Monday, December 3, 2012

Chef Elizabeth Falkner's Elimination From Next Iron Chef Angers Fans

Next Iron Chef Elizabeth Faulkner
Last night on the latest episode of The Next Iron Chef: Redemption, Elizabeth Falkner was the chef eliminated after losing to Nate Appleman in the Secret Ingredient Showdown.  Chef Falkner, by winning a challenge the previous week, earned the right to judge all of the contestants, and got to pick who to send to the Secret Ingredient Challenge for this week.  Obviously, she chose Nate Appleman and the judges sent her into the elimination challenge against him after she served them inedible fish scales.  The secret ingredient in the elimination challenge was anchovies, and Chef Falkner was eliminated due to the fact that her dish had too much saffron in it. 

This episode was very similar to an episode last year, when Anne Burrell had the same advantage in a challenge, and was later eliminated against the chef she sent in.

After the episode, fans of the show took to the Food Network site as well as others to voice their displeasure in the Chef Falkner elimination.  As of writing this, there were over 500 comments, many of which say how angry they are about the elimination.  Besides being angry about Chef Falkner's elimination, some of the popular opinions included:
  • Feeling the competition isn't real and the actual Next Iron Chef is already chosen
  • Outrage towards Alex Guarnaschelli as they feel she is the chosen one to win the competition
  • Outrage towards the Food Network for having Geoffrey Zakarian as a judge because Alex Guarnaschelli has been a sous chef for him on past Iron Chef episodes
  • Feeling that Geoffrey Zakarian is smug and shows favoritism towards Alex Guarnaschelli
Many fans have vowed to not watch the remaining episodes of this season, while others claimed they were done with the Food Network for good.  What are your feelings on the elimination this week and this season so far on The Next Iron Chef: Redemption?  Overreaction by everyone, or are you in agreement?

63 comments:

  1. I think it is ridiculous that Faulkner should have been eliminated for such a minor thing when.Marcel makes dishes.that are called.inedible. I also agree that Geoffrey Zacharian has no business being a.judge because he has a personal.relationship.with TWO contestants--Alex and Amanda. They should give Faulkner an opportunity to cook.her way back in to the finale for final redemption ala.top chef does.

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  2. Of course its all planned, like all reality TV FN isn't going to leave there franchise up to chance. Having said that I don't think the competitors know since Faulkner's anger at losing looked very genuine.

    If you think about it the contests are set up to give them whatever outcome they want. Greenspan is told he did one of the top three dishes in the initial challenge and then gets booted anyway. I watch to see the different things they try to pull off, the competition itself is crap and has been for a while. Network Star is the same.

    Chopped is probably the only mostly real contest show they produce.

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  3. I'm do very disappointed in this. Chef Faulkner could have stayed. The one chef who should be eliminated is Marcel. He is the most ignorant , ass of a chef have ever seen. I very much disliked him awhile ago. He should have been sent home when spike got sent home!

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  4. OK.. This was her THIRD time in the bottom, any she finally couldn't pull it off and got eliminated. How is that so hard to believe?

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    1. She obviously is far more advance then the judges That's why she was on the bottom and also she like risk. and that's a true Iron Chef ..

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  5. I also cannot believe that she was cut over what amounted to a garnish for her fish. Food Network has alienated a lot of "regular" people with this since she was reviewed pretty well other than the scales, but the drama was so high last year, I guess they pulled the formula card out of thier bag of ratings grabbers for this episode. Good bye Food Network.

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  6. I am extremely disheartened by the elimination of Chef Faulkner.  She cooks the most Iron Chef worthy food on the show and I was sure she was going to win.  .  Favoritism towards Chef Guarnaschelli is blatent and so unbefitting of the Iron Chef aura.  I will watch no more!!!

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  7. I say good job Chef Appleman.

