Food Network Star

For its seventh season, 'Food Network Star' (Sun., 9PM ET on Food) has dropped 'The Next' from its title and gained a permanent judge in Giada De Laurentiis, who served as a mentor last season. Fifteen hopefuls kicked off their dreams of getting their own show, including Jeff Mauro, who considers himself 'The King of Sandwiches,' and Vic 'Vegas' Moea, who already has the Hollywood name. Read More... //www.aoltv.com/2011/06/06/food-network-star-premiere-first-eliminated-contestant-video/

A week from today, The Next Food Network Star 's seventh season will premiere. This season, strangely known as just Food Network Star (I guess Food Network can't afford the Next in the title anymore?), features the usual stable of FNS contestants: home cooks looking to break into food television, professionals with something to prove and a handful of trying-too-hard bad boys with checkered pasts. If past seasons of FNS have taught me anything, it's that each and every one of these contestants, no matter how likable or endearing, will be unbearable to watch by the end of the season (and that the winner's show will most likely be terrible). But hey, it's not about the destination -- it's all about the journey! So let's meet our prospective stars, shall we? //www.buddytv.com/articles/the-next-food-network-star/meet-your-food-network-star-co-40491.aspx