Top 5 Reasons Debbie is NOT the "Next Food Network Star"

I'm feeling a little torn about my introduction into "The Next Food Network Star."

On one hand, I'm happy fellow Channel Surfer Thomas Rozwadowski introduced me to the show in order to fill a TV void on my Sunday nights. On the other hand, my first experience with the show had to be with liar, liar, pants-on-fire Debbie, aka: DO YOU KNOW I’M KOREAN?

Now, clearly, I may be biased here but I can’t help but feel that Debbie Lee is giving all Asians a bad name. Or worse, solidifying a perpetual stereotype.

So before I get into the reasons why she must leave the show — for the love of all that is good and decent still in this world — allow me, Sara Boyd (and fellow Korean) to nip a few perceptions in the bud that kim-chi-Debbie has now tarnished the Asian name with.

No. 1 — We are able to and often do cook other varieties of food than Asian cuisine. And let it be known, that if faced with a lovely steak challenge, we would appreciate the American culture and not Asian-it-up.

No. 2 — No one talks about kim-chi. Ever. It’s disgusting, it smells bad and it certainly should not be the only thing other people can associate with the Korean heritage.

No. 3 — People know we’re Asian … it’s pretty blatant and obvious and even if we were to attempt to hide that fact, it would still be known. Therefore, there is NO REASON to ever remind people that you are Asian.

OK, now that that’s been said, I feel as though I can move on. So let us count the many, many reasons why Debbie should get the heave-ho next week.

1. Debbie is a liar. I wish she weren’t a liar, but she is. A big fat one. (No pun intended … or was it?) Not only has Debbie lied, but she’s lied many, many times. Let’s see … there was the time she said they came in just under budget during the first challenge and turns out she had to cut things out — things people needed — in order to make it within the budget. Then there was the time she said she was being completely and utterly “selfless” during the party challenge when she literally only worked on her own dishes … Oh yeah, and then there was the time this last week when she flat out lied to Bobby Flay’s face when he asked her where her mandatory capers were in her dish. "Oh, I didn't have capers. I mean, I forgot them." Ah, yes. Hey Debbie, say it with me now … “The color of the pen that I hold in my hand is re-re-ROYAL BLUE.”

2. Debbie is not capable of making food that isn’t Asian. I know the judges accused Jeffrey of the same weakness, but I don’t think it’s nearly as apparent as the amount of “Asian-inspired” dishes that Debbie has made. Perhaps it’s her “We’re going to add a little ginger, because you know, I’m Korean” that accompanies every explanation of an Asian dish that further pisses me off but really, I think that the woman is incapable. Take this last challenge — the judges took away all of Jeffrey’s spices and all of Debbie’s Asian sauces and guess what? Jeffrey won with an Asian-inspired dish and Debbie was nearly sent home for lying and neglecting her Mediterranean capers.

3. I don’t understand what the judges are thinking. One of the main reasons they give over and over for keeping Miss Lee is that Debbie has this great personality and a perfect persona for the camera. I don’t know what kind of show they’re thinking she could do (perhaps, “How to Transform Everything into An Asian Dish?”) but I can’t think of one thing she could do that would be worthy of an entire show. Not to mention, there’s no way I could stomach watching her talk about being Asian for a full hour, every week.

4. Jeffrey clearly has to win this competition. Sure, he’s had his bad days but the man has been one of the most consistent contestants without making me want to gouge my eyes out or stab mommy Melissa with a rusty spoon. He’s got the on-camera presence that is needed plus he has a soothing way of talking that doesn’t annoy the crap out of me — which on this show, is saying something. Between Jeffrey and Debbie, there’s a clear difference: Jeffrey isn’t a liar and has proven he can cook … anything.

5. Debbie needs to stop inviting people to her pity party. No one wants to come and no one is buying it anymore. Whatever the scenario, Debbie has tried to use the judges’ pity on her as a way to stay alive for another week. Prime example? She gets hit in the face with a scalding hot pan (which, btw, was the best moment ever on this show) and tells the judges all about how she had to fight and struggle to keep going after being in the most extreme pain of her life. Or pick your favorite moment where Debbie brings out the tears for some sympathy votes and gives her sobbing speech about being hurt or feeling overly criticized. Wah, wah, wah.

Let’s hope for the sake of this show and any chance of me returning to watch for a second season, the judges will realize what a grave mistake it would be to give a show to Korean-Debbie-Korean-Lee-Korean. Hopefully Jeffrey will pull out all the stops and narrow the scope of this competition next week. Because let’s be honest, if either Debbie or Melissa — who’s a mom — wins this thing, it’ll be a sad, sad day for television.

-- Sara Boyd, sboyd2@greenbaypressgazette.com