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  8. The problem is, while nearly all the competition shows are rigged, FN didn't even bother to make it not look rigged. The exact same scenario 2 years in a row? Really? Both females, both got to choose who was in the bottom, both just happened to be in the bottom themselves, both end up eliminated, and while it probably had nothing to do with it, both are gay. There's just a little too much coincidence for it to to just happen that way. That's the main problem. Not only was a favourite eliminated, they didn't even try to make it look legit.

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  9. Is he the one that put his food on the plate with the other guy?  That was so disrespectful!  Alex wants this sooooooo bad. So sorry Chef Faulkner!  But Chef Faulkner and Chef Appleman should be in the final 2.  Next year Chef Irvine for the win!

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  10. I knew that the winners were already chosen when in the last season, chef Zakarian should have been sent home but wasn't--he made something not asked for in the competition.  He was already chosen to be the winner, he could not be sent home.  Like some observers, Alex G. is groomed to win this season.  All of these chefs are highly qualified to be the next Iron Chef, but Chef Alex is too grim to appeal to me.  I really like Elizabeth Faulkner and think that she has a fantastic presence on T.V.  Love Chef Faulkner's smile and easy going manner.  I wish she was going to be the next Iron Chef.  Too bad.  I won't be watching the rest of this season.  We know who the network has chosen to win.

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  11. i think it is a disgrace that marcel and spike were allowed to mock the competition with their antics--they should have BOTH been eliminated--also how could you eliminate elizabeth falkner for too much saffron and let marcel and spike get away with what they did

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  12. It has to be rigged. So mad she got sent home.

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  13. The only reason I would watch this show was just for My Iron chef Falkner. I love the way she put her heart and soul in to the food she puts out. I don't agree with the judgement, I won't watch anymore of the episodes because there is no point now that my favorite chef is out. I wish she can come back and get her revenge. I also don't like that chef Zacharian is one of the judge he obviously has favorites in the show. Chef Falkner was supposed to be the first Iron chef first season. I love you chef Falkner best wishes.

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    1. By Sammy Moreno
      from woodbridge VA

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  14. Will not watch this show anymore not this season or any other season CHEF FALKNER IS THE CHAMP IN MY BOOK!!!!

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  15. I am very sad to see Chef Falkner eliminated. I am more sad to see Marcil still in the competition.

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  16. I agree with all of the above  popular opinions.The Challange was RISK!!!!! SO what if Elizabeth used a bit too much saffron!!! Nate UNDER SEASONED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  17. Chef Apple man and his award winning Mortadela Omlette was grandiose. (sik) I was a fan of Iron Chef up until last night!

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  18. The angry response of viewers over the elimination of Chef Elizabeth Falkner is not an overreaction. Like others responders, I am saddened and concerned about the elimination of Chef Falkner and other great chefs like her with depth of knowledge and the ability to create a variety of dishes that captures the viewer. The current elimination process seems flawed to me. Not just to favor Chef Falkner, but it seems to me that this process does not an Iron Chef identify. If the current Iron Chefs had to compete against these candidates, they might find themselves in the shoes of those eliminated by hair-splitting judges. After all, every chef, regardless of expertise, has added a bit more saffron than the judge liked, as in Chef Falkner's case, or too much/not enough salt as in Chef Appleman's case. These competitions are merely a "snapshot" and and not an indicator of what the chef can consistently do. How would Chef Thomas Keller fare in such a competition? Thank heavens he's not in this competition! I do not judge or accuse any judge or contestant of favoritism. It's the criteria and system that I fault. If Iron Chef contestants were allowed to remain in the competition through the last episode and earn "points" over time, then we might see the best contestants rise above the flash. I ask Food Network to reconsider the criteria for becoming an Iron Chef. I will watch the next episode, see what happens, and then decide if the show is worth my time anymore.

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  19. Yes. Something's weird. She cooked her heart out not only this season, but on the previous Next Iron Chef in which she came in close second to Zakarian. With female Iron Chefs in glaringly short supply, it would have been an easy decision to have had two winners then. At any rate, I'm done with the series. Too much saffron? Gimme a break.

