‘The Next Food Network Star’: Global a gone-gone

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Michael was a one-of-a-kind, with his multicolored hair, his flamboyant mannerisms and his culinary point of view: global a go-go, mama! Granted, there was a segment of the population that would never want to watch him do his thing. And that would be fine with the rest of us, who would happily tune in for a weekly dose of his antics.

But he was apparently too real for reality TV. Michael couldn’t deal with speaking directly into the camera — something he (unwisely?) told the judging panel again and again, most recently during this week’s challenge: putting on a cocktail party in Miami.

I think Michael’s right, though, when he predicts that he’ll be back. And while all the competitors seem to do that when they’re packing up and moving out, something tells me that we will see him again. Hopefully in a format that plays to his strengths. (Oddly, he seemed at ease with cameras in the room, and in the ‘confessional’ interviews. But he’d freeze up when he had to present.) Maybe some kind of ‘Michael: Live!’ format, in which he plays to the crowd and the cameras just, you know, coincidentally happen to be there to catch it all. Or a format in which he shows up and — poof! — instant party. Kinda like ‘Dinner: Impossible,’ only without the ticking clock, plus more alcohol, and lots more finger snapping.

Elsewhere: It seems all but certain that Jeffrey and Melissa will be in the final two. Melissa seems to be growing stronger with every week, while the rest of the field seems to be showing weaknesses with each passing week. Jeffrey was spot-on during the airport challenge, which he won. (Can someone explain to me why he hasn’t talked more about his fascinating family background when the judges have been asking him to do the same? I say just set up a camera in his kitchen.) Yet he came across as having sharp elbows during the Miami challenge — and that doesn’t reflect kindly upon him. Something clearly was amiss between him and Debbie — he didn’t press her to do more, and she didn’t seem to jump in to ask and instead stayed focused on her dishes. Was that smart? She did have the best dishes of the night. But the selection committee clearly wanted to see more teamwork.

Jamika seems like she may have reached the end — she’s coming undone, which is a shame, because she is so appealing.

What do you think? Who is going home this week? Jamika or Debbie?

COMPLETE ASIDE: I reached for the TiVo during the elimination discussion, when guest judge Ted Allen helped decide who would be going home. ‘I don’t like this part,’ Allen said. What?? Allen is the chopmeister — he’s the guy who looks competitors eyeball-to-eyeball and says, ‘You have been chopped!’ He’s gotta like it, a least a little bit.

— Rene Lynch

Photo: Michael, earlier in the season. Credit: Food Network.