March 19 premier
I caught the season premier by accident. It turned out to be the first two episodes back-to-back. They didn't eliminate anyone in the first episode. The first person eliminated, the the end of the second episode, was Jess. She just couldn't get it together. The cameras seemed to make her more nervous than the other contestants. She really didn't do well on any of the practice sessions and totally blew it on the demonstration that counted. She knew she'd be gone. Guy and Reggie have the most personality on camera. Nathan is having trouble talking to an audience because he keeps using culinary terms that the average person wouldn't know. Evette and Carissa should improve as their nerves decrease with more familiarity with the sets and cameras. Andrew is really dull on camera and Elizabeth needs to slow down. Rachel Ray gave them all good tips that each of them learned from watching her with all the contestants. Her bubbly personality got them laughing and relieved some of their tension...unlike having Bobby Flay by their side. I think he intimidated (unintentionally) most of them.

I thought the show started last night but when I tuned in, they were already on episode 2. Apparently nobody was eliminated on the first episode. I like Nathan the most so far. He has an interesting personality but he's not too over the top. I really don't like Reggie. He reminds me of ANT on Last Comic Standing. I just find him really annoying. This show really makes me appreciate all the work that goes into making a cooking show. It looks so simple when we're watching it but they have to prepare dishes ahead of time to certain points of doneness so they can skip ahead when the recipe calls for cooking something for longer than the show can follow, they have to be sure to be watching the right camera, and they have to keep a conversation going to pull the viewers in while completing their tasks. I don't think I'd be able to be a cooking show host. It looks like too much work to me! I'd be so lost and so behind schedule.