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  20. Bad decision to let Faulkner go. They are all good chefs, so the food disclaimers in here are moot. It's about imagination, risk and personality. Appleman has a horrible personality for tv, and if he wins I'm done with Iron Chef. The sausage fest in the Iron Chef pantheon is getting to me. I already thought Zakarian was a boring and doubtful choice for Iron Chef the last time, so I'm about to let the show go...

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  21. I THINK IT WAS A HUGE MISTAKE LETTING GO OF CHEF FAULKNER... AND I ALSO DISAGREE WITH CHEF ZAKARIAN BEING A JUDGE FOR THIS SHOW WHEN HAS A RELATIONSHIP WITH ALEX... CHEF APPLEMAN SHOULD OF BEEN LET GO FOR THIS CHALLENGE NOT CHEF FAULKNER... THE JUDGES DID A HUGE MISTAKE LETTING HER GO. I REFUSE TO WATCH FOOD NETWORK WE ALL ALREADY KNOW WHOS GOING TO BE THE NEXT IRON CHEF.

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  22. I'm glad I finally found this discussion. I think Chef Faulkner is truly a genius and her elimination was a travesty. I don't agree that the decision is made beforehand, but for Faulkner to be eliminated before Chef Vigneron is unbelievable. Didn't Faulkner come fairly close to beating Zakarian the last time? And, I'm another one who doesn't care who wins now.

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  23. P.S. And Vigneron stayed after all the criticism for his over-salting and being too chummy with what's-his-name, but Falkner is killed for use of saffron? Please. Or is Food Network cooking up a scheme whereby they can say there was such a fan uproar they're bringing her back?

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  24. I finally watched the last episode . . . Chef Falkner looked like she got slapped in the face when they announced she was going home!  This show is definitely rigged and i FN has already chosen Alex to win.  Chef Falkner should have won last season and was once again robbed this season!  Shame on you FN, you have lost another viewer!

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  25. That was ridiculous... they should have double eliminated the week prior because Marcel and Spike completely insulted the point of the show by plating together when they were against each other... Marcel i feel like got a lucky break but he should not out rank Faulkner at all... Appleman is a strong hef as well but he hasnt won anyhing yet this season and has been coasting in the middle so I felt he should have gone instead ....

    I wouldnt say Zakarian has been biased at all this season as a judge, the remarks that he is towards Guarnaschelli and Freitag are just easy reasoning for why Faulkner was eliminated... however if you remember after her elimination none of he judges could even look at her and almost seemed regretful in their decision....

    The show may do the unthinkable and give one of the eliminated contestants another shot since this is a redemption season(preferably Faulkner.. though i also think Greenspan was eliminated slightly prematurely, hes also better than Spike and Marcel combined just had a one bad dish)

    I completely understand Faulkner's exit w/o wanting to get pity hugs by the others it was perhaps the most pissed off contestant exit weve seen (alhough weve seen a lot this season from) ...

    Its hard to say who will win.. The show has been overdue for another Female Iron Chef since Cat Cora is only on for special episodes... i saw somewhere that Judy Joo (an Iron Chef for UK Iron Chef and was a judge for NIC season 4) will be the first to challenge whoever wins (so i do wonder if a female will win to make his interestering) ... I liked Guarnaschelli last season but since shes Zakarian's sous chef i feel perhaps she should be satisfied with that.... Id prefer Amanda Freitag winning now shes had some ups and downs but I do think for American cuisine wisd she has it... Appleman is still a dark horse.. I hate Mehta but eveyone else seems to love him because of his villain role, and Marcel shouldnt win this competition because although hes grown up a lot since his time on top chef, hes still arrogant and I just wouldnt respect the show anymore if he is named Iron Chef over anyone else.

