Are Shane and Kelsey Too Young to Be Food Network Stars?

[Food Network Fan]

Are Shane and Kelsey Too Young to Be Food Network Stars?
By partysugar
Last night Shane and Kelsey shone on the Next Food Network Star. Shane won both challenges and created a simplified version of beef Wellington. The recipe, which was a collaboration between him and Kelsey, will be featured in an ...
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[aoneil]

I think that the Food Network needs some younger people in their line ups. And do they really need to be experts? I would hardly call Rachael Ray and expert when she started. I don't think that Paula is either.

[ibcheft]

Both Shane and Kelsey are culinary student/ graduates. But they lack the work experiences of working in a cooking kitchen rather it be at a Country club, restaurant, just some where to experience the challenges of cooking in a environment that is rushed and customer orientation. If I read their bio's right Shane is a cater chef and Kelsey has done local TV shows, but I seen nothing of restaurant cooking for either. I do not think that it is a requirement but for experience and working with people does give you a different outlook on things. I would say with a couple years experience in the field you would see such a different attitude and work style from these two it would be amazing.

[Food Network Fan]

They seem much more comfortable in front of the camera than the older contestants. That's kind of funny really, I wonder if all the young ins growing high tech would make them lean to that more than the others who grew up when computers were still black screens with green letters and no internet to broadcast ourselves.

[FoodFan]

I'll answer the question this way: I suspect that most posters here are over the age of 20 and would be inclined to say yes they are, but since none of us are the judges or producers of TNFNS, it's almost a moot point. I strongly, STRONGLY suspect that FN will do all they can to groom and promote these two since they represent that younger demographic that the newer shows (which are about "way more than cooking") seem to be focused on.

[isilzha]

All the people in my school are completely in love with FN. Having a show with some young people wouldn't be bad. But I wouldn't pick anyone just on that.

[BerryBaby]

What exactly is the 'way more than cooking' part? The shows where the celebs go eat at restaurants? Iron Chef?

[ibcheft]

So tell me, how young do you want ? Hanna Montana ? Lindsy Lohan ? age type people ? and what do you want them to do cook, travel to night clubs, We just had a young person Chic and easy and you see how long that lasted. Look at MTV, my kids do not even watch it anymore, said shows are crap. I am all for shows that will fill the needs of the viewers but why put things on a food network that really belong else where. The travel channel covers a lot of eatery shows, best vacations, best haunted places. like Anthony Bourdain's show, which I thought the travel channel was appropriate because he travel to different place to show the cuisine, not to cook it. Tell me what type of show could Kelsey do that young people would watch ? And What type of show could Shane do ? and still hold true to this is a cooking channel, they have already drifted so far from that premise that people that have watched since 1993, are looking elsewhere for programs to fill their need, and without viewers no network.

[Food Network Fan]

Utahn beefs up her reputation on Food Network reality show

[FoodFan]

What exactly is the 'way more than cooking' part? The shows where the celebs go eat at restaurants? Iron Chef?

If you're confused, imagine my surprise when I see the after-7:00 pm slogan debut a few years ago that says, "FOOD NETWORK nighttime...way more than cooking." It vaguely sounds like they don't trust their own product- that cooking shows and food-on-camera is somehow BORING- unless we do A, B, & C to it. I essentially have the same thoughts as ibcheft: The Travel Channel is fine- on the Travel channel. Yet there seem to be a fair amount of FN shows on the road with Rachael, Giada, Guy, Bobby, the Deens [and now the Neeleys], Alton-on-motorcycle, etc. (Is the location show somehow sexier?) as well as 'challenge' shows up the ying-yang: ICA, Dinner Imposible, Throwdown, Food Network Challenge, The Next fill-in-the-blank, and so on. And on the fringe are the "irreverent" shows (re: hosts with a 'tude), like Anthony Bourdain, Ace of Cakes, 2 Dudes (now deceased, thank Providence!!), etc.

I realize that there are die-hard fans of some of these shows and I'm not trying to ruffle feathers (perhaps I'm a majority of one here), but I just think all the attempts at sexier, edgier, food shows are unnecessary.