a race to the bottom. It was a complete insult to have followed the "competition" only to see it for what it was, a complete sham. I stopped watching the network after they added kat- I never have done a thing- Cora to iron chef america without even competing for that spot. Aaron, is a nice guy, but the "hospital catering" executive is in no way qualified to teach on tv. Back to reading about food.
Posted by josh | August 2, 2008 1:35 PM