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  26.  Food network is kind of a joke, I only select a couple shows to watch & the rest is foolish. I am a fan of everything about the Original Iron Chef/Japan, that will always be close to my heart.

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  27. Zakarian should not have been a judge and in all honesty Faulkner should have won last season....what a joke. Alex G will prob win and if not her Amanda...We see enough of them on the FN...how about someone new, someone who deserves the title.

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  28. It's aTV show for Pete's sake! Lighten up! And look at Faulkner's history. There's a reason she hasn't been successful in any of the past endeavors she has entered on an of the "foodie" shows

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  29. I used to be a huge fan of Iron Chef but I have to say that watching Chef Faulkner loose again in her quest to become the next iron chef is too much to bear. Clearly she is talented and was a joy to watch her transform the ingredients into obvious culinary works of edible art. I couldn't help but notice that she appeared to be treated unfairly and I wondered why? Maybe she's just too "normal". I actually understand why some viewers shot their television when Bristol Palin moved on on dancing with the stars, Chef Faulkner being eliminated invokes the same strong emotions. Chef Faulkner you're too good for the likes of this show and apparently no matter how well you prepare your dishes, you will never win. Even the judges, save Zakarian, could not hide their emotions of knowing that they were forced/instructed to cut Chef Faulkner. Shame on you Food Network!

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  30. Completely agree. Its also obvious Zakarian has a grudge against Falkner probably because he knows she's better than him and should have won last season. He was smirking when she was eliminated. FN has its favorite chefs and its rigged. I can't stand to watch anymore.

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  31. I am in agreement. I am not one who usually takes the time to comment on such things, but Elizabeth Falkner's elimination was egregious. It's clear to me that the fix is in and I'm glad to see others angered by this decision too. No other contestant is more Iron Chef worthy than Chef Falkner, and shame on Food Network for allowing this type of season to ensue by placing Geoffrey Zackarian in the role of judge against his former showdown competitor and for his sous chef and friend, Alex G, to whom he shows clear favoritism. This does much to diminish the caliber of the Iron Chef in terms of respect and professionalism. Well, it's been a nice run but now it's time to tune out. The Iron Chef was a great concept that is sadly becoming a mockery. I will miss Chef Faulkner's exciting food, her passion her integrity. This show, Food Network, and Iron Chef America need her and these qualities now more than ever.

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  32. Way to obvious, they have the winner chosen their buddy Alex.  Zakarian should NOT be a judge since his co workers are contestants.  Am choosing not to watch the show, will NOT watch iron chef anymore either.  What a joke!!!!  

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  33. I was shocked when they sent Chef Faulkner home, however I feel Chef Alex and Chef Amanda, one of them should be the next Iron Chef, they both have the experience and are great at what they do, I love all 3 of the ladies, I am hoping one of them will take it.. My opinion the opinion I have the right to express, just like you have the right to express yours.  Thank you.

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  34. I would have loved to have seen the three ladies battle it out however it is a competition, so may the best Chef win.  

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  35. Although I agree chef Zacharian should not be a judge, to say chef Faulkner is a better chef than Alex G or Amanda Freitag is ridiculous.The judges are the ones TASTING the food.Good ideas do not always taste good.As far as her being gay as a reason, Cat Cora was an iron chef for years, and she is openly gay.The show is definitely scripted, but I don't think the winner has already been chosen.

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  36. Ok some are going a little overboard against Zakarian I think it is too easy to say hes biased .. if you actually listen to his comments he has said bad things about Amanda and Alex's dishes in the past. Im unclear if there is some sort of point system involved or if its simply a name on a paper but if you notice each judge does have a small notebook at every judging (also Alton has one more for recording the comments said) ... if it is names than it took at least 2 to get her out and my guess it wasnt a unanimous one... also remember its a show thats edited so we may not be seeing every comment made...

    Although Faulkner's talent is obvious she did land in the challenge showdown 3 times(even though all of those times including her elimination she produced amazing dishes, and one of them was agreed to be one of the best dishes of the NIC series)

    I really thought the 3 women could make the top 3 or top 4 (they technically should). Im rooting for Amanda now because I do think a female will win this time (and were overdo for another... if another guy wins than really Iron Chef will look sexist!)..

    On the episode after her elimination, they had to fuse 2 unlikely ingredients and it sucks because Faulkner would have done great in that...

    Now with Mehta gone, Marcel is the only one id be very disgusted to see win.. Simon is showing biasedness towards Marcel (he definitly did on last nigts episode)

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  37. I really concur with the comments of Orqui Ah. There is no consideration of the past performance aka..some kind of point system. When you consider Chef Faulkner's overall performance including the past season it's easy to how consistent her skill level is.

    It's absurd that on a competition based on risk they would allow a dish like Chef Metha's to slide by when it was so simple! Not even the souffle was good according to the judges so Chef Faulkner was completely accurate in saying that there were dishes weaker than hers. She should've never been in the show down! There were at least 2 other dishes that qualified.
    It's very hard to continue to watch without her being there.

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  38. In both the episode where Falkner was eliminated and the most recent one, Simon Majumbar made statements to the effect that Marcel Vigneron (a snot-nosed punk if there ever was one) should be the next Iron Chef.  Given this, Zakarian's favoritism, which he at least has the decency to stay silent about, is less of a concern.  But I agree with a comment posted on Elizabet Falkner's facebook page, that since she has been eliminated, the show might as well be called "Who Cares Who's  the Next Iron Chef?"

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  39.  I agree...that "Bro-Down" was ridiculous and made a mockery of the competition.

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  40. This Iron chef has been a mockery of the entire idea of Iron Chef. For starters it is clear that it's rigged for Guarnaschelli or Freitag. Both of them have been judging shows on food network for years and apparently think they deserve their spotlight. Every competition you can see Zakarian clearly favors them, and his the trick they've used to make us all believe the ploy was bringing on Spike and Marcel who everyone knew were the underdogs, and decided to make one of them final 4 so it  would at least "seem" like its a real competition, "not that it is." Iron Chef is about finding the best chef's in America, but to say the people on redemption were some of the best is a joke. There's plenty of top chef masters who are far more qualified for the job. I'd rather watch Iron chef with Rick Bayless than waste a night watching Guarnaschelli cook with her favorite ingredient she named her restaurant after, "butter." And by the way Alex, its all going to your thigh's, trust me we all noticed your weight many years ago, though you try to hide it under a chef coat. A good iron chef can prepare less fatty foods that dont go to their own thigh's!

    Zakarian clearly favors Guarnaschelli by trying to argue that her dish, (which every other chef/judge said was the least risky), and that she also stole a secret ingredient from marcel, was somehow a risky dish. Even though it was clear it wasn't, it felt like he was just making things up. In fact that's the worst part of this competition is the judging, it all feels made up. Chef Metha just got booted off for Appleman putting yuzu on a shrimp head which you couldn't even eat itself, it was just to squeeze juice out of. And Zakarian's reason for not liking Metha's dish and I quote "there was too much cumin and i still have some seeds in my mouth". BS! I've never complained about something leaving tiny seeds in my mouth before because its not a realistic thing to judge a person on. Hands down, a disgrace to Iron Chef, just end it early and award it to whoever you want Food Network, thats pretty much already the way you conduct yourself.

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  41. I feel this episode was rigged. It was a flashback to the last one with Burrell & Zakarian. For me it brings into question the credibility of the judges. It seemed like no matter what Chef Faulkner was going to do with her "advantage", she was going to be sent home. I am not really a Faulkner fan, but it was absolutely ridiculous, and obvious that she should not have been sent home at all. Appleman is an egotistical twit, Faulkner played fair by not sending her main competition, Alex, to the bottom. But the judges screwed her over. Again, the plan for this episode all along, IMO.

    Marcel is actually acting like a grown-up now that his frat-bro or whatever is gone. I don't know how those 2 even made the redemption show. A joke, for sure. Maybe this show was a fluke for Marcel, and he'll be back to the "duuuuude" in Vegas. I'm about to watch the Vegas! I do not agree with some that Chef Guarneshcelli is being favored. In my opinion, she is       (was) Faulkner's only real competition and the other Chef's are not even in their (Faulkner & Guarneschelli) league. So Alex definitely deserves to be there, and it's not due to favoritism by the irritating, puffed up, questionable judges. I am sure in the elite chef circle many judges know the chef's they end up judging on different occasions. Zakarian is actually the only judge, to me, that has any bit of professionalism & meaningful critique's. The other judges, mainly DONATELLA, think a bit too much of the sound of their own voices & clearly want certain chefs out regardless of who is actually deserving. I can't stand the two judges at all, really.

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  42. inedible fish scales. that is all. Also by the rate Appleman is the clear winner already. I don't think the other two chefs have what it takes to beat him.To me the three chefs that had potential to win were Faulkner, Mehta and Appleman.

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  43. Wow, when I posted a comment about Falkner's loss (about which I was astounded because I believe she's a genius) and read comments saying the fix was in for Guarnaschelli, I was skeptical. What a crock of crap. I don't know what kind of contracts the chefs are under, but I hope Falkner is able to tell the network to f**k off.

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  44. I have always been excited about watching Iron Chef until the recent elimination of of Chef Elizabeth Falkner. Regardless of a saffron, she is truly the superior chef. Her dishes are the most diverse and creative all that were in the competition. She is definitely the "Star"of the show.

    Alex Guarnaschelli has some talent, but she is not even close to Falkner's expertise. Plus, and most importantly, Alex's negative personality and heartless harshness as a judge leave me wondering if she is the best representative for the show--I think not. This lady is not even pleasant. 

    I love food, but all of this has turned me against the program that I used to enjoy.

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  45. I totally get that folks are upset.  Heck I was upset and still upset about Ann Burrell being bounced on the last challenge.  That being said, I don't see Alex as a good cook.  I see her mostly as a teacher.  Do I feel set up by FN? Damn real!  But that is not the first time.   I think that there is some substance to the thought that FN needs another woman Iron chef.  The problem is that Faulkner is not known well enough and not part of the "Club."   Zakarian had no business as a judge.  Interestingly, Alex made a comment about it on a different site and said that she thought that Geoffrey could be unbiased.  REALLY!!!  She has been up his butt ever since he won the title and if that doesn't make her winning suspect, give me a break. 

    A client of mine who is an executive chef told me that sometimes you don't have to be good to win, sometimes you have to pay your dues and when its your  time, they let you win.  To me that makes sence.  I remember before Zakarian won, all they said was how he spent so many years cooking and how he "deserved" to win.  Then they had him on Iron Chef right away and of course he won against his opponent.  They did the same thing with Alex, but this time voila!  They picked another woman Iron Chef Judy Joo (UK) to go against her and Alex beat her.  FN you are so transparent!  Yup you want us all to believe that Alex is really great because she beat another "woman" iron chef.  Hoo boy you really think we are all a-holes!!

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  46. I knew from the very first episode that Alex was going to win, since GZ was one of the judges - as colleagues on Chopped and having her has his sous chef on IC (and she's always bossing him around too). It's disgusting, and I stopped watching after Chef Falkner was eliminated. They can go suck on a lemon, I'm done with Food Network.

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  47. Chef Faulkner was robbed and Food network and Geoffrey Zakarian so favor Alex G it is kinda lame at this point.

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  48. While I absolutely adore both chef Freitag and chef Guarneschelli, as they are both superior chefs, you must admit that Chef Faulkner clearly demonstrated greater cooking skills and imagination. It was an absolute disgrace for her to be eliminated

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  49. Chef Elizabeth Faulkner was by far the most creative contestant. I think they just didn't want her at the top! Also, this whole thing seems like a gimick to me, just to recreate the history of that episode with chef Burrell. =_= I think Zacharian doesn't like Chef Faulkner either but from her white bread showdown, to her cereal showdown she did an AMAZING job and I was rooting for her, she took more risks then Alex and Amanda and Marcel shouldn't really be there should he??? I mean seriously, over saffron!? I think something as minor as that shouldn't have sent her home considering they said there was a lack of the anchovy flavour in chef Appleman's dish they also said it tasted of egg potato and salt Donetalla sid that no? I mean DUH it was a Spanish omelet with potatoes egg and a tortilla..Okay so the aioli was pretty wicked but Chef Faulkner made a classy, beautiful tasting plate and took more risks. Isn't that what the challenge was about? RISK? This was fixed. >:/

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  50. From the second Next Iron Chef, it appears that every Next Iron Chef has been rigged. Chef Simon clearly was the most deserving, but the rest of the Next Iron Chefs were not the best chefs in the competition. In fact Chef Forgione was one of the worst the season he competed, and yet some miraculous way Forgione beat out the chef that won most of the competitions that season. I believe that Forgione won because of his famous last name. The next two competitions were so obvious that they wanted give the vacancies to those capricious chefs from Chopped (Zakarian and Alex) even though Zakarian never followed the rules, and Alex put out boring, salty, or safe dishes. It was apparent that Chef Falkner should have won n either season she competed. She clearly had the most talent and creativity over all the other chefs. I feel bad what happened to her, yet I'm happy with what the karma that is befalling the show. Except for Chef Simon, the Next Iron Chefs have made a mockery of the show by losing most of their battles; are not chosen to compete, or lost ratings for the show, because most loyal fans do not care to see these new Iron Chefs compete.

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  51. It's real simple, Zakarian's a tool & Chef Faulkner got robbed not once, but twice then gratuitiously covered in homophobic garnish. I just hope they never search for another Iron Chef because how the Network is run has become so obvious it has ceased to be entertaining or funny.

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  52. I am still shocked that Alexandra Guarnaschelli is an Iron Chef, I too stopped watching the show for the reasons many fans did., In her interview of why she chose Iron Chef America on Food Network over Top Chef on Bravo, she knew she wouldn't make it past the first elimination. The challenges there are against other great Chefs in your league and the process is more extensive. You have to kick but to do TOP CHEF and/or CHOPPED. I respect any Chef who even tries to do the TOP CHEF competition. I am not a fan of Padma or Colicchio, but I watch it because the Chefs and Chef "Masters" are going against their "own". This opinion comes from a "home cook" who loves watching cooking shows and has seen enough to know "fake".

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  53. I agree but Alex and Iron Chef? Really??

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  54. The good thing is Chef Faulkner never gives up or gives in and even when they knocked her down, she jumps right back up. She is not one of my "favorite" Chef's because she tends to have an attitude about her cooking thinking that it's perfect EVERY time, which in the case of all Chefs, there is not one who has had a "perfect service" service record. You an definitely see she works her butt off in the kitchen and strives for perfection. She has been on every competition show there is out there and one day she will be number one on one of them. Till then, keep cooking!!!

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  55. I would prefer Amanda Freitag any day over Alex G. my opinion. Faulkner has been in enough competitions to be a strong contender and I assume she will continue to press forward.

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  56. Great comment, couldn't have said it better myself!

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  57. So Ann Burrell lost even though she was Batali's sous chef and should know the ins and outs but hey she got her own show instead of the ICA title right??

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  58. What I thought was the worst thing is Guarnaschelli was at the bottom many times and had what I thought were terrible dishes and yet she would still scrape by and the other chef eliminated. All the time Zakarian sitting there grinning like the cat who ate the canary, high case of nepotism here.

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